I am being a complete ostrich about moving back to UK this summer and cannot bring myself to think about schools, where to live etc

[Tanzie]

I am just rocking and whimpering. What do we do - find house first then school or see if school has places and hope we can find a house nearby?

We are thinking of Milton Keynes area, in one of the villages - how easy is it to rent up there?

Have not spent any length of time in UK since 1986...

(whimpers and rocks quietly)

Bump (for advice and sympathy!)

ooh Tanzie - I would be looking at schools first I think within a general geographic location. I take it you're not moving for work?

Come live in the West Midlands :)

Tanzie you may be better bumping this in the morning.......ATM the whole of MN is trying to figure out who pinched Mars Lemon Drizle cake recipe.

You will get sensible input in the morning I should think.

I'd love to live near you Jampots, but I think DH is going to be working in MK and I will be commuting to Landan.

Come live near me. Prices astronomical, schools brilliant!

You'll be fine my love. I promise!

Hmm... It's a nightmare isn't it?

I would do some research first on desirable/undesirable schools, then phone the LEA and ask about places and waiting lists for your dds' school years for your top 5 schools to give you an idea as to what the 'market' is like in that area. And you can also rule out one-school-villages with either dreadful or impossible-to-get-into schools in your property search.

Are you looking for somewhere for a few years? Or relatively short-term?

The \link{http://www.nagcbritain.org.uk/\NAGC} are based in MK, and I have a feeling they have an active local branch there that run Saturday activities etc., which might suit your dds down to the ground! Does that cheer you up any?

Yes, Roisin, that's very helpful, thank you.

MarsLady, from what I remember, you live near all my family, which si a great reason for not moving there. Although I will miss you of course.

We are keeping flat in central London rented out and hope to rent somewhere cheaper with a garden near MK.

iota is in (or near) MK I believe, Tanzie - she was bragging about her huge Walmart the other day (it's about a mile long)

\link{http://www.mkweb.co.uk/\MKweb}. (Shopping is classified as entertainment - sure you want to live there? )

OOh, I love Walmart. Went to a huge one in Germany before Christmas and spent a fortune.

Tanzie, hope the moves goes well - when you can bear to think about it!

I would just second what people have said and narrow down to the school first - people in the UK now move to get to the right area for the right school because they are so variable! So get the school you are happy with and this will then give you your geographical area that the school catchment covers.

You must feel weird about coming here after all this time!

Sparkelmagic, it is freaking me out. It is like coming to a foreign country. Although I heaved them out in UK, neither of the DDs has ever lived there.

blimey, it is a big change for you all then, specially the DD's....

i think you should find something to rent in the area you're considering without too much trouble. Have you got addresses for property search websites? cos I can give you them if you haven't.

Ooh, yes please, Sparklemagic. Have found lots of estate agents but not many who do lettings, though I would have thought it was quite easy to rent somewhere round there, given the amount of businesses up there.