Pom_Chch

I wish I had the same enthusiasm for the UK as you!

mikelincs

I think his comment was about Australia, not the UK as he had been asked if he loved the UK so much, why was he leaving..

Pit Bull.

Just because people come and go and maybe come back again, either to the UK, or Australia, doesn't mean they have to hate one country or the other, does it? I love the UK, it's a fantastic country and I have been lucky enough to taste what Australia has to offer and I love it there also, we are talking about two first world really modern countries after all.

Former Laowai

Having spent the last 10 years in China, dairy products, decent bacon and sausages and all things made of pastry became a distant memory.

Now that I'm back I find I cannot walk past a bakery without buying a sausage roll or a nice pasty. Fresh milk is heavenly and don't get me started on the fresh bread and cheese. I've honestly put on 30 pounds in 7 months!

England is absolutely stunning and I never truly appreciated that in my previous life here. It's not just the food, but the countryside and sky is breathtaking and I'm about to begin work in Cornwall which is without doubt one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Only complaint is the tea... it's like dishwater!

Pit Bull.

Asda sells extra strong tea bags, fill yer boots.

chris955

I have encountered the same problem with the food, too nice and too cheap

Mallory

Perhaps you could donate excess apples to a community food larder. Lots of hungry people about that would enjoy some fresh fruit.

http://www.hereford.anglican.org/chu...ty_larder.aspx

Bud the Wiser

Excellent idea. I honestly didn't know there were food banks in the UK. I then googled <Uk food banks>. Quite staggered by the results.

Sign of the times.

chris955

Yes unfortunately they are everywhere during these tough times, we had them near us in Brisbane as well.

chris955

Yes I might have a look at that next year.

mikelincs

One of our local charity shops has a collection point for donations to food banks, but M&S even several years ago used to donate food they would have thrown away to local charities such as Age Concern (now 'AGE UK' that provided meals for the less fortunate.

Bud the Wiser

That's right. I used to work in a community home in the UK and we'd often make a trip to M & S to pick up food. I just didn't realise food banks were so prolifirate in the UK.

chris955

As far as I know supermarkets in Australia arent allowed to donate food or at least they werent able to last I heard which is a real shame with so many families struggling. It may have changed now though.

Bevm

Isn't that a matter of how much tea you use? Or are you meaning the quality of the tea. There are places that sell all kinds of tea as loose leaf. I'm sure you can find just what you want.

I'd put a mild negative to the UK as the number of people who still use instant coffee. Unless I'm sure what I'll get, I opt for tea if offered, as it's usually fairly good. Oh, and also the limited choice of coffee beans, as we like to grind our own. I was getting them on the internet from a great place, but it shut down.

When places like Costa started up I expected most British people to go for proper coffee in their homes, but doesn't seem to have happened, which I find odd. Perhaps the taste of instant is comforting in some way? Or is it cost? I can't think it makes that much difference for a couple of cups a day.

Bev

sallysimmons

TBH, I never bother with real coffee but I stopped it even when I was in America. For me coffee is something I have once a day and it's just a big faff to make it from scratch - especially when I'm only half awake at that time! Tea is my drink of choice but I'm always conscious when people come round that I don't have 'real' coffee to offer them. Thankfully most people here don't seem to care.