10 Years on - Reflections on a First Return Visit to the UK
Jul 24th 2015, 8:24 am
#46
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: 10 Years on - Reflections on a First Return Visit to the UK
Took the train down to Geelong for work recently and as I walked out of the station precinct (on a drizzly, grey morning) was thinking how grimy and unattractive it was and yet how eerily similar to so many post-WWII town centres in Britain. Only difference is that the Luftwaffe never made it to Geelong...
I can be quite scathing of the Australian dreary, less established suburbs but at least they are clean: I've been quite shocked to see that similar suburbs in Uk can be as depressing for quite the opposite reason.
As for restaurants when it comes to food I can never be sure how my food was in any place from memory. A good meal is a good meal and I would take into account a multitude of factors. I don't buy into this argument that one country has better pub grub : both have establishments that do large portions with a popular menu. I only recall that you got a sort of pie and ploughman's in the Uk which is replaced by a Parma here.
We've had people complain about roasts here as if somehow there is legislation that provides it can't be good by rule: you can get a good roast in any country and to suggest otherwise is very 'Tescos/Whinging Pom/Sit at home on a Settee with a ReadyMeal' mentality (which is fatal).
Cheers
Jul 24th 2015, 12:43 pm
#47
da Bonehead
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Lion in da jungle
Posts: 22,767
Re: 10 Years on - Reflections on a First Return Visit to the UK
Incentive is better.
How about "Give good service or you're fired'
Jul 24th 2015, 2:43 pm
#48
Last resort... format c:/
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore to Surfers Paradise to... Tenerife... to Gran Canaria!
Posts: 1,626
Re: 10 Years on - Reflections on a First Return Visit to the UK
Commission-based service is usually awful and stinks from a mile away. Not only is it pushy but you get a whiff of insincerity and all sorts of mumbo jumbo with the simple aim of securing the sale. It's pretty much the "dodgy car dealer" attitude thrown into a regular retail sector...
Jul 24th 2015, 10:30 pm
#50
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Scotland
Posts: 3,337
Re: 10 Years on - Reflections on a First Return Visit to the UK
Restaurants in Australia are generally terrible. And surprisingly it's Asian food that is the biggest let-down. Overall out of all the restaurants I've tried I would only return to about 15% of them. In fact once you find a handful of good ones you simply don't want to try out any new places since the chances of them being decent are so slim.
As far as the weather is concerned, it's a local thing there to moan and complain. In fact out of all European nations we are probably 'whinge central'. Heck, I'm pretty sure we are in contention for the podium in the global ranking as well...
As far as the weather is concerned, it's a local thing there to moan and complain. In fact out of all European nations we are probably 'whinge central'. Heck, I'm pretty sure we are in contention for the podium in the global ranking as well...
Rockpool is supposed to be one of the better places, but after two visits I certainly would not recommend. First time was just bland - like the American idea of a good steak - very tender with zero flavour. The second time was the instance I have sent a dish back - and we had to do it twice!
Nobo is dull as dishwater chain. Tried the special anniversary chefs menu, supposed to be the pinnacle of their food. Dull.
The places in the city are particularly bad. My visit to Print Hall was among the worst - still waiting for some of what we ordered!
Jul 25th 2015, 4:21 am
#51
Officially Bewildered
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Blue Mountains, NSW
Posts: 5,523
Re: 10 Years on - Reflections on a First Return Visit to the UK
In Perth, there is only one which we really rate and been too many times now so are bored of it - Amuse
Rockpool is supposed to be one of the better places, but after two visits I certainly would not recommend. First time was just bland - like the American idea of a good steak - very tender with zero flavour. The second time was the instance I have sent a dish back - and we had to do it twice!
Nobo is dull as dishwater chain. Tried the special anniversary chefs menu, supposed to be the pinnacle of their food. Dull.
The places in the city are particularly bad. My visit to Print Hall was among the worst - still waiting for some of what we ordered!
Rockpool is supposed to be one of the better places, but after two visits I certainly would not recommend. First time was just bland - like the American idea of a good steak - very tender with zero flavour. The second time was the instance I have sent a dish back - and we had to do it twice!
Nobo is dull as dishwater chain. Tried the special anniversary chefs menu, supposed to be the pinnacle of their food. Dull.
The places in the city are particularly bad. My visit to Print Hall was among the worst - still waiting for some of what we ordered!
You're Michael Winner.
Jul 25th 2015, 4:31 am
#52
Proudly Deplorable
Joined: May 2003
Location: Alloha snack bar
Posts: 24,246
Jul 25th 2015, 7:32 am
#53
Gutter Gob!!
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Perth
Posts: 13,098
Re: 10 Years on - Reflections on a First Return Visit to the UK
Jul 27th 2015, 9:49 am
#54
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: 10 Years on - Reflections on a First Return Visit to the UK
Blast from the past!
Aug 15th 2015, 12:18 pm
#55
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 297
Re: 10 Years on - Reflections on a First Return Visit to the UK
Nevertheless, what I do enjoy about Australia is that I do not need to possess a time machine to enjoy revisiting the seventies and eighties eras. A twenty minute journey by car outside of Brisbane in any direction and I am teleported backwards into a different time zone!
Aug 15th 2015, 4:32 pm
#56
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: 10 Years on - Reflections on a First Return Visit to the UK
I've been in the UK for 3 days now. I've had a blast the past 3 days. Firstly I'm in the countryside, secondly the weather is OK which has meant I've been outside the entire time, mountain biking, rambling, gardening, beer gardening, outdoor pub lunches, you know, your typical British summer stuff that you can do for a couple of months a year. Nothing beats the British summer. Then there's the rest of the year. Boooooo.
Aug 22nd 2015, 9:26 am
#57
Account Closed
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 0
Re: 10 Years on - Reflections on a First Return Visit to the UK
Going back over Christmas, brother getting married, dickhead. I anticipate being very cold and very drunk for much of it 
Aug 22nd 2015, 10:42 am
#58
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,214
Aug 22nd 2015, 12:03 pm
#60
Last resort... format c:/
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore to Surfers Paradise to... Tenerife... to Gran Canaria!
Posts: 1,626