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I've heard Austin called the "allergy capital" of the USA.... our first year here, 2 of my kids had a few episodes of hay fever, "cedar fever" isn't pleasant. This year, it's been a lot milder so far - we have had a very wet spring but in the dry spells the pollen has been at a very high level. I haven't had any hayfever at all.

Stockhall, OH and I came on our own for a 3 day visit when we were ready to move - in those days we got a bank account, signed a lease for a rental house, got all the utilities sorted out and registered the kids for school as much as we could. We couldn't have done all that with the kids in tow! We took lots of photos of the house, the schools etc. Having all this done meant that we flew in on a Friday night, moved into the house on Saturday morning, got the kids' school stuff ready and they started school on Monday morning.

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That is not going to physically possible but it is looking likely we will visit in July which will push a move back two months regardless of when it happens. I won't be able to visit the schools but can get a gist at least. When we do move I can go out and sort out a bank account and hopefully the move will concide with just before the kids break up over there so schools can be sorted before a break and they can start after.

Anyway I look forward to our possible holiday first and then the move later.

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Schools broke up for the summer last Friday, they go back on 24th August. Schools usually have administrative staff in during the holidays so you may be able to visit. Phone and ask them?

You will need a US address to give to the bank - bit of a chicken and egg situation here since you will need to be able to pay a deposit for a house rental before you can use the address. This is when it is useful to have a friendly bank manager. Our relocation agent gave her address to them at the beginning. Since we didn't want bank cards etc going to the rental house before we moved over, we changed it to our address when we moved. It goes without saying that we had to trust the relocation agent (not an issue since she does all the relocations for OH's company and is well known and liked).

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Looking at moving most likely in December earliest providing all goes well of course and to the promised timescales. I am guessing that the contractors will give us the rented address in plenty of time.

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oh that is a great help if you don't have to sort out your own place. Lucky you!

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I know. It makes it all easier just need to make sure I am 100% sure on location

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OK another question, what sort of meals do you cook in the heat of the summer, I am guessing that most people do not want to slave over a hot stove in 90+ degree heat. I know that is one of my issues. I don't like cooking when it is hot. Do you just stick to dishes like pasta and rice which require little amount of cooking?

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BBQ

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fussy veggie's and bbqs don't work regularly, but yes I intend on getting a good quality BBQ for those odd ocasions

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well if all goes well of course

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On the same sort of subject is foodstuffs like quorn readily available?

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Yes, but plain, on it's own in bulk, can be more hassle. Not all that cheap I think.

As for BBQ, plenty of veg work fine....also put your pans on the things and or "bake" stuff in them too. Lot more versatile than the stumpy ones you usually get in the UK.

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Round my way in Virginia, it seemed that everyone cooked their meat/protein outside every evening on the grill. When you see the size of US cookers/ovens and the amount of heat they produce, it makes sense that the hot part of cooking goes on outside.

You will probably find that what you eat changes to reflect the type of food that is available locally and to suit your appetites in the local climate. You will see from discussions elsewhere on this board that there is a huge variation in what is available from area to area and also people's perceptions vary on whether it is 'better', 'worse' or 'about the same', based I think a lot on where they shopped and the kind of things they ate in the UK.

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cheers for that 3 meals at least a day consist of quorn, adjusting meals will be a learning curve. my 14 year old is impossible

That advice for BBQ and pans is good cheers.

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that makes a lot of sense, I will have to brush up on my barbie skills then. I have herd that HEB are good for british brands.

One thing I am not going to miss is the price of take aways here, three pizzas for £24 on a deal.