The UK
Sep 28th 2010, 6:57 pm
#16
Not Banned (yet)
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Madrid
Posts: 6,400
Re: The UK
Much the same for me.
I get used to fast European driving, from Scandinavia through Germany,France and down to Spain is a trip I do quite often, but when I go back to the UK I expect a bit of sanity on the roads, yet every time it seems crazier and crazier and takes some getting used to.
I must still have a fixed impression in my mind of how it used to be.
On the other hand I've noticed a general slight slowing down in Spain in the last two years and in France for about the last four years, I presume due to a tightening up of speed restrictions and enforcement.
I get used to fast European driving, from Scandinavia through Germany,France and down to Spain is a trip I do quite often, but when I go back to the UK I expect a bit of sanity on the roads, yet every time it seems crazier and crazier and takes some getting used to.
I must still have a fixed impression in my mind of how it used to be.
On the other hand I've noticed a general slight slowing down in Spain in the last two years and in France for about the last four years, I presume due to a tightening up of speed restrictions and enforcement.
Sep 28th 2010, 7:52 pm
#20
On the road again.
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: On Top of the World
Posts: 17,507
Re: The UK
I suspect the perceived quickness of UK drivers is down to the fact a greater proportion are commuting the same stretches of road each day, and know exactly when they can go fast or not. Could be wrong though... What scares me most are motor-cyclists on London roads, especially the North Circular - the risks they take when overtaking or undertaking, always assuming the car drivers they pass are fully aware of their position..
Yes exactly, bloody commuters or jumped up yuppies moved out to the country, starting to use my normally quiet little village as a racetrack.
Can't be having it, so had a sneaky word in the ears of the local boys in blue, and quite a few tickets and fines later, the would-be Lewis Hamiltons seem to be getting the message.
Sep 28th 2010, 9:26 pm
#21
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: Home in Herts
Posts: 658
Re: The UK
Well I´ve just got back and I think it´s GREAT..................
The only thing I miss is the better weather but other than that..nothing really.
Swings and roundabouts.
Oh and I find the cost of things cheaper except for fish. Bargain prices around for clothes, shoes. books, food, bunk beds, lots of offers around -I´m amazed.
The only thing I miss is the better weather but other than that..nothing really.
Swings and roundabouts.
Oh and I find the cost of things cheaper except for fish. Bargain prices around for clothes, shoes. books, food, bunk beds, lots of offers around -I´m amazed.
Last edited by manamama; Sep 28th 2010 at 9:30 pm.
Sep 29th 2010, 12:11 am
#23
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Near Alora....but not too near. :)
Posts: 1,646
Re: The UK
[QUOTE=Mitzyboy;8881644]Having been back here a week now ...
I'm spending a fortune ... so no one tell me again that supermarket shopping in the UK is as cheap as Spain. It's not, and the choice of fresh meat and fish is definitely not as good. The skies are grey .... its raining
QUOTE]
I feel your pain....I went back for nine days last November, and I couldn't wait to get back here to Spain again!
Like you I found it cost a fortune in the supermarkets, yes there was much more choice.....but do we really need fifty different shampoos or a dozen different brands of cheese slices?
Having become accustomed to a very small Mercadona in our nearest town here.... I found the size of the supermarkets in the UK and the choice of goods on the shelves all quite bewildering!
I'll admit it was nice to have a large selection of beef on sale, here in Andalucia where we live its all pork, pork and more pork!
Apart from that though I was simply amazed that people there seem to live on processed food and supermarket ready meals.....it was so good to see all the fresh produce on my return home to Spain!
I'm spending a fortune ... so no one tell me again that supermarket shopping in the UK is as cheap as Spain. It's not, and the choice of fresh meat and fish is definitely not as good. The skies are grey .... its raining
QUOTE]
I feel your pain....I went back for nine days last November, and I couldn't wait to get back here to Spain again!
Like you I found it cost a fortune in the supermarkets, yes there was much more choice.....but do we really need fifty different shampoos or a dozen different brands of cheese slices?
Having become accustomed to a very small Mercadona in our nearest town here.... I found the size of the supermarkets in the UK and the choice of goods on the shelves all quite bewildering!
I'll admit it was nice to have a large selection of beef on sale, here in Andalucia where we live its all pork, pork and more pork!
Apart from that though I was simply amazed that people there seem to live on processed food and supermarket ready meals.....it was so good to see all the fresh produce on my return home to Spain!
Sep 29th 2010, 6:17 am
#24
Ex Expat
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: West Midlands, ex Granada province
Posts: 2,140
Re: The UK
Isn't it odd how two people can have totally different experiences of two countries?
I think there is no contest with the supermarkets. Morrisons and Asda win hands down over Mercadona and Al Campo. Reduced items that are going out of date are sold off really cheaply instead of being left on the shelves to go mouldy, there are Own Brand items that are usually as good as the branded names, BOGOFS (which I agree you should only buy if you want them anyway, but nevertheless they are available), you don't have to heave out ID to pay by card and you can get Cashback to save you going to the cashpoint. And they are MUCH cheaper!
However, I agree about the traffic in the UK, it is dreadful! The amount of people we have seen jumping red lights is unbelievable.
I think there is no contest with the supermarkets. Morrisons and Asda win hands down over Mercadona and Al Campo. Reduced items that are going out of date are sold off really cheaply instead of being left on the shelves to go mouldy, there are Own Brand items that are usually as good as the branded names, BOGOFS (which I agree you should only buy if you want them anyway, but nevertheless they are available), you don't have to heave out ID to pay by card and you can get Cashback to save you going to the cashpoint. And they are MUCH cheaper!
However, I agree about the traffic in the UK, it is dreadful! The amount of people we have seen jumping red lights is unbelievable.
Last edited by scampicat; Sep 29th 2010 at 6:19 am.
Sep 29th 2010, 6:57 am
#25
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,008
Re: The UK
Isn't it odd how two people can have totally different experiences of two countries?
I think there is no contest with the supermarkets. Morrisons and Asda win hands down over Mercadona and Al Campo. Reduced items that are going out of date are sold off really cheaply instead of being left on the shelves to go mouldy, there are Own Brand items that are usually as good as the branded names, BOGOFS (which I agree you should only buy if you want them anyway, but nevertheless they are available), you don't have to heave out ID to pay by card and you can get Cashback to save you going to the cashpoint. And they are MUCH cheaper!
However, I agree about the traffic in the UK, it is dreadful! The amount of people we have seen jumping red lights is unbelievable.
I think there is no contest with the supermarkets. Morrisons and Asda win hands down over Mercadona and Al Campo. Reduced items that are going out of date are sold off really cheaply instead of being left on the shelves to go mouldy, there are Own Brand items that are usually as good as the branded names, BOGOFS (which I agree you should only buy if you want them anyway, but nevertheless they are available), you don't have to heave out ID to pay by card and you can get Cashback to save you going to the cashpoint. And they are MUCH cheaper!
However, I agree about the traffic in the UK, it is dreadful! The amount of people we have seen jumping red lights is unbelievable.
Talking about caspoints, do you think they will be working today or not, I am referring to the General Strike?
If the little fellas that work inside those machines are supporting the strike and you did not get you money out yesterday, it could be very inconvinient for some.
Sep 29th 2010, 7:22 am
#26
Straw Man.
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: That, there, that's not my post count... nothing to see here, move along.
Posts: 46,302
Re: The UK
So have we decoded who is more right than whom?
Sep 29th 2010, 7:38 am
#27
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,008
Re: The UK
Well I´ve just got back and I think it´s GREAT..................
The only thing I miss is the better weather but other than that..nothing really.
Swings and roundabouts.
Oh and I find the cost of things cheaper except for fish. Bargain prices around for clothes, shoes. books, food, bunk beds, lots of offers around -I´m amazed.
The only thing I miss is the better weather but other than that..nothing really.
Swings and roundabouts.
Oh and I find the cost of things cheaper except for fish. Bargain prices around for clothes, shoes. books, food, bunk beds, lots of offers around -I´m amazed.
I hope you had a good journey.
Have you made sure that all your children are present and correct, you may be missing one? It is quite easy to mislay one on a long journey.
So just double check.
I have spoken to the powers that be and although, technically, you are not eligible to post on this site, as you are no longer an expat, they are willing to bend the rules.
So as one ex-expat to another, top of the mornin to ya.
Sep 29th 2010, 7:41 am
#28
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,368
Re: The UK
Yes, we all live solely on processed food here, no choice really, as you've noticed, no fresh food available in UK. What a ****!
Last edited by agoreira; Sep 29th 2010 at 7:43 am.
Sep 29th 2010, 7:46 am
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,048
Re: The UK
Having been back here a week now ... I noticed at first how fast everyone is driving. I'm on the motorway at about 75 and there are cars tearing past me as if I am standing still. On the way to Pembroke an Escort undertook me at about 100 mph, then swerved between two more cars up in front then rolled about 5 times before ending up on its roof in a realy mess. Missed everyone but probably killed himself!
In rural and city areas everyone seems a lot more aggressive in their driving and I've had any number of people pull out infront of me and flick the finger when I dared to shake my head!
Traffic jams everywhere
I'm spending a fortune ... so no one tell me again that supermarket shopping in the UK is as cheap as Spain. It's not, and the choice of fresh meat and fish is definately not as good. Yes ... theres two for one offers, but they aint much good if you dont want two of whatever it is!
The skies are grey .... its raining , and within a week I already have a miserable cold.
Not long until I return, although I guess I will be buying logs as soon as I get there!
In rural and city areas everyone seems a lot more aggressive in their driving and I've had any number of people pull out infront of me and flick the finger when I dared to shake my head!
Traffic jams everywhere
I'm spending a fortune ... so no one tell me again that supermarket shopping in the UK is as cheap as Spain. It's not, and the choice of fresh meat and fish is definately not as good. Yes ... theres two for one offers, but they aint much good if you dont want two of whatever it is!
The skies are grey .... its raining , and within a week I already have a miserable cold.
Not long until I return, although I guess I will be buying logs as soon as I get there!
Sep 29th 2010, 7:48 am
#30
Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,008
Re: The UK
[QUOTE=agoreira;8883518]Yes, we all live on solely processed food here, no choice really, as you've noticed, no fresh food available in UK. What a ****![/QUOTE]
Why dont you do something about it then?
Have you never heard of taking the initiative, what stops you bringing a carrot, cucumber or other similar shaped veggies back to the UK, secreted about your person.
OK, granted, a turnip or a cabbage might be a bit more tricky, but have you never heard of the saying......where theres a will, theres a way?
Could that be one of the reasons that Ryanair are thinking of having "standing" passengers on flights?
Why dont you do something about it then?
Have you never heard of taking the initiative, what stops you bringing a carrot, cucumber or other similar shaped veggies back to the UK, secreted about your person.
OK, granted, a turnip or a cabbage might be a bit more tricky, but have you never heard of the saying......where theres a will, theres a way?
Could that be one of the reasons that Ryanair are thinking of having "standing" passengers on flights?