Return to UK

We have never moved permanently to another country so I can't give my two peneth on that question but we have traveled for months and still travel at least 3 months a year so have experienced many countries.

When we traveled for 12 months around the world I missed English food, the seasons, walking in the countryside, cool weather.

We did move to another town for retirement but I did quite a bit of research before we moved to make sure it was the best place for us and it was a very good decision and we are extremely happy here.

I too lived abroad for 12 years before coming back to the UK. We lived in Paris, Germany and Belgium. My 3 children were all born abroad. We only lived in Paris for a year but loved it. When we lived in Germany, although half-German, we found it hard to be fully accepted, but then we knew that would be the case and lived with it. Belgium was a different ball-game. We made lots of friends (who we still see and visit even after being back in the UK for over 20 years).
We thought we were doing the right thing for our childrens education by coming back, but we have since wondered if we made the right decision although they all have degrees. We often think of going back to live in Germany but I still work full-time (at 70) and travel a lot for my job.
My youngest daughter moved to Dubai last month with her family (2 GC), my eldest daughter wants to go move to the US with her 14 yr old son (her partner is in Texas) and my son wants to move to Australia with his 2 children. We did it so I think they deserve to make the best out of their lives but naturally we will miss them all but Skype is a wonderful thing - still, good for a frew holidays before I retire...!

French people also seem to prefer some formality and it is rare to be invited into their homes, but it hasn't stopped them being very kind to me wherever I have lived in France. I like the way the young people greet each other - a handshake between the boys and a kiss on both cheeks for the girls.

My sister has lived in Germany since 1968 but it took 25 years before friends invited them to call them by their first name rather than Frau or Herr Doktor.

leokath, ashton under lyne -v- crete, what a choice! I lived in AuL as a child, and recently visited to look at our old house. I don't know how long it is since you spent time in what were mill towns ? I live in north Bolton, it's great as we have Manchester half an hour away, but open countryside on our door step. Chorlton, Didsbury and so on are great places socially I find. We have good friends in those areas, and I often go to the excellent Chorlton food shops. Sadly, Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale and even Altrincham have all suffered from town centre poverty, numerous shops closed and an over all run down feel. Bury is on the up. The council seem to have been much more forward thinking and the new developments along the Rock are good. Do you know Uppermill? That's a proper town, with a lively centre, good shops for food and even clothes.

Deedaa Yes it is tradition here that after moving in the neighbours get together. My daughter lives in a new house among other new houses and they have a street party every year in July.
My other daughter has just invited the people who had done a holiday house exhange with the house next door. They were from Holland and they all went out for a drink. But then, it was a warm summer evening and in winter people don't get together as much.

I am horrified that you faced such animosity MargaretX I've travelled through Germany a few times and always found everyone very pleasant and helpful - what a shame we can't be the same. Before the handgun Ban there used to be a big pistol shoot at Bisley and on the last night the German Team would throw a party for everybody. It was great fun and we met some lovely people.

I came back to the UK in 1991 as my husband had been transferred to Manchester. I was very happy to be coming home and looked forward to meeting new people and becoming friends. I did not know about the animosity towards Germans and we had to reverse- park the car in the drive with the D (for Germany) which was stuck on the boot of the car not facing the road. Someone in the Bridge club snubbed me because Germany refused to enter the war in Iraq. And I was not German but just married to one, who was a baby during the WW2
There is no interest in any where else and when you've been abroad you can't make yourself insular again.
I never saw the inside of any neighbour's house in the 6 years that followed. I started playing Bridge again and got out of the house most weeks. Socially we saw family and colleagues occasionally and over the years I grew warm again in the UK but had a couple of unfortunate experiences with the NHS. So we decided as we were not getting any younger, to return to Germany where we still had a house and good health care.
It could be that I would have been happier in Yorkshire but its too late now and I have resettled here and have GCs. We didn't suffer financially as DH was supported by his firm regarding high rents and our daughters' visits.

leokath It's not easy. We returned to the UK in 1984 after 11 years living in Hongkong.
It was October and I couldn't believe how cold it was. We went to a disco in the village hall and I wore a thermal vest, blouse and cardigan, thick skirt and thick tights, and I was still cold.
I missed the sunshine. I remember going into the garden one spring day 6 months after we had come back and feeling the sunshine on my arms and feeling very tearful.
Don't expect your friends and relatives to understand that you might be feeling homesick and missing your life and friends in Crete. Generally, they are not interested in over there. Only in over here.

leokath There are quite a number of GNrs not far from that area.
You a Yorkshire Lass wanting to return to Lancashire? Shame on you! .
I have no sensible advice but I hope you can sort it out.

I had lived in France since 2002, but in 2005 I had to go back to England to help my daughter. There was no problem of bureaucracy. I re-registered with the NHS, informed the Inland Revenue and that was that.
I was able to return to France in 2010, fortunately. It did cost me about £1,000 in tax, as my retirement pension is covered by my French personal allowance.