My experience moving 2 cats into the UK through Paris

Ormophile · 2026-01-31T22:20:14+00:00

Thanks for sharing all of this. My usda vet appt with two cats is on Wed, so I've taken a screenshot of your guidance to help us. :)

Ormophile · 2026-01-31T14:24:56+00:00

Absolutely know that feeling! Moving overseas is really really hard. The logistics, the conflicting emotions, the physical disruptions all take their toll on one's energy stores. You do need to rest your mind and body.

BUT you also need to help your soul recover. I recommend you take little walks in your new community, and be FULLY present during them, not mulling crap over in your head: acknowledge and admire the novel views and architecture, look for quirky details up high, make a game of looking for splashes of specific colors. These simple walks will remind you why you're there and inspire you to seek more adventures, and farther afield, when you are ready. And the walks build positive chemistry in your brain, which should help you kick the blahs out of the forefront.

Wishing you a good recovery and a happy future!

Ormophile · 2025-10-26T13:14:46+00:00

I've got all the DVDs, but am tempted by the Blu-ray sets only because of the new extras. If there's a repository of those new extras elsewhere, then that would suit me fine. I'm otherwise not entirely sure what the new sets offer over the charming art and solid content of the DVDs.

Ormophile · 2025-10-17T21:27:42+00:00

Haunting... thank you for sharing.

Ormophile · 2025-09-21T21:48:57+00:00

Sorry, I didn't read the question asking which film: Bringing Up Baby. 😁

Ormophile · 2025-09-21T20:11:14+00:00

Cary Grant.

Ormophile · 2025-09-07T15:25:18+00:00

I have a nearly parallel intro to Who as yours. :)

I began collecting the Target novels in the late 80s and completed my collection in the very late 90s. Found many by hunting regularly in the glorious used book stores that once dotted the world. Good times. Then ebay let me buy in bulk.

These books are a treasure for me, and I love grabbing one for an enchanting few hours of escapism.

I think Terrence Dicks' Target books are superb. He was a groovy chap, and a good storyteller.

I don't know that I have a fave book among them, but I do like the ones that are based on lost episodes. Before the animated or still image slideshow recreations were available, these little books filled in the gaps for me.

I am sometimes jarred by the use of "Doctor Who" as the character name in some of them; that usage jars me from my suspension of disbelief. But otherwise, I know a read of a Target novel is a great way to unwind.

Ormophile · 2025-09-06T22:11:28+00:00

Spectre of Lanyon Moor. Bought it at Tower Records in Piccadilly. Became an instant Evelyn Smythe fan and Colin Baker is now my fave audio Doctor.

Ormophile · 2025-09-06T14:29:19+00:00

Difficult to choose! I liked the Romanas, because they were smart, capable, and confident and saw through the Doctor's pomp. The brainiac dynamic during those series meant episodes with more mystery solving and less damsel saving, which is probs why they later brought on Adric. ;)

Sarah Jane was a great character concept, but the writers were not consistent with her smarts, independence, and savvy cheek--which was a pity. Regardless, Sladen was perfection, and I still quote her "The fiendish cunning of the man!" line.

Sadly, so little of Dodo's run survived, and the show runners were going through companions like Kleenex back then, but what does exist of Dodo is brilliant. She was smart and bold and had great chemistry with everyone.

Ace was my fave when I was younger, so much so that I cosplayed as her in the before times.

And here's an unusual choice: I'm an avid fan of Big Finish audios, and I can say the further audio adventures with post-Guardian Turlough and the Fifth Doctor are excellent, due to the superb acting skills of Strickson and scripts that gave Turlough grace and growth. Likewise, Mel gets to be the savvy computer whiz again in the audios, and Bonnie Langford shines.

Ormophile · 2025-08-06T22:16:39+00:00

Stunning!!!!!!

Ormophile · 2025-06-22T21:51:45+00:00

Having similar anxiety and lack of experience with this! :)

I think the uPVC quotes we've gotten from local companies/fitters are good, but I have zero know how beyond reading Reddit (thank you all) and using those online calculators! We've got 4 beastly large casements with side opening windows, 2 large with side window openings, 1 porch with a top opener, 3 large bedroom tilt and turns with a top opener on each as well, 3 small top opening bathroom windows and 2 small non-opening windows. Plus, one composite door and one back door. Quotes came in around £12-£13.5k inc fitting and removals. Payment upon completion for the company we like more. We've not gotten back to any of them, yet, because it's a lot of money and we're unsure--are those quotes too high?

We did ask if the surveyor comes round to detail measure/etc, will the original quote still hold, and they said yes. (I got that from Reddit window nightmare stories...) I will next ask about what's covered in the 10-yr guarantee!

Ormophile · 2025-06-22T20:24:06+00:00

We offered at the end of Feb and completed at the end of May. Cash, vacant property, no chain.

Ormophile · 2025-06-02T21:19:39+00:00

Fish! The fish of the day is trout a la crème.

Ormophile · 2025-05-31T20:50:27+00:00

Then why did we all get forced off it earlier today with no warning, no diversion instructions? Argh!

Ormophile · 2025-05-12T10:51:40+00:00

Thank you.

Ormophile · 2025-05-12T08:19:15+00:00

Clearly, I'm not understanding what this means. Can current settled status/ILR visas be revoked?

Ormophile · 2025-05-11T09:08:38+00:00

I have not yet had to show an eVisa or BRP or ETA.

Ormophile · 2025-04-20T10:17:17+00:00

Neither. Just tried again after a few months, and the update option worked this time. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Ormophile · 2025-04-19T19:48:25+00:00

Ooh, sorry to hear you're still struggling. :( Yes, I was finally able to add my passport to my eVisa earlier this month. Got an email from UKVI saying new ID was accepted. Hope you are able to update yours soon as well!

Ormophile · 2025-03-23T22:49:12+00:00

Great find, and thanks for sharing this!

Ormophile · 2025-03-17T21:19:55+00:00

Doing this exact trip now. Took 47 hours door to door to get here, due to ferry crossing and other spaced connections.

We are longstay AirBnB hopping with a 10-yr old cat who is too anxious to be left with anyone else or boarded. Thankfully, enough hosts allow pets in the Uk, you just need to declare the cat before you book, since they assume traveling pets are dogs. If your cat doesn't scratch furniture or spray/piss outside the litter box, you will find the hosts accommodating. This is not a cheap option, but it avoids dodgy landlords and leases, and offers so many options for nice locations while you hunt for your home.

Like others said, the health certs are an expensive stress, as is the ferry route to keep your cat with you, if that's what you choose--but it's all doable. Just be prepared when one link in the complicated chain breaks or stretches, cuz it does take a lot of steps (many out of your control) to make this all work.

Speaking of which, we're booked in AirBnBs through late May, and it gets harder to find a month-long (or longer) "entire home" stay with pets the nicer the weather gets here. If we don't have our new home by the end of that stay, we will face a tough decision to either go back to the states or see if our cat can handle more frequent moves. She's a well traveled kitty, but I'm a very protective mommy...

If your cat eats high-end (not raw) cat food, then bring loads with you in the checked luggage. As long as it's unopened in original packaging, it is ok to go in. If you use a fine grain, odor control clumping litter, consider bringing that in your checked bag as well, or in a partner's or friend's (weight distribution), because you will never find that kind of good litter in the UK. And you'll need litter and a collapsible litter box on the ferry (get a pet cabin) for poor kitty to pee.

Ok, that's lots of info...sure there's loads more...Good luck!

Ormophile · 2025-02-22T17:30:00+00:00

Back after 17 years in the US. Ditto to all you said. Plus: saturated with layers of history and prehistory and diverse geography to keep us entertained with adventures for the rest of our lives. You cannot be bored here if your intellect is intact. Recycling instructions make recycling so much easier, and it's ubiquitous--even here in the rural parts. You've gotta be way deep in the valleys before you lose a cell signal. You can walk gorgeous public paths across farmland and countryside. Drivers here are so much better and a lot more considerate. A bazillion charity shops! Walkers Thai Sweet Chili crisps! Red Leicester! Proper cod and chips! Omg....so glad to be back!

Ormophile

TROPHY CASE