I need to hear good things about the UK

For me it was easier in the US. 

I lived all over from Missouri to Rhode Island and always found something to entertain me.  I think it is true that familiarity breeds contempt.

There I had a car, here we don't so what should be 45 minutes to the beach takes about 3 1/2 hours, if they don't decide to lay on buses for the weekend. 

If we had access to a car then things would be vastly different. 

I agree about the car, especially when living in the countryside as we do. It would be hard to get out and do other things if we had to rely on the few buses around here. It takes 90 minutes each way just to catch the bus to Newcastle, which is about 26 miles away.

Haven't been to a Waitrose, there aren't any near us, unfortunately...

Hi Jewlz,
There's a Waitrose in Newcastle, its next to John Lewis near Monument Metro station.

Okay, responding to the OP -
The one thing that really made it crystal clear to me that the US was way too over the top was when I went home to see my folks over Christmas and went to the supermarket with my mother. We were just picking up some chicken breasts in the meat refrigerator section for dinner and the label on the plastic wrap had an advert that said "Nascar! Official Chicken Sponsor of the Nascar Series..." with a photo of some car and famous (?) driver celebrity. At that point I was so turned off that we were in a supermarket that is so over-bombarded with marketing and PR and over-promotion that even an ordinary trip is considered a commercial opportunity for some hyped up PR wizard.  I mean plain chicken, really, does it need to sponsor a sporting event? It was not a charity event or anything.  I pointed it out to my mother and she laughed too but it just didn't seem to phase her like myself.  In the UK it's so different. I can't remember the last time I saw some thing so simple over marketed like that.   Are there any other meat products that sponsor events/sports that I am unaware of?  Is Tesco mince beef the new Official Cricket Sponsor    ?  I'll keep my eyes open, lol

Heh. Yeah, supermarkets in both countries are getting pretty over the top, but as with many things, the crazy is more advanced in the US.

Well I'm not back in the UK, yet.  Ive been in the States for almost 6 years.  I came in on a K1 fiancee visa with my daughter who was 7 at the time.  I was so looking forward to showing her another country .. the way I used to when I was in the UK, then, I took her on holidays to see other countries, the way people lived, etc.  I have always believed that it "opens" your mind -  and, it did with my daughter. Today, she is bright, confident and has  a keen sense of other people, their way of living, their culture. 

However, since being in the US - the only country she has seen since being here is the UK!!  She goes back to see her father every year.  My point is, (and I know this is dragging out) - it was just so much easier to do these things when we were in the UK!!!!

My son called me last night, his partner is training to be a Nurse, she qualifies in February next year, he is a builder but because of the economy he is now working in a factory putting medical instruments together.  He absolutely hates it!!  The money isn't good and his partner isn't yet qualified so the earning capacity isn't great.  They pay 500 pounds a month for an apartment, Penarth, Wales, furnished, swimming pool, tennis court, gym .. private beach ... I hear so much online about how expensive the UK is, and yet, they can afford a cruise next year ... 

The thought of just being able to walk somewhere .. just walk, just amble along.   To see places, truly wonderful places that we have there, the history, the castles, the museums, the countryside.  To be able to stop off at a pub, have a pub lunch and a lager. To just hop on a ferry to Ireland for the weekend ...  or to France ... I'm rambling .. sorry ...

No need to be sorry! It was a nice ramble!

My wife and I just took the big step of spending the $1,000 on the settlement visa application, so this thread is all too important now as we need to remind ourselves of what we're getting for our money!

The thought of just being able to walk somewhere .. just walk, just amble along.   To see places, truly wonderful places that we have there, the history, the castles, the museums, the countryside.  To be able to stop off at a pub, have a pub lunch and a lager. To just hop on a ferry to Ireland for the weekend ...  or to France ... I'm rambling .. sorry ...

I agree with the walk, everyday I walk around the town I live in now, Mason City Iowa.  If any of you have been anywhere near here you will understand how nice it would be to actually  Just walk around the countryside. 
My in-Laws live in Marlow, and I love to just walk around there, everytime we are there my family doesn't see me for hours, I just go off walking.  My BIL lives in Gloucestershire and it is the same thing, just wondering around the country finding new pubs and places to see. 
That is one of the best things about the UK for me.

I agree with the walk, everyday I walk around the town I live in now, Mason City Iowa.  If any of you have been anywhere near here you will understand how nice it would be to actually  Just walk around the countryside. 
My in-Laws live in Marlow, and I love to just walk around there, everytime we are there my family doesn't see me for hours, I just go off walking.  My BIL lives in Gloucestershire and it is the same thing, just wondering around the country finding new pubs and places to see. 
That is one of the best things about the UK for me.

Yes! 

Oh yes....the beautiful countryside!  We used to do country walks almost every weekend. That is the biggest thing that I miss about the UK.

There are many great things about the UK, but I would say number 1 for me is multiculturalism and proximity to Europe. You meet many kinds of people here, many languages are heard on the street. You can go to Paris by train is you so desire.

Ok, the countryside and my DW. Oh, and by the way, if my DW is'nt there beside in the countryside, then just her is the good thing about the UK.

EDIT: to be honest, most days I feel this way. But some days, my GARDEN makes me feel better!

This thread has been so helpful, not only before moving, but also on days where you may be less enthused.

This thread has been so helpful, not only before moving, but also on days where you may be less enthused.

Lol, so true....!
 
.....a good thing today, for me: Today in my area it's rainy, comfortably cool, and thank GOD I'm no longer in 105 degree heat as I would be (or thereabouts) if I were still in Austin right now.

Howdy all,

Long time reader, first time poster.

I'm from LA and have lived in the UK for 23 years, having moved here at 17 (I'll let you do the maths ).

My husband (Brit) wants to try living in the US so this is a real hot topic in the GrumpyJet household, so I felt compelled to post :lol:

What I Love about the UK:

The NHS. I'm not kidding. It drives me mental to see so many Americans AGAINST a single payer health care system. I'm fortunate to have a well paid job that comes with health care, like many americans in the US, but I will tell you right now, the single most terrifying factor for us of moving the US is being without the NHS. Doctors are doctors. Hell, they're only human, so no healthcare system is perfect, but I would rather know that if I get hit by a car, my treatment will come before the concern of how I'm going to pay for it. When you're at your lowest ebb, as is common with health care visits, the last thing I want to do is fill out forms or worry about having just lost my job. The NHS rocks.

Pubs. Now, there is a very strong drinking culture here. Getting off your face (drunk) is perfectly normal here and you will see many many many drunk people. It doesn't have the same stigma it does in America BUT there is nothing so awesome as a long walk on a crisp winter's day followed by a quick pint in the pub by the fire or in the summer with a Ploughman's lunch in the sunshine. My god I'll miss that.

Suasages: Ain't no sausage like an English sausage.

Marmite: It just doesn't taste the same over there.

Advert breaks: some channels are getting bad, but there are far fewer adverts on telly here.

WOOHOO!: or the lack thereof. I like the understated british demeanour.

Personal freedom: Even if it means you have to suffer the onslaught of the freedoms of others. For example, there's almost nowhere that I can't take my dog off the lead. I can do pretty much what I want, when I want and where I want within the normal limits of the law (stealing and murder are out here, too, I'm afraid). So can everyone else (which could be why parts of London smell like a urinal), but freedom truly does come at a cost. I've heard there are towns in the US that will lock you up for not watering your lawn.

Humour: the British sense of humour is very dry and full of irony. I couldn't understand why everyone was really nice to me when we first met then became quite insulting after a few months. It took awhile to work out that it's just "taking the piss" and it's a sign of affection :lol:

The BBC. Nuff said.



What I Miss about America:

Sausages: Ain't no sausage like American sausage (OK, I like sausages).

Crafts: If you're into sewing and whatnot, the US really has all that covered. It's much harder (and more expensive) to find crafting products here, though it is getting better.

Not being different: After 23 years I still have an accent and it can get really boring being asked the same questions over and over, not to mention the British proclivity to blame all things they hate on America. Don't get me started on the words "fall/autumn" and "aluminum" or the "ize" word ending.

Patriotism: Not sure why, but there isn't a lot of patriotism displayed unless it's at an international football match. Even after 23 years (and the George Bush era - man that was a tough time to be an expat), I'm still American, proud and have little flags all over the house :lol: Hard to do in public though.

Football: Being able to discuss "football" without having to qualify it. "American football" vs "football football". Call it soccer on pain of death (even though that's the original word for it :lol: )

24 hour shopping: The UK has arcane Sunday opening laws (apologies to the Keep Sunday Special crew). If you realize, at 4:10 that you've forgotten to buy horseradish for your Sunday roast, you are S.O.L my friend. Still, when I moved here, nothing was open on a Sunday, except newsagents in the morning.

Customer service: It's getting better here but we're a long way from US standards.

Halloween: God I miss Halloween. Some people do it here, but no one in my neighbourhood. It's considered by many I've spoken to a commercialized American holiday that encourages kids to beg. Often, the kids that do do it don't know the rules so make it kind of unpleasant for everyone. However, 2 years ago, I did get a family who'd even dressed up the dog. That was awesome :lol:

Christmas not starting until after Thanksgiving: It hits the shops in September here.

Thanksgiving: I've got my best mate into it and our families get together every year now, but I did miss it for the first 20 years or so.

Litter laws: I go apoplectic with rage when I see someone dropping litter in the street, but they've only just passed a law about it here and it's about as useful as a screen door in a submarine.

Hawaiin Punch: man I love that stuff, chemicals and all.




Sorry for rambling post. Won't bore/scare you with the things I don't like :lol:

Thanks grumpyjet, I enjoyed your post. You made some good points there. And you made me laugh... 

I couldn't agree more about the NHS. It's so nice to be able to go to the doc when you are sick and not have to wonder how you are going to pay for it, or fill in forms, or what have you. I count that among my greatest blessings of my life in UK.

Crumpets. Crumpets. Crumpets.

Baked goods in general. Mmmm.

Freshly baked bread, pastries, and the like at our corner shop

Going to places like Lidl and buying cheap raviolis that were made in Italy. The package is even written entirely in Italian! How cool is that?! Makes you feel better about eating cheap ravioli. 

The cloudy sky looks so dramatic here at times. I love it. Especially when there is just the threat of rain hanging around all day, but it doesn't actually ever rain. And I love the sound of the rain when it does fall. And I even like to walk the dog in it, well, sometimes.

Santa flew in on the Lifeboat rescue helicopter last Christmas. They landed the helicopter just outside the child care centre, and Santa popped out with a big bag of goodies for the kids. How awesome. I had my face pressed to the window of our office across the street. You should've seen the kids faces!  Then some people wheeled Santa around the village in a decorated cart while singing carols.  I couldn't imagine a better place to be for Christmas, to be honest.

The food is less salty, and also less sweet. I like that. I like to season things myself.

Salt n' Shake crisps. Yep, I like to add my own salt. Didn't I just say that?

People put gravy on broccoli here. It makes it taste better. 

The people in my village have the best laughs. No kidding. In this corner of England, people have such a great sense of humour, and they laugh with their whole bellies.

People actually say "toodle pip" when they leave my office. 

Oh, and twice now, I have seen a funeral carriage. Two big black stallions, with riders in top hats and tails, pulling a glass carriage trimmed in black with black flowers etched on it, where the coffin slides inside. It's the creepiest, weirdest, coolest thing I have ever seen, I think. It belongs in a strange, fantastical movie.

Oh, and twice now, I have seen a funeral carriage. Two big black stallions, with riders in top hats and tails, pulling a glass carriage trimmed in black with black flowers etched on it, where the coffin slides inside. It's the creepiest, weirdest, coolest thing I have ever seen, I think. It belongs in a strange, fantastical movie.

I think that movie was "The Wrong Box", Jewlz.    (Just saw it again on TV -- very funny -- but it had a lot of hysterical stuff with those carriages and the undertakers in tall hats)

I would add to your list:  toasted tea cakes.