British Expatriate Network

Don't worry chief, I know exactly how you feel. I didn't expect to have that strong resistance to thinking of this place as just home. But after 4 years I don't feel any more comfortable. Like you I'm here because this just happens to be where my wife is.

But here's the good news for me. I AM going home. My wife just came out and asked me if that is what I want. She has a grant that has 2 and a half years left on it and then we were going to move somewhere else in the US. Not any more.

And here's the even better news for me. After a few weeks of arm twisting, negotiations and deals on my wife's part, I'm going home in less than 2 and a half years. In fact, I'm going home in June. Yep, that's right, I leave here in 3 and a half months. And I couldn't be happier to do so. That in itself tells me all I need to know about whether I really would settle here. My wife will be following me in late September - and she's only staying behind because of the 6 month wait on the pet microchip/bloodwork nonsense. In the end my wife could see that I cannot be happy here. I didn't know that before and had no indication that would be the case. So she's willing to move back there. I do hope you either get that magic click that others have had here, Failing that, I hope something amazing happens and you get to go home.

Hey Bungle, just wanted to say I'm really happy for you mrgreen

Really happy for you too Bungle. Lucky sod.

Please do continue to post your repat experiences when you get there. It will at least justify my anger and outrage.

Funny how I feel like a lifer who's seeing someone come up for parole.

Good on ya Bung!

I've been here 9 years, and although I've had some of the best times of my life here, I never really felt totally at home. I met my husband here (American) and had my three children here, and then out of the blue my husband said "let's move to England". SO...... 5 1/2 weeks to go for us.

I didn't even really realise I wanted to go until it became a possibility, and now I am really excited. I know I will miss some things about here, most being our lifestyle and living by the beach, but I think being "home" and around family will far outweigh all that.

I will keep you all updated on the big return to the UK. I am a little nervous too, cos I haven't been back in the 9 years. I'm not expecting it to be the way it was before, but I don't really know what to expect. ??? It feels right though, if you know what I mean. The next step in this big journey called life.

Fantastic news mango! 5 and a half weeks is no time at all - you must be going nuts! I don't leave until June 28th - 5 and a half weeks sounds far better. 9 years is a fair while but I'm sure you'll be fine. It's like riding a bike I'm sure.

In honor of you mango I have compiled a list of things that happened in 1997 in the UK and around the world - that'd be 9 years ago exactly so I hope I have the year right.

- Dolly the sheep was cloned.
- Swampy, the underground protestor, ended his sit in at the Newbury bypass.
- The Conservatives were voted out after 18 years in office. Blair became Prime minister!
- Blair met Gerry Adams in the first meeting between UK PM and Sinn Fein leader in 76 years.
- Teletubbies hit it big - the Radio Times called them "bigger than Shakespeare."
- Bill Clinton began his 2nd term. Gingrich was removed as House leader, and Clinton banned federal funding for human cloning.
- The Heaven's Gate cult - 39 of them - committed suicide. Hale Bop is as close to Earth as it'll be until 4397.
- Jacques Villeneuve won the Formula 1 chamionship.
- Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed died in a car accident. Candle In The Wind officially became the most irritating song ever.
- Hong Kong was given back to China.
- The movies Titanic (cack) and The Full Monty (hurrah!) came out.
- Timothy Mcveigh was convicted.
- The first Harry Potter book came out.
- Scotland and Wales voted for devolution.
- Laser pens were the coolest thing ever in 1997.
- Louise Woodward convicted for shaking a baby to death.
- 700 Japanese kids have epileptic seizures due to an episode of Pokemon!
- Billy Wright waskilled in prison in Norhern Ireland.
- Pol Pot was tried.
- Man Utd won the Premier League.
- Bridget Jone's Diary (the book) came out.
- Girl Power is "invented" by the Spice Girls.
- 1997 BAFTA's went to The English Patient, Geoffrey Rush, Brenda Blethyn, Paul Scofield and Julliette Binoche (mmmm.)
- Green Bay won the Superbowl.
- Red Dwarf 7 started. It wasn't very funny.
- On Eastenders the annoying Bianca married Ricky, Ian Beale had his kids kidnapped but got them back, Grant beat up Tiffany (pick any year really), Dot was held hostage, and then she left Eastenders.
- Number Ones in 1997 included No Doubt's "Don't Speak", the Spice Girls "Who Do You Think You Are," Hanson's "MmmBop," Elton bloody John, Aqua's "Barbie Girl," and of course, Teletubbies "Say Eh Oh." Big albums of the year were the Spice Girls, Radiohead's Ok Computer, The Prodigy's Fat of The Land, Oasis with Be Here now, The Verve with Urban Hymns, and Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love. Let's not.

Marvelous.

Wow - I can still remember most of those events and it's like the last chapter in a book as I left UK at the very beginning of 1998.

You lucky things. If I could make it happen, I'd leave now too. Sounds a bit ungrateful I bet but it's not home and that's important.

At this rate, will there be a British-repats.com site?

Hey Bungle and Mango! Congrats on the decision and the opportunity. I know that a lot of us Britnetters are happy in the US but there are a handful of us who want to go home....

I've been back 2 months now (I can't believe it's been that long!) and I haven't missed anything too badly yet (though ask me again when our summer only lasts 3 days or so wink ). My life had changed so much anyway before leaving that I didn't have the same life in the US that I did before so you could put it down to that I suppose. It feels nice to be back and it definately feels like 'home'. I don't regret moving at all.


I wish you both all the best for your moves smile

Hey, thanks you all for your well wishes on my return to good ole Blighty ??? . And Bungle, the list was great. '97 was a huge year for me, and a lot of those things you listed I had forgotten all about, and they bought back memories, that's for sure. And you know what? I think you are the very first person EVER in my WHOLE life who did something in honor of me. I'm chuffed! roll

Nell, I didn't even know you had moved back. Sorry if I missed you posting about it. I have days that I don't get on here, and then some huge thing could have passed me right by and I could just go on my way never ever knowing it even happened. Ever! It is great to hear that you are happy there. How long were you away for?

And as for taxes evil . This is the first year we owe, and we just found out about it about 3 hours ago. Not a happy camper right now.

Well my plans have changed in the last 24 hours. I am no longer leaving on June 28th. I'm leaving whenever I can -which could be around 5-6 weeks. And for those of you wondering, no I am not running off with Mango. The reason why I wouldn't leave is that my wife won't be leaving until September/October. But we've lived apart for a year before and that was ok - and this way I can get everything up and running smoothly before she comes over.

Funny, a few weeks ago we were looking at places in Washington and Oregon to live. Now I'm heading to the East Midlands. Nice. grin

Congrats Bungle, where in the east midlands?

I'm afraid mine is a life sentence now.... unless I want to leave my wife and kids behind, which I don't. I don't see me taking the citizenship test anytime soon though.... :twisted:

It's looking like Solihull at the moment. To be honest I dunno yet.

Bloody hell! That was a close shave. I only just got rid of Moo :wink:

Seriously, you'll be missed if you don't come back and post, despite being a repat.

It's looking like Solihull at the moment.

I'm from that neck of the woods - went to school in Solihull and lived in Hampton-in-Arden until I was 18. Do you speak brummie? :wink:

Sure - two of my best mates are from there (Wolverhampton and right next to the Aston triangle) so I shouldn't have too much trouble.