J.JsOH

Regret you too far for me to come collect. We are cider fans too.

J.JsOH

Permit me to quote myself, because I just thought of something I should add.

While the disagreeable element of society takes me to being really cranky, I think I am at elevated level of uncomfortable / pressured / stressed by the general hubbub and mass of humanity when in town centres and grocery stores and roads. I do not get road rage but approach something pedestrian akin to it when surrounded by milling hoards.
This has generally not been my experience of the previous 20 years and I am finding I do not easily tolerate it.
Give me open vistas without anyone else but the missus in sight anytime.

sallysimmons

We do compost - didn't mean to suggest that we don't. We have a little bin in the kitchen and a large one outside provided by the council. But not everything can be composted - cat food for example - and I hate having to clean little bits of food out of the sink when a waste disposal unit is a cheap, easy and hygienic solution.

I don't mean to make it sound important - it's a tiny beef when set against all the good things about living here - but every night when I wipe up those disgusting bits of food, I do remember my old waste disposal with a certain fondness.

sallysimmons

This makes sense. Every time I read your posts I wonder if we live in the same country (I find people so polite and life so relaxing here). But a) I used to live in New York and b) I now live in the English countryside. It sounds as though we had reverse journeys - I now have more peace than I ever had, while you have less. That has to be tough.

As we've looked for a house to buy, we've come to realize that what we want more than anything is to be away from other people with only sheep for company.

Pomster

I lived in London (til a few days ago) so this may be London specific:

Litter- absolutely everywhere.
Crowds particularly on public transport.
Public transport generally
Motorways- we did a lot of motorway driving and 9 times out of 10, were stuck in a stationary traffic jam for 1+ hours (best was 9 hours). M25 is the worst though.


but the good parts are : National Trust, English Heritage, variety of countryside, and if you have money, there is always plenty to do.

chris955

Thats a shame as we have literally 100's, no 1000's of them going to waste.

chris955

I am the same, I read some descriptions of things here and like you wonder if they are talking about the same country. We have found people generally and especially where we are to be so friendly and happy and very helpful. We have yet to encounter the unsociable elements to be honest. We see practically no litter anywhere and like you life is very relaxed. Just like Australia I guess it depends very much on location location location

brissybee

It does seem that those in the English countryside have a better time of it than UK City dwellers... (unless they love the big smoke of course!)

chris955

I know lots of people that live in cities and most seem happy enough with their lives but yes it cant compare to rural life here, same as anywhere I guess.

Pit Bull.

Well I have had a lovely day to day, the sun was out, slightly chilly, went for a long walk on the moors above Rishworth, near Ripponden the other side of Halifax, took the dogs with us, they loved it, the breath taking scenery overlooking the dam and hillsides were amazing, I feel energised.

chris955

sallysimmons

It does seem true, but then again most of my friends live in built-up towns and cities and can't understand why I want to be out in the country. They seem happy with their lives and what I consider to be noise and dirt, they consider to be 'buzz.' But even in cities (Leeds and York to be precise) I've never encountered the rude behaviour JJ's OH is experiencing all the time. I've come across what I'd call 'rough and ready' types but they're usually well-meaning and friendly enough.

I'm surprised because I always imagined Norfolk to be nicer than here in terms of manners but now I'm rethinking!

Angliandreamer

Hello. I hope you don't mind a newbe commenting here on your post regarding about what to expect when moving back to the UK ?

I've been away for 5 plus years. I almost forgot why I/we moved away from Blighty. Those rose tinted glasses and dreams of moving back cloud my judgement.

I would say that London living is hard if you want space and freedom of travel within the M25. Even most motorways and A roads at the weekend seem more like parking areas with just a hint of hope that you will move soon.

I used to try and get away to Norfolk and Suffolk ( so does most of London) at the weekend and dream of buying a house there away from the rat race. But after a resent visit there the A12 and A14 are getting more busy.
But once off and on the A140 life for me becomes 'life' and the dreams start to flow.

Plus points about England are;
Ease of communication.
Driving on the left side.
Little towns.
Fish and chip shops.
Good humour of the people.
Great TV.
The ferry back across the Channel and Dover .

Sorry to go on and thanks.

Pit Bull.

Another lovely crisp day today, I think I will head to the moors today with the dogs, I might even have a round of golf at my golf club Ryburn in Norland just above Sowerby Bridge near Halifax, it's a little 9 hole golf course, if anyone lives in the area, I could sign them in if they fancy a round of golf.

mikelincs

In general we have found internet speed to be good, except in one house we rented, even though it was in a city and in a built up area, we couldn't get more than 1mb, which meant that we had to lose our BT vision. There was a cable set up available, but as we were only renting we didn't want to take up the contract, and we would have had to pay a set up charge. We are now in a much smaller town, and get 16mb, and will soon be getting BT infinity which should give us 34mb