Weird things I miss about living in in the UK

[Internationaltraveller]

Okay, the following strange things I miss about living in London

1. People know how to queue
2. On any given day I could get a cappucino in less than 10 minutes from Eat/Pret/Starbucks etc.

I do like living where I am living but sometimes its just SLOW and everyone randomly gets on the bus, there is no queueing for it.

Anyone got anything to add?

long, lazy, Sunday lunches with good conversation and a lovely glass of wine (or two).

Being able to walk everywhere. Seeing mostly cars on the road as opposed to 90% giant trucks and SUVs

It may sound odd, but here goes - the smell of the rain in the summer when its fallen on wooden fences which have become hot in the sun.

That's all

Yes to queues.

The thing I miss most is being close to France and Italy. I'd kill for a good salad.

Pub gardens. Spending a happy Saturday afternoon with a couple of glasses of wine while the kids play. They do not exist here at all.
Walking everywhere.
The kids growing up with their cousins.
Not always understanding the school systems. That is something that particularly drives me mad. Even after 6 years, I still feel very unconfident going into a parent teacher conference.

Anonymosity, that doesn't sound weird to me!! We have that here in NY and I love it!!

The Today programme and our papers.
Being able to walk about and not having to drive everywhere.

Pub gardens on a nice sunny day.

Fav answer so far is loopdeloops "being close to France & Italy*

The smell of early morning (even in London, the early morning has a freshness to it that HK, er, doesn't)

People who are interested in politics/ state of the nation type debates- it's not as though everyone here lives in denial, but because we all hail from different countries, and the country we live in isn't a democracy, there's not much to discuss. Had a friend to stay last weekend and we spent 2 hrs discussing Cameron's referendum on the EU over some red wine. I was so happy.

Supermarkets that sell pre-prepared "naice" food like Duchy Originals meatballs and tonnes more stuff you can feed your kids without feeling guilty and without having to actually cook.

Pre-packaged lunch foods. I would kill for a M&S sandwhich right now.

Being able to buy wine when I like!
Agree with the 'naice' pre-made food, it would be nice to have the option at times.
Proper tea
Friendliness and service in shops
Sarcasm

Love this thread as I have lived abroad a lot but I'm currently in my dream location of devon!! (Soon to leave again).

I missed houses that didn't have compound walls around them and decent cheese!! (I made my mum bring me loads when she visited!!)

Oh and being able to buy alcohol with your weekly shop.

The media - choice of newspapers and 'serious' current affairs programmes.

Primark (or just being able to buy cheap kids' clothes really).

British-style indian and chinese takeaways (if that makes sense!)

Seeing any building older than 150 years old.

I live in UK, and was just reading this, and I can't get my head around people not queuing. I was queuing in Mcdonalds once, and there was a crowd of exchange student types all milling around and not waiting in turn. I was getting really narked, and actually told a lad to get behind me. It was sad because he was clearly a nice person, and looked confused which then confused me and i felt mean. I mentioned it to my Mum and she explained.

How does it work then ? Don't people get cross ?

Yes to buying wine in supermarkets too!

Yes, I agree International, in addition I miss:

• good quality but still affordable wine
• much more choice in toy shops, household goods, clothes and often much better quality
• Free museums
• much better service in shops/restaurants etc.
• people are more civilised
• BBC is second to none once you have seen some of the continental stuff ...
• UK bookshops are simply wonderful, I use Amazon a lot, but nothing beats browsing and picking up a lovely book you had never even heard of ...

I miss country parks. I live in the countryside here but I miss there being marked footpaths and people just going out for a walk. If I take the DCs for a walk here people think I'm mad

The sea! Walking by the sea, swimming in the sea, sea spray, sea air full of lovely negative ions, sea breezes and sea gulls.

Everyone just mills around waiting for the bus and then when it comes makes for the door.
I also miss the museum shops in all the fab museums I used to visit. I am now obsessed with them!
I can only buy wine from a wine shop and its wrapped up in a brown paper bag. makes me feel like an underage drinker.
I did discover some m&s custard creams at the British shop the other day. Don't really ever eat them, I just bought them because they were m&s.
I hate calling a loo a washroom!
there was also a brief window of time when I lived in London that I miss seeing. it's happens over the course of about a 2 week period when winter transitions into nice weather. Suddenly we can see people's legs and arms and beautiful skin, after months of everyone being all covered up. Everyone no longer in black - I sound strange but I love it!

I've just moved back to the UK and I feel such freedom again after living in the ME and Singapore.

I can walk again. There's not the oppressive humidity that has made it impossible to walk and there are places to walk.

I missed good food. I think the UK is way ahead of lots of countries with regards this now.

I missed a good newspaper and British TV

I missed good quality ready meals

I so, so missed the long summer nights, the green grass, blackbirds and thrushes, the seaside, the hills, the weather (yes!)

I did find a Sunday times - it cost 12 dollars and when I opened it there were no magazines in it :( THAT'S THE BEST PART

Yes, have tried the app, but it's not the same as an actual paper and all the interactive stuff just doesn't do it for me.

Newspapers
Decent cheese
Pork pies and scotch eggs
Waitrose (for the lovely shopping experience)
Ditto John Lewis
The Sea (2 hour flight west and at least 4 hours east)
Small cars (I used to drive a Fiat 500 and now live in the land of huge SUVs and trucks)

Yes, what's up with the big trucks?