what's the best thing about living in the UK ?

[hez011]

I have made the momentous decision to return to UK after 20+ years overseas,bringing my twin ds with me who have only once visited UK.Some helpful friends/family have been quick to pour cold water on the idea so please can I have some personal good reasons for life in UK ? Thanks

ernest recycling is serious business over here now. Most Councils have schemes and provide boxes for almost everything and one smallish bin for non-recylable. And Whoa Betide those who get it wrong.

Named, shamed and fined.

Beautiful day here as well. Blue sky, sunshine, bird song and last bit of snow melting gently away.

Can you tell I love the UK?

yeah, that's pretty much it for me too. and a regualr supply of miracle whip!

The things I'll miss when I leave the UK are:
Walking barefoot on lawns without worrying about it.
The beauty of those 2 glorious weeks of Summer when there is nowhere better to be in the whole world.
The best pubs in the world.
Wanting to see my family and friends rather tthan being sick to death of the amount of my time they demand

Which countries don't have real cheddar? I know the US is one, but if there are others I need to know so I don't move there!

I am living in Cyprus .Ex dp is Cypriot and I felt that the boys should grow up here, know their heritage but I was looking at it all from one side.They know nothing about my culture,my heritage and I want them to have the freedom of choice that just does not exist here. It was less obvious when they were small because everything seemed to be a positive - long summers , being at the beach , safe enviroment.Now they are older their education is so narrow and their future prospects look so bleak.

The UK has some beautiful countryside, that you can enjoy for free (or just the cost of a car park).

The climate is temperate and fairly predictable.

The education system is mostly very good and available to all. Ditto the Health Service.

The choice of foodstuffs, entertainments and activities is enormous. (Admittedly you need an income to appreciate them.)

The people are mostly kind and decent and want to be friends.

The libraries are great (and free) and depending where you live there is plenty to do with children.

And May. Lovely lovely May. Hawthorn blossom, lovely green leaves and gardens bursting into life. Usually a bit of sunshine, long evenings, no humidity. There is nowhere I would rather be in May than Blighty.

Ah.

People saying thank you and not dropping doors on you
Customer service (I hear you tittering, but here it is AWFUL they really don't give a shit and it's never their fault)
no mosquitos
no cockroaches
no spiky caterpillars that terrorise the cat

More keep occurring to me. dh has also read this thread with interest as it is really well timed for us, and keeps nodding and smiling

Decent bacon is the only reason to live in this country, and thats only cos it is so bloody cold here.

The sense of humour.

Bubbaluv, it is hard to find in France. Most shops sell something called cheddar which is bright orange, rubbery and tasteless.

But I have found some 'cheddar fermier' which is more authentic and fine for cooking.

Maybe I'm happy here because I have a hawthorn hedge at the end of my garden.

I was over at the weekend, and it was so mild (despite everyone saying how cold it was, lol)

customer service, definately.

Availability of information & help ( eg cab, local library, websites etc)

concern for each other

I'm sure the 'cheddar' here ir red leicester

Kitbit, where are you?? It sounds like it has the worst bits from everywhere all thrown into one!

When I moved back to the UK after leaving in the US for four years, the things I appreciated most were:

the BBC
Food that tastes of something (but I hate cheddar so had never missed that!)
Not being sweaty and hot all summer
Genuine, friendly people
Being able to walk everywhere
Having some public transport
the NHS

Whoops, living!

Well, this is the other side of the coin here, but I think you will be able to relate.

I lived in the UK for a long time, and then returned to my home country.

Despite being a native, I found myself feeling as foreign here as I had done to start with in England. My accent had become very English and people were genuinely confused as to whether i was Irish or English. If I heard an English accent I would almost chase after it! So clearly there was a part of me that felt England was home, was normal definitely.

I had fistfuls of coins becuase the euro had been brought in since I'd left. Little things were different, like, if you asked for a white coffee you got a latte not a white coffee, and until you grasp all these tiny little things you feel a bit irritated all the time! But within a year, I've settled here, and I'm glad I'm back, even though I can't imagine never having left either.

GL

No genuine, friendly people in the US?!?
Bit harsh!

OK guys shall I p&%s on your parade?

What about the rise of the chav?

Yes the Beeb was once good but now it's all reality TV/big brother/strictly come dancing/celebrity chefs (I could go on but I don't really watch it!)

When was the last time you put money in a meter over here or even tried to find a car park?

have you researched house prices?

Yes it's cheap in Euros now but earn pounds and you'll soon realise it deserves the moniker 'Rip off Britain'

The whole place is busting at the seams and no one has queued for a bus in my neck of the woods for at least 10 years.

Our children are amongst the unhappiest in the world, or maybe we win that one?

They are also the most assessed and achieve the least at maths compared to similar countries (although that is dragged up from the back of my mind so might be out of date)

Some of the educations system is good, as are some of the hospitals and some of the universities some of it could give any third world country a run for it's money and access to some of it is dependent on money

By all accounts emmigration is at an all time high

If you're here you want to live in France!

another thing to add to the pot
my parents moved back to their country after living abroad for the best part of thirty years. and are finding it quite difficult to enjoy life there as much as tehy thought they would.

However

cheese
lovely local food
those pubs they use in ads and used to have in your home county (but are now filled with juke boxes and happy hours)
libraries
counties
seasons
seasons
seasons
seasons
(there are 4 here after all unlike so many places )
the NHS
school nativity plays and Christmas carol concerts
mince pies
easter eggs
chocolate
bacon sandwiches
fresh cut grass in parks
long light nights
public transport/night buses
pimms in your garden
schools closing in a bit of snow

I'll think of some more....

Good:
Friends and family
History and culture
Living in the countryside

Not so Good:
Where do I start?!!!

Ernest I don't know where you found customer service.
I last saw that in 2000 and infact the current moan at work is how it takes so many times to do anything.
Seriously I can't do anything without being told to phone back, phone another number, phone the call centre, phone anyone but the person answering the phone

Although I guess the answer to this question really depends on where you live and where your heart is......