"The English Isle"

Independent Schools Directory UK -- searchable by criteria -- 2000 schools

A Sunday Times article -- Guide to Top 500 State (Public) Schools -- from November 7, 1999

TEAM Association of Estate Agents -- getting dangerously close to multiple listing (some rental)

For Mammals -- This is an extremely difficult proposition, due to a very tightly enforced 6 month quarantine for all rabies susceptible mammals -- forget about proof of shots, and the fact that the rabies incubation period is a few weeks at most. The "process" is at right.

For Birds -- Importation is fairly easy -- the pet is delivered to your home, the vet comes upon arrival, and again 4 weeks later to make sure the animal is healthy -- paperwork and about 50 GBP total change hands -- you're in -- effectively a one month "house arrest".

Find an approved quarantine facility -- we used Little Acres Quarantine Kennels (#5 on map, w/web link) -- it was exceptional -- some are not good at all -- if you are going to bring a pet, VISIT THE FACILITY BEFOREHAND

Paperwork, an "import permit", is provided by the facility

Shipping is not bad -- airport facilities on both ends are very good -- also needed is a health certificate from a US vet, that is then certified by the USDA (dated within 3 days of shipment -- this is only a problem if it's hot -- rules are that if temp is above 90F, pets can't ship)

The animal is received at the airport by an approved carrier, in our case the quarantine facility, and taken directly to the facility

Our facility allowed daily visits, and the care was top notch

183 days later, bring 'em home

Cost (very hard gulp) -- The rottweiler, 1800 GBP -- The ferret, at cat rates, 1200 GBP -- Shipping and airline approved containers were an additional 600-700 USD.

Quote from a MAFF person, who was in fact very helpful -- "Uh, a ferret -- that's like a cat, right?" Fearing he would find special rules for ferrets, we said "Right, oh yeah, you betcha".

In Memory of Zak

Born: August 1988

Died: August 1999

Note: Zak was "paroled" on December 8, 1998, and loved his 9 months "home" after quarantine, and probably kind of enjoyed the quarantine as well -- other doggy smells, we suppose.

Packing is wonderful fun....never forget that. Three piles, one for air freight (things you absolutely can't do without, but won't fit on the passenger plane), one for sea freight (things you absolutely can't do without -- but can for a month), one for storage (things you absolutely can't do without -- but mostly trash, to be stored until your imminent return, and say "What the heck is this ?").

We air freighted... or tried to.... 80 cubic feet (4x4x5) .... the computer, kitchen supplies, a TV and VCR (says something about priorities, huh ?), small amounts of bedding and clothes, carefully selected tools, some toys, a big folding table, Nintendo/Playstation and games, and a special birthday present -- we didn't get the kitchen items, the tools, the present, or the table -- instead we got a bread maker (?), a food processor (??), a vacuum (???), and a deep fryer (????) -- so much for careful planning.

We sea shipped about 1200 cubic feet (8x5x30, a sea container -- took about a month, faster than we were told) most of the furniture, clothes and bedding, a load of craft items, and the appliances that we had bought specifically for England. Tried to tell them the appliances (coming from the "foreign appliance store") wouldn't fit, leave some craft stuff here. But NO -- it'll fit, "If it doesn't, it's our problem". But NO, it didn't fit, and it was our problem -- left off was the clothes dryer -- ever try to dry clothes outside when it rains every day ? -- not a lot of fun. When it arrived, on someone else's shipment, we waited a week for the electrician to install .... then, it didn't work -- push start .... BZZZZT .... we found that no one local would work on it .... but also found that Frigidaire wiring diagrams are great, even if their appliances aren't.

We stored everthing else -- two cars, a Merc Grand Marquis w/90+K miles, for our daughter, and an F150 truck w/40+K miles -- plus a bunch of other stuff .... we're afraid to actually find out what.

Reminds us of a conversation with the U.S. cable man -- "you can't split that signal 4 ways !!" -- he was right -- but 9 ways did, in fact, work, with only one signal booster, and no loss of quality (the attic truly was like a spider's web).

.... And Getting Insured -- Still somewhat of a mystery .... and, sadly, we have no good answers for privately insuring a car here. Best advice we can offer is to call around .... conversations will probably go like this ....

"How long have you lived here ? -- uh, ok, two months

"How long have you had your UK driving licence then (this is a completely inappropriate question, as you must be resident in the UK for 6 months before you can even apply for licence)? -- uh, yeah, ok, you don't have one .... I'm going to transfer you ...."

We were transferred to a broker called Gladiator Insurance, and were apparently insured for parts of two years, driving apparently without cover for the other parts. A long, long story, but in the end, the reason for our lack of advice. After having been here for 2 1/2 years (and being covered, or so we thought), a cheque arrived in the post from Gladiator in December 2000 -- with a cryptic note "enclosed is a cheque...we hope this meets your needs". We called ....

"Why are you sending a cheque ?" -- well, your policy was cancelled in September .... we sent you notification ....

"Why was the policy cancelled ?" -- you haven't had your UK license long enough ....

But, you've already covered us for two years !!??

VERY FRUSTRATING .... the only advice, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT DEAL WITH GLADIATOR. We apologise for having previously recommended them.Our insurer now is AXA Direct, but you do need a UK license to get cover from them. Comprehensive rates for the now 118K wonder above are about 400 GBP a year.

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