No refrigeration in the UK?? What is different??

Becca, can I ask you a question, and please know, I'm not trying to mock or be mean at all? Forgive me for hijacking a thread, but I'm getting concerned for you.  You've had vast amounts of posts since you've come here to UKY that have clearly evidenced that you know very little to nothing about the culture in the UK: is there refrideration? what's the NHS? etc. These are beyond basic bits of daily life. Have you considered at least coming out for an extended visit before you drop everything and move to a country that you know nothing about?

I only bring this up because those of us with some experience here have seen countless times where people have come here unprepared (or even well-prepared) and been overwhelmed by the differences and had truly miserable experiences.  Now a visit here will never be the same as moving here, but it at least gives you a feel, and your posts seem to imply you've never experienced anything here.  I'm assuming your fiance has gone to the US to see you (although I could be wrong). If he hasn't, there will be questions about the genuineness of your relationship for visa purposes, but that's a whole separate issue. I'm just a bit concerned about what a rough transition you are going to have if you're able to believe things like a modern, first world country on par with the USA doesn't have the means of preserving food via refrigeration.

I understand your concern but don't worry about me. I am not as dumb as you take me to be.  I will be going for a visit there and vice versa.  My fiance and I have met and he will come over here too. Anyways, pardon me if I truly don't know what NHS is ok? I am only human. 

I understand your concern but don't worry about me. I am not as dumb as you take me to be.  I will be going for a visit there and vice versa.  My fiance and I have met and he will come over here too. Anyways, pardon me if I truly don't know what NHS is ok? I am only human. 

I don't think cadenza was implying or feeling that you are dumb. Unfortunately we have seen many struggle with the move and change of cultures. It can be helpful to have a significant amount if time experiencing the new culture before the permanent move. I am glad you have visits planned.

Yes, thank you. Why do you think I come here to this forum? So, that I can learn everything is to learn before I go over there. Now, I know I will learn more once I go for my visit.  I know this forum won't take the place of being immersed in the culture and lifestyle of another country like the UK.   So, please bare with me if I ask lots of questions.  But know this, I am not the type of person to know another's business. That is just not me. I don't want to know what all of your private life is like.  So, I ask the same respect for me as well.  Don't judge what you don't know about a person.

Yes, thank you. Why do you think I come here to this forum? So, that I can learn everything is to learn before I go over there. Now, I know I will learn more once I go for my visit.  I know this forum won't take the place of being immersed in the culture and lifestyle of another country like the UK.   So, please bare with me if I ask lots of questions.  But know this, I am not the type of person to know another's business. That is just not me. I don't want to know what all of your private life is like.  So, I ask the same respect for me as well.  Don't judge what you don't know about a person.

I'm not judging you, but with all due respect, you have asked some rather inane questions on this forum.

I'd suggest before you post a silly question, try Google first.

Seriously, though, even the worst third world countries do have refrigeration. Honestly, what did you think we do here? Fill bathtubs with ice cubes? Drink soured milk?

Okay... can we stick to the topic on hand please.    Thanks! 

I remember when I moved to Poland and I used to see people put large pots outside on their window sills.  Our fridges were small in the apartment complex and to be honest in the winter it was so cold it was probably colder outside than in the fridge! 

When I first moved here, the bedsit I rented had an electric meter that you had to feed 50p coins to get power.  In winter, I decided to save electricity (and money) by unplugging my fridge and hanging all my refrigerated stuff out the window in a poly bag to keep it cold!  

Sorry if I miscommunicated. Really wasn't implying anything about your intelligence or relationship. As you said, that's your private life, and I didn't want to pry at all.

We've just seen lots of people come over and feel completely lost, isolated and miserable at the differences they hadn't realized would exist. I applaud your efforts to understand things better. That's important. No reading or even visits, for that matter, can prepare a person for the experience of leaving everything behind and starting a whole new life with no support system, in a foreign country. I've seen other women end up feeling trapped, and just wanted to suggest some preparation to help lessen that.

I'll drop it now, and we can return to topic. Just wanted you to know I wasn't trying to pry or be hurtful, and I only commented on your seeing your fiance because I'd seen posts in other threads that indicated he hadn't gone to the US either, so I was pointing out that a visit here would likely strengthen your visa application. No judgment there at all. We all have different stories, and I'm sure many raised eyebrows at mine, but we've been happily married for nearly seven years now.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

, what did you think we do here? Fill bathtubs with ice cubes? Drink soured milk?

Don't be silly - you know we don't have much ice here!

When I first moved here, the bedsit I rented had an electric meter that you had to feed 50p coins to get power.  In winter, I decided to save electricity (and money) by unplugging my fridge and hanging all my refrigerated stuff out the window in a poly bag to keep it cold!  

I used to have a bedsit with a meter like that back in the 80's when I lived in London for 3 years. And, believe it or not, I lived all that time without a fridge! Just used to buy fresh meat etc on the day I needed it, milk survived the day without going off.

Anyway, we put things outside in the winter, particularly when our smallish fridge is close to bursting around Xmas. Doing pastry when I need to chill it, it just goes outside for a hour!
Might be needing to do that again soon as I think our fridge is on the blink - having difficuluty finding a fridge-freezer the right size, they are either way too tall for the space we have or they are quite a bit shorter! A bit more searching online today I think!

The only good thing about cold temperatures in the winter is being able to store stuff outside and keep it cool.   My entranceway keeps beer to a perfect temperature 

Tyke, I have read that parts of Liverpool and other cities didn't get real indoor plumbing until the 70's or something. The lack of modern sanitation was one of the components of the Beveridge Report.

But I remember back in Florida (northern rural part) seeing conditions that were ghastly....and let's not kid ourselves, America still has pockets of poverty with families growing up with no electricity nor hot water nor glass in the windows.

In London today immigrants are often crammed into these back garden hell holes:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17183171

Sounded a bit like a Che T-shirt wearing uni activist there....

Sounded a bit like a Che T-shirt wearing uni activist there....

Don't panic!  Just lie down for a little while, and I'm sure it will pass. :p

Don't panic!  Just lie down for a little while, and I'm sure it will pass. :p

I chose to act!!!!!

by retweeting some NGO stuff....

I'm going to excersize today too...

but first the Daily Mail's column of shame and a cup of tea....

/stick it to the man

Sorry if I miscommunicated. Really wasn't implying anything about your intelligence or relationship. As you said, that's your private life, and I didn't want to pry at all.

We've just seen lots of people come over and feel completely lost, isolated and miserable at the differences they hadn't realized would exist. I applaud your efforts to understand things better. That's important. No reading or even visits, for that matter, can prepare a person for the experience of leaving everything behind and starting a whole new life with no support system, in a foreign country. I've seen other women end up feeling trapped, and just wanted to suggest some preparation to help lessen that.

I'll drop it now, and we can return to topic. Just wanted you to know I wasn't trying to pry or be hurtful, and I only commented on your seeing your fiance because I'd seen posts in other threads that indicated he hadn't gone to the US either, so I was pointing out that a visit here would likely strengthen your visa application. No judgment there at all. We all have different stories, and I'm sure many raised eyebrows at mine, but we've been happily married for nearly seven years now.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Yes, thank you.  I just wanted to let you know that my fiance and I will definitely be visiting each other before we get married.  It is not like I would just go over there and get married without ever having met him. I am not that dumb. I do like to see what I am getting into before I make the jump.     Now back to the topic at hand. Wouldn't you agree I got this thread going like crazy?? lol.