frrussre

Move to NYC, you can go to some of the parks & get a game. All day everyday. Washington Sq Pk always has about 20 people playing, few hustlers for money.
Reg. Frank R.

snowbunny

It is dangerous to generalise but I am going to do it anyway. Minnesotans are far more caring than the residents of many other states.

Dan725

Don't get me wrong - with the exception of the utterly ridiculous "work ethic" and vacation time offered, which I will forever have problems with, I generally enjoy living in the states.

But, coming back to the UK has made me realise how much of it I miss.

And complaining? Sure, Brits as a nation like a good old moan to raise the spirits! Its generally because as a rule we're not afraid to admit when somethings not brilliant, and maintaining a false rosy outlook does noone any good if you ask me. But, the compaining is generally about wider issues. Personally, I'd say I've seen more complaining/whining about little things in the states - especially in restaurants, etc. And you only have to look at some of the ridiculous lawsuits and lawyers who take them on in the US - they take complaining to a whole new level.

Kaffy Mintcake

For what it's worth, this Yank agrees with you on the work ethic (in my case working A LOT) and vacation time offered. I'm fortunate in that my employer allows us to "buy" a week of unpaid time off ... so I have 3 weeks paid and 1 week unpaid per year. Not as good as in Europe - but at least better than 2 weeks.

Wish that would change, but I don't see it happening.

Dan725

Me neither - I guess its just something we have to live with

Partystar

Now that I'm back in England, people want to know why I didn't like it in the States. They can't believe it when I tell them about the annual leave. In the States, I didn't get any, here I get 29 days paid leave a year, plus 8 paid bank holidays. Not to mention 3 months full sick pay, 3 months half sick pay (should I need it), compassionate leave, excellent maternity leave (not that I'll ever need that again!).

Plus I get paid twice as much here in the UK & our living expenses are the same & the benefits are great (Child benefit, child tax credits, working tax credits, council tax benefits...)

Then there's the wonderful NHS. Since I've been back, I've noticed just how far behind Tyler is in his development. The health visitor referred him to see a paediatrician, who did a developmental review. He now has to be referred to 4 different specialties, I dread to think how much this would have cost us in the States. At least without the thought of the expensive, I can concentrate solely on helping Tyler.

britex01

Makes me think that if the US also provided these many benefits, how many Eastern Europeans and immigrants from the Middle East would flood en mass over American soil?



And America has far more space to accommodate this inflow than the UK!

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Xebedee

USCIS would have to start letting them in first.
More like the flood of Mexicans would become a tidal wave.

Chance be a fine thing that the US would offer these benefits.

gazzpfc

We have friends who left Torquay area a few years back as think it suffered from that kind of bloomin blight you can get at seaside spots.
They leave in Corfe Mullen thats a cracking area in fact a lot of Dorset coast I would vouch for ahead of Devon these days.

St.Georges Girl

We also have friends who have lived in Barton and worked in Torquay all their lives, but have now moved on to Dorset and love it.

lisag8070

I'd love to do that...but alas its chess on the computer for me...

gazzpfc

Its nice indeed when we leave USA we are probably headed to Spain(my mothers family) get my daughter fluent in Spanish then head back to UK we may well sale up in Southsea and move those 70 or so miles along to some of the nice spots.
If of course sun hasn't made us want to never leave Spain.
We have not been here long couple of months but relly can't see us lasting more than 2-3 years.

St.Georges Girl

Woohoo, Southsea eh. We stayed in The Trust House Forte Hotel there many years ago. It holds 'special' memories. in BTW, the sun doesn't always shine in Spain, believe me.

St.Georges Girl

I can play chess and thoroughly enjoy a game, but I'm not much good I don't think. Why don't you challenge someone to a game online? Shakymaty (Carl) is a Chess Tutor, so he's probably your best bet. Could be fun.

Jerseygirl

I was just going to point her in Carl's direction.