To everyone...
Yes, I am in South Dakota...and it snowed for two days this week!
Won't miss the mountains of snow we have here, that's for sure. And for those giving advice on benefits I have looked into everything, through the Hereford CAB, council and so on. I am sure I will be okay. As for housing, I will have to go private, will have to wait a very long time for council accommodation, but that's ok too.
I am planning to re-publish my book over there aswell. Had published through an internet publisher, but when they sent my copy I noticed some typo errors. I contacted them and said I had corrected them on another copy and would send it to them (there were only a few) but they said they would do it and it would cost me $100 every half hour! I paid $4000 to have it published by them. Yet when it was still on their site it began to sell. Mostly English and Liverpool people from US, Canada, Australia, and so on. So if you are writing a book, be careful of the shysters out there!
Warm regards everyone,
Liz

Hyton Liz, on moving back, I read somewhere that to get any benefits other than the paid in NIC for state pension, that there is a six month waiting period to show habitual residency - does that hold true?

On private housing versus social housing, will the local council still not pay housing benefits if one is unable to have enough minimum income?

BTW, our plan to return back will be between now and hopefully 2012

Hi Penury,
I believe for any benefits it is 4 to 6 weeks.
Not too sure about the pension. I don't think it is six months though.
I will be 62 in July.
I did not work very much when I was in England as I was married at one point, 40 years ago, did have a couple of jobs after we split up but I don't think I have enough stamps, or paid in, or whatever it is. I was always back and forth from the states and there. Regretable now that I think of it.
Liz

Liz for those who like myself that left the UK and have lived away for a very long time, I am thinking the return re-adjustment may be a tough one.

Not that I am scared to move back and readjust myself - but 40 odd years after leaving it my be the best medicine to live the rest of my life out.

How long will it take to readjust to the culture - who knows

How long will it take to get over the small annoyances -who knows

But it is home, even after being away a very very long time

The older I get, the wiser I am that the things in life that were important 30 years ago are no longer important

One day at a time even in your 60's

Penury,
Just noticed that you are from Prescot!
As kids, we used to walk there from Huyton!!!
Small world, eh?
What part of England are you going back to, Prescot?
I was living here in the 70s then went back to Liverpool in 1981
Back then I was always comparing the US and England. I was in my early 30s.
The culture shock was awful for me. But now that I am older, I believe I can handle it better as we do most things when we are more mature
I will visit Liverpool from time to time, but my heart is set on Hereford.
Liz

Liz, we lived down Scotchbarn lane & I went to the old Whiston infants & primary schools around the corner from us in the 50's.

re-quoting myself, I think its far easier as one gets older to make the choices.

no place chosen yet - Wales would be nice as would somewhere warm & dry - small village life if possible

That's why I liKe Hereford, it is small,and has all those wonderful villages not too far away. I like that part of the country.
When are you thinking of going?
Liz

Why I turn 65, sometime on or around spring 2012, which seems so far away

It could be sooner than that.

A lot of thought has gone into if, and or why to return after 40 odd years.

From the social economic reasons to the leaving the children behind.

Having gotten over the kids part - we think one workable solution as long as health keeps up is to do the 6/6 mths here & there. Ok, so I know its not a clean break, it may sound indecisive to some - but hey, these are one of the options available

We could do six months UK, six months wherever forever as gypsies. It all depends on health & state of mind & finances

The only family that I have left in the UK is my elder sister & her kids whom I do not know very well

At least you won't be going on your own. You will be able to lean on each other, complain to each other, laugh with each other and so on. It will make your move so much more tolerable.
It will be little more stressful for me, I think, but no matter. If I think about it too much I will lose my nerve. Can't have that happening, after all, I'm a scouser Come on Liverpool wake up and score those goals
Liz

Penury,
Prescot is in parts of my novel.
It is a hisorical novel set in Livepool from 1914-1941. I wanted the family to be close to Liverpool durning the bombings, but not to far away.
So I chose Prescot.
Liz

I have been in Australia for almost 4 years and from my experience after a while you do get bored. However the great thing is you live in a place more than twice the size of western europe. There are many options, I was in Melbourne for 3 months and realised it wasn't for me very quickly. Spent two fantastic years in Sydney where I really found my niche. Decided to give Melbourne ago and realised that I didnt like the city but love country victoria. I will be heading home in 2011 however I know if I ever move back where to head to.

You will find your niche but also remember no point in forcing things either...

lol... dont you go picking on the war time folks at the Pescot munition & wire works (BICC)

BTW, in the war the Germans were so bad at accuracy (I guess due to no radar etc- just line of sight), that Liverpool could have gotten worse, with the surrounding towns like Hyton &Prescot just got hammered

Penury,
My dad was in the Royal Navy during the war, and worked at the BICC after the war.
We used to go to the Christmas parties there in the 50s and early 60s.
Now don't get your knickers in a twist, I just said that I used Prescot as it was close to Liverpool. The countryside. I know how bad the Blitz was. My mum worked in a munitions factory in Kirkby. End of story.
Liz

oops - forgive me

OK, Prescot is a nice place to use in a story - agree

Thank you!
No hard feelings.
My novel is a historical one and includes what happened in Prescot. The family in the story go to a large private house there in the countryside and take in evaccuee's.
I've always has a fondness for Prescot. Though I don't want to live there.
As I said before, in the early 60s we used to walk there from Huyton then turn around and walk back, I guess we were very fit ...or stupid!!!
Liz