goin' back to the USA, what to bring?

Hey everyone. Curious to know- if you were leaving the UK and never coming back except for distant in the future short visits, what would you take with you? For years of my six year stay in London I would load suitcases with Trader Joes Banana Nut Crunch , though that finally stopped (OK, I still take corn tortillas on my once or twice yearly visits to the US). Now that I'm going back for good in just a month, and am planning to blow some money shipping boxes (any tips appreciated) what should I stock up on here? I'll be in NY and/or Florida (long story). So far I'm thinking Fortnum and Mason Tea- I wouldn't say I went through great changes here in the UK, but I did become pretty fussy about my tea!

FWIW, there's a fair number of British grocery import shops in Florida.  Found a list of them on this link:

http://www.britishflorida.com/index.php/BRITISH-SHOPS/Tearooms.html

In Tampa, I used to go to that Britan's shop, for instance - though usually for the frozen yoghurt, not for British stuff - lol!

From a permanent move back point of view, I'd take back to Canada with me a leather chair and handmade bookcase we bought, clothes (after a cull), photos, some books (after a cull) and important documents. I'd shed everything else.

Food I don't think I'd bother with and just make it a fun thing to collect on visits.

But that's just me. Have fun deciding! 

If you've got the money to blow, I'd definitely splurge on the tea you love. I'm a PGTips lover and while I can find it in my grocery store, I pay for the privilege. I also love plain old McVities Digestives and a lot of the other 'biscuits' so I'd probably send over a bunch of those. I'd also buy quite a bit of Cadbury - not so much for me, but for my family who love it.

Aside from that, the things I miss can't be shipped so easily (cheeses, sausages, M&S stuff) but I've found good substitutes!

Tea Pigs tea.  Anything else I like is already in the US or there is a better substitute.

Yes, the first time I ever had clotted cream was in a mini mall in Fort Lauderdale. Kind of sad how rarely I eat it in London. I will greatly miss the excellent, reasonably priced cheese and sausage but obviously that isn't transportable, and would be gone in two or three days anyway! Fortnum and Mason isn't really that expensive and I'll definitely take back a fair amount. Frankly I don't expect to miss the sweets, I'm pretty happy with what we have on the shelves in the good old USA.

I would bring back more permanent things that remind me of the UK rather than food which once it's gone, it's well, gone.   Maybe a few pieces of Emma Bridgewater pottery or something from Cath Kidson, things by UK designers.  Maybe one of those little Union Jack pillows. 

Now we're talking! Anyone ever get Penhaligon's cologne? Very expensive but nice. I'm thinking of splurging on one, at least as a gift for my Dad.

My regular scent is a Penhaligon's but you can also get it in the US. I do usually get some when in the UK.

Cookbooks.  I don't have any UK food attachments but I do like cookbooks.  Nigella, Gordon and Jamie are just as familiar in the US as the UK so I wouldn't bother with one of those but if you have a favorite chef or maybe just a general British cookbook.

Now we're talking! Anyone ever get Penhaligon's cologne? Very expensive but nice. I'm thinking of splurging on one, at least as a gift for my Dad.

I love Penhaligon's, their Bluebell is my regular scent.  I think it's a great gift, it'll have a nice backstory for him, but he won't have to ration it, since it can be found in the US once the first bottle runs out. 

Like gretel, I think I'd find a few decorative pieces, for shelf or wall, to remind me of my time here. 

I think the thing I'll most miss is my wonderful red kettle.  I know there are kettles in the US, but it's just not as quick or the same, and it seems silly to buy a big monster power converter for it.  But we'll see how sentimental I am when the time comes!

I think the thing I'll most miss is my wonderful red kettle.  I know there are kettles in the US, but it's just not as quick or the same, and it seems silly to buy a big monster power converter for it.  But we'll see how sentimental I am when the time comes!

If you are after an electric kettle, they are available in Canada. No need for adapted power cords.

For example:

http://www.sears.ca/stores/shop/search?langId=1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10001&N=0&Ntk=level1&Ntt=electric+kettle&Nty=1&D=electric+kettle&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&initialquery=true&internalSearch=true

They have electric kettles in the US.  They have them at Target and Wal-Mart.  

http://www.target.com/Electric-Kettles-Coffee-Tea-Espresso/b/ref=sc_iw_r_12_0_1038580?node=13385431

Oh, I know they do and said as much.  I even have one in storage back there -- they're just not as super quick as they are in the UK.  And I am particularly attached to my adorable red one.  Sorry for the confusion.

I think the UK ones might be faster because of the electricity voltage as opposed to the kettle itself.