You've made all the necessary arrangements, and now it's time for the move. What will the weather be like when you step off the plane? Will you need to reset your watch? How do you collect your household belongings?

Things that people in one country take for granted can seem puzzling to others. If you look at a map, you'll find that Aberdeen actually lies on a latitude north of Moscow. But if you think that means you'll encounter extreme winters, you'd be wrong!

This is because Aberdeen also benefits from the warming effects of the Gulf Stream, making the climate overall very temperate. This next section helps you know what to expect - and whether you'll need that extra layer of clothing!

Personal and household belongings can be sent to the UK by air, sea or road freight, or a mixture of these, depending on which country you are leaving.

Once you have decided what to bring, your local freight agent will arrange for packing and shipment to a UK airport or seaport. Make sure you choose a reputable freight agent and that all your belongings are properly insured.

Air consignments usually take a few days to reach the UK and normally contain those items that you are most likely to need as soon as you arrive. There is no weight restriction on sea freight but it will take much longer to arrive - usually several weeks.

There may be duty to pay on either accompanied baggage or unaccompanied freight.

All goods being imported into the UK are subject to a customs examination. You will need to provide a Declaration listing all the items in your freight. This must be as accurate as possible as failure to make a proper Declaration can involve heavy penalties, including forfeiture of the goods.

Once your freight has been cleared by Customs, it can be collected by a UK freight agent and delivered to your UK address. Check everything has arrived safely as there is usually a time limit for reporting damaged or missing items.

If you decide to bring your family pet with you to the UK, you'll need to apply for an import licence. This can be obtained from the Scottish Office (weblink) and should be applied for several weeks before the date of importation.

Your pet will be subject to strict quarantine laws, including a period of isolation for up to six months. The Agriculture and Fisheries Department of the Scottish Office can help you find an approved cattery or kennels with quarantine facilities. You will be responsible for paying your pet's boarding costs - which can be very high.

The Scottish Office
Agriculture and Fisheries Department
Pentland House
47 Robb's Loan
Edinburgh EH4 1TW

Tel: +44 (0) 131 244 6782

If you are a national of one of the countries listed below, you may need to register with the police. As this list can change, please check with the Home Office www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk to be sure, as the list can change according to political circumstances.

Afghanistan Algeria Argentina Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Belarus Bolivia Brazil China Colombia Cuba Egypt Georgia Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kazakhstan Kirgyzstan Kuwait Lebanon Libya Moldova Morocco North Korea Oman Palestine Peru Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Sudan Syria Tajikistan Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan UAE Ukraine Uzbekistan Yemen

Holder of stateless documents

If you are not a citizen of the European Union or of a Commonwealth country, you will need to register with the police within seven days of your arrival in the UK if your stay is to exceed three months. Each member of your family who is over the age of sixteen should go to the police station in the area in which you intend to live with the following:

• passport
• two passport-sized photographs

You will also be required to display your work permit and pay a registration fee for each member of your family. This can be quite substantial if you are paying for your whole family and the payment must be made in cash.

When you register you will be issued with certificates proving that you live and work in the UK. The registration certificates should be carried by each member of the family at all times, except when they have to be sent with your passports for an extension of your stay. Receipts for your papers will be issued by the Home Office, and these should be carried in the absence of your papers.

Any change of address must be notified by a personal visit to the police station nearest to your new residence. You should take your certificates with you. You may also find it useful to register with your own Embassy or High Commission.

For more information, you can contact:

Grampian Police HQ
Queen Street
Aberdeen
AB10 1ZA

Tel: +44 (0) 1224 386000

The UK uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) which operates between autumn and spring. In late March, British Summer Time (BST) begins, and the clocks go forward one hour. This is reversed at the end of October when the UK reverts to GMT. Notice of the precise date and time for the clocks to change is generally given in newspapers and on the national news.

Most European countries are one hour ahead of the UK during GMT. The US is between 5 and 12 hours behind the UK. Australia is between 7 and 11 hours ahead.

The International Dialling Codes section of your telephone directory will provide you with a comprehensive listing of time differences between the UK and other countries. You can also check time differences on the Internet on www.worldtimeserver.com

The variety inherent in the Scottish climate means that you can enjoy skiing and ice climbing in the winter months and family beach holidays in the summer - and all within easy travelling distance of Aberdeen. Scottish winters can be cold and the summers hot - but rarely extreme. The moderate rainfall in the Grampians gives rise to lush woodlands and some of the richest agricultural land in the country. Over the summer, many districts in the north and east of Scotland have, on average, a total rainfall of less than 250 millimetres - an average that compares closely with the total rainfall for the same months in the drier parts of England.

On the whole, the east coast of Scotland has a higher amount of sunshine hours per year than the west. The relatively high latitude of Scotland means that daylight hours in winter are quite short, but during the summer months, the north of Scotland enjoys a wonderful extended twilight - giving you the perfect opportunity to play a late night round of golf or to take a stroll along Aberdeen's famous beach.