Brit in FL

I returned a couple of weeks ago from a 14 day stay in England. My boyfriend (who has never left the US) and I hired a car and travelled as far north as York and as far South as Somerset (Gatwick doesnt count)! I don't think I've seen as much of the UK (having lived there for my entire life - I'm 33) as I did in those two weeks. The country side was a breath of fresh air - quite literally.

WOW! It actually felt like Christmas - yes the cold, dark nights and everything! I forgot how good the British Breakfasts were - esp the sausages and "real" bacon. Watching decent TV in our hotel rooms was also refreshing as was the common courtesy of the drivers on the road. I did notice the increase of the different cultures, which I feel has definitely changed since I moved which was just over two years ago thanks to poiltical intervention...

I frequented M&S and my boyfriend was surprised at how ahead we are in the UK in terms of fashion - yes, M&S included!

Anyway, I didnt realise how homesick I really was until my trip - I would love to move back, but the housing market over here really sucks so guess I'll have to wait until the market picks up again...

Brit in FL

Please note: I meant to say that Britiain has become more multi-cultural thanks to new political policies...

lilybilly101

Ski bunny, kayaker, hiker, snow boarder.....I'm just not that outdoorsy I realised. I love a long walk on the shore line and through the forests or up the mountain in the snow (so long as its sunny) but we have never bought ski passes (often due to being skint) but I think if we loved it we'd find the money. My husband said we're pub and chat people first and foremost and that doesn't really fit here. I like yoga but I bloody hate the whole west coast, 'I drink rice tea maaaan' lifestlye. It seems so contrived. People fit into political and social boxes....

Fleaflyfloflum

It is so much more alive here. I feel 10yrs younger since coming back.
For me its just the British people in general! Of course you do get the odd misery here and there, but just as an example.. take the supermarket. I can guarantee everytime i go there i will strike up a conversation with someone, have a bit of a giggle at something, or just get a few smiles!! A complete rarity in Aus truly!!
I have thought about this a bit lately to try and work why why it is so different down there. In my opinion, Aussies just arent as socially clued up!! Either that or they are so far up thier own backsides that they just dont notice anyone else around them

My NYE was the best i have ever had on the Embankement in London. Theres a sense of occasion and real passion in people. Hey, i think thats it!! PASSION! We have it in droves.

lilybilly101

PASSION....buckets of it. I feel as though it's all over here, there's nothing to aim for, nothing to laugh at on a daily basis. The Brits can certainly have a grump on but it's real as opposed to fake north american 'Have a nice day? How are you today? culture. I know they aren't really interested.....

Anyway, I can't wait to get back to what may be a few more grey days but I'll be lots brighter inside me thinks!!!

ukintexas

[QUOTE=lilybilly101;8223023] The Brits can certainly have a grump on but it's real as opposed to fake north american 'Have a nice day? How are you today? culture. I know they aren't really interested.....

QUOTE]

Another thing we laughed at whilst we were out shopping in the UK was the difference/lack of the whole "have a nice day" and "did you find everything you were looking for" roboticness of the US shops. However, that was replaced by the shop assistants either not talking to us at all, or being too busy gassing to their friend next to them! We did decide however, that we would rather have the latter than the insincerity of the first

Brit in FL

Agree with you totally UK in Texas - we noticed the same thing. In fact, it reminded us of a sketch in the show Little Britain (if you've ever watched it)...

lilybilly101

[QUOTE=ukintexas;8223091] So funny and so true. The last time we went home we were in a supermarket and my husband couldn't believe there was a lady offering gin tastings. Of course we had some and looked back and the security guard was having a tipple. Hilarious. My Canadian hubby had his jaw on the floor. That would NEVER happen here. Booze is sold in liquor stores and wrapped in a brown paper bag of course. When you go to a festival you are caged off to the side like social parasites so you can have a beer. It really spoils a good time. Very uptight but I guess they don't suffer from some of the late night lager culture that goes on back home.

Anyway, I'll drink to a sincere interaction ANY BLOODY DAY.

ukintexas

Love Little Britain - but can't think of the sketch you're talking about. See if you can YouTube it and we can all have a laugh

Brit in FL

Here you go! The first one makes me laugh no matter how often I watch it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TYAQ0JWBzE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNfjt...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5fl4KzKnQM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLd3-cfLlvU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JCio3bDw4w

ukintexas

good stuff!

pain-in-spain

Hello from Barcelona! I've not been on the site for a a couple of months but like other's here I've also come back from a trip to my beloved London (3 weeks ago) although sadly we missed all the snow as it started the day we left. Myself and my partner are definitely planning our move back this year, New Year, new life, you know how it goes. Even though we're only less than 2 hours away by plane we only manage a visit a couple of times a year so of course when we do go back it's a really big event and we are totally excited by it all. Although Barcelona is considered (in Spain) a very cultural and cosmopolitan city, compared to London it certainly isn't. We always pick up a copy of Time Out magazine on arrival at Stansted and are always blown away by the huge amount of stuff going on, so much to see and do, so little time! As a result our trips are very very exhausting and it's the old feast and famine scenario. Even though our dearest friends have not moved on in their lives and nothing has changed for them, unlike it has for us, we feel as if we've missed out on so much during the 7.5 years we've been away. I think we've just got to the point where snatched moments and happy holiday memories just don't cut it.
It was great to see the Christmas lights, so much better than here and have fantastic food wherever you go, here in Barcelona it's very hit and miss not to mention over priced. I am increasingly amazed at how prices compare with Spain, yet salaries are higher in the UK, I am now feeling how much we are being ripped off over here. Aside from this, there is so much choice in everything, shops, bars, restaurants etc. We always buy our dvds, cds, books and clothes in London as here there's little choice and it's more expensive (although it wasn't always like this). We're from East London and our best friends still live there so we always manage a curry in Brick Lane when we go over, this time it was even more special with the crisp cold and festive lights, it was fantastic. Not to mention the art galleries, Tate Modern is always our first port of call (we are artists though) and there's always so much to see. A good friend treated us to a matinee show at the theatre and it was amazing, we realise what we've been starved of such experiences! London has so much variety and so much energy, people there seem to have drive and individuality unlike Spain where people are mostly very conservative and constricted by the family unit. I just love sitting at a pavement cafe in Carnaby Street and watch the people go by and feel energised by it all!One things for sure, when we do go back we will not take anything for granted and imagine life is better in Barcelona (we had to try it or we wouldn't have known) as we know it's not, London is the greatest city in the world!

Elvira

Hey - I could have written that!!! So true.

Victor Meldrew

People - Grumpy!!! sounds like my kind of place

ukintexas

Lol Victor - you AND my husband will be fine!!!!!