If you have moved away from the UK (or if you did) what would you miss most?

[Cordial11]

I miss vinegar!!!! Going out and having fish and chips without vinegar is saddening lol!

Also marks and spencers food!

Lol @redexpat just because that's such a typically English thing to say. Eg at the end of another country, you know, the film about Burgess and MacLean, Rupert Everett says "cricket. I miss the cricket" .

@Expo interesting and I guess it depends where you go. I always think that English people have far less civic pride than people in other countries I've lived in where dropping litter just wasn't done or if it was would have been greeted with a loud rebuke by a fellow citizen, immediately.

Previous times it was weird things like Ribena and being able to buy any book I wanted to in English (before e-readers).

Currently, I miss Waitrose and ethnic restaurants particularly Caribbean, Thai and Vietnamese.

I lived in Indianapolis for a year. I missed:
Marmite
Interesting landscape (Midwest is very green but miles and miles of fuck all)
Tonic water
Curry
Fresh fruit and veg. Supermarkets were surprisingly limited.
Being able to walk to local places like the shop. Everywhere was a car journey unless you purposely went for a hike.
History - the oldest building in Indianapolis dates back to 1909. My house is older than that, it blew my colleagues minds.

I lived in Spain for a few years and I missed pork pies and super noodles. I never went wild for them before so why I had a sudden urge to have them I don't know.
I also missed Boots.

@NearlySchoolTimeAgain omg yes definitely big coffees. Not some fucking thimble of espresso, not a chuffing half cup of cafe au lait but a proper big fuck off polystyrene cup of actual coffee that lasts for more than five minutes and doesn't go cold.

Aherm.

@Fuma yep is probably where we were. I definitely notice more civic pride in the UK than where I was living. People caring about others. I mean the simple act of queuing is one of respect for others.

Sarcasm
Self depreciation
Speaking freely I. E. Using colloquialisms without having to explain I. E. 'stop taking the piss' ... Er what? from everyone
Pubs
The sense of history everywhere
Yes. I'll admit it. The soft English rain
Assertive men.
Indian food.
Proper chippy chips.
Costa /Nero
English sausages flavoured with sage
Cheese and onion crisps

Guy fawkes. Nowt like a creepy grey Lancashire bonfire night

My sister lives in a very far away country.

She misses the shopping. Particularly clothes, the range of stuff we have here simply isn't available.

For me if I lived in her country think I'd miss British culture and just knowing my way about where to go for what, and infrastructure, public transport is basically non existent

Oh and the sanpro!

She says it's like years behind us, I don't think I could cope

@Ratonastick

There's a pub up the road from me that's older than the Declaration of Independence!

Sarcasm
Cockney cabbies
Temperate weather
Rolling countryside
Pubs
Irreverence
John Lewis/Waitrose

Cadbury and galaxy chocolate

@Expo I have a theory that in countries that have been through either full on fascism/full on communism, citizens have more civic pride, purely based on living in countries that both have and haven't and comparing them. Wondering if your experience backs this up? NB I am not saying that either of these models are good, just that if the regime is within grandparental lifespan then people tend to behave themselves better in public.

I miss decent weekend newspapers. A friend just came back from a trip to the UK and brought me a selection, bliss! I also miss British and Irish pubs, and my mum. Apart from that I'm all good thanks!

@Fuma. The country I was living in was nazi. I think people then understandably protect themselves and their family over others. I don’t know whether they are related or not but that is what I noticed. Whereas in the UK we are more caring of society eg we don’t litter the countryside and we tend to respect other people. Don’t get me wrong - this is a complete generalisation. There are places and incidences where this is not the case but that was my general observation. There was also something about people working for the state having a job guaranteed for life and hence the public services were useless. Lots of - I am more powerful than you. Again may be linked to the specific country I was in.

@SmudgeButt I'm in Timmies now, sending you a double double &,10 Timbits by the power of thought

Christmas.

The dark, the cold, shops and towns being all decorated and full of bustle, the music, the lights, the trees, the Christmas food, mulled wine, crackers.

The smell of a new book from a British bookstore.
Indian food.
M&S underwear.

The Sunday papers with all the sections and supplements.
Vests for small children.
Unusual gins (where I live you can buy cheap gin or expensive gin. I dream of rhubarb gin or anything a bit different...)

• Squash
• Police officers not having guns
• A national health service that's free at the point of access
• A relatively well functioning and generally well priced post office
• Proper employment contracts
• Swedes (the vegetable)
• Culture
• Not being mistaken for an Australian
• Red jalapeño peppers
• Reasonably priced weekly shop
• Going to the pub to meet up
• Walking places not seen as total insanity
• A rail system that didn't stop with the ark

-A relatively up to date banking system

• Decent choice of online supermarket shopping
• Being able to buy cheap decent wine in the supermarket

When I'm abroad (have done several stints), I've missed:

• The ease of online shopping, especially groceries.
• Online banking. As mentioned previously, the UK is light years ahead of most places, still.
• Carrot and swede mash (I know I could make it, but it's not the same!!)
• Pesto. I must be used to the UK version because I can't get good stuff anywhere abroad.
• Ready meals. Americans win on fast food, but the UK perfected ready meals.
• Public transport.
• Book culture. In my experience, Brits read more than any other group I've worked with.
• Cheap travel.

I'm sure I'll think of more!

SuperNoodles

When I lived abroad I missed crisps, shepherds pie, Heinz baked beans, and the sense of just fitting in/belonging.

I found it exhausting and rather demoralising to always be the outsider, despite speaking the language. (I was in France).

I reckon everyone should do a stint abroad as you come back with so much pride in your own country.