What do you appreciate most about your life right now
Feb 19th 2015, 3:36 pm
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
I'm far from qualified to comment on "Life in the UK" (it's been a long time), but those are sentiments I share. My village was thriving at the time Columbus sailed, and my house is older than the US. The countryside is just like it's been for hundreds of years. What's not to like?
If someone were "returning" from the US or Canada, I'd have to believe that would be a major attraction.
If my frequent trips to England are any indication, I'd have to agree with some of that too. I rarely feel particularly "safe" in British cities, it's certainly not particularly "clean", people's attitudes and outlook, well, not exactly "open" or enthusiastic, but generally pretty closed-minded and pessimistic.
On the other hand, I do find it curious how Brits will defend Britain's honour religiously, yet those that live there often whinge endlessly about how shite it is.
But then, Brits living here in Spain often whinge endlessly about how "un-British" it is here, so it's a confusing set of character issues to sort...
If someone were "returning" from the US or Canada, I'd have to believe that would be a major attraction.
If my frequent trips to England are any indication, I'd have to agree with some of that too. I rarely feel particularly "safe" in British cities, it's certainly not particularly "clean", people's attitudes and outlook, well, not exactly "open" or enthusiastic, but generally pretty closed-minded and pessimistic.
On the other hand, I do find it curious how Brits will defend Britain's honour religiously, yet those that live there often whinge endlessly about how shite it is.
But then, Brits living here in Spain often whinge endlessly about how "un-British" it is here, so it's a confusing set of character issues to sort...
Feb 19th 2015, 5:48 pm
#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
Well I like it anyway, seems clean and safe to me. I'm in Newcastle right now, the amount of regeneration is amazing.
I think I'll just enjoy it and say no more, each to his own etc. Those who live in Spain are no doubt happy there as well and all the best to them.
I think I'll just enjoy it and say no more, each to his own etc. Those who live in Spain are no doubt happy there as well and all the best to them.
Feb 19th 2015, 6:02 pm
#18
Dichotomus tinker
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,678
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
not in your backyard Sally?
UKCrimeStats.com - Newcastle upon Tyne Central
I don't know why I bothered posting that, maybe Sally made me do it
Feb 20th 2015, 7:19 am
#19
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Scotland, just!
Posts: 2,053
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
Your just down the road from me, but I'm on the other side of the border.LOL!!!
Feb 20th 2015, 7:20 am
#20
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Scotland, just!
Posts: 2,053
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
......being able to garden in February and marvel at the new growth on my plants.
Feb 20th 2015, 7:34 am
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: A Proud Height, Northumberland UK
Posts: 1,163
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
My husband.
Feb 20th 2015, 8:56 am
#22
Confirmed grumpy old man
Joined: May 2005
Location: Moved back to Riyadh KSA 2016
Posts: 1,298
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
Hoping/planning to move back to UK end June, but have visited enough times recently to know the main thing I will appreciate:
A feeling of belonging, you can't beat it.
I live in Dubai at the moment but have no feeling whatsoever that I belong here. No more than a constant, long term visitor.
A feeling of belonging, you can't beat it.
I live in Dubai at the moment but have no feeling whatsoever that I belong here. No more than a constant, long term visitor.
Feb 20th 2015, 10:43 am
#23
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2014
Location: Johannesburg
Posts: 22
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
Living in a stone house, in a village that is mostly hundreds of years old. Footpaths and access to the countryside - with my dog. Churches. Stately homes. Having an intelligent conversation. Bantering. Radio 6. Never having to do long haul flights again unless I want to. Proper pubs. Being away from the same expat questions that everybloodybody asks. Being able to visit family easily. Amazon. Waitrose. Chip shops. Good cheese without a mortgage! France a short hop away. I could go on all day.....
Feb 20th 2015, 1:12 pm
#25
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Mallorca
Posts: 19,367
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
The whinging amongst many British expats in Spain seems to center around Spain's notorious backwardness: For example, the refusal of supermarkets to stock Branston Pickle, HP sauce, Cumberland sausage, or Boddingtons. Even worse, the wholly frustrating arrogance of so many Spanish who don't even bother to learn or speak proper English. And lastly, driving on the wrong side of the road - it's no wonder the Spanish all drive like idiots.
Still, nowhere is perfect - especially outside the UK. I'd expect British expats suffer the very same frustrations living in the US or Canada or anywhere else...
Feb 20th 2015, 3:53 pm
#26
Dichotomus tinker
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,678
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
Well, it's always better somewhere.
The whinging amongst many British expats in Spain seems to center around Spain's notorious backwardness: For example, the refusal of supermarkets to stock Branston Pickle, HP sauce, Cumberland sausage, or Boddingtons. Even worse, the wholly frustrating arrogance of so many Spanish who don't even bother to learn or speak proper English. And lastly, driving on the wrong side of the road - it's no wonder the Spanish all drive like idiots.
The whinging amongst many British expats in Spain seems to center around Spain's notorious backwardness: For example, the refusal of supermarkets to stock Branston Pickle, HP sauce, Cumberland sausage, or Boddingtons. Even worse, the wholly frustrating arrogance of so many Spanish who don't even bother to learn or speak proper English. And lastly, driving on the wrong side of the road - it's no wonder the Spanish all drive like idiots.
Still, nowhere is perfect - especially outside the UK.
I'd expect British expats suffer the very same frustrations living in the US or Canada or anywhere else...
I'd expect British expats suffer the very same frustrations living in the US or Canada or anywhere else...
Last edited by not2old; Feb 20th 2015 at 3:57 pm.
Feb 20th 2015, 4:44 pm
#27
Banned
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Mallorca
Posts: 19,367
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
No, it's been so long since I lived in the UK, I find it difficult to share that mindset anymore.
Feb 21st 2015, 1:47 pm
#28
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
In keeping with OP I would definitely say the weather. So manageable. I used to pine for cobalt blue summer skies in the summer, until I spent a few years under them and found them oppressive. Equally, damp grey winter can be comforting (though I have had my fill for this year). All the other positives I never lost sight of so can't say that I rediscovered them.
Feb 21st 2015, 1:55 pm
#29
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
whinging Pom post ...
I never 'had to leave' the UK, I made it a choice to get the hell away.
Of course time heals & here we are 48 years later 'thinking' it might not be so bad to move back to live, yet - be total strangers, foreigners in our 'homeland'. From reading the threads, it would seem 'the longer one is away' the less likely it is to remember what was all wrong with Britain of the days you left
Compared to where we live today, (anyone can pick at things) looking at the mess, the violence, peoples attitudes & outlook on life in 'little Britain' - I don't think that (for now) we could settle back there.
I suppose we could give it a go, try it out, see how it feels, then likely have a good old whinge about all that is wrong with the UK.
For today, knowing we can get a quick fix visit, is as good as it gets
I never 'had to leave' the UK, I made it a choice to get the hell away.
Of course time heals & here we are 48 years later 'thinking' it might not be so bad to move back to live, yet - be total strangers, foreigners in our 'homeland'. From reading the threads, it would seem 'the longer one is away' the less likely it is to remember what was all wrong with Britain of the days you left
Compared to where we live today, (anyone can pick at things) looking at the mess, the violence, peoples attitudes & outlook on life in 'little Britain' - I don't think that (for now) we could settle back there.
I suppose we could give it a go, try it out, see how it feels, then likely have a good old whinge about all that is wrong with the UK.
For today, knowing we can get a quick fix visit, is as good as it gets
Feb 21st 2015, 2:49 pm
#30
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,005
Re: What do you appreciate most about your life right now
Just got back from a walk across the Moor to the Stables Cafe for a bacon butty and a cup of coffee. Ah the simple pleasures in life.