What makes Britain Great?
#391
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,100
Re: What makes Britain Great?
What makes Britain Great. I suppose I should wait until I'm living there permanently to comment, but I've had quite a few visits of up to 3 months a time, so I'll say what I loved about it. To be precise, about Liverpool because I was only a tourist in other parts
I love how people interact with their neighbours. They're not in each other's pockets all the time, but everyone on one street seems to know everyone else and there's always a 'good morning' or a bit of banter as you're walking by. That's not so common in Australia, the suburbs are still mostly fully detached houses, people seem to move frequently.
Public transport - love the buses. You're never far from a bus stop.
The climate! I realize that this is very much a personal preference, but I'm well and truly over the sweltering, burning summers here. Scouse's family think I'm mad when I say I prefer a cooler climate to the Oz sun, but I do. To my mind, it's far more pleasant to rug up and go out than be stuck indoors in the airconditioning to avoid the furnace outside.
The travel opportunities, both within the UK and further afield. That's important to me because we love to travel and have done the nearby Asian countries to death. We take lots of short trips here but you need to drive a long way if you're holidaying in WA. For example, we visit friends in Albany a lot, which is a 5 hour drive each way. A flight to Melbourne or Sydney is 4-5 hours and hellishly expensive. For what we pay for a week in Melbourne, we could probably have a 4 week B&B driving holiday around the UK or a 5 star, 2 week all inclusive holiday in any European capital.
History, old buildings etc. Europeans have only been in Oz for around 230 years. The history of indigenous Australians is of course far, far longer. But Aboriginal history, in the sense of seeing and touching, isn't very accessible to wajelas (white fellas). It's primarily an oral history, although there are of course some amazing artifacts and early rock paintings.
Whenever I'm travelling in the UK and see old buildings, preserved or ruins, I like to put my hands on them and imagine the lives of all the people who've lived there. Which makes me a pretty embarrassing travel companion 3 of my grandparents were born in England and Scotland, that's where most of my family history is.
And - um - bacon and sausages
I love how people interact with their neighbours. They're not in each other's pockets all the time, but everyone on one street seems to know everyone else and there's always a 'good morning' or a bit of banter as you're walking by. That's not so common in Australia, the suburbs are still mostly fully detached houses, people seem to move frequently.
Public transport - love the buses. You're never far from a bus stop.
The climate! I realize that this is very much a personal preference, but I'm well and truly over the sweltering, burning summers here. Scouse's family think I'm mad when I say I prefer a cooler climate to the Oz sun, but I do. To my mind, it's far more pleasant to rug up and go out than be stuck indoors in the airconditioning to avoid the furnace outside.
The travel opportunities, both within the UK and further afield. That's important to me because we love to travel and have done the nearby Asian countries to death. We take lots of short trips here but you need to drive a long way if you're holidaying in WA. For example, we visit friends in Albany a lot, which is a 5 hour drive each way. A flight to Melbourne or Sydney is 4-5 hours and hellishly expensive. For what we pay for a week in Melbourne, we could probably have a 4 week B&B driving holiday around the UK or a 5 star, 2 week all inclusive holiday in any European capital.
History, old buildings etc. Europeans have only been in Oz for around 230 years. The history of indigenous Australians is of course far, far longer. But Aboriginal history, in the sense of seeing and touching, isn't very accessible to wajelas (white fellas). It's primarily an oral history, although there are of course some amazing artifacts and early rock paintings.
Whenever I'm travelling in the UK and see old buildings, preserved or ruins, I like to put my hands on them and imagine the lives of all the people who've lived there. Which makes me a pretty embarrassing travel companion 3 of my grandparents were born in England and Scotland, that's where most of my family history is.
And - um - bacon and sausages
#392
Just Joined
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 22
Re: What makes Britain Great?
thanks ..sos.....my family and a good very old friend will help me, but still have to do all this end by myself..its overwhelming, so taking it one day at a time. reading on here helps too!!
#393
Just Joined
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 22
Re: What makes Britain Great?
hi ws I have visited my family for the third yr in succession this yr...and while there looked for a snr place nr to my family and my niece got the application for me and I applied.....its probably because all my family are in the area...they ask that on the application, but I do have to wait for a flat to become available, meanwhile im trying to clean my house out and then may take my fur girls to stay with my friend until I get a flat, then come back to sell my house...yikes...overwhelming thinking and writing it...but i.m determined to think positive...not easy at my age?!
#394
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Re: What makes Britain Great?
What makes Britain Great. I suppose I should wait until I'm living there permanently to comment, but I've had quite a few visits of up to 3 months a time, so I'll say what I loved about it. To be precise, about Liverpool because I was only a tourist in other parts
I love how people interact with their neighbours. They're not in each other's pockets all the time, but everyone on one street seems to know everyone else and there's always a 'good morning' or a bit of banter as you're walking by. That's not so common in Australia, the suburbs are still mostly fully detached houses, people seem to move frequently.
Public transport - love the buses. You're never far from a bus stop.
The climate! I realize that this is very much a personal preference, but I'm well and truly over the sweltering, burning summers here. Scouse's family think I'm mad when I say I prefer a cooler climate to the Oz sun, but I do. To my mind, it's far more pleasant to rug up and go out than be stuck indoors in the airconditioning to avoid the furnace outside.
The travel opportunities, both within the UK and further afield. That's important to me because we love to travel and have done the nearby Asian countries to death. We take lots of short trips here but you need to drive a long way if you're holidaying in WA. For example, we visit friends in Albany a lot, which is a 5 hour drive each way. A flight to Melbourne or Sydney is 4-5 hours and hellishly expensive. For what we pay for a week in Melbourne, we could probably have a 4 week B&B driving holiday around the UK or a 5 star, 2 week all inclusive holiday in any European capital.
History, old buildings etc. Europeans have only been in Oz for around 230 years. The history of indigenous Australians is of course far, far longer. But Aboriginal history, in the sense of seeing and touching, isn't very accessible to wajelas (white fellas). It's primarily an oral history, although there are of course some amazing artifacts and early rock paintings.
Whenever I'm travelling in the UK and see old buildings, preserved or ruins, I like to put my hands on them and imagine the lives of all the people who've lived there. Which makes me a pretty embarrassing travel companion 3 of my grandparents were born in England and Scotland, that's where most of my family history is.
And - um - bacon and sausages
I love how people interact with their neighbours. They're not in each other's pockets all the time, but everyone on one street seems to know everyone else and there's always a 'good morning' or a bit of banter as you're walking by. That's not so common in Australia, the suburbs are still mostly fully detached houses, people seem to move frequently.
Public transport - love the buses. You're never far from a bus stop.
The climate! I realize that this is very much a personal preference, but I'm well and truly over the sweltering, burning summers here. Scouse's family think I'm mad when I say I prefer a cooler climate to the Oz sun, but I do. To my mind, it's far more pleasant to rug up and go out than be stuck indoors in the airconditioning to avoid the furnace outside.
The travel opportunities, both within the UK and further afield. That's important to me because we love to travel and have done the nearby Asian countries to death. We take lots of short trips here but you need to drive a long way if you're holidaying in WA. For example, we visit friends in Albany a lot, which is a 5 hour drive each way. A flight to Melbourne or Sydney is 4-5 hours and hellishly expensive. For what we pay for a week in Melbourne, we could probably have a 4 week B&B driving holiday around the UK or a 5 star, 2 week all inclusive holiday in any European capital.
History, old buildings etc. Europeans have only been in Oz for around 230 years. The history of indigenous Australians is of course far, far longer. But Aboriginal history, in the sense of seeing and touching, isn't very accessible to wajelas (white fellas). It's primarily an oral history, although there are of course some amazing artifacts and early rock paintings.
Whenever I'm travelling in the UK and see old buildings, preserved or ruins, I like to put my hands on them and imagine the lives of all the people who've lived there. Which makes me a pretty embarrassing travel companion 3 of my grandparents were born in England and Scotland, that's where most of my family history is.
And - um - bacon and sausages
#395
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 7
Re: What makes Britain Great?
After reading so much it makes me want to come home so bad!
I miss
The pubs
The banter
The English humour
The tv
Family
Friends
Gorgeous towns and villages
Architecture
Countryside
M&s food
3 for a tenner wine in tesco
Friendliness
Theatre
snow days as the UK can't cope with snow is hilarious - I love it!
The weather gives me the excuse to wrap up on the couch and feel glad I'm not out.
The lake district
Beer gardens
Fireplaces...there's so much more
I miss
The pubs
The banter
The English humour
The tv
Family
Friends
Gorgeous towns and villages
Architecture
Countryside
M&s food
3 for a tenner wine in tesco
Friendliness
Theatre
snow days as the UK can't cope with snow is hilarious - I love it!
The weather gives me the excuse to wrap up on the couch and feel glad I'm not out.
The lake district
Beer gardens
Fireplaces...there's so much more
Last edited by Sushipie; Aug 15th 2014 at 9:37 pm. Reason: Sp mistakes
#396
Re: What makes Britain Great?
After reading so much it makes me want to come home so bad!
I miss
The pubs
The banter
The English humour
The tv
Family
Friends
Gorgeous towns and villages
Architecture
Countryside
M&s food
3 for a tenner wine in tesco
Friendliness
Theatre
snow days as the UK can't cope with snow is hilarious - I love it!
The weather gives me the excuse to wrap up on the couch and feel glad I'm not out.
The lake district
Beer gardens
Fireplaces...there's so much more
I miss
The pubs
The banter
The English humour
The tv
Family
Friends
Gorgeous towns and villages
Architecture
Countryside
M&s food
3 for a tenner wine in tesco
Friendliness
Theatre
snow days as the UK can't cope with snow is hilarious - I love it!
The weather gives me the excuse to wrap up on the couch and feel glad I'm not out.
The lake district
Beer gardens
Fireplaces...there's so much more
#398
Re: What makes Britain Great?
Well, you can always hop over the Channel with a people carrier and bring back a few bottles. I just paid less than a fiver a bottle for Mouton Cadet in my local supermarket.
#399
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2010
Location: The sunshine state
Posts: 1,358
Re: What makes Britain Great?
Britain's 20 friendliest places to live - Telegraph
Even if you disagree with the results, there are enough photos in the link to make many a folk yearn for the old country.
Even if you disagree with the results, there are enough photos in the link to make many a folk yearn for the old country.
#400
Re: What makes Britain Great?
Britain's 20 friendliest places to live - Telegraph
Even if you disagree with the results, there are enough photos in the link to make many a folk yearn for the old country.
Even if you disagree with the results, there are enough photos in the link to make many a folk yearn for the old country.
#404
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2010
Location: US
Posts: 4,224
Re: What makes Britain Great?
After reading so much it makes me want to come home so bad!
I miss
The pubs
The banter
The English humour
The tv
Family
Friends
Gorgeous towns and villages
Architecture
Countryside
M&s food
3 for a tenner wine in tesco
Friendliness
Theatre
snow days as the UK can't cope with snow is hilarious - I love it!
The weather gives me the excuse to wrap up on the couch and feel glad I'm not out.
The lake district
Beer gardens
Fireplaces...there's so much more
I miss
The pubs
The banter
The English humour
The tv
Family
Friends
Gorgeous towns and villages
Architecture
Countryside
M&s food
3 for a tenner wine in tesco
Friendliness
Theatre
snow days as the UK can't cope with snow is hilarious - I love it!
The weather gives me the excuse to wrap up on the couch and feel glad I'm not out.
The lake district
Beer gardens
Fireplaces...there's so much more
The British Police do not carry guns.
#405
Fancy a Cuppa?
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 438
Re: What makes Britain Great?
As my Canadian husband tells me, what makes Britain Great is the wonderful British humour, and our ability to laugh at ourselves. Its something that has been lost elsewhere.