From California to England - how are the people?

I will say that missing good Mexican food would be a bummer, but I think I'll live. We also have NO good Chinese food around here and I would bet England has some good ones.

Not where I live, I really don't like American or British Chinese food.  The Indian is good, but I think St. Louis had the best restaurants of anywhere I have lived. 

Not where I live, I really don't like American or British Chinese food.  The Indian is good, but I think St. Louis had the best restaurants of anywhere I have lived. 

That's interesting. I've heard from a few people who have lived in St. Louis that the restaurants are absolutely fabulous. I've heard there is a large Italian population and that the Italian is to die for.

That's interesting. I've heard from a few people who have lived in St. Louis that the restaurants are absolutely fabulous. I've heard there is a large Italian population and that the Italian is to die for.

They had a really great little mexican place near where I worked and my favorite Vietnamese place in the world is there, as well as great Italian.  I have no real idea why, I mean I know the river traffic and blah blah blah.

Hi Pho Grand!  I miss you, please send me some veggie spring rolls and chicken and ginger.  No?  Oh man.

I will pass by Vacaville on I80 on Friday, July 18 on my way from Monterey to Sacramento.
We were suppose to go to Paradise, to see my MIL, but we don't think it will be cleaned up by then. This is the second time in 3 weeks my MIL, who is 88, has been told to evacuate. Prior to this my BIL was told to evacuate. He lives in Reno. His house became a mobile home with the earthquake. He now has to deal with the foundations and fireplace that have moved.
The forum in the UK miss out on all this USA stuff.

Jim, I hope your MIL gets to return home soon.  Those fires up there are so bad, the air quality in SF is awful too.  This heatwave we've had isn't helping, hopefully it should cool off by this weekend. 

Jim, I hope your MIL gets to return home soon.  Those fires up there are so bad, the air quality in SF is awful too.  This heatwave we've had isn't helping, hopefully it should cool off by this weekend. 

I heard it is because of the Brits stealing all the rain for themselves otherwise the fires  would have been out long ago.

Not where I live, I really don't like American or British Chinese food.  The Indian is good, but I think St. Louis had the best restaurants of anywhere I have lived. 

Ha, I travel the United States for work and am currently doing work in St Louis and seem to be missing those good restaurants as I so far I have only had okay to bad food, so far one of the worst cities for food I have been in.  Please share on where I should eat, I would love to be wrong on this one!!!!  Sorry to hijack the thread for a moment. 

Cheers!

I heard it is because of the Brits stealing all the rain for themselves otherwise the fires  would have been out long ago.

Could be Iowa, Indiana and Missouri stealing all the raining and flooding most of our farm land.   

It was 110 degrees again today and the sky is full of smoke. Thank your lucky stars if you live in the UK (or anywhere but the west coast)!!

It was 110 degrees again today and the sky is full of smoke. Thank your lucky stars if you live in the UK (or anywhere but the west coast)!!

It's 10PM and it's still around 93 degrees outside (I'm right outside of Vacaville). I have asthma and am a virtual prisoner in my home again this week, doctor's orders. I just don't remember a summer this bad. We get a few days a year that are 104 to 110, but I think we've had 7 or 8 so far and it's only early July. The air quality is HORRIBLE!!

I have good friends in Paradise and I feel so bad for them with all the evacuations. I really hope your MIL is OK Jim. That's a beautiful part of California and I'm sad that it's all burning up :\\\'(.

Ha, I travel the United States for work and am currently doing work in St Louis and seem to be missing those good restaurants as I so far I have only had okay to bad food, so far one of the worst cities for food I have been in.  Please share on where I should eat, I would love to be wrong on this one!!!!  Sorry to hijack the thread for a moment. 

Cheers!

Hmm, my favorite place in St. Louis was Pho Grand.  Without a doubt.  There are a bunch of good places to eat in that area on Grand though.  Vietnamese and Thai.  Where else?  It has been a while, the U City Loop had a good Ethiopian place and there is Fitz's which has good burgers and soda.  You can't go wrong with the Loop.

The Central West End is nice to walk around and has some good places, but mostly they are small and tucked away little shops. 

I can't explain how to get to the Mexican place as I can 't remember.  Joanie's has good pizza and other dishes.  It is in Soulard.  Right down the street is a great coffee shop that has super baked goods. 

If you like soft pretzels, and who doesn't, Gus's makes great ones with hot dogs in them. 

If you like Greek food one of the best Greek places in St. Louis is the Majestic Cafe, cheap but tasty. 

I'll try to think of more. 

How could I forget the Crown Candy Kitchen??  How?  Don't go there at night though.  It is not in the nicest of areas. 

Hmm, also, if you want a custard don't go to Ted Drewes.  If you have a car go to Fritz's (not Fitz's in the previous entry two different places) there are a bunch, but they are not in town. 

Hodak's is good for fried chicken and comfort food and Bevo Mill is supposed to be excellent, but I never went there. 

It's 10PM and it's still around 93 degrees outside (I'm right outside of Vacaville). I have asthma and am a virtual prisoner in my home again this week, doctor's orders. I just don't remember a summer this bad. We get a few days a year that are 104 to 110, but I think we've had 7 or 8 so far and it's only early July. The air quality is HORRIBLE!!

I have good friends in Paradise and I feel so bad for them with all the evacuations. I really hope your MIL is OK Jim. That's a beautiful part of California and I'm sad that it's all burning up :\\\'(.

We changed our plans because of the fire. We will go Monterey to Yosemite to Bishop an on east through Nevada.

Hello,
My husband is strongly considering a transfer within the company to England. I don't know what city (they determine) but his firm only has offices in larger cities. I don't think we'd accept if they wanted us to move to London because of the cost of living.
We are just so bored with California and need a change.
My question is, how do people treat Americans in general? I have heard that English people are not very friendly, is that true? I have no concrete information to make this decision weather to move to the UK or not since I keep reading so many conflicting stories (mainly ex-pat blogs).

My kids are little and we feel that it's now or never, but I'm so scared to take the plunge.
One concern that I have, is space. I watch a lot of UK decorating shows and it seems like houses always have tiny yards and not a lot of square footage. Is this true of most of England? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Well its very easy to form impressions from generalisations and the media. Ive travelled a fair bit in the US. In fact in May I was in Redding CA so if i had been posting this in April i'd have happily called by for a coffee and a chat ! I think it would be wrong to say that the English are very unfriendly. Its just that becasue they/we live in such a crowded little island where it always seems to rain,we have developed coping mechanisms to get by. Often we might have a slightly reserved outer shell and sometimes we need to get to know you a little before we open up.

I have always found Americans i have met to be very interesting and friendly people and i just love chatting with them mostly.

The space thing,well its tru its a small country and consequently,property is expensive and space is at a premium. To get a handle on property have a good look at www.rightmove.co.uk

Hope all goes well