Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Original poster

Anyone in the process of moving home?

195 replies

KobaniDaughters · 28/04/2021 05:20

Looks like we’re more than likely moving back to the U.K. - maybe end of the year for DH but summer for DC and I. Feeling pretty overwhelmed and wondering if anyone else was planning to head back from abroad in the next few months for shared hand holding?

OP posts:
Hearmeroar2 · 15/02/2022 03:58

[quote KobaniDaughters]@Hearmeroar2 welcome, so useful having others in the same boat

The schools thing is very stressful - I’ve spent hours in the last week on the phone to various schools and LEA’s, starting to get an idea of the lay of the land. Some schools actually have places which I wasn’t expecting so honestly I think we’ll go for those areas just to reduce the stress

How old are your DC?[/quote]
When we move they'll be about 12 and 10, so the oldest will be in high school there, but not here. So some schools had places did they? How old are your DC?

Original poster
KobaniDaughters · 15/02/2022 04:27

Yup a couple that toured and liked (one in each area - we have one per county!

Mine are similar - 10&13, so going into year 6&9

OP posts:
Original poster
KobaniDaughters · 21/02/2022 14:55

Our updates are we’ve made some pretty hefty decisions and now need concrete action

A school we loved and now love even more got on the phone with us last week and despite being oversubscribed said they’d make room for DS and link us up with local primary schools for DD, so that looks like the area we’re really gunning for now. Also decided we’ll be selling our house in LA so now to choose a realtor to get the best price for it.

And then to decide exactly when we’re leaving - probably last week of June/first week of July.

God there is so much to do - still trying to find a good financial advisor and accountant to help us manage both countries, spoken to a few so again just need to choose. And we need to start clearing our house out and up!

Argh the countdown is now seriously on - 4months!!!

OP posts:
Hearmeroar2 · 22/02/2022 02:24

@KobaniDaughters

Our updates are we’ve made some pretty hefty decisions and now need concrete action

A school we loved and now love even more got on the phone with us last week and despite being oversubscribed said they’d make room for DS and link us up with local primary schools for DD, so that looks like the area we’re really gunning for now. Also decided we’ll be selling our house in LA so now to choose a realtor to get the best price for it.

And then to decide exactly when we’re leaving - probably last week of June/first week of July.

God there is so much to do - still trying to find a good financial advisor and accountant to help us manage both countries, spoken to a few so again just need to choose. And we need to start clearing our house out and up!

Argh the countdown is now seriously on - 4months!!!

Oh wow, that's so exciting! Things moved fast there. Love it when the stars align. We've also been doing a lot of planning and deciding, but not as far ahead as you. Do you mind me asking what area you're moving to?
Original poster
KobaniDaughters · 22/02/2022 03:41

Petersfield/Haslemere and Lewes

OP posts:
Hearmeroar2 · 22/02/2022 04:52

@KobaniDaughters

Petersfield/Haslemere and Lewes
Oh, they're lovely areas. All the very best with it. Do your kids know? How did they take it?
Original poster
KobaniDaughters · 22/02/2022 15:11

Thankyou - hoping the property searcher will find us something fab?!

Yup DC know, we’ve always said “when/if we move back” and talked about it relatively frequently, last summer took them on tours of schools and areas and my eldest got very excited for it. Youngest suddenly changed from wanting to move to not wanting to. We actually last week told them categorically it was happening. DC1 is nonchalant and up for it, DC2 oscillating because she does want to but she really doesn’t want to leave her friends so we’re talking lots and we have friends here now with their DC who moved back 2 years ago and helping show how they’ve kept in touch etc. I’m just trying to show her I hear her and understand and not undermine the grief she will feel as well as the excitement

OP posts:
RandomUsernameHere · 27/02/2022 20:41

Hello can I join please? Planning to move back home to the UK in the summer. It would be good to chat about it with others in a similar position!

Original poster
KobaniDaughters · 27/02/2022 20:43

Welcome @RandomUsernameHere

OP posts:
RandomUsernameHere · 27/02/2022 20:54

Thanks @KobaniDaughters !
Got so much to do as I imagine we all do. I'm in the process of decluttering at the moment so made some progress with that today!

Original poster
KobaniDaughters · 27/02/2022 21:23

I started that last year but it’s reached a stalemate - we’ll be repatriating and what with rising shipping costs and times have decided to only take back really meaningful stuff. I’m looking forward to massively getting rid of basically everything but not the process!!!

Where are you moving to and from @RandomUsernameHere and how long have you lived abroad?

OP posts:
RandomUsernameHere · 27/02/2022 22:20

Moving from the Channel Islands to Wiltshire probably. Geographically it's not far but they have different systems for everything so it's still a real pain moving! We will have been here nearly 5 years. Very excited to be moving back home although it's daunting at the same time having so much to sort out.

Original poster
KobaniDaughters · 01/03/2022 18:41

Every move is pretty overwhelming!

We’re having photos of our house taken on 4th April and it goes on the market the next day so we have a bit of a countdown now for the first big purge of stuff

OP posts:
Wasabiprawns · 02/03/2022 14:36

@KobaniDaughters

Petersfield/Haslemere and Lewes
We're moving back to Haslemere in august after 5 years in the states too!
Original poster
KobaniDaughters · 02/03/2022 14:48

@Wasabiprawns oh really?! Where from and do you have DC? I was talking to a friend the other day who moved back two years ago and has made friends with a school mum who’d also been an expat and it did make me think it would be lovely to know others in the community who’s had a similar lifestyle

Are you coming “back” to Haslemere or is it new to you? Might need to pick your brains!

OP posts:
Wasabiprawns · 02/03/2022 14:51

Yes we have a house in Haslemere so kind of returning to normal. We were only in the states for an assignment so knew that we would be returning. Kids are 12 & 10 and were in school in Haslemere prior to the states.

Wasabiprawns · 02/03/2022 14:52

Of course if you have any questions on the area I can try to help.

Original poster
KobaniDaughters · 02/03/2022 15:00

I’m very jealous of you having a home to return to! Secondary place has been sorted for my eldest but now the juggle of housing and primary place for my youngest is our biggest stress factor

OP posts:
Wasabiprawns · 02/03/2022 15:09

Yes the property is quite crazy there, both rental and sales. Is the secondary school private?

Original poster
KobaniDaughters · 02/03/2022 15:16

Nope - he got a place at TPS, they’re an academy so they do their own admissions

Housing is just crazy all over

OP posts:
Wasabiprawns · 02/03/2022 15:30

Feel like I might be missing something there as I was told that I couldn't apply for the the schools until July! I'll have to give it another look. My daughter is a bit gutted that she will miss out on the immersion Spanish at bohunt.

Re housing...I was looking at an Airbnb for a month and the owner said that there were tenants that had been there since last year who had moved down from London. So that may be an option for renting too.

Original poster
KobaniDaughters · 02/03/2022 16:11

I’d get in touch with the school directly - Bohunt Liphook and Horsham were like “we’re full go away” but TPS said they’d create space for him, we have to send them proof of living there once we have it. We toured the schools last summer and met the staff - my DS studies mandarin so I really needed him to get a place at a Bohunt Academy school

Def looking at ALL options!! If you hear of anyone looking to rent their home (short term, long term, furnished, unfurnished) let me know!

OP posts:
Original poster
KobaniDaughters · 02/03/2022 16:14

Also I talked to Hampshire LEA and they have a window 1st May - 13th June to apply for places starting in September, they were really helpful. Surrey if you apply after 1st June they automatically assume for September start date and seem less flexible with applying before you move even if you have proof you’ll be moving there (plane ticket and mortgage/rental agreement)

OP posts:
Wasabiprawns · 02/03/2022 17:00

That's funny....I got a similiar impression that they were really offish. I read out to DH and he said that were just laying the land so to say. But i felt both secondary schools that i contacted were a bit arsy! Primary on the other hand were lovely. I do think that it'll be an adjustment as UK secondaries are more strict than US middle schools.

i am looking at Woolmer hill to given our address. I think if your son is into mandarin then i would keep trying for bohunt but i was told that my daughter wouldn't be able to join the immersion programme.

I'll PM you the airbnb that i was looking at...don't know what price they may offer but i think that it is free from the 27th August. It was in Haslemere.

Original poster
KobaniDaughters · 05/03/2022 15:49

Wobbles are happening here - from DH who says he’s lost sight of why we’re moving. I’m worried he’s totally emotionally disconnected himself and is setting himself up for failure. He has a LOT on in terms of work and I’m doing basically everything towards the move so I think it’s all become a bit of a theoretical runaway train for him. Help me get him back onboard!!!

OP posts: