[Rusty]

Well we have about 6 months before we (hope) to leave. Everything is underway and we have started talking about what we will miss and would want to see; or want the kids to see, before we leave.
The obvious ones are family & friends, but what else will we see? London historic sights, Stone Henge, Spurs home match and many more.
The question to those that have left is what do you wish you had said to family and friends that seemed strange and unimportant at the time?
Also, any places you wish you had seen?

Lastly, I think I remember a thread about what to start doing from 6 months in but can't find it, anyone know where this thread has gone?
Thanks

[Asli&Mark]

I wish we had saved more money :)

I went to see Greenwich. Had my picture taken on the line being on the east and west at the same time and got a certificate :) Who knows if we ever go back there again!!!

[ourquest]

Good luck Rusty. Our EOI and ITA timings are almost identical to yours, but we will be in NZ sooner. Only then will I be able to answer your question. But I think we will wish that we had relaxed and enjoyed the whole journey just a bit more, despite our efforts and occasional success in doing just that.

[Rusty]

Good luck Rusty. Our EOI and ITA timings are almost identical to yours, but we will be in NZ sooner. Only then will I be able to answer your question. But I think we will wish that we had relaxed and enjoyed the whole journey just a bit more, despite our efforts and occasional success in doing just that.

I agree about relaxing, although now everything has gone in we have relaxed a bit more - just wish my boss would get off my back. Roll on 13 weeks when we hope to hear something from NZIS and give my 3 monts notice.
Good luck to you as well.

[Smiler]

I wish we'd had more time, 10 days just wasn't enough to sort and pack, let alone see relatives! :laugh

I wish I could have visited my Nan's grave one last time.

Would have liked to have gone back to Mullion Cove and Halzephron.

I wish we'd known how ill my BIL really was, so we could have said farewell.

All a bit sad sorry...:wah

On the happy side going to the Judgings Lodgings in York for a weekend away woudl have been nice. OH took me there when we first met. :)

[dusk]

Lastly, I think I remember a thread about what to start doing from 6 months in but can't find it, anyone know where this thread has gone?

I have this one bookmarked, not 6 months but close enough :)
checklist thread (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10641&highlight=lists)

[Red Devil]

What do you wish you had done before you left?

... switched the gas off!!!

Joking alone, we're not quite at that stage yet... but will certainly be making notes :)

Good luck with everything :nice1

[5kings]

We are not even officially started the process yet, need to sell house first (in order to pay fees, medicals etc etc!)

But, one thing I want to do before we go is take the kids to Disney in Paris, they've never been there!

I think knowing we do want to move, probably next year now, makes us look at everything in a different light, like not moan about family get togethers which we take for granted now, and can be mildly irritating!

Helen

[Rusty]

We are not even officially started the process yet, need to sell house first (in order to pay fees, medicals etc etc!)

But, one thing I want to do before we go is take the kids to Disney in Paris, they've never been there!

I think knowing we do want to move, probably next year now, makes us look at everything in a different light, like not moan about family get togethers which we take for granted now, and can be mildly irritating!

Helen

Good idea, I'll add that to the list. - this could start getting expensive:(

[shakyle2906]

Wish we had had more time too!

Six weeks to sort was a bit manic (Smiler how you did it in 10days i dont know!)

My main wish was that my parents in law had been a bit more forthcoming in our move, although it is better with them now, those last few weeks were awful and we could have done so much together!

Wished i had been able to go to my mums grave with more time, not in a rush! That is one thing i miss i cant do from here, but i buy myself some flowers on occasions like her birthday, her anniversary and christmas so it makes me feel like i havent been there!

Wish we could have had a bit more time as a family to visit special places, it was all rush rush rush...........

Sharon
x

[Lara Croft]

I wish I had done more paperwork before we left, around moving house - closing down insurance policies, notifying BT / Council that we were leaving the country. Most of that I've had to do from here, in the middle of the night, at extortionate phone rates!!!

Also, I really wish I'd set up internet banking, it's almost impossible to do remotely (they have to send you a PIN number to activate, and my mail isn't even being forwarded yet...).

I had a wish-list of places I wanted to go to, for one last visit, but didn't get time.

As for people, I think we said heartfelt goodbyes to all those who mattered...

Jane

[Bunstar]

I wish we had sorted our house out sooner...meaning sorting what we were taking/selling/chucking. You don't realise how much stuff you have til you start sorting it, and in the end we had a mad panic to get everything done before the shippers came and before we had to move out of our house. I'm sure if we'd have sorted it sooner I wouldn't have chucked so much stuff and would have been more relaxed in my last few weeks to spend quality time with family and friends.

Also wish we had gone to Alton Towers one last time...i just love them roller coasters!! :D

Oh also agree with Jane about the paperwork...it's such a pain to try and sort it from over here!

[incredible hulse]

Rented out rather than sold the house.

[mgbridges]

Hmmm... I try very hard not to think 'if only' but there are some things it would have been useful/good to do but they didn't happen so c'est la vie...

1) More sorting in terms of paperwork - UK pensions/savings plans, changes of address etc.
2) Going back to some old haunts to stop, reminisce (sp?), take some photographs and say goodbye.
3) Having a 'proper' farewell party.
4) Seen more West End Shows and eaten at a few more top notch restaurants.
5) Taken some photographs of our house prior to the sorting/packing stage and also more photographs of family & friends.

The OH went on a reccie in April 2007 and his departure to start work on 2nd July came around all too quickly. Days, weeks & months absolutely fly especially if you work fulltime and have kids!

Anneliese

[Belmont Babes]

Thanks for starting this Rusty. I am at the stage of 6 weeks to go and really struggling to find a balance between working for £ as we need it for the process, (isn't is expensive? there are so many things I hadn't budgeted for, only small things but it adds up)and enjoying the last few weeks. With still working I have alot to do when I get in and seem to fill my evenings with internet research etc. Looking into offshore accounts tonight took 2 hours. Tomorrow is going to be the first of many days where I am just going to make an effort to enjoy more and worry/work less.

[Joanne100]

I wish i had found this forum before we left the Uk, it would have been so nice to already know people before arriving.

Also wish i had spent more time in Manchester with my family, and i wanted to go on the London eye but never got round to it.

[LesleyS]

......Told the MIL exactly what I thought of her after 25 years of her unfounded criticism and sarcasm around me my OH and our child!

[Georgebulldog]

But, one thing I want to do before we go is take the kids to Disney in Paris, they've never been there!

Helen

Stop off in L.A. it would be cheaper & if your passing through anyway, it doesn't cost too much more, something we did as I thought if your going that way anyway!

There are loads of places I wanted to go to again & never got the time, it wasn't until driving to the in-laws in Wales that I saw all these signs for places & made me feel a bit sad thinking I would never go there again. Lived only 40 mins from London but never went there & my daughters never been either although if/when we ever go back I'm sure she'll be old enough to enjoy the sights

[peebles16]

Sold my house :(

I also wish I spent more time with friends. We spent a lot of time with family cos of christmas and New Year etc and not nearly enough time with old mates. Was too rushed really.

Karenx

[Familyofmonkeys]

There are a few places I wish we'd been able to visit before we came to NZ....but with 3 small sprogs it would have been too much hassle. Really wanted to see the Eden Project, ride the London Eye, visit Aberystwyth to see all the places we frequented as students etc. When we go back for a visit when the kids are older, we plan to see all these places then.

Also, I wish i'd bought a few more pairs of pajamas and some warm jumpers to bring with me:laugh Hadn't bothered shopping as i'd just had a baby before we came here, so my mum ended up posting me stuff she managed to find in the sales. Didn't fancy dragging all 3 children round the shops whenw e first arrived here, let alone getting them to sit quietly while trying stuff on...sizes are all over the placec here so you can't rely on the size labels.

[Bruckner]

......Told the MIL exactly what I thought of her after 25 years of her unfounded criticism and sarcasm around me my OH and our child!

LOL Lesley! At least now she's far, far away.

Emily

[LesleyS]

LOL Lesley! At least now she's far, far away.

Emily

Yeah thanks Emily....It's a good feeling knowing we can finally have the life we want without her negative interference.

[buzztalks]

gone to see Level 42 when they came to Stoke........

[Sam B]

Right, here goes, I often think about this one:

1) Bought 2 pairs of Gap slimfit bootleg jeans in every age from 11-16 years, they're the only jeans that fit my skinny daughter.
2) Visited every National Trust historic building until I was sick of architecture and history
3) a few more walks in bluebell carpeted woods wouldn't go amiss
4) Taken more pictures of my old house and garden.
5) Bought more boots, shoes etc - 10 years supply maybe.
6) Persuaded my friend to move too.
7) Holiday in the Scottish highlands
8) Visited more European capitals
9) The day before you leave, sit and feast on every lovely French and Italian cheese you can buy until you vomit.

There.

[shakyle2906]

Yeah thanks Emily....It's a good feeling knowing we can finally have the life we want without her negative interference.

Totally agree Lesley!!

Parents in law were great with us helping looking after my son when i had to go back when he was 3mths, as hubby lost job and she did this up until we left.

I hated the snide comments i had when things werent going her way and as you can imagine they got worse when we told them we were leaving, she sent around telling everyone THEY had brough my son up!!! I was fuming.

After 5 yrs, i feel like i have MY son back and no one can tell me what to do anymore.

Sharon
x

[Asli&Mark]

For many of us it is great be far far away from in-laws. Although it is Mark's parents he is even happier than me to be away from her (mil).
Am I right to think that it is always boys mother's causing the problem????
No offence guys:exit
Asli

[Moorf]

Am I right to think that it is always boys mother's causing the problem????

I couldn't possibly comment :laugh :laugh :laugh

[Bruckner]

1) Bought 2 pairs of Gap slimfit bootleg jeans in every age from 11-16 years, they're the only jeans that fit my skinny daughter.


Amen to that. Love Gap jeans for kids.

Emily

[shakyle2906]

For many of us it is great be far far away from in-laws. Although it is Mark's parents he is even happier than me to be away from her (mil).
Am I right to think that it is always boys mother's causing the problem????
No offence guys:exit
Asli


Asli

You hit the nail right on the head!!

I was unfortunate to loose my mum 15yrs ago, otherwise MIL wouldnt have had a look in!

I say to hubby, every time she gets on her 'high horse' what is her problem, she never ceases to amaze me after over 12yrs of us being together, he replies - how do you think i feel, ive had her for over 42 yrs!

I have to admit she caused a few arguements between me and him too!
Sharon

[shakyle2906]

I couldn't possibly comment :laugh :laugh :laugh

Chicken!!!:exit

[Familyofmonkeys]

Am I right to think that it is always boys mother's causing the problem????


My MIL used to be a complete pain, but since she has got older with poorer health she has surprisingly become quite easy to get along with. I think she probably appreciates the fact that of all OH's family (parents & siblings included) he is the only one who got married because he chose to, and then had kids (rather than the other way around...she is catholic btw).

I REALLY hope I am not one of those terrible MIL's one day as I have 2 boys :p

[Moorf]

I REALLY hope I am not one of those terrible MIL's one day as I have 2 boys

If there's one thing I can be absolutely certain of in this life, it's that I will never be a MIL!! :raebanana :laugh

[shakyle2906]

[QUOTE I really hope I am not one of those terrible MIL's one day as I have 2 boys :p[/QUOTE]

Me too!

I think i would be a lot more understandable!! I know its easier saying that now, my son is only 5.5 and will probably always be our only child!

I think i would be more supportive, as well as see things he wanted to do.

One thing i dread now, and it may not ever happen (but has to a friend i work with)is that the day may come he wants to go back to the UK........... I would hate it but as we have done the move, i would have to see things from his perspective!

Sharon
x

[sizzlingbadger]

Well I have to say I love my MIL, she's more of mum to me than my own mother, seriously :D :D As you'll probably have read somewhere on here mum and me don't get on in a big way, not spoken to her since she left here on Boxing Day and I don't want to. As far as I'm concerned she doesn't have a daughter anymore :mad:

Mums and sons definitely for me a tighter relationship and she would do anything to keep him at home all his life, fortunately for him he's seeing the error of his ways and has finally moved out of home and out of her control.

Don't think there is anything I wished I had done that I hadn't already done before moving out :o

[Rusty]

Lots of good ideas, thanks.
Just don't to go and then think 'wish I has said...or seen...'. I know it will be difficult with the time left, but we can't help that.
Anyway, just realised we are doing one of those things without planning it that way. Today we go for 3 days at Centre Parcs - kids love it there.

[steviec]

I wish we had come to NZ a long time ago when we had more freedom to travel and enjoy this beautiful country.

Wish i had raided Gap and Next and filled another container of clothes for myself and the girls.

My MIL is a jem and more of a mother to me than my own flesh and blood.:yes

Tracy.