dontheturner

Yes - have dryers too. Don

Victor Meldrew

I live in Dubai and am avid watcher of Corrie. We are 6 weeks behind the UK.

I was aware that in UK something big has gone on in the plot, due to snippets of headlines on various sites like this, but have tried to avoid them.

Thanks for the update

Mind you, don't feel bad, I am home for Christmas in 7 days, so would have been unable to avoid it.

Fish n Chips 56

That really is Sad, at least you tried to help him, Im sure he would feel good about that.

windsong

That's right, FnC. I am glad I was able to make his elderly years very comfortable.

quoll

I lost half a stone on my holidays recently as well - I really think it was all the incidental exercise and all the stairs! I could barely walk up stairs when I arrived because we just dont have many of them around here but when I left I was almost running up them.

DDL

I'm so sorry you had to go through this. A similar thing happened to me but with my U.S. passport (I am American). I had sent my passport in for renewal and my father-in-law in London died very suddenly and unexpectedly. My husband and I started frantically to make arrangements to fly to London the very next day and lo and behold I remembered that I didn't have a passport! My husband was so distraught over his father's death there was no way he could fly alone.

I didn't even know where to begin when a friend suggested I get in touch with my local Congressman. I rang his office and - to make a long story short - I had my new Passport FedEx'd to my front door the very next morning, in time to make our afternoon flight.

I lived in South Carolina at the time and somehow or other they traced my in-process passport to a facility in New Hampshire. I was so impressed with the "cutting" of all that red tape.

Again like you, because of that incident I too don't like being without my passport. That's one of the reasons that I applied for my [UK] ILR in person at The Home Office last week instead of doing it by post where it could have taken anywhere between 1-6 months. It cost me 500 quid more for the Premium same-day service, but I never had to part with my passport except for a couple of hours.

DDL

Hi Don, and thanks for that story. I love hearing about things like this. I think the Tea Break era was fascinating. I for one would not have been embarrassed to have been a Tea Lady! What a wonderful thing for employees - much better than just sticking a drinks and candy machine in a room.

Yes, the poor tea pluckers are never paid enough but things are slowly improving. Most plantations now provide housing, schools, and medical care and it's usually a family affair with the mothers and older children working in the fields and the husbands and older boys working in the tea processing factory which is usually on-site. Fairtrade has also helped workers although I always remind people that Fairtrade tea doesn't necessarily mean that it's better quality tea.

Long live the teapot! I confess that most of the time it's a teabag for me, but there's nothing more satisfying than brewing up a pot of proper tea using looseleaf tea. And I'd like to award First Prize to you for using a removable filter! That's definitely the way to go, Don!

Oh gosh y'all....don't get me started on tea! I could talk for England about tea!

DDL

Just to clarify re fridges, washers and dryers.

Yes, large fridges are available over here but it's been my experience that you will only find them in the more expensive of homes. All the flats we've looked at to let have only the small size fridge or only the room for a small size fridge.

Also, all the flats we've looked at only have room (in the kitchen usually) for a small washer but not a dryer. If you rent a semi or better, sometimes you'll have space for a washer and dryer, but it just depends. Still loads of hanging out laundry to dry over here .... or people bringing their wet laundry to the laundramat to dry.

In the house Tony and I used to live in over here we had to stick the dryer vent out the kitchen window when using the dryer. I always hated that not just from an aesthetic point of view but we lived in a bad area and I didn't like keeping the window open.

Here at mum's she has a condenser dryer. There's a removable container underneath the dryer that you pull out and empty of water after several batches of drying.

I've also seen single units that are both a washer and a dryer. It looks just like a washing machine but it's a washer and a dryer. I've heard they don't work very well, but I'd be willing to give it a go in order to avoid hanging out laundry. Especially in this climate!

Beedubya

Well I am a Gemini.......twin.......split in two LOL!!

Beedubya

In Australia we are 3 months behind but only on cable TV which I don't have so I watch ITV player and am bang up to date.........oh and Windsong is right, what a blinder was played for the 50th Corrie Anniversary!! (but I can't tell anybody here in Oz LOL!!)

Beedubya

Beedubya

OK latest update from me...............

I told my immediate boss on Tuesday that I am going back to the UK............he totally understood as he emigrated here to Australia as a kid from the UK and has never felt like he belonged...............long story.........

Fast forward to this morning..........HIS boss - my bigger boss (believe me we have lots ) called me into his office.......and asked me would I like a job similar to what I am doing now but in a different division of our company in our LONDON office!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would be the main contact for the Australian operation.

SO SO totally unexpected and I have to say I am shocked and overwhelmed and this goes against any "plans" I had for my future in the UK.

Of course it will all hinge on the $$$$$$ to be paid and me, lil ol' me living in old Londinium town !!!

OMG they told me to take a few days to think about my answer and I have thought of little else as overwhelmed as I am..............

I would appreciate each and any input from our subscribers (and even the lurkers )

callé

[QUOTE=windsong;9032221]Thank goodness there's no hunting season. I HATE that. I always wish the hunters were the hunted.

callé

I'd say its brilliant!!!! Whats to think about?? Things happen for a reason and this is your destiny...

islandwoman120

Large, tall freezers are available - there is one in the house I am staying in, as well as a tall fridge. But here in the UK, people are energy conscious - prices are high. So you need to spend time looking at websites and familiarising yourself with the country and its' ways. Go to Barnes and Noble bookstores and look at the British magazines, the ones about houses, and furniture. Buy some, read even the ads in the back. Do that for a few months, then living here will not be so strange. This is not the states! Things are very different in many areas of life, daily living is more routine, and certainly more relaxed. At the moment you are thinking in American terms, but this is a good time to start acclimating to new ways of living, in the British style. Smaller, slower, calmer. Some people shop daily here, as they do in Europe, and storage is not then an issue. Like DDL says, she and Tony shop twice weekly - that makes for fresher produce. It is also a social issue, because many people are at home, and going to the shops makes for interaction with others. As for rentals allowing pets - perhaps you need to write privately to Celticspirit, as she is involved with animals and may have a better idea of where you can go for those needs. You may end up living in a rural setting - even renting a small farmhouse - think about that. Hope this helps. Rosie