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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by Pistolpete2
(Post 9225650)
Not trying to be pokey but did your dad work at Llanwern? Hence all the moving around you told us of in a recent post - was it South Wales, Edinburgh and he settled in Somerset????
Have you been back to South Wales? I did a pilgrimage of sorts back in 2005 and stayed in the Vale of Glamorgan (Llantwit Major) and then moved up to near Raglan. BEAUTIFUL country and we had a great time. Llantwit Major* and the Cowbridge area, but not Cowbridge itself, really appeals but it is very attractive for Cardiff commuters and a bit pricey. Chepstow looks very attractive also. *Now has a resurrected rail line than runs from Bridgend to Cardiff via Cardiff International (Rhoose). You mentioned Bermuda. My friend from the UK, she is actually from NI, had a sister and BIL in Bermuda back in the 1970s, and they are still there. Just a long shot, but wondered if you knew them: Mervyn and Audry Moorhead. He was principal of a school, and she was a teacher. They are still there and retired. I'm a couple of years older than you. I live in South Carolina, and have lived in Florida, Georgia, SC, and before that 2 years in Germany. Hubby looking to retire next spring, and like you want to spend some time in UK, at least I do! We are off to Germany end of May, to go back to Wiesbaden where we met, and used to live. Enjoying all your financial posts, very interesting. Mallory. |
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by Pistolpete2
(Post 9226598)
Excuse me but I got the title wrong. It should read:
The European Capital of Culture "ECC"which is a city designated by the European Union for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong European dimension. I guess I misread it in my own mind as Liverpool was ECC in 2008 which is not what you would really describe as a "capital". Other cities in the Uk have tried to get it, even small ones, but only Glasgow succeeded, in 1990. The point is that both cities were able to dramatically improve their infrastructure as a result of the award, with some underpinning of property prices. We are seeing more heavy investment in Glasgow facilities in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games in 2014. Likewise, Stratford and Hackney in London for the Olympics 2012. Time-wise, we're in the middle of everything here, being one hour ahead of New York until the end of this month when, unlike everybody else it seems, we do not change our clocks as we are so close to the Equator that we see not much more than an hour variation in sunrise and sunset as the year progresses. I think that the "where" question for me may not be answered until I am there and able to drive around and get the feel of a place but I've narrowed it down to an area of 3 or 4 counties in the SW. Of course, that could all change by the time I get there. I find divine guidance usually steps in and shows the way. |
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by Pistolpete2
(Post 9225753)
The car bit is a good alternative bandrui - if it was a good second-hand one. I'll make of mental note. I wonder if one could structure a BUY/SELL (quasi-lease) through a specific (trustworthy) car dealer the way the rental companies do, subject of course to meeting car condition standards at sell time.
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Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by jasper123
Fish as you know I was in U.S. for about the same as you 36 years, yes thats a very long time but here I am back where I started, back home in my home town, a couple of years ago this life I have now was not even thought of by me as a possibility, coming home for good for me was the furthest thing from my mind, but all of a sudden it was all I could think of, and I just had to make it happen go figure, age I think had a lot to do with it, also being laid off from a Job I had planned on being at way into my 70's I loved working for that company, I was there for 8 years, and laid off with 33 other people, then after a few months on unemployment benefits I found a dead end Job that I hated wages so low that I couldn't even afford the companies $40 a week medical coverage premium, stayed there one and a half years until I came home, so circumstances play a great big part in all our decisions to come home for good, well Im so pleased that I kept that thought and stayed on that path, and I have only been back 3 months or so now, and in that short time although I have not got that magic feeling of belonging yet, I do feel comfortable here, and as I re - learn more and more about my homeland I gradually find myself blending in with the country and surroundings --- if not yet the people, the people take a little longer to get used to especially if like me you havent had any UK friends when living in USA, Americans are what Im used to, English people are a lot different, and there ways of thinking and doing things are so much different to mine, But Fish you ask yourself after 35 years in U.S. you wonder whether or not you will ever fit in 100% --- well maybe you or I will not fit in all the way, but I do honestly feel that we will come pretty darn close, as long as we just relax and take everything as it comes and dont expect too much --- after all the country and the people owe us nothing, and as long as we dont start comparing our old life in the U.S. to our new life in U.K. we will be OK, Take care my friend, Rodney. Very much like you Rodney, I have often thought about coming home in the past but never really thought it was possible. There were always these comments in the air like "Oh, England is so expensive now", etc. and I also held the belief that because I had lived in so many other places, it would be really difficult to do without comparing to these other places. All that has now changed. Since I have made the decision to return, I have an inner knowingness that this is absolutely the right decision for me. I could list many reasons why but the true reason is that I have always considered myself first and foremost British. It is where my heart lies. All the rest is just details. Since I have made the decision, I am obsessed with the details of making it happen. It is as if I have suddenly come to life and now have a sense of purpose. I realise how bored and stagnant I had become, how most things that interest me are in the UK and look forward to very simple things like walking the footpaths, re-discovering my country and living a life where I might actually have some free time and choices on how to use it. I know that there will be things that aggravate, as there are here, but I am going to try and steer clear of these and enjoy life. I generally adapt well to changes of scene, being a bit of a Gypsy and as for fitting in, I have never really felt that I fitted in anywhere and that is certainly fine with me. I celebrate my difference and uniqueness but am sure I will be happier being different in England than here.:) My daughter often used to say to me "But Mum, You said..." to which I gave my standard response: "I reserve the right to re-create my life in any instant". That is what I am doing and it is super exciting. I love life. |
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by Mummy in the foothills
(Post 9226480)
It isn't always thoughtless and lazy people. I've been known to leave the cart, I try to hook the wheels over a curb or planter.
Heres how it can go. Infant in a car seat, toddler trying to escape, it's 100 degrees out and my frozen stuff is not doing well, I open the car doors, load the boot as fast as possible, strap in the toddler, move infant seat from cart to car base, hook cart wheels to stop it moving jump in car and get the A/C going, baby is now beet red and crying from over heating, toddler is ready to start too. hand over a snack/bottle and get home ASAP. Dh used to leave for work at 6am and get home at 9pm, so I either shopped (at a discount store no help out and pack your own bags) or go without food, sorry if I ever let a cart get away from me, I don't think I have, but you never know. My own car has grocery store battle scars from run ins with trolleys too. |
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by Fish n Chips 56
(Post 9226137)
I read you loud n clear Rodney, I will be OK.
Comparing is a no no, but we do it all the time, we always have, as long as I dont do it out loud I will be OK, I think all people hate to hear it, some sound so ungrateful.
Originally Posted by cheers
(Post 9226170)
More today on the news about the £140 week minimum pension.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/p...-everyone.html |
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by black swan
(Post 9227029)
Bee - - it's great to hear that you are feeling more rested after ten days with your sister. The emotional turmoil leaving family again would have left you fairly traumatised without the long flight on top.
Trolleys. They have just been made available here in Perth, WA. But you still have a choice of the free ones or the new shallow ones that take a $1 or $2 coin. Not so much bending over with the new ones. After wheeling the trolley out to your car you then have to bring the trolley back to the store to retrieve your coin. With the old trolley you just have to leave it in the 'trolley parking bay' which people usually do. Paula. Trolleys: I thought about this in relation to the 2 shopping markets here and I can honestly say that I cannot remember a single case in 10 years that a trolley wasn't put back. Perhaps there were a couple. I know this sounds strange but what occurred to me when I first moved here is that in a rural situation, you are face-to-face with all the consequences of your actions. In the city/town, you turn on a tap, water comes out. How many people think about where that water comes from? Here, the lake at the foot of the road is my drinking water. (I take offence when an occasional plane flies in and lands on it - illegal by the way). And so it is with all things. Life flows according to the seasons. People know who did what. Being a loner and a somewhat private person I thought this might bother me. Au contraire. I enjoy the sense of community and the responsibility that that brings. Hence my decision to live at least semi-rurally in the UK. Perhaps the anonymity and relative isolation of city and town life remove the connection that people have with the consequences of their actions. |
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by bandrui
(Post 9227049)
I feel very bad for you FnC, and for many in the US who are experiencing the heartbreak of foreclosure. The situation you describe has happened to me in the past too. I had a house in Alberta during the boom years. When the bust came, I sold it for less than I paid for it. It hurts.
It goes to show that even with the best of analysis, ultimately the future is unknown and anything can happen. We can only rely on, and make decisions on, what we know in the present and hope for the best in the future. I wish you the best in yours. Linda Many people try to do the right thing, still going back has so many variables, there's no way you can be sure its all going to turn out well, the exchange rate can go wild at anytime. Foreclosures, its not all down to people losing jobs, although that is a big thing, we've seen some unreal stories here, some people buy a second cheaper home similar to what they own, then dump the first home, this way they get a similar home for a lower mortgage payment, others just dump their homes because they are in the hole, their home has dropped in value so much they figure its cheaper for them to walk away and rent for 5-7 years, they now owe much more on their home than what they feel its worth in todays market, I think its totally irresponsible of them, they made an agreement to repay, not to walk away, Nobody promised values would always rise although many feel a home is an investment, Who pays for all of this, I know many think its the banks, myself I think we the customer always pay. While these morons dump their homes on the market we the other home sellers have to compete with them, its a nasty selfish dog eat dog world. Good luck with your home, Fish n Chips. |
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by Fish n Chips 56
(Post 9227443)
Thanks Linda, we've owned a few homes over the years and hardly made much at all, Once we broken even after living in a home for 7 years, as we decided to move there was a slump, it took two years to sell that home, we really lost money as we finished the basement, put in a fence, yard and sprinklers, but this is how it goes...
Many people try to do the right thing, still going back has so many variables, there's no way you can be sure its all going to turn out well, the exchange rate can go wild at anytime. Foreclosures, its not all down to people losing jobs, although that is a big thing, we've seen some unreal stories here, some people buy a second cheaper home similar to what they own, then dump the first home, this way they get a similar home for a lower mortgage payment, others just dump their homes because they are in the hole, their home has dropped in value so much they figure its cheaper for them to walk away and rent for 5-7 years, they now owe much more on their home than what they feel its worth in todays market, I think its totally irresponsible of them, they made an agreement to repay, not to walk away, Nobody promised values would always rise although many feel a home is an investment, Who pays for all of this, I know many think its the banks, myself I think we the customer always pay. While these morons dump their homes on the market we the other home sellers have to compete with them, its a nasty selfish dog eat dog world. Good luck with your home, Fish n Chips. IF things go well, it will be the first time I have made any significant gains in all of my house-owning history. One ex neglected to tell me that he had declared bankruptcy and I lost half of my Grandmother's money that had gone into the house. Shouldn't have played nice guy and put his name on it. :frown: |
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by Fish n Chips 56
(Post 9226143)
Im glad all is well, I didn't think you'd have problems.
New car you can drive, Nice sister, Lucky you. It's a Vauxhall Corsa, automatic and silver in colour, 4 years old. |
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by black swan
(Post 9227029)
Bee - - it's great to hear that you are feeling more rested after ten days with your sister. The emotional turmoil leaving family again would have left you fairly traumatised without the long flight on top.Trolleys. They have just been made available here in Perth, WA. But you still have a choice of the free ones or the new shallow ones that take a $1 or $2 coin. Not so much bending over with the new ones. After wheeling the trolley out to your car you then have to bring the trolley back to the store to retrieve your coin. With the old trolley you just have to leave it in the 'trolley parking bay' which people usually do.
Paula. |
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by bandrui
(Post 9227386)
Originally Posted by jasper123
Fish as you know I was in U.S. for about the same as you 36 years, yes thats a very long time but here I am back where I started, back home in my home town, a couple of years ago this life I have now was not even thought of by me as a possibility, coming home for good for me was the furthest thing from my mind, but all of a sudden it was all I could think of, and I just had to make it happen go figure, age I think had a lot to do with it, also being laid off from a Job I had planned on being at way into my 70's I loved working for that company, I was there for 8 years, and laid off with 33 other people, then after a few months on unemployment benefits I found a dead end Job that I hated wages so low that I couldn't even afford the companies $40 a week medical coverage premium, stayed there one and a half years until I came home, so circumstances play a great big part in all our decisions to come home for good, well Im so pleased that I kept that thought and stayed on that path, and I have only been back 3 months or so now, and in that short time although I have not got that magic feeling of belonging yet, I do feel comfortable here, and as I re - learn more and more about my homeland I gradually find myself blending in with the country and surroundings --- if not yet the people, the people take a little longer to get used to especially if like me you havent had any UK friends when living in USA, Americans are what Im used to, English people are a lot different, and there ways of thinking and doing things are so much different to mine, But Fish you ask yourself after 35 years in U.S. you wonder whether or not you will ever fit in 100% --- well maybe you or I will not fit in all the way, but I do honestly feel that we will come pretty darn close, as long as we just relax and take everything as it comes and dont expect too much --- after all the country and the people owe us nothing, and as long as we dont start comparing our old life in the U.S. to our new life in U.K. we will be OK, Take care my friend, Rodney. Very much like you Rodney, I have often thought about coming home in the past but never really thought it was possible. There were always these comments in the air like "Oh, England is so expensive now", etc. and I also held the belief that because I had lived in so many other places, it would be really difficult to do without comparing to these other places. All that has now changed. Since I have made the decision to return, I have an inner knowingness that this is absolutely the right decision for me. I could list many reasons why but the true reason is that I have always considered myself first and foremost British. It is where my heart lies. All the rest is just details. Since I have made the decision, I am obsessed with the details of making it happen. It is as if I have suddenly come to life and now have a sense of purpose. I realise how bored and stagnant I had become, how most things that interest me are in the UK and look forward to very simple things like walking the footpaths, re-discovering my country and living a life where I might actually have some free time and choices on how to use it. I know that there will be things that aggravate, as there are here, but I am going to try and steer clear of these and enjoy life. I generally adapt well to changes of scene, being a bit of a Gypsy and as for fitting in, I have never really felt that I fitted in anywhere and that is certainly fine with me. I celebrate my difference and uniqueness but am sure I will be happier being different in England than here.:) My daughter often used to say to me "But Mum, You said..." to which I gave my standard response: "I reserve the right to re-create my life in any instant". That is what I am doing and it is super exciting. I love life. All the very best as you take the first steps on your journey. Love this: I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO RE-CREATE MY LIFE IN ANY INSTANT. :wub: |
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by Mummy in the foothills
(Post 9226923)
Darn it the one that Ds will use is blank, and the next nearest is only 35% :eek: Is that just the driving part or does it include the behind the test?
Mummy, this is for the Practical, i.e., the driving part. There are probably statistics out there somewhere on the Theory (written) test, but I did not look them up. |
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by Beedubya
(Post 9227521)
Fantastic positive post, I can feel your excitement. :thumbsup:
All the very best as you take the first steps on your journey. Love this: I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO RE-CREATE MY LIFE IN ANY INSTANT. :wub: |
Re: OVER 50's & 60's MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Originally Posted by cheers
(Post 9227084)
Now I'm confused? I wasn't like Onslow when I left and I wouldn't want to be like him when I return.
Onslow image. Not dressed or shaven and watching TV all day with a constant stream of cans of beer in his hand. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNV7b...eature=related |
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