Things you wished you'd done prior to leaving UK?

[Peikko 1,575]

How slow are they? It's the speed of the UK kettle that is part of its functionality. Currently I heat water on the hob and if a kettle is no quicker, I am not sure I would invest in one.

[Mags 112]

How slow are they? It's the speed of the UK kettle that is part of its functionality. Currently I heat water on the hob and if a kettle is no quicker, I am not sure I would invest in one.

Mine is pretty quick. Let's put it this way, it would take twice as long to heat the equivalent amount of water on a stove.

[ninamyers 0]

I also brought my duvet, and I have also bough a kettle since moving here. I think it is most certainly quicker than heating it on a stove... Don't fill it right up and it's done in no time! I brought about 300 bags of PG Tips with me, I'm running low - need to make a trip home methinks.

I wish... I had paid off my overdue rent to University before I left - what was not THAT much money in England now seems like it's twice as much because of the stupid exchange rate

Apart from that - I wish I had made myself sick from eating all the foods I miss now so that I wouldn't want to eat them anymore.

[robin 0]

You'll be lulled in to a false sense of security when you reach the US and see there is a tv channel called BBC America. Don't be fooled! They get the oldest and, apparently, cheapest UK programmes and put them on. Are You Being Served, Benny Hill etc. Now you might be thinking, "But i don't watch telly!" and perhaps you don't. After 6 months here you'll want to watch something comforting and familiar .... so ... whatever your favourite shows are, get 'em on DVD and bring them with you. If you go on Amazon.com you'll be able to find a DVD player to watch them on your US tv. Also be aware that you can go to bbc.co.uk/radio and get loads of UK radio programmes to listen to. I live in Colorado, have a great job, live with the woman of my dreams and ski every week at world class resorts but I still find that listening to/watching English programmes brightens my day. Your new life will be great but you don't have to leave everything about your old one behind Good luck!

[Fandango 1,439]

You'll be lulled in to a false sense of security when you reach the US and see there is a tv channel called BBC America. Don't be fooled! They get the oldest and, apparently, cheapest UK programmes and put them on. Are You Being Served, Benny Hill etc. Now you might be thinking, "But i don't watch telly!" and perhaps you don't. After 6 months here you'll want to watch something comforting and familiar .... so ... whatever your favourite shows are, get 'em on DVD and bring them with you. If you go on Amazon.com you'll be able to find a DVD player to watch them on your US tv. Also be aware that you can go to bbc.co.uk/radio and get loads of UK radio programmes to listen to. I live in Colorado, have a great job, live with the woman of my dreams and ski every week at world class resorts but I still find that listening to/watching English programmes brightens my day. Your new life will be great but you don't have to leave everything about your old one behind Good luck!

lol so true. I just watched a Dr Who that I saw back in early 2005. But I suppose that's not so bad considering some of the others....

You also didn't mention 'Waiting for God' and 'As Time Goes By' :lol:

[james_michael_hill 0]

Cheers for all the replys guys - especially the BBC America one! Now I know, Im going to load up on DVDs ( Ive already bought David Attenbourughs Planet Earth, and Michael Palins travel DVDs so I can check that my accent is still English and 'proper' against them!)

We've already put a kettle on our wedding list so thats sorted, though I had no idea about the dearth of duvets in the States!

[sophyie 0]

Cheers for all the replys guys - especially the BBC America one! Now I know, Im going to load up on DVDs ( Ive already bought David Attenbourughs Planet Earth, and Michael Palins travel DVDs so I can check that my accent is still English and 'proper' against them!)

We've already put a kettle on our wedding list so thats sorted, though I had no idea about the dearth of duvets in the States!

If there's an Ikea anywhere close to where you will be in the States: It's a great place for duvet- shopping!

[Badgerbabe 0]

uknova is a good source of uk programmes

[britty 1]

Before I came to the US on a K-1, I was so excited to be joining my fiance that I didnt even think about everything I was leaving behind. Mainly I miss my family and friends but we are very close and I talk to them all of the time. A friend of mine went against some of the wishes of her family back in the UK when she moved to the US and wishes she had made her peace before she left.

Its the little things that drive you mad here - the sliced bread is really awful so bring some Tesco bread mix in your suitcase. Also, stack up on chocolate at duty free as that also is revolting here. I live in VA and am verylucky that I have a "british import" store down the road where I get Bisto (they have white gravy!!!), marmite, hula hoops, Heinz beans, Tetley tea bags, and Kerrygold butter !! Whole Food markets here (large supermarket chain) also run a special British food section and they even have Birds custard and Heinz tinned sticky toffee pudding.

I have to disagree with the comments about BBC Amercia. I have it on cable and its been showing very recent UK dramas and comedies, including Wire in the Blood, a psychic drama (cant remember the name) that is only a few months behind UK, and more recently, The F Word with Gordon Ramsay, and loads and loads of daytime shows like Cash in the Attic and House hunting programmes. I would say get BBC America as we watch it quite a lot and there are always new shows airing.

I really wish I had changed all my accounts etc over to my new US address as I am still trying to do this over the phone and it gets a bit tiresome.

I think thats all really. Hope it helps.

[ajames79 0]

I do have to admit we did get a duvet at Ikea that we love!

We like our kettle. If you have room for it and you drink a lot of tea then I'd get an electric one!

[TracyTN 237]

I have to say I am QUITE happy to see Gordon's 'The F Word' on BBC America.

[Girona40 0]

How slow are they? It's the speed of the UK kettle that is part of its functionality. Currently I heat water on the hob and if a kettle is no quicker, I am not sure I would invest in one.

Mine is pretty quick. Let's put it this way, it would take twice as long to heat the equivalent amount of water on a stove.

My father, bless his heart, sent me a kettle from England, because I mentioned to him that I needed to get one. He didn't realise that an English kettle in the US would take an eternity to boil. hahaha. Anyway, my daughter bought me an electric kettle from Walmart - it was exactly the same shape and size as my stove-top one. Anyway, I was thrilled with it - it took less than a couple of minutes to boil.

Well, not having a "quite with it" moment - I put the electric kettle on the stove! Derrr!!!