For those who have spent time away from the UK, living overseas, what did you notice had changed when you went back to Britain?

I had a lot more grey hair and wrinkles.

When I went back for a holiday last year, I realized how much I missed the place!

So, does this mean nothing had changed?

When we went back for a holiday in July - Britain looked fabulous - it seemed so green and lush, with so many trees and flowers. Just looked so beautiful. Just to hear the birds 'singing' instead of squarking!
The only thing that had changed was the amount of trees, that have now matured everywhere. We just really enjoyed our time there - and cannot wait to move back.

London is CLEAN and Londoners are polite!

(Ok, so we did only go to central London and the West End, but still..!)

Just spent two months on hols in Uk and nothing has changed really - noticed that family members in their teens to thirties seem to need entertaining all the time - can't just sit and read a book or have a conversation anymore and everything's 'boring'!!!

Could just be the generation gap suppose...fantastic to be home though and can't wait for the day when its permanent.

Heck - you would still have the grey hair and wrinkles if you had stayed in the US (maybe more wrinkles as we have more sunshine here)!!!!!!!
There is a product called "Just for Men" - it's supposed to get rid of the grey. I actually think men look good with grey hair but we women just look older. I suppose that is a sexist comment and some people won't like it!!!!

As I'd been going back to the UK for holidays quite regularly, haven't really noticed many changes. But one thing I've noticed is how popular barbecues are here in the UK now. After living in Australia for a long time the last thing I want is to go to a barbecue!

Adelia

Not much had changed in the two years I'd spent outside the country. However, I had a greater appreciation for the basics that I took for granted whilst living there.

It is a fact that women just look older, but we men just get sexier & more distinguished looking. I find women are very attracted to me now, but, to be honest, I don't have the energy for it anymore.

As for England, I'm impressed by the train services now. When they privatised them, I thought it was the beginning of the end.. but in terms of quality & reliability, I'm a great believer in the new dispensation. I guess what I dislike about the trains now, is that you have to book far ahead online now to get a reasonable fare. My son (who lives in the UK) seems to understand the complexities of the pricing but it rather defeats me.

Agree with this. Exactly what we found. Doors opened for us. My goodness central London was spotless. Unfortunately every where else wasn't to this standard. Roads were shocking because of the long snow periods, all cracked and roadworks everywhere.

I was served in shops by more Europeans than 3 years ago.

That and camping!

Apart from the Edinburgh Waverley to London King's Cross line which I have used a fair wee number of times (really lovely trains which all the facilities) my next favourite scheduled service is the Cotswold Line - the one that runs from Hereford to London Paddington. My grandparents live near Ledbury so I have used that station several times, one stop along the line from Hereford. The scenery along the whole journey until you get to Slough (west of London) is really beautiful - first through the Malvern Hills and on to Worcester, then on into the Vale of Evesham to Evesham itself, then skirting the Cotswold Hills to Moreton-in-Marsh then onwards to Oxford (always loads of people getting on the train there, some of them really interesting looking!) and on past Didcot Parkway and into the Thames Valley, running alongside the river Thames through Cholsey and Moulsford and Pangbourne to Reading, another very busy station....home of Kate Winslet and the not so pretty but pretty 'orrible Jeremy Kyle. Then comes Maidenhead and Taplow then the home of "The Office" - Slough (not so nice - all office blocks and trading estates). Suburbia then takes over and you see the first red London buses and London Undergound station signs as you get to Acton and Ealing Broadway - then the approach to London Paddington, invariably a complete rush and bustle of activity but very exciting.

Direct trains from Ledbury to Paddington take about 2 hrs 35 minutes but it never seems to take that long as there is always something nice to look out at through the window - except for those office blocks in Slough and the forbidding looking HM Prison at Long Lartin, just outside Evesham. Catering facilities on the trains are very good, too....often provided by nice young Eastern European girls.

Oh yes, I love camping. I especially like the part where the staff leaves a little chocolate on the pillow for when you turn in. Oh, and the white robes are nice too. Who wouldn't go camping, hey?