LIST: Things you SHOULDN'T have brought with you

extra blankets--  I didn't know it's a duvet world here  although I did  get DH to use flat sheets  with them..

Well, now that I'm officially here, I'll add to the list as best I can.

Don't bring: (from personal experience)
1. diary
2. datebook
3. addressbook

For the love of God just have them shipped. It would have saved me a few hours in the Immigration Detention cell if I had just shipped the boogers.

why can't u bring these??  very confused as to why not? What if u brought a notebook with you for the plane ride.. to write in? (when ur not sleeping on it of course  * i sleep alot i think lol*)

I think the person who posted that was coming over as a visitor (for the full 6 months) and got stopped by immigration and searched etc.

oh ok.  I'll be doing that soon! *sigh* can't wait!

I thought I'd bring my crockpot over because with a converter, it'll work, right?  I almost burnt the house down!  Now, I just feel stupid!   

I thought I'd bring my crockpot over because with a converter, it'll work, right?  I almost burnt the house down!  Now, I just feel stupid!   

There are converters, and there are converters.  To be blunt, some of the "el cheapo" types are utter garbage.   Maybe you had a bad one?   There's no reason why a regular crockpot shouldn't work properly through the correct transformer.

There are converters, and there are converters.  To be blunt, some of the "el cheapo" types are utter garbage.   Maybe you had a bad one?   There's no reason why a regular crockpot shouldn't work properly through the correct transformer.

Well, it had worked to charge my cell phone on a previous trip, so maybe something happened to it between Christmas and June.  The crockpot is rubbish now, so I'm looking into getting a new one!  But thanks for the tip!   

why can't u bring these??  very confused as to why not? What if u brought a notebook with you for the plane ride.. to write in? (when ur not sleeping on it of course  * i sleep alot i think lol*)

I was travelling to England on my passport alone to stay for 5 months with my then-boyfriend and I very nearly got sent back to the USA - they were looking for things to incriminate me and send me back.

Our backyard furniture...6 chairs and a table the size of my kids bedroom. 
Our lawnmower.  Seriously.
My queen size box spring [that we never even used in the states!]
My ROOMBA...I can't take the chance of plugging him even with a converter.
All my shoes...dear Lord what in heavens name do I need so many flip flops for??
Ugh, the list goes on and on...

I wear beach type stuff (shorts, sundresses, etc.) all summer here, so it really is a myth that the UK is such a cold place. If, however, you're living way up north or somewhere you won't need shorts, I'd say still bring them! You're going to want holidays, aren't you?? And warm spots like Spain are just a hop, skip and a jump away!

Hm... Maybe it depends on where you're coming from, too?

I'm from LA, so it's not "hot" until it's 105*. Though, I understand it's pretty humid in the UK (like New England and the Great Lakes), and so it takes less furnace power to feel ready to keel over. OTOH, I understand that the UK (at least South Wales, where I'll be living) doesn't get nearly as cold as NE or the GL, so maybe it's harder to feel "balmy" at 70*?

And then there's just the individual. I'm one of those people who gets chilled from pretty much any moving air over my skin, whereas I know other people who completely overheat the minute the air circulation slows down.

Needless to say, if I can't layer it (like a T-shirt over a long-sleeved shirt, or pants/tights/legwarmers with a skirt), I'm leaving it back in Cali. 

Great thread, btw. 2 weeks to go for me. Glad to know I'm on the right track!

well since we are getting ready to move back i can post here comfortably

My rollerblades.  Never got one use here.

Too many coats

Too many scarves

Too many coats

Too many scarves

Way way way too many coats. I never wear my heavy New England winter coats. Ever. I do, however, wear all my scarves, but generally only with a jumper or a jumper and gilet.

(I don't wear all my scarves at the same time. Just wanted to clarify that.  )

(I don't wear all my scarves at the same time. Just wanted to clarify that.  )

Well, shoot.  I was picturing you as Stevie Nicks. 

my espresso maker.  for some stupid reason, that was the electrical appliance that I chose to bring.  I needs a ridiculously high voltage transformer (which I don't have)  so it sits on the shelf.  I do miss it though..

Too many coats

It's funny how this is different for everyone.  I brought two heavy winter jackets despite being told I wouldn't need them and they have really come in handy this month.  We don't have a car, so we spend a ridiculous amount of time waiting at bus stops, on train platforms and just plain walking.  My hooded wool jacket has been great in this windy, cool, rainy weather!

I also had my brother ship me two additional fleece jackets from home because I end up constantly washing them (and then waiting for them to dry) from frequenting smoky pubs...I can't wait for the smoking ban to go into effect!!  I came from Madison, WI which had a city-wide smoking ban and I had forgotten how horrible it is to be inside a smoky restaurant or bar.