Mimi's Dream Home: Before and after falling for a Welshman.

I was listening to an interview with him on NPR the other night.  People were phoning in with their house questions, and one lady called and asked about the lack of mixer taps.   He confessed he had no clue why they're still not commonly used.

What are mixer taps? I suppose I could google it but I've been neglecting UK-Yankee for the past few days!

You've probably only seen mixer taps in any modern home in the US.  They're the taps that combine the hot and cold water into something you choose in between so you don't have to choose between freezing and scalding while washing your hands, etc.

A lot of homes in the UK have non-mixer taps, which have a separate spout for the hot and for the cold, so the only way to combine the two is in the sink basin, not while it's flowing out. 

You'll also see that it ALWAYS comes up on UKY--often from those who haven't been here long coming on in shock and amazement.  I'll admit, I find the amount of fuss about mixer taps to be a little silly sometimes--don't flame me for saying it.

Personally, I don't see the big deal.  I haven't had mixer taps here until we moved into our new house which has one or two, but I still find I don't use the taps any differently. Yes, it was different at first to have the hot and cold come out of separate taps, but I adjusted.  I turn on the hot water, and wash my hands--it isn't coming out piping hot anyway right off, so it's a fine temp with just the hot.  If I really need it to be more hot, I wait a moment longer to wash my hands or face.  I've only had the problem of it being boiling hot in public toilets that are constantly being used and then I just turn on the cold too and do a sweep to the side to get both temps. 

If you're anything like me, you'll also want to add 'utility room' to your list of requirements for a house here in the UK.  Otherwise, you'll end up with your washing machine in your kitchen, and your dryer being the radiator in the living room. 

Things I look forward to when/if we ever buy a house here- utility room, dishwasher, and a slightly larger, less dank back garden.

You mention that you plan on bringing over your Border Collie. I just wanted to inform you that the dog will have to go through Quarantine Kennels for 6 months (correct me if I am wrong on the length of time!) My mom wants to get rid of our Collie/Sheppard mix Romeo because she can't take care of him anymore. I was considering bringing him over, but my Mother In Law told me that he'd have to go through this before I could take him home. And I decided against it because he is 11 years old and I just don't think he'd make it without someone he knows with him everyday. I'm not trying to scare you or say it can't be done, I just thought you would like to know ahead of time, so you're not surprised when you get there! 

Here's a link with more info! http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/index.htm

You mention that you plan on bringing over your Border Collie. I just wanted to inform you that the dog will have to go through Quarantine Kennels for 6 months (correct me if I am wrong on the length of time!)

Not necessarily - you can go through the PETS scheme in the US before you leave so that your pet doesn't have to go into quarantine in the UK, but it does take around 6 months or so to get the paperwork sorted out and clear the required waiting times before the pets can travel.

If you haven't got time to wait at least 6 months before bringing the pet over, then they will have to go into quarantine in the UK (the majority of people get the PETS process done in the US before they move though, so their pets don't have to go into quarantine and they can just bring them home right away).

There is a lot more info on the Pets board: http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?board=60.0

and information about the PETS process: http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=63522.0

Very interesting! I didn't know there was a place in the US, either way it wouldn't have worked out very well in my case. But it's nice that people have options! Thanks for the info!

Very interesting! I didn't know there was a place in the US,

It's not a 'place' in the US - the dog doesn't go anywhere - it's just a process you have to go through in order to allow the dog to travel without having to go into quarantine in either the US or the UK.

From the PETS process link above:

It involves getting the pet microchipped, then vaccinated for rabies, then getting blood drawn and sent to Kansas for testing (steps may have a few weeks of waiting between them). Two months after the blood draw, you fill out a form and get it endorsed by your USDA approved vet, then book travel for the pet. 24-48 hours before check-in you go to the vet and get tick/tapeworm treatment and then you travel and take the pet home with you when you both arrive in the UK.

You mention that you plan on bringing over your Border Collie. I just wanted to inform you that the dog will have to go through Quarantine Kennels for 6 months (correct me if I am wrong on the length of time!) My mom wants to get rid of our Collie/Sheppard mix Romeo because she can't take care of him anymore. I was considering bringing him over, but my Mother In Law told me that he'd have to go through this before I could take him home. And I decided against it because he is 11 years old and I just don't think he'd make it without someone he knows with him everyday. I'm not trying to scare you or say it can't be done, I just thought you would like to know ahead of time, so you're not surprised when you get there! 

Here's a link with more info! http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/index.htm

Thanks for the head's up. However, one of the first things I did when it became a possibility that I was going to move to Wales was look into the PETS scheme. In fact, I think I actually looked into it before I looked at the spouse visa stuff. lol

Thanks for the head's up. However, one of the first things I did when it became a possibility that I was going to move to Wales was look into the PETS scheme. In fact, I think I actually looked into it before I looked at the spouse visa stuff. lol

I think this is the order of operations for many people.  We got our cats chipped, vaxed and did the blood titer as soon as there was the tiniest whisper of a rumor that we might be moving.  Visa, schmiza, we were more organized about the cats than anything else.   

I think this is the order of operations for many people.  We got our cats chipped, vaxed and did the blood titer as soon as there was the tiniest whisper of a rumor that we might be moving.  Visa, schmiza, we were more organized about the cats than anything else.   

Absolutely! Pets come first!