Hello there,
I have been reading posts from this site for years and think it is fantastic in being able to help others as well as receiving some great ideas/advice/recommendations as well as things to think about!
I am a mum of three and lost my hubby to cancer 5 years ago, still living in Australia and looking forward to going back to the UK. I am Australian born but lived in the London (Greenwich then Surrey) for 10 years where I met my husband and we had two children in the UK and then one more in Australia.
I have had to wait till there were a bit older to be able to consider moving back, we all want to but of course the big question is where now. It must be close to good secondary schools, family orientated and close to transport links. I am looking for an IT role and look to work from home a few days a week so my focus is the kids really, not me, I will manage if I need to go into London. I am a registered secondary teacher also so if I had to get a visa on that note I guess I could, not that keen though. My major field is IT so jobs in Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, SW of London, London are many from what I can see. The places where I am looking are:
Oxfordshire
Surrey
Buckinghamshire
I have researched many villages and towns in each area, school s and history of areas. I do want to avoid estates and common charges/ground rents/ community charges etc where possible, I think I have had enough of that - looking for a detached house with a budget of 750k max. Have spent hours and hours on the internet documenting some places which look and read great but would like to hear of anyone who has moved recently and considered these areas or other areas also! Not a fan of the north so much and feel much more comfortable in these areas which is where I have put my effort in but that does not mean I have missed some gem!! Far from it.
Any suggestions, ideas etc etc?
We are all ready and excited to move with my girls all having gone back and forth in to the UK many times and know the weather - but they also know about the opportunities and the closeness to the rest of the world of which we do feel detached slightly :).
Thank you.