Hello fellas!

Some of you may remember my UK thread, now I'm starting another one.

Why? Because I went on an interview at the start of the month and I've just been informed that I got the job! I'll be working as a Registered Nurse in Stockton-on-Tees (somewhere closer to Newcastle than to London, AFAIK) on a 20K per year salary. So it's even better than the terms I've had on the last job I've applied for! Yippee!!

Now that that part is over with and I'm really sure I'm bound for the UK, I was wondering what the "dark side" of the UK is. I've just watched the Yob video and it's really disturbing. I don't want to bring my wife and kids to the UK only to have them harassed by some insecure white #%&*$#. Is that occurrence "common" in the UK? I know someone here has had it happen to them or to someone they know, but is there any way to avoid it? Maybe live in a better neighborhood? I'm a bit beefy for a Filipino so my size makes it easy for me to "stare down" some punks and most just leave me alone, but I expect to be medium-sized when compared to Brits... and maybe some Brit punk will think of me as easy meat. Sigh... time to take out the brass knuckles again, eh?

Another thing I'd like to discuss is the weather. I'm told it's going to be very cold there. I asked the Brit who came here "what's with all the fuss about the cold? It's not like we're going out in our underwear. I expect to be dressed properly when going out." And he says "sure, but it'll STILL be cold!" So I guess our *tropical* wardrobe here is only good for indoor/summer use in the UK? Will I be expected to be buying a lot of new, warm, thick clothes? Does this mean that there's a "summer" set of clothes and there's a "winter" set of clothes?

So, is anybody here on the northern UK area? I know you guys know your UK geography better than I, so any information on the Stockton-on-Tees area, the one you don't get from wikipedia or such, would be great. For one, I hear the housing is cheaper "up north" than it is in the London and southern areas... a quick search gives me a 2-3 bedroom house for about GBP300 pcm, so that's good when planning to bring the family over.

On a topic closer to my geek-ness.... I plan to buy a digital camera here so that I can take pictures before I leave, during the trip, and as I "get used to" the UK. However, I was thinking of buying a laptop there instead of getting one here before leaving. I figure it's better this way so that I don't get any nasty surprises when I get to UK, plus I figure the selection of laptops there is better than I could ever hope for here.

Just gabbing here folks, and wanted to spread the good news. Any information you can give would be highly appreciated.

Congratulations Ice, nice to see that it turned out well eventually! And in the North as well, which is typically cheaper (house-prices-wise) than the south. Outstanding.

With regards to the yob issues, it does happen, although it varies greatly depending on location and time of day. Generally, just avoid streets late at night, especially around pubs, since the beer has been known to flow. Chavs don't usually go up to houses though - that's extremely rare.
In all honesty, it doesn't really happen on that regular a basis; you'll just have to see how it goes.

With regards to weather, up north is a little colder by a couple of degrees, so it shouldn't be too bad. Still, keep in mind that temps range from 25-30C in summer to (potentially) -2 in the winter. Being a southerner, I'm not so sure about the Newcastle area, but one thing that it is in the UK is that it's windy. For example, summer clothes can be shorts and a T-shirt; winter clothes can be jeans, T-shirt, jumper/sweater, and coat. As long as you can cover those bases, you should just dress for the weather (which is why we always stereotypically talking about it).

On the subject of digital cameras and laptops, sounds good. Laptop selection and general purchasing options are pretty big here; you got the shops, and for everything else is the internet. This gives you the ability to shop around for lower prices.

The only other thing I suggest, if you haven't already, is to look at the kinds of red tape that you need to get done or have ready prior to entering the UK. Useful stuff can be found on http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/migrantworkers/index.htm although better information may be found through the UK embassy website or something like that. Better to get as much done up front, rather than picking up the pieces later.

Anyway, congratulations once again; I hope the UK works out for you

Stockton/Middlesbrough etc. are somewhat grey, old industrial towns which like most here have seen manufacturing decline severely at the end of the 20th century.
I'm sure that there are some nice places but I think of that as a "hard" area.
Hopefully someone from around there can give you a more detailed idea.

I wouldn't hold out much hope of 30C in the summer though - 25C would be a very good day.
Average temps run 1C- 20C. http://uk.weather.com/climate/annualClimo-Stockton-on-Tees-UKXX0141
& when the wind comes off the North sea in winter it's going to feel cold even for someone who was brought up here let alone from the Philippines- yes, we generally do have lighter summer & heavier winter clothes.

Whilst the north is cheaper than the south £20K isn't an awful lot so I would investigate whether your family will be eligible for various things like Child Benefit, Working Families Tax Credit etc. etc.
Btw does that £300pcm incl. bills (electricity, heating etc.)? I suspect not.

Hey Ice, congratulations to your new job!

I live in the UK now for three years and I love it. Coming from nothern Germany I didn't have to adapt much weather wise but I'm sure it'll be different for you. And yes, you'll definetly need different clothes for summer and winter. Concerning the violence: I think the UK can be a quiet rough place if you end up in the wrong areas. But you have these areas in most european countries although the class divide in the UK is very noticable. Other than that the UK is a great place to live. Friendly and welcoming people, food that is much better than it's reputation (yorkshire pudding is delicious), beautiful landscapes (North Yorkshire moors, Yorkshire Dales) and intersting cities and towns (Leeds not being one of them IMO).

Best of luck with your new job and have a good trip.

Hi Ice,

I am in Darlington, a couple of miles from Stockton, and Stockton Town centre is not the nicest part of the North East but Middlesbrough (close to Stockton) has come on a long way in the last few years and Darlington is a nice town now. But there are obviously nice and not so nice parts everywhere.

If you like scenery then you have the North Yorkshire moors a short car journey south of you and the Lake District an couple of hours north, it certainly is a scenic part of England.

House prices and general day to day living is cheaper than the south. Violence is in every country and is not something you see everyday from my experience, but as Tbag said it depends where you find yourself in.

If you have some houses in mind and want to let me know the areas you are thinking I can let you know whether it's a good or bad area? Just a thought.

Welcome to the UK and we'll have you 'tarkin' like a jardie in nee time!'

I don't live in the UK but have some good friends there. It's absolutely tropical compared to where I come from

Hi Gopher. Thanks for the assurance re yob issue. You say the North is cheaper, does this hold true for goods like groceries and clothing? How about for PC hardware?

I do hope to have a laptop 2-4 weeks after I arrive, as I'll mainly use it to communicate with folks here --- so it's basically for email and chat. For gaming, I'll be saving up for a rig at around 500-1000GBP.

Red tape: Should I be worried about this? I'll be entering the UK with 20-30 other Nurses and we'll be joining an NHS hospital via a recruiting agency so I think they'll be covering the bases as much as possible --- the smoother our transition, the less work for them, I think.

Buff, the 300pcm does not include the bills, so yes, 20K with a family would be hard. I guess I'll be winging it a bit while I'm there and get a feel if I can support them if I bring them over. My youngest is still 7 months old so I'm not gonna let my wife work until he's about school-age.

What constitutes a "bad area" in the UK? I mean in the US, I've been told that low-income black neighborhoods (that's what I've been told, not being a racist here) are pretty dangerous places, so what are the "signs" of a bad area?


Mace, are you familiar with the North Tees hospital? I know they have 3 centers in that area, so I'm not sure where exactly I'm going to be assigned. Plus they tell me that even if I'm assigned at one area, I can be temporarily sent to the other center if I'm needed there (staffing problems or patient census). Anyway, how far are you from Stockton?

Hi Ice,

Well done on the new job!

I think your new employers will help you find a home in a good area. Also try and talk to other nurses already in-country if you can. There are forums for foreign nurses in the UK, too.

I think a comparative look at house and renting prices might show you a good area - generally higher is better. Google for 'Stockton Estate Agents' perhaps.

When do you start?

Hi Vitesse, thanks!

Yes, the employers are going to arrange housing for us for at least the first 4 months, after which it will be our option to continue renting the place or moving somewhere else. Like I said, I'm leaving with a bunch of other nurses, so my "housemates" will be 2-3 of those nurses. However, the long-term plan is to bring my family over so finding a good house in a good neighborhood is part of the plan... and the earlier I get this done, the sooner I can get my wife and kids over.

The employers hope to have us by end of January, but a more realistic time-frame (considering Visa and NMC processing times) would be mid-February or maybe even March. I'm told this is still considered "winter season" in the UK (which is the busiest time for healthcare, I'm told)... when does spring start?

Hi Ice,

Good that you have somewhere sorted for the first few weeks.

Jan / Feb are probably the coldest time here. Spring should get going about April. I'm a few hundred miles south of Stockton and it's warmer earlier where I live. I believe the weather in Stockton is influenced by the North Sea (even it's name sounds cold!) You'll be wanting your warm coat when you get off the plane!

This is going to be a life change for you and your family. I hope it leads you where you want to go!

Cheers!

Don't be listening to these southerners Ice, lol. I am about 6 miles(ish) from stockton and was there this morning taking my son to guitar practice.

Prices for pc hardware, software are the same all over the country so it'll be no cheaper in the north but obviously be more enjoyable not being in the south :-)

Sod those Northern Monkies!

London is the place to go.

And yes Mace, I'm 100% London/cockney/west 'am/ICF bad mofo....

LOL

Andy.

...so Andy has the greatest admiration and respect for his team's close neighbours Millwall FC!

Hehe.

Edit: Close neighbours prior to 1910!

LMAO

Don't get me started.

I've been in run-ins with Millwall fans that are nothing short of civil war!
Those were the days........

Strangely ironic how Ice is a Filipino that's going to England, and I'm a Londoner who WAS going to the Philippines......

Ahhhh, the North-South divide. You can't really beat London; it's got pretty much everything.
In fact the South in general has most of the good stuff... it starts to get worse once you're past Watford Gap...

But yeah, computer/software/hardware stuff is pretty even throughout the UK. Fuel prices tend to be a couple pence lower in cities than say in the countryside, and if you're going over with a group of other chaps, the chances are that legal issues ought to be dealt with, as they will already have a framework for that.

Listen to Gopher!

LOL

Oi!!! *takes off glove and slaps Gopher across the face* Sir, if I can call you such, I challenge you to a duel! Choose your vegetable and meet me at dawn by the chippy down the road!

I will happily accept your challenge!...

...as long as you pay for the journey!

On the subject of The Great Dish, gawd I am dying for a fish'n'chips. I haven't had one since... July?? For a country full with fish, I don't get why no-one has set up a chippy up here. I wonder if there is one in Tromsø...

so what do Norwegians do with all that fish if they don't deep fry it & stick it with some potatoes & peas?

This is too easy an opportunity to pass up, so:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutefisk

Generally though, Norwegians are surprisingly tetchy about eating healthily, which I guess explains the lack of deep frying.

They probably trout-slap as well, but I haven't provoked a local Viking into doing that yet.

This here Colonial loves a good fish & chips as well.

It is indeed ironic isn't it? The majority of Brits I know who left the UK did so to avoid the higher cost of living and the taxes while most of the people I know who immigrated to the UK did so for the employment opportunities.

almost as bad as the Icelanders & their buried shark ....
but how do they have their fish for the other 9 months of the year?

You guys "escape" to the Philippines because your money is worth more here; we go to the UK because the pay is far, far better there (yes, even with all the taxes and cost of living) than it is here.

How much better? To give an example, my entire month's salary here would be good for a 500GB hard drive, while I can earn the same hard drive and more with about 2-2.5 days' work in the UK. And remember, we're talking about the SAME JOB with the SAME RESPONSIBILITIES and the SAME PENALTIES if you make a mistake. Simply put, I can work in the UK and feed my family, while the same work here isn't even enough to cover rent and food for a month.


Thanks for the kind words, Vitesse. It truly will be life-changing and I hope I never regret this decision when I get old.

Mace, when the employers came here, they brought with them a video to show the "accent" of the area. Though the employers were careful with their speech, it took about a few milliseconds more than usual for my brain to process their speech into something I could understand --- the video was terrible as I could barely make out what the people were saying. So I guess getting used to the accent will be a major challenge for me... not that I'm worried much since I'll be working in a relatively-isolated part of the hospital.

What's with all the fuss about fish&chips? Is that like a national dish or something?

yes.

Fish'n'chips are a bit of a guilty pleasure in today's world of overindulgence, but nonetheless one of the popular take-away foods in the UK. Deep-fried chips (thick-cut) with battered fish;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_and_chips

It's not something that one ought to eat too often (unless you like heart bypass operations), but every now and then is great. Mmmm.

On that wiki article, the Stromness fish and chips photo is the benchmark. most of the others are pale imitations.

Well done Ice, glad you made it in the end! I hope everything else goes smoothly

True Fish and chips

HADDOCK + CHIPS + MUSHYPEAS

unfortuatly the southerner eat cod for some strange reason, i mean its the fish you give to the cat!

(This post was sponsored by a Grimbarian, dont challenge his fish and chip knowledge on pain of death!)

Well then Lewis, I shall never question your Britishness.

@ Ice - Best of luck and success to you in your new career and setting.

Ice, you have to have fish, chips and mushy peas when you come to the UK! We have cod normally up here Lewis, Haddock is usually a special order your shout across the counter and is the size of a small shark lol.

Also, you have to try the Middlesbrough speciality of a Parmesan. Very thin pork, sometimes chicken, covered in breadcrumbs with a layer of bechamel sauce (I think, would need a smoggy to clarify) in between the meat and breadcrumbs, very nice

The accent in the North East is definately hard to get used to. I came up here from Sheffield in Yorkshire (where they talk reet proper) and I could not understand people either, especially the Sunderland accent (called Maccums) which is very broad.

You will pick it up though

although living in Lowestoft down sarf at the moment I am originally from Grimsby so I know me fish and indeed Mace mushy peas, down here and further south they don't have anything moist with there fish and chips bloody barbarians!

...and dnt forget British Curry's!

Yeah, they are wierd them Southerners. I work with a lad from Essex (easy, easy!!) and Devon and they can't understand mushy peas. I tell them it's called Yorkshire Caviar but they won't go near them! They don't have gravy on there chips either!!! Just curry sauce...

British Curries are good too, after a few jars. Does this conversation move onto the ultimate drunk's food? The veritable kebab......

MIXED KEBAB! IS THE DON!

Why choose which kind of kebab meat when you can have them all with salad and onoins and chilli sauce in one FAT pitta with a couple chilles to bite on for starter, well I say starter I mean after the beers the shooters and the getting lost fromt he club to the kebab house.

Scots prefer Haddock & any decent chip shop only fries fish to order anyway ...

next job - introduce - Ice to real beer (dark stuff not pissy lager) - guess it'll be Nookie Broon (never been the same since they moved the brewery ) around Stockton?
& perhaps get him reading Viz

I love Newcastle Brown Ale!

> dark stuff not pissy lager

I like your style BUFF!

Newkie Brown is horrid. Lived on it at college (was cheap) and I think I OD'd lol and now can't stand the stuff.

In Stockton it would be White Lightning and Turps as the favourite lol....

meths & milk ?

..... And now I've got no idea where this thread is going... Care to clue me in guys?

Also, since I seem to be heading for a weird part of the UK, any terms/phrases/expressions I'd better be familiar with right away?

Mainly about food and beer Ice, don't worry. It's not a weird part of the UK, it's just.....different It's not really Yorkshire you're going to but I guess it's close enough to assume some similarities.

So watch this for a start: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VLYpKGVBUg

Here some pictures from the Lake District which is on the west coast, a few hours drive from your new home:

Lol, that was a funny one, but I bet there were more "UK jokes" there that I didn't catch... like the sloppy green vegetables they were serving.

Tbag, what city is that area closest to, and how many hours exactly away from it is the place on those pictures? I'm not much of a nature buff, but those are amazing shots, especially the first one. How'd you get there anyway? GF dump you in the middle of nowhere and you're trying to make it back to civilization?

Guys, post pics if you got them please! And not just nature shots, anything of interest goes (and that would maybe include the local PC seller!)!!

The street I lived in Leeds Feb08:



It doesn't snow very often (at least in the last three years) but when it does:



The Yorkshire dales from above:





I can't find much more images that would be of interst to you. When I do I'll post them

P.S.: The Lake District photos are taken near Keswick, google maps tells me that it would take you 2h by car and I think that's about right. Then you have to climb the mountain (or hill, however you want to call them) to take some nice photos And no, it wasn't my GF trying to get rid of me I like hiking a lot and the UK is a great country for this. Although you get a little tired of these mossy, fluffy mountains after some time.

Nice ones. Regarding the snow, it doesn't snow much in your area? You are in the Northern part of UK, right? So is it just cold without too much snow?

I was also wondering, how do you refer to the general northern UK area? How do you refer to the Hartlepool/Newcastle area?

Speaking of transport, the agency guys keep on telling us that buying a car in the UK is cheap, but keeping it running legally isn't. Any truth in this? Why? I'm planning to buy a 600cc sportbike, which a quick search shows that I can get brand-spankin' new 2009 model on a GBP99 downpayment and anywhere from GBP200-231 monthly payment, but I'm wondering what "hidden" fees there are here (like the nasty "TV license" thing)?

Stockton comes under the North East.

You will need to take your bike test over here which can cost around £500+ all in and can take anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks depending on how good you are lol. Insurance on a 600cc was quite expensive for me so i didn't get a bike in the end. Road tax is pretty cheap, cheaper than a car anyway.

Mostly car/bike insurance; if you've got a second hand car, this can sometimes be more than the price of the car itself, but is subject to quite a large number of factors. If I remember rightly, an average car insurance cost is between £500 and £1000 a year, depending on car, your occupation and all sorts of other things. I have no idea what it's like for a bike though. Also, fuel is a bit dear. Last time I saw, it was about a quid a litre, a quid ten for diesel.

Nice shots btw, Tbag; looks a lot better than London and the South East... and I also remember that particular snowstorm - man, that was spectacular, even in North London!

Yup. It can be very cheap to buy a car or motorbike, but -

After 3 years old it needs an MOT (ministry of transport) certificate (checks on safety items such as brakes, rust, seatbelts).

It must display a road fund tax disc.

You must have insurance.

You must have a valid driving license. A foreign license might be accepted 1 - 2 months after you arrive, but after 1 - 2 years, the police want to see a UK license.

And don't forget that TV license! It's not that long since you needed a dog license in the UK...

Cheers!

Well after all this time a thread I can speak with Genuine expertise on...IM FROM STOCKTON ON TEES !
Town that gave the world the passenger railway and the Friction match ! so there you have it. I must however admit that I havnt lived there since 1984 but my family still do and I go up and visit every so often. Now Stockton is not exactly a jewel of a town but from what Ive seen the whole region has improved vastly over the years. Yes it is industrial but there have been some remarkable projects. The Riverside is actually quite a sight. However ICE dont worry, the sorrounding areas are really beautiful. You have North Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Moors (Hills) to the south and you will be able to see them from Stockton. I practically grew up on the hills as my dad used to Glide and then fly model gliders up there. You have County Durham to the North and some staggering coast line all within an hours drive. As pointed out the Lake District to the West. What Hospital are you going to be working at ICE ? I work for the NHS...(South Central Ambulance Service so not up North) and am happy to tell you that the Phillipino medical staff have a really good reputation for professionalism and character, infact you guys could teach many of our staff a thing or two. I think much of it maybe a culture shock but good on you, will be quite an adventure. By all means PM me if you want more info, maybe even show you the sights one time when Im back home :-)

Foreign Licence is good for 12 months then you are expected to take a UK driving test

Edit some more...Hartlepool is notorious for the Monkey !!! in the 1800's in that they Hung a monkey as it was beleived to be a French spy !! (spoke funny looked funny ...fair enough must be french) a reputation the Town still labours under to this day, hence the term for somebody from Hartlepool...Monkey Hanger !!! got to love tradition.

Yeah, that's what the agency guy said. The car is cheap, the fuel may be affordable, but it's the insurance and getting it on the road legally that will cost a fortune. Is there any way to figure out the ENTIRE cost before actually buying a car/bike? I don't want to buy something and have it be a paperweight, but all this talk of nice views just being a few hours/minutes drive away and not have my own ride? I don't think the public transport stops at the scenic views in the middle of nowhere, huh?

Road test is for a UK license?

Nick, nice to see someone from the immediate area! Is the Stockton area different/separate from the Harltepool area? Cos I'm going to be working for the NHS there. While I do appreciate all the good "spots" on the surrounding countryside, I feel that I won't be in a position to appreciate them for quite some time (still need to sort out how to get my own vehicle). Any information you can share regarding the town itself would be good.

It's hopeless. Us Americans have been trying to get the Brits to introduce ice to their beer for a very long time and it simply hasn't taken hold. The still serve it warm.

WTF? UK beer is WARM?????!!!

No it certainly isn't warm, just these yanks think it has to be ice cold and have different flavours in them even, yuk! One of them even stated in one post they get Guiness in pitchers, WTF???? lol

Lager from the tap is cooled and just right, and the various bottled ones are fridge temperature.

My understanding is that its served room temperature which in the UK usually means its cool.

Don't believe everything you see - AFAIK all beer is served cold.

But I dont drink so I may not be up to date with the latest fashions...

that's because you are used to "beer" so bad that the only way to drink it is to freeze your tastebuds so that you can't in fact taste it.
real, flavourful ale on the other hand should be served in the 50s - it is a living thing after all.

Oooo... looking forward to the beer then!

Cherry Sourz + Coke

Corona + Lime fridge temp.

British beers... I remember this pub near Duxford, the Three Horseshoes Pub, lots of Guinness of course, but they had an IPA down there that was just about the best beer I've ever drank, Green King IPA!!

IPA is quite a tasty Beer.

Commercial American beers must be served almost frozen because it dulls the mediocre taste. Any good brew pub (on either side of the pond...and I have been in a number) serves its beer slightly chilled to ensure that it's pleasant but that the various subtle flavours come out.

Just bumping... looking for more info regarding getting my own vehicle in the UK. I have my own bike here (or moped, rather) and I would like to avoid public commute if possible. That, and I like exploring streets and getting a good "feel" of the area which is more possible with a bike than on foot.

Hi Ice,

Try looking on Autotrader.co.uk for a car that suits and note it's registration if you can.

Check out insurance at confused.com. You will have to make up some information, but you should be able to get a quote. It's all automatic and online.

Look for cars advertised with 12 months MOT and 12 months road tax if possible. Small engines/car = much cheaper insurance.

Happy Hunting!

for gods sake dont use compare the meerkat, damn there quotes seem awfully exspensive, no doubt to pay for the advertising campaign!

Vitesse, thanks for the site but the confused.com site eventually asks me for a phone number and I can't seem to copy-paste numbers that the website will accept.

I was born and bred in the Lake District....a lovely place and hopefully one you'll get chance to visit some time.

Regarding beer/drinking.....be very wary of southerners (particular cockneys) buying you a drink. They get a glass, fill half of it with lager and the other half with lemonade and then call it a 'tops' when really it is a shandy. They will also deny this venomously. It is a method of diluting drinks to make them weaker so they don't fall over.

Ice -

Perhaps try a matching address and number in the Stockton area. Should be easy to find a business address and use that.

I have PM'ed you a random but genuine business address from a google search.

UK numbers usually have an area code starting with zero like 01234 and six digit phone number. Sometimes websites want the code entered with the number, others have it separate. Often I enter a fake phone number, just changing mine slightly. I get enough telesales calls already. Keep trying!

Paradaz, what is a "tops" and a "cockneys"? I do understand the concept of watered-down drinks though...

Vitesse, thanks for the info. I wouldn't know a proper post/area code and telephone number if it smacked me on the forehead. Giving it another try.

A cockney is generally someone from working class London, mainly east end.

I believe a genuine cockney has to be born within the sound of Bow Bells in London. As MadDog says, generally working class east end folks. They traditionally use what is known as rhyming slang. You are quite unlikely to meet any real cockneys in Stockton, though!

Hows that car search going?

If you guys can provide me with a point of reference (for all the north, south, east, west references), that would lessen the mounting confusion. I'm assuming London is the center?

I'm doing a "motorcycle search" actually. I ended up with about GBP180 and GBP50 monthly for a 600cc Yamaha R6. I'll be trying a car tomorrow, but ATM I'd like a bike more and I figure it'll be easier to get. When I do bring my family over, I'm betting I'll still be using the bike to work with the car for family use. Anyway, since I'll be looking at a car, any make or model you guys can suggest? A small, economical, 4-door car would be nice. I'd like to put my family in a big, gas guzzling SUV, but I'm realistic.

Oh, and BTW, how do you do the GBP sign? I'm getting tired of typing GBP all the time, but the symbol isn't on my keyboard, is it?

I had a Peugeut 306 for several years and was very happy with it. At the moment I'm driving a Renault Clio and it's a good car. As a former VW employee I should probably suggest a VW Polo In the end its all about finding a second hand car that has a good price and was looked after well and has a low milage, the brand doesn't really matter IMO.

I made a tasty curry last night. Ill post some pictures later, mmmmm rubber pants on standby, my co-workers are dead the office smells baaaaad. Thank god we finish in 15mins.

shift 3 on uk keyboard
££££££££££££££££££££

Nah, it's this symbol ##### for me.

Try ALT-GR + 3 maybe? Thats what it is for me.

Else hold down ALT, and hit 0163 on the numeric keypad, then release.

Øystein

What's "GR"? ALT+0163 works for me though.

Your right ALT key, here it's labeled ALT GR. It's the key used to get the secondary characters on your keyboard, if you have any. Generally chars labeled on the righthand/lower side of the key, instead of lefthand/upper side.

Like on norwegian keyboards for instance, ALT GR+2 is @, +3 is £, +4 is $, +E is €.

Øystein

Hmmm... I've been looking around the net for houses, for when I bring my family over. Mainly looking at 2-3 bedroom detached houses (don't want my gaming to annoy the neighbors!), but noticed these don't come furnished. So... where to go to buy furnitures?

I was told there's a good second-hand market for furniture, but are first-hand furnitures (I'm thinking IKEA?) that expensive?

no, London is classed as South East.
get a map of the UK up & you'll see it's bottom right hand which is the South East.

the thing to watch out for is that the English don't take into the account the top ~40% of the UK that is Scotland or indeed also Northern Ireland ...
So for example Newcastle is the North East to them when in fact all of England is South for me.
Birmingham is the West Midlands, Manchester is the North West etc.

people from around Middlesborough (which I guess includes Stockton) are called Smoggies.


don't know that I would really want to be riding a bike in the Winter but at least you'll have plenty of time before themn to decide.


I would have thought that furnished lets were available.

From where I am, almost everywhere is Up North (and therefore grim).

Ice should be able to find furnished lets. Quality won't be anything special, I'd imagine (and remembering my old student accommodation).

Most lets are unfurnished. Ikea is not a bad place to look and their stuff starts cheap. Second hand will get you bargains, but consider how you're going to move that three-seater! Maybe phone a friend.

Cheers!

As a Londoner, if you can get a 2-3 bedroom DETATCHED house, you'd be doing really well.
Of course, prices are a bit skewed near London, and letting is a bit different I guess... still...

BUFF, don't feel too bad that us southerners don't take too much account of Scotland, otherwise you chaps up there would end up seeing more of us going on caravan holidays

it's bad enough as it is! :O
I live about 1/2 hour away from 1 of the most scenic places in the world (Loch Lomond) & I avoid it like the plague for most of the year.

Still, just think of that nice long drive each way with the kids in the back screaming (hopefully that's put you off ).

Well, I expect to be going to the UK with a bunch of other nurses, and we'll be living 3-5 per house for some time, so I expect there'll be some helping hands when the time comes.

Been watching the Discovery channel and figured that I can either get a bike OR a car before I move in my family to the UK. I guess for all practical purposes, I'm going to have to put off getting my dream bike for now. Grumbles, shucks, and all other comments.

I was wondering if anyone can tell me about schools in the UK? I hear education is free, but is it any good?

Sent off my NMC application forms, hope to be hearing more good news soon!

State education is free but there are also private fee-paying schools available - strangely in England these are often called public schools when in fact they are very restricted .
As for the quality of state schools some are excellent, some are pretty poor & others run the gamut in between. However, a lot of information is freely available as to their perfomance levels.

From my point of view in North London, it goes like this:
You have 2 types of state schools (comprehensive, for normal people, and "grammar" schools, for clever elitists) and private schools, which is for rich upper class elitists. Like me and pretty much everyone else, you'll probably going down the "comprehensive" type of school, which makes up probably about 90% of the pre-adult education in the UK.

As for which precise school you go for, well... that's a tricky question that you'll have to figure out based on league tables and local information. The only thing is that it's very difficult to figure out which is which just based on the league table information - it is very possible to be in a school that has very good staff but crap league table results because of their intake (disadvantaged/difficult ethnic backgrounds, for example).

On the other hand, most schools fall around the "average" mark, so by and large, you should be okay. You see a lot of stuff in the news about panicky parents not wanting their kids to get stuck in a craphole of a school (plus the whole post-code lottery) but as with all things in the media, this is very much a marginal situation.

Oh, and yes, state education is free.
However, school uniforms usually aren't, and textbooks, especially when you get to A-level standard (age 16-18, if you're in it for the long run) can start to get a bit pricey.

How "pricey" are private schools? Like, how much for a school year? Should I strive to put my son on a private school? Or are public schools good enough?

Gopher, I don't understand what you mean about "grammar" schools. Is it like Science high school here wherein the curriculum is more science-based? Also, what are league tables?

I was told that to put my son in a particular school, I have to live in a particular area (catchment area was the term). Any truth in this?

Hi Ice,

The catchment area thing is true - It's worth knowing where the better schools are. Being near a good school does not guarantee a place, though (good schools don't have many spare places).

The UK's state education system is not too bad. The school year is September-July and kid's usually start at 4-5 years old. Secondary education (10-11 years old to 16 or more usually 18) is mostly at what are called Comprehensive Schools. These may have different names - many specialise in stuff like science or the arts and call themselves colleges or academies.

The old Grammar School system is a leftover from history and places are gained by entrance exam (the 'Eleven Plus'). They may be elitist, but will give a good education and can be a real springboard. They are rare though, I only know of one and it's 30 miles from where I live. Most schools became Comprehensive forty odd years ago.

All UK state schools are regularly examined by a govt organisation called Ofsted, which publishes a league table of all schools in the country. The results can be slightly influenced by a clever school, but give good general guidance.

Fee paying schools (the 'public' ones) are damned expensive.

Cheers!

Fee paying schools, which everyone that I know calls "private" (or boarding, though they aren't necessarily the same) can range from four to five figure numbers, depending on prestige. Forget it.

I only know of one proper grammar school in my old London borough, although there are plenty of comprehensives that still retain the word "grammar" in their name.

Vitesse's point about "specialist" comprehensives is also a point to note - if a school is a specialist in physical education or arts (more the former) then that's a sort of rule-of-thumb indication that they're not necessarily that good. 'Course, that could just be my London instincts again.

Vitesse, so what happens if I live near a good school, but they don't have a place for my son? He will be in 1st grade by the time I move my family to the UK. The agency guy even suggested I move them on July or August, to give them a month or two to settle in before the school year starts.

So if I understand this correctly, "Grammar" school is good, "Comprehensive" is the average, and any school that "focuses" on arts or whatever is crappy, yes?

Hi Ice (and Gopher too),

If you can't get a place at your nearest school you will be offered somewhere else which should be nearby. There are ways that you can appeal if you feel your child is in the wrong school. No guarantees, though, and it depends how much effort you put in.

More important is that your child's first (infant & primary) school is a feeder school to a good secondary school. Your child is normally automatically offered a place at age 10.

Gopher's point about arts or PE being soft subjects is valid.

As an example, here's a link to my daughter's school website. Specialises in maths and sciences. We don't get much choice here, though. The next nearest school is 15 miles away! Should be easy to find some info about the area you're going, I think.

If you could move your family in early July and let your son visit his new school it'll be easier for him in September (and give him several weeks of summer holiday to get used to the UK!) You could also find local pre-schools (informal early years education) and let him meet some of his classmates.

A "true" grammar school is essentially top of the tables. However, acceptance is usually based on passing a number of entry exams, past performance, interviews etc. in order to ensure that they get the best students. In my borough, there is *one* grammar school, versus 19 others, comprising comprehensives, academies, etc..


There are other types of school, but the distinctions are mostly due to the way they are funded and or run, as opposed to their potential output. If you take a gander at Wikipedia HERE, and just browse around, then you ought to get a gist of the fundamentals.

"Specialist arts colleges" aren't necessarily *that* bad (ironically, the only grammar school I referred to earlier is one), but I have a special loathing for "specialist sports colleges".

Don't discount the local faith schools, lots of parents fall over themselves to get kids into Catholic and Anglican-run schools (regardless of their own faith) because the standard of teaching and adherence to a moral code are desirable. They are usually better resourced, and have greater involvement with parents.

I am seriously offended that the notion that a school that focuses on arts is in any way crappy!!!

I am a graduate of an arts creative education and I have a degree in the Hisotyr of Art and Design from an institution that dates back to when Cambridge was crap!, and I am very very VERY proud of it.

Basicly it comes down to this,.. (I work in a school as my day job BTW). In order to get some funding in a particular area a school may apply for specialist status. The thing is that this caught on and now what must be well over 90% of schools are 'specialist' in one area or another. It doesnt mean they are any better in that area simply that there are 'funds' and new 'money pots' that can be accessed when used for that area. For example a Business and Enterprise school may get extra money to hold special business days, extra funding for business classes etc... (In schools funding is everything and everything is a budget of a budget to a budget)

However the biggest thing here is that everyone is assuming you get a choice, for the most part you dont. Were you live you will fall into a certain catchmeant and if you want your child to go to a normal comp then they will end up at whichever one's catchment area you live in, with some people able to apply for two schools to to there home being in two catchment areas. You can appeal these sometimes but given the amount of people that have this idea its basicly a big lucky dip.

...PS once you get beyond 16 specialist stuff is the dogs bollocks. I was taught by practising artists and designers, given some brilliant insight into the world of advertising and marketing by a few tutors and generally given a massive advantage over anyone doing simply A Levels which seem so closed to anything outside the wirtten guidelines its scary to think how lost the students must be thinking when going for job/uni interviews.

Whoops, stepped in it again. My apologies mate, didn't mean to offend! Mind you though, you went further and got this at degree level, which isn't quite the same as secondary education...

...come to think of it, I think that my secondary school turned into a specialist arts college when I was half-way through my A-Levels. Didn't help me worth a damn because I was doing the sciences, which might explain my bitterness... plus there was what happened at my first university...

The point about choice is quite pertinent though; For me it wasn't too bad since you get a lot of schools in a small space in London, but where you're going to end up, the school density might be rather restricted. Which, in a way, might make your life more easy.

Well Madaboutsims...

(as Gopher says, stepped in it again!)

From your post it seems you got your arts education at a higher level than secondary school.

As a parent, I'm keen to get my kids sorted with basic academic stuff. Given the choice (which I'm not) between evenly performing arts and science / maths specialists, it's a no-brainer for me. YMMV, of course.

There is a long-held perception that an arts education is soft. It's been that way for a while and isn't helped by the some of the degrees on offer today.

Happy you got what you wanted and are where you want to be!

Cheers.

well the perception is wrong, as I said it doesnt mean they are any better at the specialist area (at GCSE level schools) simply that it gives the school a little extra budget,... its up to the SOD and SLT as to how that money is spent however :/

The toruble is these days kids are taught not maths or science etc but rather how to pass a maths exam, how to pass a science exam. Its quite different to how i was taught and no doubt you were in which you were taught the subject areas and then the exam was on these. Its a bit confusing but it is one of the biggest complaint I get from teachers, that they now have to teach how to pass exams instead of teaching kids how to apply the knowledge learnt in class to an exam.

Hi Lewis,

I understand there are changes afoot in the GCSE system that aim to make some subjects more credible, particularly in respect of coursework.

Being taught a subject and tested on your understanding seems the sensible way. I can understand teachers' frustration with the current system.

Seeing the year-on-year improvements in exam results really does help. Kids today are no cleverer than at any time in the past and as I understand it would many would struggle when faced with the old style 'O' level papers such as I sat many years ago - mainly down to modern teaching (within the govt. requirements).

Cheers!

Hey guys! Just filled up my Overseas Nurses Programme application form, so things are looking up! I hear they want us in by January or February 2010.

Catchment - Assuming I would like my son in a particular school, do I apply him in there first then look for a place in the catchment area? The reason behind is if we don't get him in that school, then we can at least choose a different house closer to whatever school he does get into. If not, do schools require us to stay at the catchment area for a certain amount of time before considering my son for admission?

The rest - Again, I got lost somewhere in the conversation. Sorry about that but it's just not making sense to me.

Hi Ice, the conversation did go OT!

While you have some time, contact the schools you are interested in directly (by email) and ask them about admissions - obviously explain your circumstance and take it from there. They will already have an idea of places/numbers for next September's starters. Once in country you can arrange visits for yourself. You will probably talk to the area's Local Education Authority, too. They must have come across people in the same boat as yourself.

Regarding catchment areas - having a home in the area is a big part of getting a school place, but it's not a guarantee. Likewise, applying to a school outside of your neighbourhood is allowed, too. Our Govt. likes to give you choice (or the illusion of it, anyway). Not very sure if length of time at an address is a factor. I don't think it is.

Another thing - children can and do swap schools.

Yes sorry about the OT.

As Vitesse said, contact the schools ASAP.

No worries on the OT, I was just wondering if it concerned my questions because if it did, I could not understand it.

The agency guy assured me that most other Filipinos already in the area would know which schools to recommend to me, but I would like to get as much "background" info if possible rather than just relying on one group of people. I guess I will be doing "tours" of schools later on.

I know that having a home in a catchment would mean (possible) admission, what I'm asking is if I can do it the other way around -- can I get admission FIRST then get a home in the area?

I guess regardless of whether I get my son in the school of my choice, one way or another, the government DOES guarantee that he will have an education, right?

Passed my ONP forms today. The agency guy told me that there is a Postal worker strike in the UK. True?

There was. It's finished now.

They happen every year. Every now and then we get other people going on strike too. I think we had the fire service go on strike a few years back, not for the first time. I wonder if the Army still have those Green Goddesses?

Good luck!

When was the strike over? Coz they're hinting that that strike may be the cause of the delays we were/will be having.

I believe they happened right at the end of October. Usually it just backs up the system, and because of the volume of mail it takes a little while to resolve. Stuff that is time dependent gets delayed by a week or two.

If it happened at the end of October, is it safe to assume that the 1-2 week backlog is over by now?

By now, probably. Still, this IS the UK you're talking about - we got red tape up the wazoo.

Hmmm... now I wonder if your red tape is anywhere near OUR red tape? Lol!

In any case, will the red tape be a factor in determining when mail gets delivered on time again?

I have no idea dude; all I can say is to just... well, hurry up and wait.

Hmmm... next point of discussion --- how much do you guys spend (per month or per week) on food, and how many persons does that budget feed? How much do you guys spend on utilities (water, gas, electricity), and how big is your home? How much do you guys pay for internet?

We've been given an estimate of £45 per week per person (£180 per month) on food, £10 per week per person (£40 per month) on transport, and £20 per week per person (£80 per month) on utilities. I'm wondering if these are solid figures?

I'd also like to get a feel of how my "budget" will go up once I get my family with me to the UK.

All in all, Ice, it's going to cost you 4 Sovereign, 8 Crowns, 112 Pounds Sterling, 50 Quid, 9 Pence, 18 Farthings, and 12 Bob per month to live. At least, that's the average cost if you live in the vicinity of Hamster-On-Toast, Grimace.

Now, if any of us from outside the UK can ever figure out what all that means, we'll be able to set you right.

Cheers!

Rick...

Hahaha... I understand the Quid and Pence, but the rest?

Sauron is just showing his age

Farthing = 1/4 penny, stop being legal in 1960
Bob = slang for pound
Crown = 5 shillings, or 25 pence after the UK dumped their wierd money counting scheme in 1971.
Sovereign = a gold coin.

make sure to eat some cornish pasties...delish

Thank god the UK got rid of all of those outdated denominations! As far as I know its just "Pounds" and "Pence" now.

these are of course all variable depending upon your living circumstances (location, type of property etc.).
£45 per week for food sounds quite reasonable if you are doing all your own cooking - it won't get you very far if you eat out much/ have many take-aways.
£10 per week on transport sounds on the low side to me but obviously it depends on how often/how far etc. you travel.
£20 per week for how many/which utilities?
electricity, gas (natural as opposed to what Americans call petrol ;)), water/sewerage, garbage collection, landline 'phone, mobile 'phone, internet .... I doubt that you'll get it all for £20.



outdated unlike nickel, dime, quarter ...?

btw a "bob" was a shilling not a pound.

Lol, I, for one, am grateful it's just Pounds and Pence now.

Well, like I said, I'll be going to Stockton-on-Tees (Hartlepool, or thereabouts). I'll be living with a few other nurses who'll be going with me, maybe 2-3 other nurses in the same place since that'll depend on the type of accommodation the hospital secures for us. So just assume simple living, nothing fancy. Just want to keep warm, be well fed and rested, and maybe watch a movie or two on the TV.

Thanks for confirming that the figure is solid!

Again, I expect us to be close to the hospital. The agency guy said we'll be walking distance if the hospital can help it, but if not, then at least one bus ride away. I expect the bus stop to be close to the hospital, if not directly in front of it, right? I mean, a hospital is one of the important things route-planners take into consideration, right?

All, I think, except for internet and mobile phone. I'm not sure if that includes the TV though. I know the calls in the UK aren't free, but let's assume a minimum amount of calls, if none at all. It's not like we have lotsa friends in the UK, and we can always just text our nurse buddies.

In any case, if the figures aren't solid, do tell me what you're working with.

Hmmm... just a bump... still looking for figures for transport and utilities...

I think is the local bus service:

http://www.stagecoachbus.com/teesside/
http://www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables/TeessideBusGuide2008.pdf

And finally the Stockton council page: http://www.stockton.gov.uk/


Cheers
Øystein

Not sure what you have been given by your employers...

In a rented place you will need to cover

Water - usually billed from a meter reading - three or four of you so about £50 - £100 each per year. Bills vary depending on where in the UK you live.

Gas / Electricity - also billed by meter reading - probably about £200 per quarter. If the meter reader can't get a reading (because you are at work) you will get an estimated bill. Make sure you provide them with the correct reading by phone since the estimates can be very inaccurate and a shock once the total is corrected.

Telephone - IIRC it's about £50 for quarterly rent plus call charges on top. You may choose a mobile instead!

Television - UK govt license £142.50 per year. Also you will need a digital set top box soon but there's plenty of free channels to watch. You can pay for more if you wish.

Council Tax - Local govt tax which varies depending on your property value (even if you do not own it). Should be in the region of £1000. Not sure if you will be exempt from this. Don't think so.

You can insure your property too, but the landlord will insure the building.

There are people out there ready to scam you - if unsure about callers, ask for their ID. Genuine people will not mind giving it.

At least food is pretty cheap if you are careful, and walking is still free.

Cheers!

Thanks for the links, MadDog. Unfortunately, they haven't narrowed down our settlement location yet so I'm still woozy looking at UK maps for too long. It'll be a while before I get my bearings on that one.

Vitesse, thanks for your estimates. Lemme do a little math...
Water - even with an upper limit of £100 per year (that is correct, right? YEAR?), that's £25 for each person per year (assuming I'm with 4 other nurses), that's only £2.1 per month. Is this correct? That seems way too... cheap! Even I pay more for water here!

Gas/Electricity - at £200 per quarter (3 months), that's £66.67 per month, or £16.67 per person per month.

Telephone - since we're gonna be having mobiles, and no real reason to be calling anyone in local UK, can we have the phone disconnected if the flat comes with one? Still, a £50 per quarter rent is £16.67 per month, or £4.17 per person per month.

TV - £142.50 for one year is £11.88 per month, or £2.97 per person per month. This is just for 1 TV? Or do we pay the same amount regardless of the number of TVs in the house? Also, are channels like Discovery, National Geographic, HBO, Cinemax, AXN on the free channel list? If not, how much to get them?

Council Tax - this is the first time I've heard this. We'll just be renting a flat/house, will we be paying for this? £1000 per year sounds steep, that's £83.33 per month, or £20.83 per person per month.

Monthly Total - £2.1 water, £16.67 gas/elec, £4.17 phone, £2.97 TV, £20.83 council tax. Total = £46.74 per person per month. Wow! That's only HALF of the £20 per week per person (£80 per month) estimate they've given us!

I notice this is lacking internet, how much is that? And what speeds?

Buff mentioned garbage collection & sewage, do we actually pay for this?


What scams are you talking about, Vitesse? Are these phone-scams or do they actually knock on your door?

Hi Ice - I need to clarify a couple of the figures.

The water bill for my address is around £600 plus a year - it's metered so I pay for what I use. With a family of four I obviously use more water. It's cheaper where you are going (my water company is the most expensive in the country). Someone nearer would know better. The bill covers the address, not individuals.

The following is from the TV licensing website -

If you have a separate tenancy agreement for your room Each tenant needs their own TV Licence if they watch or record TV. This licence will also cover the communal areas.

If you have a joint tenancy agreement, One TV Licence may cover the whole house.

However, there may be other reasons why you need your own separate licence, such as whether or not you have exclusive access to a toilet or washing facilities. If you are unsure whether this applies to your particular circumstances please contact us to find out more information.


Do find out about council tax (it funds local services like rubbish collection). It is £1000 plus for each person but there may be discounts for you, or you may not have to pay at all.

Internet access requires a phone line - so you pay the quarterly charge plus a broadband fee, of which there are many types available. Mine is £20 per month and includes free UK phone calls. BTW, If you do not connect the phone, there is no fee.

Don't think you've got your housing rent in that figure you've worked out, mind.

There are some scams about, but usually it's elderly people who are caught (such as tradesmen offering to unblock gutters and then charging loads). I've heard of stories where people ask to use your phone and then call a really high cost number (which they own) and you get the bill...

As long as you apply common sense you'll be all right.

Ah, thanks for the clarification.

Water - Even at £600 per year for 4 persons, that's £50 per month, or £4.17 per person per month. That sounds a bit more reasonable, but is still cheap! I do understand that bills for water/electricity/gas does cover the address, no matter the number of people actually residing therein.

What is "separate tenancy" vs "joint tenancy"? Any ideas? If "separate tenancy" means I rent the place and then sub-let the rooms, then I don't think that's us. Maybe if "joint tenancy" means a bunch of us groups together to rent a place, then yes, that'll be what we'll be having.

If Council Tax is per person, then that's steep at £83.33 per person per month! However, I sure hope we're exempt from this especially since they haven't mentioned this in the two orientation seminars I've attended.

you won't be - some way, some how you will be due to pay albeit there may well be some discounts/grants available. This funds libraries, parks, schools, social services, rubbish collection, local police/fire services etc. etc.
It's also quite usual (at least in Scotland) for water/sewerage charges to be collected as part of this albeit it then gets paid onwards to the water company by the council.

Council tax is normally based on the property value (on a certain date) - if you think that's bad I pay £1100 council tax per year after a 25% single person household discount ...
water/sewerage is £350 per annum for me (again after discount).

Phone - if you opt for the cheapest line rental (payment by direct debit etc.) it's usually ~£11/12 per month before 'phone calls.
Internet - speeds/pricing will vary according to which local ISPs are available. You may have a choice of ADSL or cable & a few of the suppliers can do discount package deals across mobile/internet/TV. I would suggest that you buy based on local service though rather than purely on price.

Council tax sounds a bit variable for you guys. I can't say about rented accommodation, but down in London, it's charged per household; our home is Band D, which I think was 1 to 1.5k a year. For us, there is no additional sewerage or garbage since, for us, that's handled by the council (and is probably coming out of the flat council tax bill anyway).

Last time I heard, refuse collection is still handled essentially "for free" in England, as in you don't have to pay any additional costs, but I heard that this might change. Any of you have any experiences of that?

you are paying for it as part of your council tax.

Yep - Lumped in with the council tax.

Because it's the UK, though, they are talking about charging extra for people with heavy bins. Only talking at the moment though!


Ice - Council Tax is payable on the address (mine is £1.5K) I have been thinking and I'm not entirely sure how it works in a rental situation, but...

If you are the lead tenant (it's your name on the rental agreement) then you are liable for all the tax. If you then sublet, you could maybe pass the cost on between your tenants (if your rental agreement allows subletting - check!)

On the other hand, if you rent a single room, I'm not sure exactly what your obligations are - the landlord may pass a proportion of the charge on to you as above or the council may already have a scheme.

Time to ask a few questions. Council tax is not easily avoided if you want to remain within the system. You could evade it, but you'd have to be sort of invisible (no fixed address, that sort of thing).

Did that make sense?

Cheers!

you'll want to keep that telephone landline if you want broadband internet access. regardless of whether you use it for phonecalls.



Considering Ice will be a foreign national working in the public sector, that would be a really, really bad idea.

Haha, I agree with you, U-96! I don't want to be dodging the law as a way to start my "new life."

That Council Tax seems to be a doozy for the moment. I gotta remember that the next time my group meets for "orientation."

Vitesse, I doubt I or any of my pals will be the "lead tenant," since the hospital will be the one to rent it for us (we'll just arrive one day and be directed to our housing assignments, AFAIK), so I'm hoping the tax won't be as much for us.

I just re-read this thread and bumping up this question:
How much does internet cost and what speeds are you getting for that price?


I got a call a few days ago informing me that the NMC already has my Decision Letter. Now all I gotta wait for is the employer's OH and CoS, then it's off to the UK Embassy for me. It seems that the January deployment date is close to a reality.

If going to the UK don't forget your 'brolly.

it's very variable depending upon where you live, what ISPs are available there & what sort of package that you want.

from an ADSL pov O2/Be are pretty good (assuming that the local exchange is local Loop Unbundled) - upto 20meg download for £15/month (on O2 £5/month less if you have a mobile 'phone on O2 as well)

www.transportdirect.info for public transport - it'll plan a route for you and give links and timetables for all the providers

Buff, what is "pov O2/Be," "local Loop Unbundled," and "O2"?

pov=Point of view; O2 and Be are ISP companies here (I think that originally O2 started as a mobile phone provider);

Local Loop Unbundling is basically allowing other telcos to use the same infrastructure which, over in the UK, is all technically owned by BT; LLU in Wikipedia.

Go with Virgin. Dedicated fibre optic cable no phone lines with crappy speeds.

Is that fibre to the exchange or fibre to the home? I think that you'd have to be quite lucky to be in a place where they roll that out as well. Where I am in London, we have a distinct disadvantage in that we're 4km from the nearest telephone exchange, which pretty much screws us in up/down speeds because of line noise. (That and that my brother isn't considering capped packages because he needs his webserver for work).

Guys, guys, guys! All the talk about connections. Gopher, how crappy is your speed? Mace, how awesome is your cable?

Virgin is still copper into the home. Even the 50MB service only requires a modem upgrade.

We got Virgin and they will be giving us fibre in 6-12 months and I live in Lowestoft which isnt exactly the centre of the country, nor all that important.

Ice, 1 up 2 down. Usually it's half that, assuming it's not on-the-fritz. I have a feeling that part of it is the line conditions, and part of it is also my brother being too easy-going to negociate a better deal. Then again I don't really know the full situation down there since I usually take a hands-off approach, as he is 'responsible' for the infrastructure in our house.

Course, up here in Norway... I'm gonna miss this connection... *sobs*

Brun, is that a 50Mbps connection?

Gopher, 1Mbps uploads, 2Mbps downloads? Hahahahahaha.... if you think that's crappy, I'm on a 512kbps connection! I'm maxxing out my connection on 60kbps download speeds, I've never seen my downloads go higher than that. Oh, sure, I get 100+mbps bursts, but the average still says 60.

actually they are in reality now the same company - O2 own Be.


again not quite - LLU allows ISPs to put their own equipment into local exchanges so that they don't share with BT except for the backbone (some ISPs don't even share that).


VM cable may not be available where he ends up living & VM service is very variable around the UK - if you are in a good area it's great but it runs the gamut. They also aren't great value anymore.
I come back to recommending that ICE waits until he knows exactly where he will be living & asking around about the performance of various ISPs in that locale.

Hahaha... you'll have to forgive me, Buff. Can't wait to find out for myself, but no harm in asking others, right? I mean, I might get wowed at a certain package, not knowing it was a weak offer because I don't know the "standard" or the "usual" internet package/speed is in the UK, but since it's way higher than what I have here, then I'll bite. I don't want to have a d'oh! moment if can avoid it.

Hello again guys!

We've just filed our visa applications last week and we're told there's a 2-3 week waiting time, though for "in demand" jobs like ours, it's usually 5-7 working days. As of now, we have two tentative deployment dates, either Feb 4 or 11. Getting very excited!

I'd like to shift the discussion back to my immediate concerns, namely: Clothing and Shelter.

Clothing
I'm told that while February is still "winter season," it's coming to a close with Spring on April or so. Still, we are told to bring warm clothes. Can we re-define "warm clothes" again? What I've retained is denim jeans is okay, with just "layering" needed for the upper body plus a jacket. I've been to North Face, and jackets came in a "fleeced inner lining with an outer windbreaker/jacket" combo and a "really puffy jacket." Which one would I need? I think the puffy jacket will do a good job of keeping me warm, but I figured the fleeced-combo jacket would be useful past the actual winter season. Any advice appreciated.

Shelter
I've been told that we're going to be housed in the Stockton area for a few months (3-6) as we go through the ONP programme. The main hospital center is at Stockton, and we will be going to University Teesside, which is in Middlesbrough (how do you pronounce that?).

The housing is a single-bedroom flat (apartment, right?) and unlike previously expected, it's only 1 person per flat. It'll cost £400 per month, but I'm told that'll include water, gas/electricity, council tax, etc. I'm not sure about the phone, but I'm sure that amount does not include an internet connection. Is this "reasonable" for the location? Also, I've always expected each flat to have a separate meter for water, gas/electricity, and so on, so how can these be "included" in the £400 per month rent? We've always been warned not to be leaving the heaters on when we leave the house/flat/apartment because the bills will be ginormous, so having a "bills included" rent is confusing.


Thanks again in advance!