Stephen,
Good to hear that all went to plan in LAX.
Paying through the nose is not going to be too difficult if you go to Oxford, assuming that they would take you.
If you need to complete the ATPL’s, it’s simple - use Bristol Ground School. As for the flying side of it, don’t ACF have a link with Tayflite?
To be honest, I feel the employment market is far better than when you went to the States. If you look at the likes of Flybe, Scotair or Loganair I’m sure you would get a start. Cut your teeth with a TP operator for a year or two, then move on.
Cheers for now!