Pro & Con between life in UK & US

Pros and cons.
Here's one.
I maxed out on my prescription coverage in the US.
The short of it is it will now cost me $710 per month for my Rx's.

I maxed out on my prescription coverage in the US.
The short of it is it will now cost me $710 per month for my Rx's.

That's pretty eye-watering.  I can see why you said it twice, trying to get your head around it...

NHS prescriptions - I pay £6.65 for a two month supply (one prescription).  Generally, if you're on more than 4 prescription items here for a 3-month period, then it's cheaper to go the pre-pay certificate route:  £26.85 for a 3-month PPC; and £98.70 for a 12-month PPC.  Of course, much like HMOs in the US, you can't get anything & everything for prescriptions drugs on the NHS - not everything is approved for supply.

NHS prescriptions - I pay £6.65 for a two month supply (one prescription).  Generally, if you're on more than 4 prescription items here for a 3-month period, then it's cheaper to go the pre-pay certificate route:  £26.85 for a 3-month PPC; and £98.70 for a 12-month PPC.  Of course, much like HMOs in the US, you can't get anything & everything for prescriptions drugs on the NHS - not everything is approved for supply.

All prescriptions are now free in Wales! Now that's a pro!   

All prescriptions are now free in Wales! Now that's a pro!   

My eye exam was free in Scotland.

Ok, here's another UK con - no screens on the windows!!!  With higher temps and sun we have the windows open and all the creepy crawlies are coming in!!!!

Ok, here's another UK con - no screens on the windows!!!  With higher temps and sun we have the windows open and all the creepy crawlies are coming in!!!!

OMG!  I remember trying to watch the windows to make sure nothing would come in. 

On the plus side though, most of the small critters that find their way into homes here are pretty harmless by comparison to some American wildlife.   Odd escapees from zoos or collections plus the occasional bug which hitches a ride in a banana crate excepted, we don't have any really poisonous spiders, and the only venomous snake indigenous to Britain  is the adder.

We are getting more super-size bees in summer though.  There was mention of this on a radio show a few weeks ago, and an expert was saying that apparently they are African bees which are now finding their way further north.    They're certainly much larger than the humble English bumble bee, and apparently can pack quite a sting.


Edits due to my fingers not wanting to hit the right keys this afternoon!   

I really like not having screens, feels like I am that wee bit closer to the garden. For the most part, ain't too many flies here and as for the main reasons for screens - mosquitos - well never seen them around here (midges on the west coast but not the east coast).

The other creepy crawlies, well they do just that. They crawl up through the floor boards.

I really like not having screens, feels like I am that wee bit closer to the garden. For the most part, ain't too many flies here and as for the main reasons for screens - mosquitos - well never seen them around here (midges on the west coast but not the east coast).

I feel the same way. We don't have mosquitoes and the occasional fly, bee, moth or spider doesn't bother me.

Huh, well every house I've ever lived in in the UK we've had yucky flies, crane flies, and bees/wasps in the house. Give me a screen any day. But I do like the US kind that allow you to open the window AND the screen if you want.

We have tons of flies and spiders here (the spiders always are building webs on the glass, so if you open the window, they are right there -- and I mean *every* window!). We end up leaving most windows closed, and never leaving one open for too long.  I  really miss screens!

I suppose the need for screens depends on the area you live in. I haven't really had a problem with things coming in through the windows where I live, so from my experience, I haven't felt the need for screens here - per year, we get maybe 2 or 3 bees/wasps, a few spiders/flies and the odd moth if we leave lights on at night - which, while an annoyance, are not frequent enough occurences to warrant screens. In the states though, I'm all for screens when there are mosquitos and other unwanted creatures around; similarly if I was living in an area of the UK which, as groovy_yank and balmerhon have mentioned, has lots of insects and flies lurking outside the windows.

I've lived in Reading, Kendal, Carlisle, Newcastle, Exmouth, Taunton, and Exeter and had the same problem everywhere. Some places were rural, others city. We had flies in the country because of the livestock. We have flies in the city because of rubbish and construction sites. We had bees/wasps in the country because of all the lovely flowering things (I like them outside, just not inside!). We have bees/wasps in the city but I don't know why!

One good thing I can say about the UK is that if you have a chronic condition, such as hypothyroidism, epilepsy, etc., then you never have to pay anything for any prescription. I'd rather not have the hypothyroidism, though. I'd trade taking free meds every day for a totally healthful life any day.

Give me a screen any day. But I do like the US kind that allow you to open the window AND the screen if you want.

I didn't know that there were screens that you couldn't open if you wanted to.