We're coming back - sort of.

[Steve]

Yes, I know it's been a while since I poked my head above the parapets here at AMF - hopefully you're going to be seeing, hearing and reading more from me in the future.

We left the region about three odd years ago, taking up work back out in the Middle East - which seems to be our normal stomping grounds.

Well, we visited family in the UK this month and tagged on a week in our old home's area visiting friends - and of course, as you do, we made an offer on a property near where we were before and it's been accepted.

[Jiml]

Good to hear Steve ....we haven't met but thought I would pop in and say welcome back, and great to hear you have found a property you like in the region

I look forward to reading more as time goes on

[Fred]

Hello Steve, long time no see.  

The area does seem to have some sort of pull, I've heard of a few people that have moved on but end up coming back.

You may notice a few changes to the software. I have also moved us onto a faster sever and added https. You will probably notice we have a few more members since your last visit, and a good bunch they are too.

I'm still running it all in the background, but I'm sorry your job has recently been filled and Jim is now our moderator.

Good luck with the purchase, at least you know what to expect from the process.



Regards.

Fred.

[Steve]

How do Fred. AMF does look to be in fine fettle, certainly response time is good although I am on a bit of a fast connection out here.

Hey Jimi, hope you're able to fill my old boots. I'm sure you're going to do well. I won't be looking to reclaim anything anytime in the near future, too much going on at work and in real life. Although I do still have the 'Mod' badge albeit on a different forum - won't publicise it here though for fear of annoying Fred.

Have to admit that I hated my visit to the (Y)UK, but really surprised myself by just how 'at home' I felt when I reached L'Isle Jourdain - damn place seems to have gotten into my blood and I enjoyed the 'fix' I got.

The new place is just having the CdV written up, it'll be emailed to me after your weekend for us to start the process. Should be the usual fun doing it remotely from a place without a working postal service, but hey ho, we did manage it before. This time we're in the Charente (16), but only just over the line from Vienne so still feels OK  

[Jiml]

I'll do my best to fill your old boots but I won't be treading on any toes as those boots are heavy

Looking forward to following your progress with the move

[Admiral]

Blimey there's a blast from the past.

Welcome back Steve, long time no hear and all that sort of thing.

Which makes me think I may have been here too long.  Ho hum.

[Steve]

What ho Admiral - not that long of a blast from the past.

Good to hear from you. I thought you were part of the department's foundations, you'll miss leaving the area - you know that.

OH says our plan is to run the new place as a holiday home for a few more years with me continuing to rake in the shekels a bit longer. We'll see about that things change rapidly out here and the company I'm with is goign through some global and local changes that could dictate earlier plan changes.

[Steve]

Quick update. Well we decided that we'd actually have the house as our residence principal rather than a holiday home so we're coming back full time having decided that it would be better all round for us to break from the daily grind of working, so early retirement looks like it's on the cards again. To much computer work has had a poor effect on the old eyeballs so maybe a while away from 8 hours a day usage will be just the medicine for me. Maybe I'll be able to find something to do in the near future that could keep me sane (that is if I am actually sane right now).

So we've closed up the apartment in Dubai, sitting in a hotel right now just waiting for our bug out flight on Wednesday to Paris. Not long to go now. Back to the cold weather and plentiful supply of vin rouge !!!

[little Al]

Welcome back...and have a safe flight.
xx

[Jiml]

Sounds like a great decision to me Steve ...safe journey and hope you can enjoy early retirement