Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

There is another difference immigrants come to Spain looking for work many arrive in the UK with a jobs already arranged with British companies in the construction and agricultural sectors. The UK needs tens thousands of seasonal agricultural workers every year but oddly enough UK unemployment does not plummet whenever these jobs are available ?????. I wonder why ?
I am sure that many "rascist jingoists " are those who spend their days in front of the tele complaining that they cannot get a job when there is work for them.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

I think what has happened is people have lost that idea of progression, People I know look at a job and see that job as they will be doing it forever.

They don't think about progressing in that job or meeting people and getting another job off the back of it.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

I agree I do not think that the ""benefits " system is to blame for this. although many will abuse it. There have been many negative social changes in the UK.
I come from a background where if my father found himself out of work he took any job until he could find one that he really wanted and suited his skills.
Once we were old enough summer holidays were not time off but we had to find a job and contribute part of our wage packet to the household. We went spud picking in the autumn, how many at 6 form college do this ?
Immigration is an excuse used by those who will not accept or face up to the
issues that have been created within UK society . Issues that immigrants and employers are taking advantage of and who can blame them.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

The culture in Britain tends to be every man for himself, there is little community spirit to speak of.

For example, in France the local population tend to be compelled to buy French and buy local where ever possible.

In the UK no one buys British unless its cheaper than imported foreign goods, which is rare.

That's why we had the horse meat scandal a few months ago. British people are so obsessed with paying as little as possible for their food by any means that they are prepared to eat mystery meat from Eastern Europe because it's cheaper than better quality food produced in Britain.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Cant speak for my partner but for me I don't agree with that, I don't touch the value lines, When I shop I buy the locally produced stuff, local to me is Wicks Manor, although I know the owner, I don't go to his farm to buy his sausages, but if I see them in Sainsburys I will buy them.

I will never buy from Tesco, I much prefer Waitrose or Morrisons, I would rather buy a item that is decreased in price with a same day use by date than a value line frozen product, often our Morrisons will have a fillet steak 250gram for about £3.50 if you go in at the right time.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

I think Alcohol (lager) is where its virtually all British bought and cheaper, I opt for a import beer which I will really miss in Spain but maybe that's a good thing

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

I agree when in the UK we try and buy british although some times in the major supermarkets this is not easy.
When abroad we look for locally produced products , not a fan of customer of the company that uses the Iceland name in Spain and Portugal.
Some value products, cheap ready meals etc may well conform the food rules but I do not want to eat a cows arse even it it has come through the " engineered meat " process.
I do not think that it is just price that determines choice but also lack of knowledge.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Those Romas and Bulgars who have already moved into other parts of the EU never unpacked, just that living in another unrelated country, such as Spain, gives them more brownie points at Immigration.

The UK should have learnt a lesson from the inward movement of Poles and Lithuanians but regrettably they haven't. So there has been no house building programme for social housing, no additional classrooms nor efforts to reduce class sizes. Doctor's surgeries, already under pressure from those from the Indian sub-continent who can't speak English after decades in-country.
They should have also closed the door to additional benefits, especially for children who don't ever leave the home country.

Mind you, if hard pressed UK cities were to send people to live in all those empty properties in Spain it would solve different problems for 2 countries.
:sneaky:

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Depends what you mean by British

Most British beers (like football clubs) are owned by foreign companies. Certainly the big brands are anyway

There is plenty of imported beer in Spain and a great selection at your local hipercor. Not so much in the bars of course

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Ah, reminds me of the British in Spain

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Odd that EP mentions the horsemeat scandal, many of the products involved were produced in the UK by UK companies.
If people did know more about how food is produced then maybe price would not rule in the way its does.
We do not buy cheap brands or ready meals as I do not want to eat a cows arse.
It may be legally produced through the " meat engineering and recovery process " but I do not want it.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

have ever considered that you are still paying £14.00/kilo (€17.54 at todays rate) for a piece of meat that is starting to feel its age. My local butcher does prime rump from €11.00/kilo that was still living 48hrs before.

I have found the big "secret" is to remember you are not back in the UK, and as you would have to if on an extended holiday in a foreign land, buy what the locals buy. yes I can buy Heinz baked beans, €0.98, but only end up on the plate once a month. Where you may add peppers as a luxury, we make them a cornerstone of a meal, along with tomatoes and onions and potatoes most of which are more a staple. Fresh lettuce with diced orange is great.

Live to where you are, not to where your heart is still yearning.

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

Its all brewed here, san miguel, everything, They used to be import but not now, Carlsberg Export used to be a import beer, not any more. That is why they are so cheap here, its ok for the majority but not for me.

Its like Heineken in Spain, Its brewed in Spain and does not have the same taste as it does here (imported from Holland), every now and then ill come across a little bar in Spain where they sell the Import version which is bliss to me.

However I can suffer some Spanish lager's

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

It strikes me as rather hard to believe that considering all the scams Spain is famous for, that the horsemeat scam could never happen here.

I'd more be inclined to believe even the steaks at the meat counter are horsemeat or something else - after all, it's not all that easy to get a decent cut of meat in Spain, not to mention that even hamburger is often only 70% meat - the rest is other "stuff" added in to make it cheaper.

Not that I think any of it is OK, just that your holier than thou comparison doesn't really prove anything, and in fact there's plenty of reason to believe it may actually be worse here. It would be pretty normal to expect that nobody would bother to look anyway (or perhaps a brown envelope might solve any inspection problems for the meat packer).

Re: Would you go back to the UK ?
 

The profits and the tax will still be paid abroad, although at least they are providing some employment I guess

There are some good Spanish beers. Alhambra Especial Reserva is one of the best, but at 7% abv you can't have too many. Estrella Galicia is nice as well, and Moritz is a bit different. Many bars serve cerveza tostada which is nice for a change, but nothing like the choice you get in the UK.