Essentials ?

So today I bought

-Measuring spoons and cups
-Huge bottles of Tylenol and Aleve
-10 packages of Neosporin (1 for me and 9 for my tattoo artist who likes it)
-A big tub of Lubriderm
-Italian dressing seasoning packets
-5 giant packs of peanut butter M&Ms for DF

What else am I forgetting? What do you think I cannot live without but can't get there? Ideas? I did see the other thread, where I got the list for the above items.

Hmmm... well, the main thing is to make sure you bring all your sentimental stuff you might miss later on - favorite blankets, pjs, teddy bear, photos of family and friends, etc. It's nice to have those things around you while you settle in. Other than that, most everything is available here, in some form or another. When do you leave for UK?
Good luck with the packing, it's a nightmare! 

Hmmm... well, the main thing is to make sure you bring all your sentimental stuff you might miss later on - favorite blankets, pjs, teddy bear, photos of family and friends, etc. It's nice to have those things around you while you settle in. Other than that, most everything is available here, in some form or another. When do you leave for UK?
Good luck with the packing, it's a nightmare! 

I'm HOPING my visa is in and approved for my April 24th plane ticket. DF's bday is the 26th so I had a ticket purchased already and then a week or so ago we decided I should just move then.

Oh man I have been packing already!! It has been a total nightmare so far and I even got rid of things I don't wear or aren't that attached to. I'll be back in July so I'm leaving some of the sentimental stuff with my BFF so I can bring it back on that trip. As it is I sent a box over and DF got taxed on it big time. So I'm just gonna spend the money to check extra baggage. It's been good in a way though because it keeps my mind off all the neurosis I have about my Visa lol.

I could be wrong as I'm no expert on customs and duties, but I would think your fiance, upon receiving your box you sent, should NOT have been taxed on personal items that are your belongings and bought longer than six months ago.

In either mailing, shipping, or bringing in your flight baggage, there should normally not be any customs or duty taxes to pay on personal belongings depending on what they are, even electronics as long as they are not new.

I could be wrong as I'm no expert on customs and duties, but I would think your fiance, upon receiving your box you sent, should NOT have been taxed on personal items that are your belongings and bought longer than six months ago.

Yeah, it doesn't sound right that he got taxed if you sent your own things over to the UK. When I moved back home from the US last summer, I shipped 4 boxes to my parents house (1 of books and papers, 1 of clothes and the other 2 containing my bicycle) - it cost me about $400 to ship them all, but I didn't have to pay a penny in taxes/customs when they arrived  .

What else am I forgetting? What do you think I cannot live without but can't get there? Ideas? I did see the other thread, where I got the list for the above items.

Sounds like a great list. The only thing I had on my list that you don't is deodorant. I took 3, and plan to take a handful more when I head back for good.

Levi's, if you wear them. You can get them here, but you won't BELIEVE what they cost.

I moved from SF to Barnstaple many moons ago....I struggled there with the lack of pace after the big city. (though I did see two transvestites on my first day there which cheered me no end  ) Do be prepared for how quiet it's going to be and a bit isolating from a big city..think I went to Plymouth and Exeter alot for a change of pace! 

I would add Nyquil to that if you are a fan of cold meds that knock you out for the night.

I would add Nyquil to that if you are a fan of cold meds that knock you out for the night.

Also TylenolPM and its ilk, if you use them.

Sounds like a great list. The only thing I had on my list that you don't is deodorant. I took 3, and plan to take a handful more when I head back for good.

Ooooh, I found STICK deodorant at Boots (Dove Invisible Solid, no Secret, but still a definite improvement!) and they had 2 other brands, though I can't remember what they were. Anyway, maybe it's no longer necessary to bring stick deodorant or be stuck with spray or roll-on!  One less thing to make me sound crazy when asking people to send me some...    Also, I know tampons were on that thread, but I have found that most of the same kinds are available here - I use Tampax Compak multi-pack, and I have seen other Tampax ones (Pearl and others). (Not sure about OB or Playtex, though, since I don't use those, but I can't remember seeing them.)  Always and other familiar hygiene brands are also available. 

Yeah DF is gonna fight the tax charges before he actually picks the box up.

I'm okay with roll on although I was totally weirded out that they don't have stick. As far as tampons go I found my brand there at ASDA so that's good. I don't wear Levi's cus they fit me odd, but DF does and I've sent him like 3 pairs over the months or he's bought them when he came to the US.

I'm not in the exact city of SF. I'm about an hour outside but for the purpose of some privacy and because no one knows my small town I just say SF. So I am used to a slower pace even though I have lived inside the city before. We do go to Exeter quite often and I really don't mind Barnstaple. I'm sure I will at some point though but I really am easily amused.

Thanks for all the advice 

I was totally weirded out that they don't have stick.

'They' do have 'stick'.... i buy Sure solid, which i hate, Dove solid, which i also hate, Mitchum solid in baby powder and waterlily scent, which i like, and Simple solid, which i haven't tried.

'They' do have 'stick'.... i buy Sure solid, which i hate, Dove solid, which i also hate, Mitchum solid in baby powder and waterlily scent, which i like, and Simple solid, which i haven't tried.

Oh okay! I actually really like Dove. I never bothered looking for stick after I didn't find it at Sainsburys.

If you have a sound machine and like it (or "need it" to go to sleep), bring it and figure out how to get it to work with the electricity (usually just buying a replacement AC adapter).  Also, if you like tacos and use taco seasoning, bring that as well as the only brand I've been able to find is Old El Paso and it tastes different here (if you're picky about that).  If you like dill pickles, you may want to bring either a jar of your preferred brand or one of those pickling kits.  Also, Ranch dressing mixes (and well, any dressing you like as I've not been able to find very many here).  Oh, and the more OTC meds you can get in the US, the better as everything here comes in really small packages.

Actually, they have really excellent, inexpensive Tampax here (the good, old-fashioned, labor-intensive kind with the shaped cardboard applicator and everything). That was one of those surprise "grass is greener" things.

But pack paper towels, if you care. I ended up packing my stuff in rolls of select-a-size Brawny. It made excellent padding. Paper towels -- kitchen roll -- here is a flimsy proposition. Even if you pay for the premium stuff, it isn't great. And the sheets aren't as wide.