Identifying the Right Location for your New Home

For some of us when we move home, researching the area we want to live in won’t be a problem. This is because lots of us move house but stay in the same town. However, there are many people (more and more these days) who are unhappy with their current scenery and want something more.

This, in my opinion should be commended. Looking for broader horizons and different challenges in life are just what we all need. Of course, there is no shame in being happy with your lot but that doesn’t work for everyone. 

The trouble is many of us have an idea of where we want to be, but we don’t have a clue on where or, how to start. I have lost count of the amount of times I’ve been on holiday and remarked that I could live in the place I’ve visited, and I’ll bet anyone-else reading this will agree they’ve done the same in the past.

However, living somewhere is very different to being on holiday there. For a start, you don’t need to really worry about how daily life will go. We also don’t tend to worry about what it would be like at any other time of the year than summer.

The point I’m trying to get across is that you can’t really choose a location for your home just by being on holiday. So, in the following words I intend to give you some information on how you can go about finding the right place to live.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself:

• Do you visit the same place often?

•  Do you shop in the local supermarkets when you’re there?

•  Do you know anything about the local culture and how it works?

•  Do you visit at different times of the year?

If you can answer yes to a lot, and preferably all of the questions above this could be a sign it’s the place you can spend the rest of your days.

Once You’ve Decided

When you’re happy that you’ve found the right area, it’s time to start thinking about the location you want your home to be in. Personal circumstances count for a lot in this respect. For example, if you need regular medical attention you will need to make sure you’re near a hospital, or doctor’s surgery that’s easy to get to.

If you don’t intend to own a car public transport should be close by, and you should also be able to get to the local shops within a short walk. Even if you have a car you should think about how easy it is for you to reach the local amenities you’ll need.

There’s no point in being bowled over by that lovely country house if you can’t get the kids to school, or it’s near impossible for you to use the emergency services should you need them.

In Conclusion

If you take some of the advice and think about the questions asked above, you’ll be on the right track to finding the right location for your new home. Just make sure you do your research thoroughly, and take as much time as you need over the final decision. 

If you’re looking for more information about moving abroad or just about anything-else to do with moving, take a look here http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/blog/

Helping Your Children Thrive in a New Country

Moving to a new country isn’t something anyone takes lightly, and it’s probably going to be something you only do once in your life. If it wasn’t hard enough for people that don’t have children, you can imagine what it’s like for those who do!

The actual process of moving is more than likely the hardest part for you and your family. Once in your new home, you can begin to settle. However, this is often easier said than done. If you’ve moved your kids with you, how they settle depends a lot on how old they are.

Of course, one of the major reasons many families move to another country is so they can give their children a better start in life, and that begins with education. As parents, we would give our lives for our kids but it’s very easy to forget they have their emotional issues as well.

For example, if you have teens (and I feel your pain), I still remember what I was like! They may appear to be putting barriers up where you think they shouldn’t be. Comments like “I don’t want to go to school, it’s boring”, or “I’d rather stay indoors and play on the computer” are probably things you’ve all heard.

However, it’s important you read between the lines. The first statement could mean they’ve having trouble fitting in, the second could be they’re embarrassed because they’re finding it hard to fit in, and don’t have many friends.

These are just two problems you could come up against, and these are things worth thinking about when you first move. The family unit needs to be as strong as possible. After all, it’s new for everyone. Try to organise your move so the kids have time to take in their new surroundings before the new school term starts. Get the whole family involved in local activities that are connected to the school they’ll be going to.

It’s much easier for children to make friends in a social setting, much like adults. It’s rare we find our best friends through work, rather, we find them through social gatherings and it’s no different for children.

The trick is to make them feel comfortable about mixing with the other kids before its time to start school. 

If they have friends already, fitting in isn’t going to be a problem. Another point worth considering is your children are more than likely going to be a source of curiosity to the local children, and you should make your kids aware this should be welcomed, not shunned.

Kids brains are like sponges, and in most cases, they very quickly adapt to their new surroundings. However, being asked questions about where they come from, why they moved to their new country and what they think of it can put them on the spot.

Talk to your children about how they feel, what they think about why you moved and what they think about their new home. By doing this, you not only help keep the lines of communication open, you’ll help them feel more comfortable about answering these questions when asked. It will also give you an idea of what’s going on in their heads, which is always a good thing!

Lastly, no matter which country you’ve moved to, it’s a good idea to get them interested in the local culture and what the history is. Kids love to explore, and as long as they don’t realise they’re learning something, they’ll be teaching the local children a thing or two before you know it! If you’ve chosen to live in France, why not take a look at http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/moving_to_france.aspx for a bit of background information that might help.

De-Clutter Your Home Before You Move!

Moving home is difficult enough without having to pack a large amount of items you really don’t need. This can be hard for people who are “natural hoarders”, but now is the time to get rid of all those things you don’t use anymore.  If you have a loft, start there. This is the one place people tend to store items they can’t bring themselves to throw away.

Rules on Clearing out your Loft

If something has a thick layer of dust on it, make a beeline for this first. I’m not advising you to throw away family heirlooms or precious photos that date back several generations because these are of sentimental value to you. What you should do is decide what items have been sitting in your loft for years and are never used.

If you find yourself thinking “blimey, I forgot I had this” it’s likely there is no place for it in your life. If you come across anything that’s simply not useable, throw it away! It will take up space in the removal van, and this will cost you more money. 

Go into your loft armed with large plastic bags, and be prepared to fill them. Believe me, the satisfaction you’ll get when you’ve managed to reduce the amount of items in your loft by at least half will put a smile on your face.

 Wardrobes

Clothes are heavy when they’re all packed together, and this will also cost more money with the removal company. Be ruthless with your clothes. Anything you haven’t worn for a year or more should go to the local charity shop. There’s no use in hanging on to a top that doesn’t fit anymore simply because you like the colour!

Books and Papers

Again, books are heavy and if you’re an avid reader, the chances are you’ll have a pretty large collection. Take a look at the books you have and donate any that you’re not going to read again to a local library or charity organisation. DO NOT keep a book just because you think you “might” read it again. These days, it’s relatively inexpensive to download digital books, and this will cost you less than it will to move the books you have now.

Everyone keeps important papers such as bank statements, mortgage papers, and information on credit cards, and all sorts of other things in the home. If you can, scan these into your computer and keep them on an external hard-drive. MAKE SURE you password any information that’s sensitive and shred what you now have on your hard-drive. You’ll be amazed at the amount of space this will save, and it will also amaze you that it can be kept on something that fits in a handbag.

The Rest of Your Home

We all have things stored away in cupboards, so this should be your next move. If you find objects stuffed in the back of a cupboard that hasn’t seen the light of day for a while, get rid of it. This is also true of items you have on show. If you find yourself looking at an ornament and thinking “you know, I really don’t like that”, give it away. 

A Few Final Words

Reading this might have stressed you out to the max, but honestly, when you’ve finished de-cluttering your home before you move, you’ll feel 10lbs lighter! It will also make packing much easier for you and, as said will save you money because you’ll have less to move.

Once you’ve managed to de-clutter and you’re ready to look for a removal company, take a look here http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/ for a really easy way of finding a professional outfit to help you.

Relocating Your Family

There are many reasons you might need to relocate your family. It could be that you feel now is the time to immigrate to another country simply because you know you and your kids will have a better quality of life. Considering the current economic climate, many people are moving their families because job opportunities are better elsewhere in the world.

Whatever the reason is, it IS going to be a stressful time for you and sometimes it can be hard to focus on why you’ve decided to do this. It’s actually far easier to relocate your family if your children are still quite young. The younger a child is, the easier it is for them to adapt to a new way of life.

The older children are the more attached they are to their surroundings. They may have life-long friends they don’t want to leave behind, or they might be at that age where rebellion against their parents is all that matters. Remember, we were all teenagers once and if you think back to what you put your parents though whilst your hormones were raging, it’s easy to understand why a teenager might become a slight glitch in the whole relocation process.

The only piece of advice that can help with this is to make sure you talk openly and honestly with the kids, and treat any worries they have with kindness and understanding. Once you have them on your side, things will go much more smoothly.

Of course, you will have to deal with everything else that goes with moving. You will have to make sure that you have somewhere to live in your new area and tie up any loose-ends in terms of your old address. You shouldn’t forget about making sure that utilities are disconnected and your post is re-directed etc.

Don’t Lose Your Nerve!

The information given so far may have you quivering in your boots, and you might be questioning your decision but the fact is you have to remember you’re only looking for a better life for you and your family. NEVER lose sight of this. If you plan well ahead of time and get the whole family involved, this can actually be a very exciting time for all of you.

Approach the move with a positive manner and try to make it fun for the kids. You might want to give them a little bit of responsibility so they feel more grown up. Perhaps entrust them with labelling the boxes that have been packed, or get them involved in finding a removal company for you. Actually you could ask them to take a look at this website http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/ which is so easy to use you could call it “child’s play”!

Finally

If you’re moving to another country make sure you know all about the local laws, and find out about taxes (this is especially important if you’ve bought a new home). Check that it’s possible for you to have a bank account and if you’re going to be using a different currency, weigh up if it’s worth keeping your money in your home country instead of the new one.

Amenities in your new area are also important. You and your kids will need to be registered with a doctor, and you’ll need to have a school close by. Being able to get to a hospital in an emergency is also important, so check all of these things before you even think about taking the plunge and relocate your family.

Satellite Switch by the BBC Leaves Expats in Uproar!

I’ve lived as an expat for the best part of 8 years now, and I have to say I’m glad I made the transition. However, this blog isn’t about what I think of expat life, it’s about how I was outraged at the recent murmurings concerning the BBC and how they have switched to a new satellite feed which has been widely publicised as having a smaller “footprint”.

OK, “outraged” may be a bit of an over reaction but I can’t help but think I’m being punished because I don’t live in the UK anymore. After all, it was my country of birth and I’m still interested to know what’s going on and one way to do that is to watch the local BBC news. 

Presently, I live in Southern Spain but other expats like me who live in different countries around Europe and even the world have also been affected by this move. The one question that springs to mind is why? And, it’s hard not to feel like I’m being singled out because I live somewhere other than the UK.

The bosses at the BBC will tell you different. They have stated this smaller “footprint” was needed so the BBC signal could be strengthened in order to give better coverage over certain areas in the UK. However, it doesn’t help that Mr. Pryde (Director of BBC Distribution) practically said expats don’t really have the right to watch their channels!

Of course, as someone who has lived and travelled throughout Europe I have learned that “where the is a will, there is a way” and many companies have already stated the way to regain access to the BBC news, the channels my kids love and the soaps my Mum loves to watch (yes, practically the whole family has left the UK) is to buy a bigger satellite dish.

Not to be one to take the first piece of advice that comes my way (no matter how desperate I am), I decided to do some digging. What I found was a piece of technology called IPTV. If you use this technology, it will restore all the BBC feeds you’ve lost and the best bit is you don’t need to buy a new satellite dish.

I found this link  http://www.ntv.mx?r=df which was surprisingly informative without being too technical. 

Unfortunately, you mention the phrases “Astra1” or “Astra2” and my brain shuts down! I have been using this system for a short time, but I have to say it has served me well so far. Oh, and I’ve also discovered I have a ton more movies at my disposal as well!

If you’re really stuck when it comes to understanding how satellite feeds work, and you need some more information (which I did in the beginning), take a look here http://www.theithelper.com/contact-us.aspx.They will be able to answer any questions, give advice on the best software and/or hardware you need it and they really helped my out in my “hour of need”.

Suffice to say, normality has returned to not just my household but a good deal of my expat neighbours homes as well!