Silly Sod

Well well. Here I am again, still a Silly Sod but now a Silly Sod back in The World!!!! He he he. Britain has changed since I headed out to the colonies in 2006. I didn't think it could have in such a short space of time but it has.

Firstly - work. It has become harder to find. I have been struggling since I got back. Of course we have had an influx of migrant workers and this has led to the jobs market becoming much more competitive. Non the less I have found a job working that starts at 14.5k a year rising to 18k after a while.

I am getting my CSCS card next week though and am looking forward to working in the construction industry - a bug I got while in the US. I bloody well love working outdoors and getting covered in shit all day ha ha. It must be the kid in me, I was always a mucky pup.

Mrs Sod finally joined me a month ago after some ups and dows in our marriage that is non of your bleedin business mate!!!! But we are doing good now though and I guess a few ups and downs are par for the course. I dont think either of us were prepared to let this lovely thing go after criss crossing the world for each other. So, anything worth having takes some working at. Basically we are happy. We will be happier when begin my new job and we get our own place of course.

We are staying with friends right now who are wonderful but we are excited about getting our own gaff. Planning to move up to Rossendale where property is still remarkably cheap to rent (around bacup, Stacksteads, Waterfoot etc) and the countryside is beautiful. I see myself striding the bleak moorland, cane in hand a pair of Patterdales bounding around me. Then again I might just stay in and watch a bit of telly. Who knows

As for ole blighty though - for those returning be prepared for a few things. Firstly all that 'reverse culture shock' bollox is actually true. Even after a short time away. When I got back I couldn't bare to walk around Salford Precinct. The crowds, the dirt, the poundshops everywhere and the blue toe'd babies in buggies covered in the pastry of Geggs pasties for their main meal. Not to mention the 60 year old Glasgwegian woman loudly planning to get a tattoo on her tit for her holidays while queing up in Woolies. That was kind of disturbing. I am used to it again now of course but at first it was daunting.

Then there was the shock of hearing tracky'd, trainer'd, baseball capped and fat gold chain wearing wannabe gansters swearing loudly in the pub. I had never noticed before how much we swear overhere and how ****IN LOUD MATE!!!! Again, I am used to it now.

One thing that I found very disappointing was the fact that nobody seemed very interested in my life changing running off to america experience. People would say - so, what's america like? And I would say - it's okay but........and they would go - Nice one, lemme get another beer, catch ya laters yeah? Tossers lol. I thought I would be dining out on my adventures for years. In fact quite a few people from 'our estate' have come up to me and said - so, when you off to america? Or aren't you bothering now? Nice to know you've been missed innit

So, there is the story so far for anybody who gives a monkeys. Do I miss america? Not really, not yet at least. Maybe I will one day but right now it seems like a barely remembered dream. One thing I am certain of is that I will never, ever, miss Chicago!!! Too big, too hot in summer, too cold in winter and too full of people trying to scam you for a buck!!! No thank you

Well, hi all and bye for now.

The Sodmeister!!!

Elaine B.

Good to see you back on BE Silly Sod I'll be back "home" in four weeks time so it's good to hear your experiences and I know what you mean about the swearing, I'll have to be prepared to explain a few new words to my little boy

Silly Sod

I realised how americans don't swear just for the sake of it when I got back. Not even in bars. Polite bastards the lot of em

Kath & Graham

Glad to see your back and settling in well

Poppy girl

Nice to hear from you the avatar needs to be updated lol

bramblebush

sounds like the England that I have fond memories off.

Glad that you are happy to be home

Silly Sod

Now that I am back, and life is again at a turning point, I may just think about a whole new avatar. Life's about embracing change. I'll do it when I can be arsed

britvic

Was pleased to read your thread worts & all best of luck to you & yours honey

Bevm

The difference is funny, isn't it? I don't swear a lot but I'm not at all offended by swearing unless it's focussed and hateful. But if I let it slip when I'm with Americans they're shocked -- mostly that I said that. Someone actually said to me, "I can't believe you said that in that lovely accent!"

They really do seem to think that the English are ever so genteel in their speech. LOL!!!!!!!

Bev

Silly Sod

Thank you again. It is good to be posting again, though I wont be so much as I was in the US as I have a lot to do in the coming months. Perhaps when we are settled I willbe more prolific. It is nice to know I am welcomed back though - so have some hugs!!!

Silly Sod

Have you read the forum rules? You are not allowed an opinion here until you have been a member for three months, have over a hundred posts and have been flamed to death by Lionheart he he.

You are right though

MsElui

glad to hear you are doing well silly sod- we miss you in the trailer park!

quoll

Good to hear that you have settled back SS! Hope all the job stuff works out well for you.

lisag8070

As for ole blighty though - for those returning be prepared for a few things. Firstly all that 'reverse culture shock' bollox is actually true. Even after a short time away. When I got back I couldn't bare to walk around Salford Precinct. The crowds, the dirt, the poundshops everywhere and the blue toe'd babies in buggies covered in the pastry of Geggs pasties for their main meal. Not to mention the 60 year old Glasgwegian woman loudly planning to get a tattoo on her tit for her holidays while queing up in Woolies. That was kind of disturbing. I am used to it again now of course but at first it was daunting.

Now thats the Salford Precinct we all know and love.. (unfortunately)

Do the girls still have corned beef legs...?

what shop took over the old M&S space?

Is the chippy still at the front (near the market) ?

Sorry for the questions luv but its been about 18 months since I last walked those streets..so if you could take some photos and post them, that'll be lovely..

Great to see you back though (we've missed you) and lovely to know your still a Silly Sod

take care

geeandtee

ooooh, excellent!
I've been a member since March
I have over a hundred posts
and was flamed by Lionheart for expressing a preference for Arbys Roast Beef sarnies.

hooray! I can express an opinion now!