Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Hi Bev,
I do agree with you on ziplocs, there hopeless over in UK and the cling film and tin foil are not much better,
Im not going on my holiday to the States for another 18 months from now, staying for a month with my very good friend Art, but I will be bringing quite a few American products home with me, and ziplocs of course and also some decent plastic hangers too, a few pair of levi and wrangler jeans too, over in U.S. there like $20 over here there at least
£60 a pair :eek: yes pounds,
and a pair of Nike and Roebuck sneakers, although I did get a nice pair of Nike,s here a few months back at the Nike,s own store downtown, they were on sale for £14 down from £40 so that was a nice bargain, and there so comfortable with the cushion air sole,
I wonder if I could get away with stashing a few jars of miracle whip in my suitcase too :)

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

You'll have to do what my Mum does, bring two suitcases, one inside the other, then you have one to fill for the return journey and pay for it in one direction only. She takes zip lock bags, and a few other bits, not tin foil though.
This is giving me good ideas of what to stock up on to send back to UK in my shipping boxes :thumbsup:

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Rodney, are there any US stores for American expat foodies in the UK? You might find Miracle Whip. We have several British ones in Dallas notably www.british-emporium.com. It is ten miles from my house. Have a peek.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

I think it was Bee who was saying that if you go to TKMaxx they have American packet foods seasonally.
I found some in Aldi too. They had 4th of July proper hotdogs and buns, mustard and all kinds of imported foods.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

I went to the UK this past summer and packed two small glass bottles of pure maple syrup (in a plastic bag), along with a square apx 4 x 4-inch voltage converter (does losts of EU countries), along with a cell phone charger - all in the middle of my case. When I unpacked, there was a note inside the maple syrup bag stating that my belongings had been searched at the airport in the US before I left, and they had tried to pack it back the best they could! I guess it looked like bomb-making material. So be careful what you pack! :eek:

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Well No ----- not in Pompey, but I think that you can find an on line store just by googling american foods in U.K.
In Las Vegas there were two British Import Food stores that I used to go to now and then to get my well needed fix for some of my favorite British treats ----- trouble is they were all sooooo expensive, 5 to 8 times what you would pay for them here in U.K. :eek: some things though were only 3 times more expensive,
Me thinks that an online U.S. food product store would be the same deal ---- real expensive if you order from U.K. and of course the shipping & packing wont be cheap either.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Yes I will be careful Mallory,
I have found that Morrisons here and Lidl,s too stock real 100% maple syrup imported from Canada,
And I buy a packet of giant american style pancakes at Iceland, there are 4 in a pack, not frozen, there fresh already made!!!! with about same sell by date as bread here ---- not long, but I kid you not I put two in the oven on gas mark 4 --- for 10 minutes, and I swear you will not notice any difference in the look or taste from any pancakes you ordered in a restaurant in the States, I then spread butter on them, pour a little maple syrup on them and a couple of over easy eggs on top, and lovely crisp bacon ----- and Wolla!!!! Hmmmmm oh so good ---- and to hell with the calories, thats my moment of heaven once every two weeks :D my Mum looks at me when I eat them and she thinks Im Crazy ;)

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

I agree.....it's quite expensive. We usually go at Christmas time. How do LV prices compare to the web site I sent you?

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

I agree with your mom ;-) After 40 years here, I have never been tempted to eating that type of breakfast. Either pancakes with butter and syrup OR pancakes with bacon and eggs but not together.......

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

You are all making me very hungry. But its good to know what to bring back with me. I shall go to BJ's and buy a stock of goodies and put them in with my shipment.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

celtic I just had a quick look at that web site and a small box of Weetabix
(24 biscuits) for $6.99 was the biggest shocker, I used to get the same box in Vegas for $2.14 at trader joes, that was the only place that sold them in town, except the british import store and they sold them for $4.50,
Ambrosia cans of creamed rice or custard here in U.K are 50p a can at most stores, at your dallas store $3 a can so thats 6 times more, quite a mark up even considering the shipping and duty,
But the prices for most things there were pretty close to most items in my Vegas British import store, Dallas was a little more expensive on a lot of things though,
But then for those who still have not made that gigantic leap across the ocean yet then even though the British treats are expensive at least you can buy them, or some of them anyway, the range is quite limited though,
Me thinks that the people who live in many parts of Florida and seek out british import stores that the prices maybe much cheaper, cause of the massive British Population who live permanently in Florida,

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

If the minimum price were established via a minimum alcohol tax, at least the money could (note I didn't say "would") be used to offset the additional costs to the NHS, emergency services, etc., of alcohol consumption, especially over-consumption.

And if this prevents supermarket chains using deliberately underpriced alcohol to get people in the store, it might also help to alleviate the problem encountered by pubs. [Do you like that? notice I cross-referenced another thread ... ]

In a TV debate the other day, a conservative MP didn't even know how the minimum price would be achieved (i.e., would it be additional alcohol tax, or simply increased price/increased revenue for the supermarket chains). Honestly, politicians seem to get more like schoolkids every day - come on, do your homework for goodness' sake. :rolleyes:

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Over two years back and we are still using the huge roll of Sams Club aluminum foil we shipped back.

I wish I had brought back a few wire coat hangers too but I threw them all out.
Not that I hang clothes on wire hangers - but they do bend up into shapes to use as reaching tools or for garden plant supports, drain pipe un-cloggers and such. Here they are not provided with Dry-cleaning or shop purchased clothes but I since found them for purchase at Wilkinson's

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

If they want to stop youngsters from overconsuming wouldn't it make more sense to raise the drinking age, kids always have the money or know how to find it.

I find that some of my relatives attitude about letting the young ones drink in the UK is far too lax, 16 is one thing 12& 13 is another, I just think its a very bad idea at that age, I did open my mouth but some were not interested.

My Dad would let us have shandy at a young age but Ive seen kids drinking real booze, Its a recipe for problem drinking and all the issues that come with it.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Rodney.....what a big difference in prices. We don't go to the shop very often, but when we do, it is always incredibly busy and very well stocked.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Lack of parental control, peer pressure and one's own personal sense of responsibility (not yet developed in youngsters) and availability plays, I suspect, as much if not more than the influence of price.

Part of the problem I fear is from the alcohol industry itself that markets alcoh-pops that appeal to sweet toothed kids.

I think the problem requires that society deem excess drinking unacceptable, price alone won't do it unless price gets so expensive that no one can afford it.

While role models such as sportsmen and tv personalities and film stars are seen on tv and in newspapers to be smashed then the easily influenced will follow the example in order to be cool.

I would like to see a movement by the famous in society to set a trend of alcohol responsibility.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Norfolk is indeed lovely.
If one were to live in a village or coast and drive to nice locations or to the out-of-town grocery store and dine in the better pubs then one would never see the oiks up to their tricks in the population centres

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

It would be nice to think that would be an effective means of solving the issue but I've got my doubts, I think you hit on the key when you mentioned attitudes and unfortunately that's a whole lot harder to change. When I was 13 the drinking age in the province where I lived was 21 and I could get liquor any time I liked if I had wanted it...and NOT from my parents either I might add. I guess I can thank them for the attitudes they did have with regard to underage drinking, I only got hammered once. I recall seeing a documentary several years ago that stated Iceland at that time had the highest rate of alcoholism in the world and their legal drinking age was 23!

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

I bought Old Bay Seasoning online in UK from a business selling US foods.
Can't remember the site but I recall the vendor also had a stall on Cambridge market.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Very well said, I totally agree.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

I understand your reason for doubts, No system is perfect, people will always get something if they really want it bad enough, using friends or family etc.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Hello Fish,
Im glad I came from a State that the legal drinking age was 21 (NEVADA)
and my views on young people drinking these days is ----- in the U.K. especially as there are so many binge drinkers from 13 to 35 is to raise the legal drinking age to 36, and Im serious, there you go problem solved, I knew I should have become a politician, I think I would have made a good senator, but I know I couldn't have got the top Job (President) because I wasn't born in America ;)

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

I'm a bit late to the conversation I know but I wanted to let you know that I think it's a great idea and I'd recommend sticking with cities or large 'hip' towns as Rodney said, simply because you'd have a bigger pool of customers. (I could see something like this in Brighton or Manchester, for example).

Brits see American diners and restaurants on TV and the idea of going into on one would appeal if done well.

My own two cents though is that I think people here would be less likely to try something new if they didn't know anything on the menu. But if something on the menu was familiar and appealing enough, they'd come in and then start to learn about the other foods. That's how it was with Indian and Chinese restaurants back in the day.

So if it were me, I might center my branding on, say, southern fried chicken (which everyone here loves) but make sure the advertising and store front sold that it was the real deal - real American southern fried chicken. And also make sure the atmosphere is what Brits think of as American, including hiring American wait staff if possible (in big cities there should be students available). Selling really good burgers would help too - even if that's not actually authentic - because people here love a burger and it would be another way to draw them in with the familiar.

Then I'd market the more unusual stuff by educating people on it somehow within the restaurant - like maybe a blackboard where everyday you feature another foodstuff and explain what it is and how it tastes. (Biscuits would be a revelation here as we already like savory scones, but think a biscuit is something covered in chocolate that you dip in your tea).

If eating there was a complete American experience - including the drinks, the music, the decor etc. - I bet it would do really well.

I don't know if any of this is helpful but I did want to just say I think it's a great idea - and also to say that if you stick with the bigger cities as already discussed, you'd have the advantage of an American clientele built in.

Oooh, one other thought. One of the world's largest spy bases is near me and it's staffed by Americans. There is even an American school in Harrogate. I often hear American accents as we walk round. I'm just wondering if it might be worth choosing a town like that, where you have a built-in population of people who are homesick for American food.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

I just checked my cupboards to see the brand name of the one I bought - it's called 'Fry Light' and comes in a greenish can with a dark green top. It's in the aisle with the olive oil.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

I haven't missed a single thing from America food-wise - I thought the food there was awful for the most part - way too meat-focused and fatty for me and the chocolate was so bad I was never tempted. I am so enjoying the food here that I just had to see a hypnotherapist to help me control all the cravings! (Seems to have worked too, if anyone else is having the same problem).

But the one thing I do miss is being able to buy more than 16 pain killers at a time. What the hell is that about? I used to buy one big tub of Advil and then it would sit in the cupboard for whenever we needed it. Now there's only this little packet and if someone else has used it without me knowing, I'm out of luck when I really need pain relief. Drives me nuts!

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Now you've got me wondering about that too. Fortunately, I seldom use them, but I do like to have a bottle on hand, just in case. I have only been able to find small packets. I do wonder why and when the change took place. Is it related to drug abuse?

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

It was a few years ago the restriction came in. It was intended to help as a suicide deterrent.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

OOOH thanks will keep my eye out for it!

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Bloody nanny state. I have a big tub of ibuprofen and one of Aleve. Hardly ever need them but easier to have them available than always running out. God bless Sam's Club.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

I know what you mean - my husband wont bring back the foil & the ziploc bags but we are always well stocked with the huge tubs of ibuprofen and acetaminophen :D

In all seriousness though, I understand that the limitation in pack sizes has reduced the number of suicides, so I guess it is effective.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Is this for pain killers on prescription? If not there is nothing to stop someone going to different shops and ending up with a large quantity.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

The most a supermarket etc. can sell you is quantity of 2 pkgs. as well. Last year my Dr. prescribed me a mild dose Co-codamol tablet (quantity 100) but when I took the prescription to the chemist I was told they would be cheaper to buy "over the counter" in boxes that would total a quantity of 96 tablets and as I had the prescription they sold me more than you'd normally get over the counter.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Im allergic to all pain killers ------ except aspirin, and the same rules go with them too on quantity sold in little packs in U.K. but in America I used to buy bottles of 100 aspirin for a couple of dollars, and I have at times bought the bottles of 500 I think it was?
So over here my Doctor gave me a prescription for Aspirin and I get four 32 tab packs, (full strength) so thats 128 tabs, and being over 60 of course I get them free, I rarely get headaches so they will last me quite some time,
BTW I didn't ask him for so many packs, he just gave me that amount on the prescription,
Now Im thinking that maybe the NHS has different rules on age groups too, like maybe a 20 year old would get less, maybe they think that young people would be more apt to do away with themselves, but if a person has actually survived 67 years (like me) without wanting to end it all ------ then chances are they wont want to :sneaky:

PS I was on a bus yesterday on way back from a little shopping down town, and suddenly this elderly lady in front of me just turned around looked at me and shouted out quite loud ----- are you intelligent, so I said hell no not me, Im more average then the average Joe, so I said to her are you? she said me!!! ---- no Im just as dumb as most people,
So then my stop was coming up so I pressed the bell and got up from my seat, and on the way out I said to this Woman with a smile on my face ----- And chances are if were not smart at our ages we probably wont be :)
The whole bus load of people just cracked up laughing :D now I liked this womans openness, I wish everyone could be just like her, just blurt something out to compleat strangers and see how they respond ;)

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Jasper, do you want me to try to find my pancake recipe?

Bev

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Well Bev I do know how to make the batter, although I used to buy the big ready made packages in the States and you just add water, over here all Ive seen is a ridicules little box of pancake powder that you add water to box and shake it up or something like that :eek:
The reason I buy these ready made American style pancakes in a pack is cause its easy, just bung em in the oven, as Im the only one in our house that likes em, and I really cant tell the difference in them to the instant powder I used to use in U.S.
But having said that Bev yes if its not too much trouble I would love to try your American/Canadian pancake mix recipe :D

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

On the subject of pancakes, a few years ago my sister decided our Christmas morning breakfast needed a bit of a twist and substituted egg nog for the liquid in the pancakes along with adding a dash of nutmeg to the mix. From that day on Ally's egnog pancakes became a Christmas tradition in our house. Topped with butter and syrup they're absolutely delicious and I don't even want to think about the calories!

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Sounds marvelous!

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

No, not prescription - over the counter stuff.

You are quite right, of course about being able to go to multiple shops. However, what that does is create at least something of a barrier, however minor, which might just stop someone acting impulsively. It's all a bit morbid, but if you have a look, you can find references to how the number of suicides by overdosing on paracetamol etc dropped by quite a lot in the years following the restrictions.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

Sally

Some really good info there.And I agree with you that the American Diner has an Iconic image here at home and abroad and it is very appealing to many people. I personally enjoy them for their menu variety.You can have breakfast food any time of the day or night as well as a multitude of dinner choices not to mention spirits.

Picking a smart location is important in setting up this business.I think Rodney mentioned the potential of having the American military bases as a source of clientele.And that certainly could be a reliable customer base to count on until more brits hear about my establishment. There are a lot of American service men and women that would love to have a real authentic American home cooked meal. I must say that southern style food does not only taste amazing but you feel that you get your money's worth. You do not walk away feeling unsatisfied or still hungry. I'm going to do my homework on this and make sure I set up a winner.

Re: OVER 50's & 60's Chit-Chat & Daily Catch-Up Thread
 

The American diner is a wonderful thing and I agree the menus are extraordinary, with so many choices, breakfast all day, often lots of Greek specialties (because so many Greeks seem to run diners), enormous wodges of pie (!), etc. But you certainly couldn't get spirits, or even wine or beer, in any diner in Pennsylvania, where I was living! When my mother visited, she said, well, a restaurant like this, where you can't get a drink, wouldn't get very far in England, no matter how good and how cheap the food! She couldn't believe how one diner even offered DUCK, which one thinks of as quite a luxury meat---and nary a drop of wine to go with it!

But yes, I've often thought a well-run American-style diner, with a licence, could do very well in England.

Tina