Originally Posted by sallysimmons

Costa Coffee is one of the many new things that have made England a better place to live IMO. So much nicer than Starbucks and they make a fabulous pot of tea.

Originally Posted by Fish n Chips 56

Im with you all the way, I was one of those 24 hour workers, I worked for Krogers for 16 years, its all about the $$$$$... I missed many a real Chritmas party here as I had to work at midnight on Christmas day...

The more Americanised the UK becomes the worse it will get, it will lose that Charm and English Family way of life that many of us love... Huhhhhh...

Originally Posted by windsong

I think in America they find any excuse/reason to have a family get-together which is nice but the real meaning of the event (e.g. Easter) for most people lacks substance - but then again you can find this same sort of thing in the UK, too. Not every family celebrates the spirit behind Easter - or Christmas, for that matter.

Originally Posted by cheers

The very little bit I know about this subject is that all manangement is under the gun to increase sales. If their sales go down then they are out of a job. Up at the top the CEOs have to perform for the stockholders or they get bounced. Think of it as a game that the kids play on their computers and they thrive to win. Well thats that side of the story looking at the other side. Employees are just a means to atchieve sales and they have to work hours at any time of the day This is a big thing to me that I remember in 'England' in my day that shops were closed on Sunday and this allowed people to get together as family and friends and plan for that day, now I'm afraid that the businesses want to be open 24 hours so as to increase sales again. Shops use to close at 5:30 or 6pm and the employees had a life! You should hear the Americans scream because they can't shop 24 hours a day in England like 'back home' its so inconvenient for them! I always think of the employee side. Sorry. Some shops use to close at 1pm on Saturday and the employees could go to the match or ?? I think that was a long time ago because they went to early closing on Wednesday so to be open all day on Saturday. My point is family and culture was important and unfortunately they are taking the American view that if your family gets in the way of your job then get a divorce!

OK vote for me if you agree! Family and culture is more important than materialism and convenience in shopping(higher sales).

I'm really not this hostile but I do have my opinions.

Yesterday we saw the hostility to Tesco in Bristol and I was caught in between because I hate, hate violence against the police and property period. On the other had we have Tesco who in my opinion go around and grease hands to open up all over, pay low wages (so I'm told) and they end up ruining towns and villages by closing down the neighborhood shops that people could walk to.

and furthermore its all Dunrovins fault

Originally Posted by Pistolpete2

Good News!

You can get Costa Coffee at many Waterstones the bookstore throughout the UK.

In fact the Glasgow area BE group looking to emigrate to Canada met up at the Glasgow Waterstones Costa Coffee.

Originally Posted by chriswinter

I think find 'any excuse/reason to have a family get-together' anywhere in the world is a plus and is what a lot of families do...even mine. Especially because my family includes diverse cultures that are very family oriented. Find a reason, any reason...and is a time to get together and eat!!

As far as religious holidays...well I'm a Heathen! and I love Peter Cottontail and Easter eggs..I have no interest in the 'religious event'. Same for Xmas...I love Santa Claus, the North Pole and his Elves, presents, the lights...all the red & green colors and of course XMAS TREES! I think the only holiday that I celebrate in the 'spirit' of is...Thanksgiving. A time to give Thanks for what I do have, a time to come together with family and friends and give Thanks knowing we are all still here, breathing and in relatively good health. So some people do celebrate the holidays in the 'spirit' of, that which for them which gives the most meaning and pleasure.
The rabbit and eggs...are all signs of Fertility...as practiced by the Pagans. Christians incorporated early on so as to entice Pagans to convert to Christianity.
My Easter Spirit today is spiriting me off to a luscious buffet with my sons. Doc daughter and RN daughter are off delivering babies today. (It's that old Fertility thing, doncha' know)
And when I get home I will eat Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs with all the Easter Spirit and Gusto I can muster!!

Windsong and all....wishing everyone a most Wonderful Easter Sunday...no matter where you are, no matter your reasons for celebrating.
Here Comes Peter Cottontail!!

Chris

Originally Posted by chriswinter

I think find 'any excuse/reason to have a family get-together' anywhere in the world is a plus and is what a lot of families do...even mine. Especially because my family includes diverse cultures that are very family oriented. Find a reason, any reason...and is a time to get together and eat!!

As far as religious holidays...well I'm a Heathen! and I love Peter Cottontail and Easter eggs..I have no interest in the 'religious event'. Same for Xmas...I love Santa Claus, the North Pole and his Elves, presents, the lights...all the red & green colors and of course XMAS TREES! I think the only holiday that I celebrate in the 'spirit' of is...Thanksgiving. A time to give Thanks for what I do have, a time to come together with family and friends and give Thanks knowing we are all still here, breathing and in relatively good health. So some people do celebrate the holidays in the 'spirit' of, that which for them which gives the most meaning and pleasure.
The rabbit and eggs...are all signs of Fertility...as practiced by the Pagans. Christians incorporated early on so as to entice Pagans to convert to Christianity.
My Easter Spirit today is spiriting me off to a luscious buffet with my sons. Doc daughter and RN daughter are off delivering babies today. (It's that old Fertility thing, doncha' know)
And when I get home I will eat Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs with all the Easter Spirit and Gusto I can muster!!

Windsong and all....wishing everyone a most Wonderful Easter Sunday...no matter where you are, no matter your reasons for celebrating.
Here Comes Peter Cottontail!!

Chris

Originally Posted by Gabgoeshome

Yes ,Peter Cotton tail has been here too (this morning) "hopping down the bunny trail "lol !

HAPPY EASTER ~everyone

Originally Posted by cheers

For this home and my numbers are in red.
Attachment 99983

Originally Posted by Beedubya

Lovely home Cheers, it's just in the wrong country.

Originally Posted by windsong

I totally agree with everything you have said about the USA invasive movement. It sounds good on paper but when you live in a society like this for a long time you begin to see and feel the negative consequences, i.e. the very negative effects on society. People become greedy and selfish, expectations get higher and higher, they become more self-centered, etc. - I could go on and on.

Yes, this has invaded Britain but, thankfully, Britain is not so advanced in this respect (yet) as America is. I feel sorry for future generations, though.

Having said that, Britain may never get so advanced in this respect as the USA. After all, it is part of the EU and much of the EU travel industry is built on "small" and "quaint" and "ethnic". Large corporations like Tesco would throw these things to the wind and I think the EU wants to hold on to these things if only to protect the travel industry. All in all, I am just hoping that everything it means to be European may stop this from happening to such a degree in the UK. I might be totally wrong here, though.

Originally Posted by windsong

It's been years since I had a landline but it used to include local calls. Long distance and "in between distance" (forget the term but it is a new level they introduced to bleed the public) were extra.

Originally Posted by chriswinter

I don't know about that Windsong...I pay $39.95 a month for unlimited local & local long distance thru Comcast...this includes unlimited to Canada & Puerto Rico as well. During my several years in Texas I paid exactly the same to Time-Warner for the same exact service. And when I say unlimited I mean unlimited. I could talk for 24 hours a day for a month and still pay the same. I love this unlimited local & long distance plan. I don't feel I'm being bled at all.

Chris......

Originally Posted by Mummy in the foothills

Thats a fantastic deal, theres nothing like that where I am.
It's almost that much for the land line rental and that gives free local calls only, long distance and international are more, they don't do plans for international, but so far I've found they are pretty cheap, it' 3¢ a min right now to UK, it changes up or down as time goes by.
When I first moved in we called AT&T for an international plan and they asked who out local provider was, then they told me there was no such provider, even though I was talking to them on a land line phone Thats a small local phone company for you.
They recently came out with DSL and land line package which we bought $100 a month for both, but it gives 200 minutes anywhere in the US, so it's the best deal we can get.