Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

I used to be both a London and current Melbourne commuter.

Both systems get busy and crowded in rush hour. Some lines are better than others in both cities.

London's system is better connected but then it does have a 'tube'. Melbourne does not have a tube. Go figure. The tram system is excellent when you consider it has to compete with cars sharing the same roads.

There is no comparison - based on proportions of income I would say that Melbourne's transport is as 'cheap as chips'. (topical...topical)..

I get a VLine train from Pakenham to Melbourne = c.60km for 11 dollars a day and that was just after the recent increase - the first big one in about 7 years. I remember paying 200 pounds a month almost 20 years ago!!!

That's one of the most expensive tickets (a strip) and at least I can choose when to travel on that - I'm not locked in. The price gets cheaper with a weekly or montly.

In the past I have come up with a ludicrous multiple when comparing London prices to Melbourne prices when comparing realistic incomes.

Travelcards have always been expensive for peak hour.

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

That lovely Cornish village is Port Isaac on the north coast. The school in the TV series is actually the old school in PI and is now a hotel. Was lucky enough to stay there several years ago after a works Christmas do. Was great to wake up with views over the harbour. Lots of lovely villages in Cornwall, grew up there but no good jobs to be found so had to cross the border to Plymouth!!

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

It's a lovely area down there, I went years ago with my wife and remember it well. They do talk funny though :lol:

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

Cornish Pasties and clotted cream....Mmmm:D

Now I dont mean both those foods together

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

Have a look for Kernow King on youtube. Some great videos on there!

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

Wasn't Matthew Kelly cleared of all charges?

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

And so was Michael Barrymore - although he was charged for possession of cocaine at the end of last year.

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

He was.

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

G'day g'day. Raining and cold here today. A few more ramblings -

- Charity shops on the high street - they're seriously everywhere!! Our local high street has at least 6 and that's out of probs about 30 shops. And some of them are quite expensive, e.g £12 for a rattan linen basket with a stained liner and holes from cat claws wtf? I walked past one the other day and they even sell gift vouchers!! Talk about sign of the times....
- Just my opinion but I think things have felt a bit grimmer in the past few months, far more so than last summer anyway. The weather doesn't help obviously but that aside I think people have been pushed to their limit. Petrol, insurances, utilities, food, transport - everything has crept up and up. Politicians / media trying to keep things jolly with the Olympics / Jubilee but it doesn't work, people can see through it.

Over and out for now x

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

This is the first thing I noticed on returning to London after 5 years in Oz. Some streets near where I live are like dog shit assault courses - I dont wear any of my good trainers out at night because of it. I reckon people here don't have pride in their communities anymore.

Overall I've been dissapointed coming back to the UK. There are plus points (seeing friends/family, decent clothes, better radio and tv, access to other countries more easily etc) but its pretty grim. Given that things are predicted to get tougher you just wonder what the UK will be like in a few years.

We'll prob move back to australia in a few years for a while. My last 2 years I was desperate to come back but now I'm kind of wondering why.

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

Sorry to hear that the things are feeling seriously grim there. It was beginning to feel increasingly that way before we left in 2010. I reckon it's going to be a long slog before things begin to feel upbeat again. What a contrast to the bright feel-good life we experience here every day. Getting my family out of there is the best thing I've ever done :thumbup:


Thats an enduring memory I have of life in 70s Britain, but not so much in the 90s and 00s. A shame it's back :(

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

RainhamKent to Victoria london circa £30 per day return peak (5:35-10ish) around £300 per month it takes 55 mins-ish each way. For a high rate tax payer which you'd pretty much have to be to make the commute worth while that's roughly £500 out of your gross monthly income. That's train only, no tube or busses included. I defy anybody to claim that's cheap or even reasonable...

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

There must seriously be a HUGE divide between the SW and some of the areas others are talking about. We dont see rubbish on the streets and so far dog shit on the footpaths is incredibly rare, I see no more than I did in Brisbane.
There is no sign of people being pushed to the limit, it really is like some are referring to an alternate universe to be honest.

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

you must be living in a parallel universe. There have been articles in the paper about the litter problem and it did not say 'This is just confined to London'. I have read this several times over the last few days.

I guess Clinton Cards going into administration did not happen in your bubble area either?

You say I am negative about UK...you only see the rosy stuff. I have been back 2 years and agree with most of the other posters above...its not good and getting worse.
(And the constant rain is depressing)

Re: Back in UK 9 months - random observations...
 

Transport costs in the UK are high and bad value however I've started walking to work so it doesn't bother me any more except for getting up at 5:00 in the morning.