When you moved what did you forget and missed most?

[MrsOlf]

We're moving to Houston in 2 weeks and our airfreight went yesterday (mainly stuff for DDs). The ship freight goes in 10 days and I wanted to ask the collective wisdom of those already overseas what you forgot to ship that you needed and anything that you really missed that we should take.
All help and ideas very welcome!

Houston is very air conditioned, so you may need tights more than you think. You have got lots of nice cardigans haven't you, in Texas you put them on when you go indoors.

thank you realhouse - but I can get one like that easily enough here.
The one I left behind was like this one, only taller (about 4') and hinged so it folded flat for storage - perfect for a play tent with a sheet over it (my mum had one, we spent many hours in it as children!). It's at my Dad's house now - I use it when I go back there to stay and one day, when I have to ship another lot of stuff over, I will doubtless bring it out. :)

Thanks for the cardigan advice mummytime. [frantic note taking emoticon] It's been about 10 years since I was last in Houston and had forgotten how cold the air conditioning can be. Now just need to find time to shop...

Wow so I'm not the only one that still buys my undies in the UK???!
We carried a lot of food stuff in our hold baggage. Told the customs guy and he smiled knowingly. It was full of tea, chocolate etc etc. All guests have to bring Clipper tea and Dairy Milk

If you check the customs form you may find that some foodstuffs are acceptable. I moved to Canada last summer and shipped over tea, coffee, herbs, sweets, spices and condiments. Meats, dairy and veg are definitely not allowed, not even in hand luggage. My 15 month ds really missed his baby porridge (as it had dried milk in it it wasn't allowed, substitutes here don't taste the same, more like a malty taste). We missed beans, tea, Xmas pud, marmalade - little things really, but I have found a British shop which although expensive can provide these little luxuries. Annoyingly they still have uk prices on them so it's frustrating paying $8 for £1.99 tea!

Just remembered, I shipped an extension cable with 6 plug points which reduced the need for lots of different plug adapters. I didn't get a converter and only shipped things which were universal voltage. I've not yet been able to find the equivalent of blu tack in Canada so I wished I'd packed that.
Happy travels!

yy to an extension cord - 4 electrical appliances, one plug adapter! Definitely take one....

Extension cord going in my bag now...

And I have sooooo much chocolate it might need its own suitcase. Or I might be able to sell at the other end
Thanks everyone for your help.
I feel as though I'm getting things under control now (obviously this is only a fleeting feeling!)

I live in Asia and order my undies from Victoria's Secret in the US so you might not need to stock up on these. Also, M&S, Next, John Lewis, Figleaves etc ship to the US so you should be OK....

Also, you might want to check out the British Isles shop in Houston which sells everything from chocolate to mango chutney to "Keep Calm and Carry On" goods - more expensive than the UK but worth it when your shipment runs out.

Thank you, thank you butterfliesinmytummy. Feeling better about going already.

Are you in Houston?

No, we got cancelled (after registering the kids at Houston schools and looking at houses on the web) so still in Singapore....

I would have taken our ceiling pulley clothes airier. They're cheap as chips in the UK and cost a fortune in Australia.

Wow echt - I never thought to check the UK prices of those kind of airers - I was looking at the ones you can pull out from the wall, and they cost loads here but I can get one for under £20 in the UK!! Might be worth bringing one of those back in my luggage...

boots raid, kids magazines, books, stash of dvds of recorded UK programmes (to avoid spending ££ on amazon!), pictures, photos..
imagine a lot is available and cheaper in the US though...