Just closed on selling my Uk business - feel a bit of a Jodrel banker really

[finnster01]

I just closed on selling my UK business.
It was never very big but I employed a fair few people, most of which were Fulham fans.

I was promised the new owners are not going to cut back but invest in the future. Who knows what they will do at the end of the day though, I can't dictate that anymore. I transferred a few over here to the US to help me out and hopefully that will work out well.

Still feel like the Grinch that stole Christmas. I didn't even get a good deal, but the way the market is going I had to stop bleeding cash in the UK.

So that means I am defo becoming a 100% yank import now, for good and for bad. My ties to Old England are now severed (except my daughter) and it feels very messed up to be honest. (No disrespect to our American friends, you have been wonderful to me and as some of you know, my fiancée is a New Yorker but it still feels a bit weird).

I still have 4 season tickets to FFC though...  

[FatFreddysCat]

Fair play to yer Finny, i'm sure after a while your be quite happy not having to worry about what's going on in London. But bloody hell, if you're going to move abroad at least go to somewhere that's got better weather than us   . Lucky you aint got my criminal record or you certainly wouldn't be even able to visit New Yoik. Now our kosher mukka Blingo has got the right idea, 2hours from London and of course Craven Cottage, and much better weather. Just a pity he's crap at football predictions :59: . Be Lucky Finny  :54: .

[Lighthouse]

Peter Gabriel - Not One Of Us (album version)

[Rupert]

I have no idea why you are beating yourself up over this. You have helped provide employment and a living wage and are now selling to new owners with fresh ideas (and maybe fresh investment) just as the country starts to emerge from a recession. By your own admission you have not made a financial killing, so your profits are not going to put people on the scrap heap.

Hold your head up and enjoy your (comparatively) stress free life, I say.

[Peabody]

Hope it all works out for you Finn. Your not alone though, you have a good role model in CH. He left these shores, and I am sure has never looked back. I am sure you will be visiting us sometime soon.

[Logicalman]

Welcome to the ranks of the disavailed brits in the US sir. Not a bad junket, but with a sense of adventure - and the right lady by your side - it can be an adventure of much pleasure.

Currently in my twelfth year stateside, and I have very few regrets, and almost none that don't include Fulham, the Cottage, Fullers or bangers and Mash in them!!!

[blingo]

Got to be honest Finny, Gib and Spain have been good to me. It took me about 18 months to adjust to the slower way of life, but my working life is probably the most hectic it has ever been, so stop whingeing and get on with it  :dft011: At least you have an excuse to get on the QM2 now to come back over. In all seriousness though, the hardest part must be knowing that your daughter is in the UK whilst you are in US, but I am sure that a bright man like you has already made arrangements and provisions in that department  :dft012: I also sold two companies to move over here Finny with a good few employees, but at the end of the day, you must do what is right for you and you obviously feel that the move to US is right, so enjoy life my friend. We only have the one stab at it and we have more years behind us now than in front of us. Well done and enjoy the results of your decision.  :54:

[Fernhurst]

Well done Finister!!!!!!

Its obviously a big deal for you and I am sure from the tone of your post an emotional time ........Come on .... keep focused, your lady and daughter are paramount......ONWARD AND UPWARDS......  and all the very best for the future....

[Jimpav]

Fair play Mr Finn and welcome to the beginning of a new chapter.

You've got nothing to feel guilty about. New York is a fantastic place and London isn't going anywhere if you ever want to come back.

Enjoy!

[os5889]

Sorry to hear that Mr Finn, I hope you'll dip your feet in over this side of the pond once or twice for a few of our beloved Fulhams games. Has this impending sale been the reason behind your reduced posting of late?

[TheDaddy]

As my uncle use to say "life is all but one rich tapestry" what the hell that meant i still don't no.All i can do is wish you and your partner the very best of luck.Im sure your daughter will be fine with the idea of dad being in America WHAT GREAT HOLIDAYS.We always feel as if were abandoning our kids when we move away and beat ourselves up over it but just think when you two are together its always will be quality time i found that out when me and the misses split up.

Good Luck mate enjoy the new chapter in your life.Remember your always going to be a limey.  :54:

[jarv]

Mr. Finn,
A big step. I moved to Boston (from Ascot) in 1988. It takes a bit of getting used to, the winter that is! Took me about 4 years, then I really started to enjoy the skiing, only 2 hours away.

I return home every year, always go to a match and have NEVER seen Fulham lose on my annual trips. (The closest was Bolton, 1-0 down about 15 minutes left, win 2-1).

I thoroughly enjoy this site. It makes me feel at home, especially the posts about local pubs etc.
Hopefully you keep posting.

By the way, I hope Fulham keep the American connection going. I think they are on tv (foxsoccer) more than any other team. You will get to see loads of games.

I expect you will miss your daughter the most. I have a son in England (old relationship) and felt terrible when I left. He was 15 then.
Enjoy your new chapter. 

[Steve_orino]

Congrats and Welcome!  I'm aware you've been on this side of the pond for a while now but it's official now!

University is only 4 or 5 years away...not a bad time to travel for your daughter???  Go to school in NY, visit & learn about the New England area (keep her away from McBFan1), visit Philly, and check out DC.  Give her 4 years in Uni here and she can explain American Football to you!   :011:

[CorkedHat]

I never considered coming to Australia – I was more than happy in England. I was, however, given a four years contract with my company which was to work on two of their major accounts, Coca-Cola and Reckitt & Colman in Australia and I jumped at the chance which I perceived to be a four years working holiday.
One thing led to another and suddenly I felt very Australian in the way I spoke, worked, drank, surfed and socialised. (Not in sport - I still support England).
Every time I thought about going home another opportunity arose which has culminated in me teaching at University, publishing a novel, writing thousands of ads and print articles, winning an International Award for Media Excellence and being the first inductee into the Brisbane Advertising Hall of Fame.
I doubt whether any of this would have happened to me had I remained in England – I don't know for sure of course, but given that I left school when I was fifteen without one examination pass to my name, it does seem rather unlikely.
In life we have to take opportunities as they occur, Mr Finn, and that is what you have done. Thus the day will not come when you say, "I wish I had done that when I had the chance".
You have done it - well done and the best of luck to you.

[finnster01]

You know, this thread has actually managed to cheer me up. I am sitting here in the dark in NY looking for my keyboard buttons, bottle of ESB right next to me, FoF on the computer, girl friend sleeping, 12:40 am in NY, the bar downstairs loud with couples arguing over nothing and spilling into the back yard which they shouldn't as it is considered a fire hazard. Who cares, I am on the top of the building anyways and if poo happens I'll run up and jump across next door Dirty Harry style (it is not much of a jump to be honest). Actually there is something strangely calming about living in the same building as a pub. Oh well, despite all my "influence" I can't seem to get them to carry ESB nor London Pride, so I have to venture for my daily run downtown for that coupled with the odd business meeting.

I just want to say thanks to you all for your kind words as this transaction has troubled me deeply, and yes, this transaction has also kept me a little on the sideline (hopefully more Torres style rather than Bullard, but you be the judge on that).

And at the end of the day, I just have to write it, because I am not allowed to yell it anymore here in Harlem: COYW!!!! :Sparkyticus: :beer: :clap_hands:

[Burt]

Walk tall Mr Finn sir, it takes a lot of guts and talent to strike out and do your own thing in the first place, let alone have to sell off part of what you have tried to grow and nurture over the years.

Enjoy New York. Lets face it, its not as bad as Stockton Upon Tees.

[HatterDon]

welcome to your strange new world. I know you'll have tremendous success. You can guarantee that the next time I'm in Manhattan, I'll rattle your doorbell.

[VicHalomsLovechild]

Finny, the flip side is, maybe the new owners will be able to make it work, thereby securing the jobs of those you left behind. Never easy to admit to yourself that others maybe able to do a better job but who knows. Also leaves more time for you to make things in the US bigger.
Good luck to you and those you left behind. :54:

[cebu]

Don't beat yourself up about your decision. My experience has been that there are plenty of people out there who will do that job for free.  :003:

[epsomraver]

Finn i think you have been very unpatriotic and should have relocated your business instead of selling it to the European capital of culture LIVERPOOL :027: