Richard and I are happy to announce that we arrived in the UK on 8 March on a near-empty flight from Perth, Australia, and we’re now officially UK residents again.
We’re very happy to be back in the UK, enjoying the profusion of daffodils everywhere that herald springtime in England, always a glorious event like nowhere else on earth. And it’s wonderful to see the English wildlife again, with an enchanting procession of squirrels, ducks, pheasants and blackbirds visiting the garden of the first property we stayed in.
But what a time to be moving our lives and our business to a new continent. We are starting from scratch, with only what we brought with us in our suitcases.
We quickly bought UK SIM cards for our phones (impossible to do anything these days without these) and a car, and now we’re looking online every day for a house to rent. In the meantime, we’re staying in self-catering apartments in hotels and equipping ourselves with essentials. What a lifesaver to be back in a country with next-day delivery and such a delightful “keep calm and carry on” attitude.
We would love to make a new home for ourselves somewhere in the Cotswolds but have extended our search area even wider now to consider other possibilities. It’s a race against time because so few people are moving home at the moment so there are very few properties available to rent.
We send sincere thanks to everyone who has contacted us to give us such a warm welcome back to England. I’ll post more news here when we have some to share.
Update on 31 March 2020
The UK went into lockdown on 23 March so that’s put our househunting on hold for quite a while. But we’re both in good health and very happy to be in the UK, even at such an unusual time.
Copyright © Clear Space Living Ltd, 2020
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Dear Karen and Richard,
A very warm welcome back to the UK and many blessings for your new life. The Cotswolds is such a magic, energetic place where hopefully you will find much happiness and contentment. Stay well.
Warmest
Gabriella
Thanks, Gabriella. We are soooo happy to be back here and look forward to a time after lockdown ends when we’ll be able to travel around and actually see the Cotswolds in all its glorious springtime splendour.
Thank you for such enlightenment. Haha I actually just watched this movie on amazon prime “Minimalism: a Documentary About the Important Things” so perhaps the cosmo is telling me something. It is very difficult to part with things; I am sure it is not just me. Perhaps you will consider writing about letting go when you are finally settled in?
I’m sorry to hear that about Bali, Karen. I believe it is a beautiful country with wonderful people. Just as a quick postscript on deliveries, I have today been able to get a fruit and veg box to be delivered next week by a small supplier so that’ll keep me going for a bit. The supermarkets are no help at all to people in my situation. I read your book ‘Clear your clutter with Feng Shui’ and listened to the audio….absolutely inspirational. I think I’ll use this lockdown time to read it again (whilst decluttering as well of course).
Hi Pete – I feel heart-wrenching sorry for the Balinese people too. Glad to hear you have found a food delivery source and are in the mood to do some decluttering now 🙂
Karen, yes what a time to relocate. Good luck. Every day, especially during the Covid-19 restrictions, is an opportunity to express our best selves.
We bought a unit on the Gold Coast, Queensland in January and it finalised first week of March. Our intention is to right size and declutter anything that doesn’t suit our retired beach unit lifestyle. I have enquired and moving house is a ‘reasonable’ reason to be out and about.
Subject to further restrictions we’ll continue to tidy our house ready for sale as we self isolate here; diy removal to the unit with small loads; comply with social distancing during the 12 hour, 1094 kilometre trip; self isolate there; return here; rinse and repeat till done.
At times I am of the same thought. “If the container falls in the ocean en route back the UK, that’s fine with us too. The contents are insured and we’re not attached to anything. Whatever doesn’t fit in our new life or our new home, when we have one, will quickly be sold or given away.” A fresh start and clean slate is pretty compelling even as it isn’t the more fiscally responsible thing to do.
Good luck.
Hello Karen, so glad you are back in the UK. Hopefully you can get some weight against the 5G nightmare that we are facing. Well, perhaps just a challenge to rise to, eh? If you remember me (I lost Sue in 2008, don’t know if I told you) but would be lovely to be in touch. I still live in Canterbury, now married to Marianne. Welcome back anyway.
Hi John – Thank you for the welcome back. And yes, of course I remember you and Sue from the consultation in your home all those years ago in 1999, if I remember correctly. Glad to hear you have remarried 🙂
Thanks for sharing and keeping us updated. Your description sounds beautiful and can’t wait to experience England for myself in the future. I know you and Richard will find the perfect home in the best location at the right time. Sending those positive vibes and prayers your way! It would be amazing to meet you in the future as your book has been a game changer for me. I read it annually and own the audio version now so I can listen while I’m cleaning or decluttering. My life is more organized because of you.
Hugs & Blessings,
Kimberly from Indianapolis, IN.
Hello Karen,
I am happy to hear that you got back to England. I wish to meet you one day. Meanwhile, all the best for you to find a nice place to live.
Hadjira
Paris, France
Hope you are well and safe back in UK. I agree with Ursula in Cádiz if you would kindly share about your move. I just lost my job last month and in my 50s it is hard to find another corporate job with the pay I used to get. Retirement age is still far ahead for me but I’m considering moving to a cheaper part of the country. I took your class 3 years ago when I moved into our current house. Now I need to not only declutter but really purge a lot of the stuff that I am not willing to let go … as soon as I get motivated.
Hi Jackie – Ursula in Cadiz’s question was about any hard choices I had to make when moving from Australia to the UK and how I decided in the end what to keep and what to let go. The reason I didn’t reply to her question is because Richard and I live clutter-free. So when we moved to Australia we took everything with us in a container and just changed the electrical plugs when we got there. Coming back to the UK, we’ll do the same in reverse.
If the container falls in the ocean en route back the UK, that’s fine with us too. The contents are insured and we’re not attached to anything. Whatever doesn’t fit in our new life or our new home, when we have one, will quickly be sold or given away. I hope this will help you to do likewise if you move. It will allow you to feel as free as a bird, not burdened by stuff as so many people are.
Glad you got back to the UK before things began to temporarily close. You both must feel a sense of relief. Sending good luck and best wishes from Long Island, NY.
Be well,
Janice E
Dear Karen & Richard
Welcome back to the UK, even if events and circumstances are very unusual here, to say the least. Thank you so much for that beautiful picture: a wonderful reminder to shift focus to the coming of spring in all its glory. Many people have noticed how joyful the birdsong seems these days. Best of luck with your house hunting, when the time is right. Nothing lasts for ever…..
Welcome back to the U.K. and great to hear your perspective on our beautiful country! 😊💕✨
I’m very glad you are ‘pleased to be back in a country with next day delivery’. I have had an online supermarket order in the checkout for 2 weeks and have just been on the site to try and book a slot. I got up to the 26th of May with no slots available. I am in my seventies and having to risk my life and health going out to shops to get food. The grass is not greener here. You’d have been better off in Bali!
Hi Pete – Sorry to hear you’re having such a difficult time getting food deliveries. I understand there are over 750,000 people in the UK who have volunteered to help take care of people in your situation so I suggest you contact your local council to make them aware of your needs.
Richard and I left Bali in 2010 and lived in the UK for 7 years and Australia for the last 3 years. But I’m still in touch with Balinese friends and I gather the situation there is dire because 80% of the economy relies on tourism and there is no government help of any kind for anyone.
Welcome back Karen & Richard. So glad your transition was in time before the lockdown. Good luck with your house hunting. I live in Yorkshire – God’s own county, did you know? Just putting it out there for consideration!
Hi Ruby – Yes, our search area is spread very wide and includes Yorkshire, especially since I’m a Yorkshire lass myself (I was born there and spent the first ten years of my life there).
Dear Karen and Richard,
Welcome back and all the best in finding what you need and setting up your temporary (and then permanent) home…
Sending you good vibes,
Alison xx
Karen & Richard, you are very welcome back, stay safe and looking forward to more books & courses when everything is back to normal. ☘️ 💚
Welcome back to the UK Karen!
I Live in Oxford so if you’re in this part of the Cotswolds and need any ‘insider’ knowledge, feel free to ask me. Stay safe
Kate
Happy settling in to you both, Karen!
I would love a post about your move: we already know that your connection to stuff is minimal, but it might be interesting to know if you had any hard choices to make and how you decided in the end. I love that crossing continents makes some things really easy, e.g. none of your electrical goods are going to work anyway; the climate differences make some clothing choices a no-brainer, etc.
I hope you find somewhere magical to live that reflects your wonderful values and energy.