Expat, child abduction, potential divorce - a bundle of laughs!

[Rattyandmole]

Hi all, I'm in a fairly mad situation and would appreciate any advice/experience from fellow mumsnetters.
Briefly (I'll try!), my husband (EU citizen applying for Brit citizenship) and myself (non-EU citizen applying for Brit citizenship) have lived in the UK for a number of years but have been talking about going to live in an EU country. He keeps shifting the goalposts on what is agreed so now says he won't pay (we both work equally in our own company) for English schools for our older children, who do not speak the local language and have no connection to the country aside from summer holidays. The younger ones are already in said country, going to a local creche since May and I am in with them trying to organise the move. He is coming in mid-July with the other kids and the UK house will be rented out. I've constantly said I want our possessions stored in the UK but he is insisting on them being shipped and stored in the destination country. I had thought we could try to have a nice summer holiday together and see if we can rebuild a relationship and move forward in the new country.
But now I am really worried about being stuck out here once all the kids are here and having no right to return home (UK) with them if it all turns to custard. We fight constantly and he often tells me to go back to my home country, so this may well be on the cards.
Do you think I can still claim it is just a summer holiday if I take them back in September? Or is 6 months of them being here, in schools, the cutoff point for them being deemed habitually resident? Or is it just that I CANNOT take them out of the country at all without his consent once they are all here? I am panicking this week as it may be my last chance to get back to the UK with the 2 younger kids and start a divorce in the UK. If I take the kids back to where we currently officially live (the UK) I'm hardly abducting them, surely, even if it is without his consent? I'm then bringing the kids to him not away from him, aren't I?
I've also put this to babybarrister and hoping to have a phone call with a specialist soon. But any experiences or thoughts would be welcome.

Hello all, thanks for your thoughts. I flew back with the kids and it all came out as he had seen my emails to my lawyer and was also tracking my cellphone to the airport. Probably reading this post (waves hello!). But he said he'd go willingly, packed up and left the house. He's gone back to his home country and says he won't see us again but that's just pride talking. It's very confusing for the children but we are managing to get through. It's all pretty devastating, as I knew it would be and I imagine it is going to get very messy with lawyers etc. But I have lots of good support here and friends are lending a hand (and wine!).

Tracking your phone?! Oh dear. I'm not sure you've heard the last of this. Well done for getting back and finding support!

Hi OP, glad to read you're safe and back home. Although I don't doubt things will be difficult for a time, I guess there's peace from knowing you made the right decision for both yourself and DC

Glad you are back.

The whole tracking your phone and reading your emails really confirms you've done the right thing.

Do contact Women's aid and get advice on the legality and otherwise of his actions. And get him out of your email, get your phone sorted etc.

But well done!

Glad you have made it home. When you are sure he is unable to see your private messages on mumsnet let me know as there's something else I'd like to make you aware of :)

I'm an expat here in the Us. I have turned down moves to countries with poor divorce rules.

You need to get on a plane and get back to the UK before he flies out to you. Then go and see a lawyer.