SELECTIVE PURCHASING

You can get almost everything in the UK. However you need to purchase a few things, to tide you over the settling down phase. There are also quite a few items that might be much cheaper in India. Plan your purchases judiciously, or you might pay what you save to the airlines for excess baggage. For a list of major departmental stores online, click here.

GROCERIES

You need not carry spices from home with you, because they will be easily available in the UK at various Indian Food Stores because there is quite a big population of Indians that live there. There are even whole Indian neighbourhoods which feel as though they are in India itself!

If you are keen on cooking, and you want to save some money, the things to carry would be Sambar powder, Rasam powder, Dal powder, Chilli powder, Garam masala and any other masala powders you may require. This is just in case your project is in some remote place with no friendly Indian 'kirana' shop around.

SANITARY/PERSONAL CARE

Most sanitary items are available at convenience stores that will be located near you. However, carry the following:

• Carry what you need during your journey and your first couple of weeks.
• Along with your regular toiletry items, carry a good deodorant and a mouthwash like 'Listerine'. (Bad breath and body odor are not looked upon kindly.)
• There's no need to carry Washing Powder, brushes or other washing equipment. There are Laundromats; the place you stay will probably have one too, which are convenient and cheap.

UTENSILS AND APPLIANCES

You can get appliances and utensils reasonably priced at any of the big departmental stores, so there's no need to carry too many items, other than the ones mentioned here:

• Pressure Cookers may be expensive in the UK, so you should get one if you plan to cook rice and dal. Carry extra gaskets, safety valves and weights because it may be hard to find them.
• Once you've settled down, find a large departmental store for a set of utensils, which shouldn't be too expensive.
• Don't carry steel spoons, ladles, etc., because most utensils are non-stick.
• At the departmental stores, you'll also find drinking glasses that are pretty cheap.

LUGGAGE

When you buy luggage, you can either buy hard-top or soft-top ones. Considering the way most airlines handle luggage, you will be better off with hard top pieces than soft-top ones even if you consider the extra weight.

CLOTHES

Since UK lies in a temperate zone, warmer clothing is required. Invariably winters are severe. This means investing in thick coats and snow shoes. Warm clothing is a good idea to take with you as Cashmere wool is very expensive in London. One or two warm sweaters should be good enough plus a warm jacket with a hood. These are available in UK at any store.

Head gear, gloves, scarves etc., are also important, but may not be necessary in some areas/conditions an umbrella is a must. Tweeds and cardigans are worn year round and a "mac" or raincoat is imperative. It is also wise to remember that the English countryside is damp and often muddy, especially in winter you can "go" native" and purchase an inexpensive pair of Wellingtons (rubber boots) anywhere in Britain.

When it comes to casual clothing jeans and T-shirts with a cardigan are perfectly acceptable and it would be a good idea to take them with you as they are quite expensive in the UK. Also pack some formal evening wear for the occasional party or business dinner. By formal wear we mean a conservative navy/charcoal grey/black two-piece suit and a conservative tie. For women we recommend a sari or formal gowns which can be purchased in the UK itself.

Work Clothes

British people do tend to dress conservatively and dark, well tailored suits for businessmen, and dresses for working women are the norm. For the first few days dress formally (the dark business suit would be best) but after that play it by ear.

• Shirts: Even if you aren't working in a formal environment, carry at least 5 formal shirts that should be light colored.
• Trousers: Carry at least 4 pairs of good trousers in solid colors like black, blue or gray.
• Jeans: Jeans are pretty cheap in the UK, and you can buy yours there, but carry at least a couple of pairs to wear before you buy new ones.
• Suits: Definitely carry at least one good suit with you, even if you won't need to wear it to work. You might need it for other occasions. If your work attire is formal, then you'll need to carry at least three. Make sure that they are dark, blue, black or gray.
• Leather Jacket: A leather jacket is one of the best protections against the weather in winter. Take it with you from India because leather can be very expensive in the UK.

FOOTWEAR

You ought to get as many pairs of leather shoes with you as you can because these are expensive in the UK. Buy a good pair of black and brown formal shoes. You can buy your Nikes and Reeboks in the UK. They cost About UK the same as they do in India. If you are used to walking around in Hawaii chappals, take a pair with you.

For regular casual shoes, having a pair of sandals or slip-ons is fine. There are some good discount shoe stores in the UK and some of the Supermarkets have a reasonably priced selection of shoes.

ACCESSORIES

Accessories are important, and it would be a good idea to take the following with you.

• Socks: Buy as many pairs of socks as you will need, although they are available in the UK. Have a range of colors, especially to go with your trousers.
• Belts: Leather is expensive in the UK so make sure to carry your own.
• Wallet: Get a good leather wallet, with lots of place for cards.
• Ties: Buy a few good ties, and these should be sober and dark colored.
• Gloves: It would be a good idea to carry one good pair of leather gloves.
• Handkerchiefs: Carry enough of these with you.
• Inner garments: Have your supply of these. They are available in the UK as well, and are not that expensive.

DRIVING LICENSE

Driving in the UK is hard at first, but not impossible. It is very orderly, and people generally follow traffic rules.

• Get yourself an International Driver's Permit from India. You can get a UK License from the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) once you're there, but that could take some time.
• If you are applying for a license in the UK, you have to pass a written and practical driving test. You can get an application form at the Post Office. It is advisable to do the exams in an area where there are a lot of expatriates.
• The driving rules and methods are very different from those in India, and you will not be spared for making mistakes. You'll need to take some lessons and familiarize yourself with the rules and speeds at which people drive. Also, don't forget to take out some auto insurance if you plan to drive.
• If you don't know how to drive, yet want to drive in the UK, it'll be a better idea of you take lessons in India, and that would make it easier for you to learn there.
• Penalties are high if caught drinking and driving and can include cancellation of license for one year, jail time, high fines.

Note: In order to get an International Driver's Permit, you have to go to your local RTO with your Passport, and apply for one. It doesn't take that long, nor is it too expensive. It is normally valid for a year, which is enough time to get a UK license, and be able to drive reasonably well.

MEDICAL RECORDS

The UK has one of the finest health care systems in the world. Excellent hospitals, clinics or doctors' offices are located in most communities. Pharmaceuticals are available from numerous outlets including supermarkets, department stores, hotels and shopping centers.

It is advisable to take out a medical insurance before coming to the UK because costs can be extremely high

If you or any family members have suffered from any serious medical problems in the past, are allergic to any medications, or have any medical condition that a new doctor should know About UK, ask your current doctor to prepare a detailed medical report that you can take with you.

Also ask your doctor to give you the generic names of any medicines that you or family members need or are currently using since brand names for medicines may be different in the UK.

It is a good idea to carry past diagnoses and treatment records for you or any children that may be traveling with you.

There are a lot of medicines available in India that you can't get without a prescription in the UK and the pharmacies do not accept prescriptions written outside the UK. Carry enough supply of any medication that you are using to allow enough time for your insurance to be activated, and a new doctor to prescribe any medicines you might need.

All medication that you carry should be clearly labeled and have a valid prescription accompanying it.

There are some medicines available in India are banned in the UK and carrying a prescription will guard you against any suspicion of smuggling. This applies especially to homeopathic medicines that may be mistaken for illegal drugs at Customs.

Finally, carry a small kit of medicines for common ailments (headaches, stomach problems, muscle aches, cuts and bruises) with you.