Ok, so what do you miss about the UK?

[NYceMummy]

We have been in New York since mid-July (-in the 'burbs since end Aug) and there are loads of things that I miss about the UK but before I make it sound like I hate the US (-which I don't!) I thought I'd see what others miss

Hmm, it shouldn't be dc's, should it, as dc is already plural.......

PS I forgot to say, I'm all excited because the fruit & veg stall had cauliflowers today. That's the first time I've seem them here, except for £10 a pop imported ones. Cauliflower cheese, here we come!

ooh, yes, sibble, a visit to Bluewater is for me compulsory. Dh calls it the temple of doom, so needless to say, for him it's not on his 'must do' list

I kinda miss pubs too.

suedonim, its been nearly 4 years here for us and about 10 in Africa. I understand your cauliflower excitement - we are just entering strawberry season, yummy for 2 months, then back to pawpaw, pineapples and bananas

Oh, Cameroonmama, my cauliflower has gone missing!! My driver brought in the veggies so I assumed it got left in the car but no. He's going back to the stall tomorrow but dh reckons it was really an Early Learning toy cauliflower and I was the 17th person to 'buy' it today!

Yummy to strawberries. I've no idea whether they grow them in Nigeria although during the summer they had imports from Holland at £22 a punnet. Ten years in Africa - wow! I know a few people who've been in Africa for a similar time, one with Mitsubishi and another with Cowbell milk and one or two random others. Have you always been in French-speaking countries?

Ah yes! Thank you mymama. All very confusing.

Suedonim, from what I remember, the local Nigerian sausages, which looked like English bangers, tasted nothing like them and fairly foul. The BDHC used to fly in Brit sausages occasionally, but I am not sure they made it as far as the club.

I still have my recipe for a Nigerian Tiramisu, which started "Take two crappy dry old sponges from Bhojsons..." It was very alcoholic. As was my life at the time.

LOL mrsschadenfraude re alcoholic lifestyle, things have not changed much over the years I fear

Sorry about the cauli suedonim maybe you imagined it appearing to you through the harmattan dust! And whatever you do don't let on that we all have drivers over here - everyone will think we are colonialists

We are with Guinness and have been in east and west Africa..but have loved it here - both being french speakers helps naturally but also the French LOVE to eat good food so it is all imported tho quite expensive..mmm lucky us, you should visit

Alcoholic lifestyle - sounds familiar!

Lol at the drivers, CM. A few people drive themselves here but why???? It's madness, when a driver can take the strain. Maybe we will visit Cameroon one day, it's quite a popular weekend break destination from Lagos.

PS still no cauliflower but they have more in stock so shall get one tomorrow. Dd2 is desperate for cauliflower cheese.

I've just had a thought, Cameroonmama......doesn't happen too often, what with all the alcohol. Which African airlines would you recommend as being trustworthy? Nigerian planes have an alarming tendency to drop out of the sky at a moment's notice but I gather Virgin Nigeria is ok. Any suggestions?

oooh suedonim that's a tricky one, Bellview have just started this week from here to jo'burg and I think I would rather swim..other than that we try to only use Kenya airways or Ethiopian, great for west-east connections. Travelling between west african countries is a bit like playing russian roulette, Virgin Nigeria should be ok, Air Ivoire a possible and until their last terrible crash in Nigeria, Bellview was considered reliable

Plenty of cauli's here

I miss creme fraiche, blueberries, raspberries, customer service, the seasons, sensible driving and central heating but I'm in no rush to come home.

Are you out our way too McDreamy? Love the name, take it you are a big Grey's fan

Massive fan I'm in Cyprus but most of the time I have to keep reminding myself that it is still part of Europe and the EU!!! But as I said I'm not ready to come home just yet

Living TV & Marks and Spencers
Sad, but true!

I'd miss the radio except we've finally got broadband and my main reason for wanting it (apart from Mumsnet) was to get radio again.

Am also going to miss a UK christmas - it's going to be really hard

Oh well, CM, looks like we'll be staying in Nigeria as I don't fancy swimming to SA.

It's cauliflower cheese for tea tonight here . The stall only had tiny specimens left but it all goes down the same way!

Oh well, CM, looks like we'll be staying in Nigeria as I don't fancy swimming to SA.

It's cauliflower cheese for tea tonight here . The stall only had tiny specimens left but it all goes down the same way!

Not much anymore, been here too long. Still have a few lingering wistful urges for:

• decent telly (if you think it's bad now in the UK just wait till you see Italian TV)
• being able to post a letter and be fairly sure it'll arrive in a couple of days
• pleases and thank yous in shops
• Boots the chemist type shops
• decent Indian restaurants and proper potatoes
• and to echo Auld Alliance: female friends who are not subtly involved in some form of rivalry over men/looks/clothes

I miss those lovely big Tesco's....everything under one roof.....hehehee
I know, I'm mad

Early summer dawns, and long summer dusks.

• newspapers (lucky to be able to read them online but LOVE the real thing, keep them for months )
• irony
• pubs
• pubs before lunch with the Sunday papers
• the Sunday papers
• the Saturday papers
• people who don't take themselves so drearily earnestly seriously all the time
• shop staff who will help you rather than run away or ignore you
• English tea in bags
• Polo mints
• the easy wit and friendliness you encounter so often in daily life

Makes me realize how lucky I am really, satellite TV, broadband and shipped over goodies.

Lastly - I hate supermarkets here and try to shop locally and at markets, but once I go to England, I relish every trip to Tesco, Sainsbury or any variety of supermarket ... cue celestial music

lol finknottle, most of the things on your list are what I left the UK to escape!

come to munich, the biergardens beat english pubs into a cocked hat.

True about the beer gardens, though in my neck of the woods you go down the Weinstube. The beer's better here, nothing like a cold Hefeweizen on a hot day - and I'm constantly surprised by the wine (not so pleasantly surprised by the reds...). I admit to looking fondly at English pubs through the nostalgically tinted specs of the expat.

Oh, and I forgot crisps and mmm...Quavers...mmm.