Top Ten Things I'll Miss About Life in the UK

After five years of life abroad, we are returning to DC.  I was just thinking about all the things I'd miss about England, and I thought I'd share.  I'm curious what makes everyone else's "top ten" list, even if you're staying!

1.  Waitrose!  I will seriously miss the pork roasts.  So much so, I'm thinking about looking for a butcher once we're back and settled.  The overall quality of food, especially meat and poultry and produce, is amazing.  I was so disappointed last time we were home and went to Whole Foods.  The produce was especially blah.
2.  Thoughtful urban/rural/suburban planning.  I know folks in my town often complain about suburban sprawl, but it's nothing compared to my hometown in Jersey or the DC Metro area.  And everything is walkable.
3.  CBeebies and CBeebies.  I have a 13 month-old obsessed with Balamory.  I think I'm a little obsessed with Balamory.  Follow the clues; follow the clues!  Plum, we need you; Plum, we need you! Plum, Plum, Plum, Plum    Quick, apart from PBS where do I go for good children's TV in the States?  Where???  :\\\'( 
4.  Boots.  I totally think Boots' brand goods beat CVS and Rite Aid.
5.  The new season of Doctor Who!  Seriously, it must be starting soon.  Is BBC America a season behind?  Will also miss The Mighty Boosh, Peep Show, Waterloo Road (seriously, I'm addicted), The Inbetweeners, all the River Cottage specials...
6.  Cambridge.  Can you pack a city in a suitcase?  No?  Stupid?  Will also miss the Little Paxton Nature Reserve, Peacocks Tearoom in Ely, the great coffee shops in Oundle, the drive through Kimbolton on the way to RAF Molesworth, the drive through Godmanchester on the way to my job in Huntingdon, Riverside Park in St Neots, the lovely Cambridgeshire villages...
7.  The Pub.  British Beer.
8.  Generous maternity leave and my NCT girls.
9.  NHS.  Apart from a few GPs I could do without, I've had a good experience.
10.  All the walking trails.  What am I going to do with my freakin' Wellies in DC?

I have to say, I met my best friend on this forum, so I will always think fondly of UK Yankee.  Balancing a new baby and a much beloved job hasn't allowed me much time to post.  But I certainly got a great deal in a fantastic friend! 

2.  Thoughtful urban/rural/suburban planning. 
7.  The Pub.  British Beer.
10.  All the walking trails.  What am I going to do with my freakin' Wellies in DC?

These are the things I miss most about the UK. Especially the pubs, though!

I live in the DC suburbs now - feel free to get in touch when you move back. 

And I'm in the Baltimore area (and have met Sevans a few times myself!!).

We'll show you how to get some of that UK telly here. It can be done!

Walking can be found... it's just not as in your face as in the UK. But there is no substitute for the British pub.

I'll post back with my Top Ten later...

5.  The new season of Doctor Who!  Seriously, it must be starting soon.  Is BBC America a season behind? 

BBC America is behind by close to a full year with DW, I think - I'm pretty sure they've aired the first two eps of S4, whereas the first ep of S4 aired here just over a year ago.  Unfortunately, S5 won't be airing in the UK until next spring!!    Next week's the Easter special, though...

All of series 4 of Doctor Who finished airing a few months ago, but we haven't gotten the Christmas special, as far as I can tell. I ended up downloading it. [And thankfully I'm going to be over there for the Easter one!]

Boots stuff (at least makeup and things) has been cropping up around here in stores like Target and I think Rite-aid too!

Boots stuff (at least makeup and things) has been cropping up around here in stores like Target and I think Rite-aid too!

The actual boots brand?  Or just similar items?

Boots stuff (at least makeup and things) has been cropping up around here in stores like Target and I think Rite-aid too!

And a lot of the Boots stuff seems to be cheaper in the US than over here - or at least it was when the exchange rate was better a few months ago. I saw some Protect and Perfect serum in Target last year for $25, which with the $2 = £1 exchange rate, meant it was only costing about £12 (compared to £17 in the UK stores). However, with the current rate, it actually works out about the same price at the moment .

The actual boots brand?  Or just similar items?

It's the actual Boots stuff. I've seen No7, Boots Botanics and Boots Mediterranean ranges in the US.

To echo the above reply, it's the actual stuff. I looked up the UK site just to be sure, but the logo and everything is the same.

We'll show you how to get some of that UK telly here. It can be done!

Yes, my geeky husband figured out how to get British TV here in the US. It's been really nice to have that!

I also heard that Adult Swim on Cartoon Network will begin airing The Mighty Boosh.

My Target's makeup section is full of Boots brand stuff!

My Target's makeup section is full of Boots brand stuff!

Now, if Primark could move to the US....

My top 10 of things I'll miss from the UK

10. Boots
9. Primark (Where in the US can you get nice jeans for £6?)
8. Public transportation that works
7. BBC/BBC Radio
6. Ribena & D&B Soda (though not mixed together)
5. Tesco
4. Tim
3. My UK Friends & Family
2. Tim
1. Did  I mention Tim?

Now, if Primark could move to the US....

9. Primark (Where in the US can you get nice jeans for £6?)

Can we do a swap and have Target over here then?  I got 2 pairs of Wrangler's for $32 and that was when the exchange was almost 2 to 1....so it was about £8 for a pair of Wranglers!

Can we do a swap and have Target over here then?  I got 2 pairs of Wrangler's for $32 and that was when the exchange was almost 2 to 1....so it was about £8 for a pair of Wranglers!

I love Target!!

I think we Target-missers (!! Just realised how that sounds!) should band together and invest in a Target UK franchise -- recession be damned! 

Seriously, with Woolies gone, there's a gaping niche for Target in the UK. There are similar stores but nothing quite like T. It was just cool on so many levels. Sorry I'm a bit sentimental about my Target.

(Edit) -- and to keep the thread on topic -- that's what I'd miss if I returned to the US: Woolies....except they are gone now anyway! :\\\'(

9. Primark (Where in the US can you get nice jeans for £6?)

I buy all my jeans at Wal-Mart for about $15 a pair - they last forever!