In 2000 I went from NYC for a one week reconn -- housing, childcare, creche -- restricted to 8k radius of Regent's Park. I lined up the estate agencies and interviews prior, by internet. This venture was NOT subsidized by my employer. I ended up leasing in Swiss Cottage for GBP 1950 per mo, also NOT subsidized by my employer. The remaining expenses are too painful to recall except to say this. If it were not for the NHS and cash economy of transient EU and post-colonial labor (cleaning and sitting), I wouldn't have stayed as long as I did. Commercial childcare sucked worse than what was available in NYC where employer subsidies and "pre-tax" shelters were virtually non-existent. For godssakes, private pediatric consultation was quoted at GBP 200.

I'd given anything --almost-- for a dying auntie in a council flat.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.