OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Mar 5th 2011, 9:18 am
#4066
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
I could not sleep - tho hubby snooring! We go to market in Southampton n get all our fruit n veg from (they say) local farmers - much cheaper! Roney lives about 30 miles from us - theink he should find a nearby market too! Ha
We are both still upset - not going to go into it again - but thanks to all who made such lovely comments.
Hubby not too happy but I am adjusting I think. TY all - sry still not quite used to this site and how it works.
Regards
Julie and hubby x
We are both still upset - not going to go into it again - but thanks to all who made such lovely comments.
Hubby not too happy but I am adjusting I think. TY all - sry still not quite used to this site and how it works.
Regards
Julie and hubby x
Mar 5th 2011, 9:23 am
#4067
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Darn it - so sorry - that should have read Rodney - so very sorry Rodney my typing not as good as it should be for a damn 4 yr old!
And Rodney, if you ok me asking you, how is your sis? I read you living with your Mom - and that you have children - are they helping you and your sis? Now that you back in UK?
Kindest regards, Julie
And Rodney, if you ok me asking you, how is your sis? I read you living with your Mom - and that you have children - are they helping you and your sis? Now that you back in UK?
Kindest regards, Julie
Mar 5th 2011, 9:44 am
#4068
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Thanks so much Rodney for your good wishes. You said it "new life" and that is exactly how it feels to me. I have been back in Vancouver for about 2 weeks and although I love this city I cannot wait to get back to the UK next week and the new life which is about to really commence now. I have never felt happier about a decision.
Have really enjoyed reading your posts and catching up a little when I have had some down time. So pleased that you are back with your Mum but really sorry to hear your sister is so sick.
I do feel sad at times that I was not able to return sooner while my Mum was still alive. She died suddenly aged 87 a few years back. I was back a couple of months prior when she was dancing at my niece's wedding.
I hear I have been missing some quite lovely weather back there. Oh well I'll soon be there and will have to get right into some gardening.
Have really enjoyed reading your posts and catching up a little when I have had some down time. So pleased that you are back with your Mum but really sorry to hear your sister is so sick.
I do feel sad at times that I was not able to return sooner while my Mum was still alive. She died suddenly aged 87 a few years back. I was back a couple of months prior when she was dancing at my niece's wedding.
I hear I have been missing some quite lovely weather back there. Oh well I'll soon be there and will have to get right into some gardening.
Rodney.
Mar 5th 2011, 10:06 am
#4069
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Thanks PistolPete. i shall check BA. Probably won't be until fall/winter 2011 or spring 2012 but it's a good price comparison right now.
Air Transat from Vancouver is operated by Thomas Cook also but no dogs, no how, no way. I phoned both Air Transat and Thomas Cook. I think from here into Gatwick is not a recognised route according to DEFRA. It is not on their list. It is always a Saturday flight so perhaps they have noone on the ground to process them.
Air Transat from Vancouver is operated by Thomas Cook also but no dogs, no how, no way. I phoned both Air Transat and Thomas Cook. I think from here into Gatwick is not a recognised route according to DEFRA. It is not on their list. It is always a Saturday flight so perhaps they have noone on the ground to process them.
Note that it is HARD to find a decent one-way fare on BA but it can be done through a discount agent and if you plan well ahead.
You can, as your post first inquired, chuck away the back unused end on a really cheap SPECIAL return ticket if push comes to shove. I'm not sure what type of ticket would allow you to recoup taxes as I would have thought most airlines would sting you for fees on the change from return to single to eliminate any refund, period. However if it's that cheap it's not a really big deal.
Mar 5th 2011, 10:19 am
#4070
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Mar 5th 2011, 10:35 am
#4071
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
In recent discussions that I have had with a sister who lives in London I was staggered by her grocery bill when she shops at mostly Sainsbury's and Waitrose.
An exercise that I typically have when in the UK is trawling the supermarket aisles checking on my staples here in St Lucia to see what a wrench it would be to return there. Supermarkets package things there in such a way that you think you are getting far more than you actually are and the price per kilo can be eye-watering (typically 10 pounds per kilo for veg, meat and fish items).
What this suggests is that supermarket pricing levels make things almost impossible for the average Joe and there are fortunately other venues for grocery shopping in the UK which can save you a lot of money, some of which are also available in certain places in the US, such as farmer's markets, fresh fish wholesale/retail outlets, Saturday markets and small (green)grocery and butchery stores with pricing packages. The major supermarkets should only be for milk, cereal, beer and wine, ready-prepared meals WHEN ON SPECIAL, and stop-gap stuff when the good alternatives are not open and available.
I have a son who lives in the Byres Road area of Glasgow. There they have a bi-weekly farmers market with specials on meat, fish and charcuterie*. Also, enterprising grocers and butchers offer bundled pricing on what would be a typical week's supply of greens/fruit and meats. These sorts of deals make it possible for students to survive on their very limited budgets. As you can imagine, the 300 pounds in the Uk is simply not doable for them.
*In Edinburgh and Glasgow, French suppliers who cruise the UK farmer's market scene offer large scale markets covering cheese, charcuterie (smoked sausage/pate etc.), and certain meats and at reasonable prices.
I have factored this critical area of grocery pricing into my calculations and plans for when I intend to spend a much bigger chunk of my time in the UK in three to four years from now and plan to live in the Canterbury area where they have a DAILY farmer's market, a Sainsbury's when I need it and access to cheap fruit on Saturday's in the main market. Plus a big reasonable source for fresh fish in Whitstable six days a week. In Canterbury, transport links mean there is also no real need to own a car and there are cycle
routes that avoid all traffic.
Last edited by Pistolpete2; Mar 5th 2011 at 11:26 am.
Mar 5th 2011, 10:44 am
#4072
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
good job cheers, just one point i would like to ask you about though,
Food UK £300? how many people? if its suposed to be based on two people for the month --- well me and Mum spent £159 in January and £160 in February between us for two people, and we lived really well, but we do shop around a lot, and thats what you got to do in U.K.
Maybe dunroving and her husband have expensive habits,
Food UK £300? how many people? if its suposed to be based on two people for the month --- well me and Mum spent £159 in January and £160 in February between us for two people, and we lived really well, but we do shop around a lot, and thats what you got to do in U.K.
Maybe dunroving and her husband have expensive habits,
My understanding is dunroving is a bachelor, so this would be for one person. I will let him explain where he got the number from.
It is interesting as how the expenses come out about the same. Again this is not scientific.
Mar 5th 2011, 10:55 am
#4074
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Well we are using Tippet-Richardson. Today 73 boxes and 13 other pieces including 3 small chairs, a coffee table and another table were picked up. We packed the 73 boxes ourselves and for that reason insurance would not cover breakage. The furniture they wrapped so is covered.
They are going as part of a shared 40 ft.container and should be on their way by the end of the month. I am told it will be between 6-8 weeks but heard from some else that it only took 3 weeks. We will have to wait and see.
Our original quote was for $3245.00 based on 230 cft. I will know tomorrow the exact weight and costing and will let you know. They are extremely professional and have been there to answer our questions throughout the process. I cannot believe we had this much after being quite brutal in getting rid of so much.
They are going as part of a shared 40 ft.container and should be on their way by the end of the month. I am told it will be between 6-8 weeks but heard from some else that it only took 3 weeks. We will have to wait and see.
Our original quote was for $3245.00 based on 230 cft. I will know tomorrow the exact weight and costing and will let you know. They are extremely professional and have been there to answer our questions throughout the process. I cannot believe we had this much after being quite brutal in getting rid of so much.
Mar 5th 2011, 11:04 am
#4075
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Pistolpete, did you post about your situation and how you ended up in St Lucia?
I just looked it up so I know were it is. I'm not big on the Caribbean. A fellow worker who was an Afro American told me he didn't like to take cruises there because it bothered him to see the poverty that exist along side the wealth. I think it would bother me also.
Just saying.
Cheers
I just looked it up so I know were it is. I'm not big on the Caribbean. A fellow worker who was an Afro American told me he didn't like to take cruises there because it bothered him to see the poverty that exist along side the wealth. I think it would bother me also.
Just saying.
Cheers
Mar 5th 2011, 11:33 am
#4076
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Its in Brixton, this is the link to the thread, just click on the rightmove link for the pictures....
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...de#post9096374
Mar 5th 2011, 11:34 am
#4077
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
good job cheers, just one point i would like to ask you about though,
Food UK £300? how many people? if its suposed to be based on two people for the month --- well me and Mum spent £159 in January and £160 in February between us for two people, and we lived really well, but we do shop around a lot, and thats what you got to do in U.K.
Maybe dunroving and her husband have expensive habits,
Food UK £300? how many people? if its suposed to be based on two people for the month --- well me and Mum spent £159 in January and £160 in February between us for two people, and we lived really well, but we do shop around a lot, and thats what you got to do in U.K.
Maybe dunroving and her husband have expensive habits,
Many people don't really have a firm idea of how much they spend on what. I buy all groceries with a Visa card and record every penny I spend on Quicken, so my numbers are an accurate estimation averaged over 2010. Don't know what else to tell you.
Mar 5th 2011, 11:48 am
#4078
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
--- so me like most people just buy a round trip ticket and of course just dont come back, no brainer.
Mar 5th 2011, 11:55 am
#4079
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
But like we keep saying, you can't think of the US as one country for the purposes of price comparisons. It's so different depending on where you are.
Mar 5th 2011, 11:56 am
#4080
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Bee, so good to hear your update. That flight sounds terrible so yes, give yourself time to recover.
The best part about your update was hearing about the change in your sister. Sounds like she really needed you.
The best part about your update was hearing about the change in your sister. Sounds like she really needed you.