I am in the same boat, friends of mine from other European countries are not having this issue their authorities simply issue a restriction to A6 aircraft only, until a JAR OPC is carried out. You simply send you local paperwork to them each OPC and you current!! Easy, it just the UK being anal.
I'm lucky to hold an Irish passport as well as my UK one, and so I asked the IAA if they would issue me a license based on my "expired" UK and current UAE. They said no problem and now I'm a current JAR license holder again, albiet with an A6 restriction.
If anyone has this option, its at least worth thinking about, however there are cost involved, but nothing like resitting the exams and sim in the UK!
Last edited by EYZ; 8th Aug 2012 at 07:20.