[dphillview]

Hello everyone

Just thought I'd ask this question...as silly as it may be :oops:

As the title says, did anyone tell any authorities / doctors / Health Visitors / Child Benefit-Tax credit people you were taking the kids off to another country for however long??

We have twin girls aged 3, and was wondering who we need to inform before we leave the country. We are submitting our PR application next Tuesday and hope to have it through before we go (waiting for a date to exchange contracts at the mo) so could be anytime before the end of the year!! We are intending on staying in NZ permanently and so was just wondering what everyone else did/intends to do!! :?

Thanks in advance

A very stressed Deb-bird (who's just polished off her 2nd glass of wine!! :cheers )

[Diny]

Good question Deb. I hadn't actually thought about this one. My kids are slightly older than yours (7 and 8) but I guess there's still a few 'official bodies' that will have to be informed.

I'll be visiting the local surgery about obtaining their medical records - same goes for the dentist. Obviously school will be informed, and also I'll be informing the family allowance (yeah I know it's not called that anymore) office. Apart from that I can't really think of anybody else.

Be interesting to hear what other folks have done on this one.

Diny

[karltsmith]

Hi Debs and Pete!

We have twin 2 1/2 year old girls (non-identical) so we have been through exactly what you are about to go through. You will need to bring over your red immunisation records books, inform the tax people, fill in an IR85 form to get some income tax back once you have a P45 in your hand, write to the working family tax credit office or register on-line to change your circumstances. The latter was a nightmare and despite telling them 6 times in writing we have only just just got things sorted with them!.....Buch of numb-skulls!!!! Tell your GP, ours kept us on the books as it were, for another 6 months just in case...their idea not ours!


You may also want to tell your rellies where you are going just in case they turn up and you're not home! :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh

Best of Luck

Karl

[dphillview]

:laugh :laugh :laugh

Thanks for that Karl, will start checking them off the list!!

I guess your girls must have been just under 2 when you flew over...so how did it go? Did you manage to keep them amused at all or was you ready to pull your hair out by the time you arrived?? We're hoping to go with Singapore Airlines, as I've heard they are quite 'child friendly' but have to say, am panicking about how we're gonna cope!!

Anyone wanna seat next to us?? :eek :eek

[chips]

Guy's ,
I've just phoned WFTC, it take a good while to sort things.
I said we were living on the 2nd of jan , there was asharp in take of breath , mummble mummble, let's get the wheels in motion cause it's going to take a while.
As kaltsmith say's they aren't that bright, if it's not on the screen!!!

[karltsmith]

Hi Debs and Pete,

What can I say but BRACE YOURSELVES! It wasn't easy for us and made worse by the fact that I found Air NZ woefully inadequet by modern standards. Good leg room but the old one screen for all is really dated and the little ones couldn't see a thing that would interest them so check out the facilities of you carrier! I even took my laptop with some movies for them but because of the dated nature of the aircraft...no 12V supply for the voltage inverter I bought.......result batteries gone after 3 hours use. Cabin crew.....did their job but nothing special and didn't supply childrens meals because I hadn't made a special request. My answer...if a passenger books 2 adult tickets and 2 childrens tickets stating their age as required by the booking system, you have all the information you need and a special request should not be needed....they didn't agree of course...silly me being logical again.....good job I packed loads of thier favourite food for the journey eh! We also bought a backpack full of new toys from Poundland and opened one every couple of hours to keep them interested..that worked realy well. Only real problem was with one of the passengers...a lady with a 3 months old baby no less! She was very rude and aggresive to one of my daughters who was throwing a bit of a tantrum...her only one in 36 hours of travelling I might add so I think she was doing OK all things considered. Upset my wife who was doing her best! I didn't want to start a bun fight so uncharacteristically I kept my mouth shut and let it pass! I found most passengers very sympathetic though on the whole. LAX is a nightmare....nuff said! We also invested in some Medised, a propriatory UK childrens medicine with a mild sedative to knock them out! This worked a treat. Also get yourself a Tomee Tippee folding 'Pottete' (potty) they are great and fold really small and are ideal for toilet emergencies if you are potty training! If you do buy one (£7.00) you can make your own disposable bags by using small bin bags/liners or supermarket bags and buy the cheapest sanitary towels you can to pop into the bag before use. And finally good luck it's not easy and very tiring! My wife got about 3 hours sleep in 36 hours...I got none!......You might want to try getting used to sleep deprivation! :laugh

Please let me know how you get on and I hope some of my tips work for you!

Karl :nice1

[wilson182]

Hi Debs and Pete

We did it with a four year old and a twelve year old, and I prefered Singapore. The cabin staff were excellent with the kids, and even bothered to learn their names. You will have to book kids meals though. I didnt for the twelve year old and regretted it. (Although if I remember rightly, the operator at Dial a Flight actually suggested kids meals to me, and recommended I book one). Singapore Airport was undergoing renovations in May, so the childrens area was not finished, but Im not sure if thats still the case. The planes also have seat back tv's, which was excellent, and they have quite a variety of films on offer.

Hope this helps

[Diny]

Singapore Airlines every time for us - they just shine against the others :nice1 :nice1 :nice1

Diny

[dphillview]

Many thanks for all your comments...

Probably will be the worst couple of days of our lives...but a small price to pay, and hopefully we shall only be doing it the once :hopeso

Well defo stash some toys/goodies away to help keep them amused, and also will be taking a laptop and their favourite dvd's (Pingu, Monsters Inc and Nemo) so hopefully if we can plug it in should keep them amused for a few hours..

Thanks for the tip about childrens meals...wouldn't have thought about that one :eek .

Will let you know how it goes.

Thanks Guys!

[veronica]

just a note about some of the kids sedative type of medicine, it can have a reverse effect. I used it years ago when travelling to Australia for my two but it made the youngest one hyperactive. had never used anything like that on them before because don't really believe in it under normal circumstance so just try them out with it before the plane.....That was a very long flight. :?