[Angelonthemove]

Hi All

We have been here over 12 months now and still loving it. Went back to the UK for the first time in over 18 months to visit my daughter of 20.

My impressions of UK are so much fast traffic, people, and gosh isn't it expensive to eat out! Weather was glorious for the time of year so that helped.

Would I go back.....NEVER. I do not think I could cope with the pace over there now.

they also need to learn how to make a decent Latte coffee from someone who did not drink coffee until I came to Welly:p

For all of you waiting to get here its worth the wait and effort

Angela

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

Interesting, thanks for that.

[andy480]

.

My impressions of UK are so much fast traffic, people, and gosh isn't it expensive to eat out! Weather was glorious for the time of year so that helped.


Angela

Take it you weren't on M25 or M1 luton lol!

Yeah weather has been better here this time of year, late summer, but tonight its been wet and cold

[NannyOgg]

Hi All,

I too have just returned form the Uk after 12 months here in NZ.

For the first 10 days the familiar sights, sounds and smells of sumer in the UK were very unsettling (yes, we had good weather too). There is a lot to be said for familiarity. However, I am happy to report that after the initial honeymoon period when I felt I would have been happy to live in either place, I was going stir crazy for wide open space, uncrowded shops and not having to share the same stretch of road of 80 other people.

And the thing I realized I missed the LEAST about the UK? The British press - every time I saw a headline it wound me up at the sensationalism of news reports, the doom and gloom mongering and how much space is devoted to so called celebrities. There is barely any news anymore just what footballers wives bought when they went shopping and who was seen out with whom - I DON'T CARE!:mad:

And yes, it feels good to be back. The first year has had more homesicknes days than not but i think I may very well be cured now :laugh

Nanny x

[Sam B]

It's good to hear all this. I had a really strong pang of homesickness today when I remembered my favourite place in Cornwall (Porthminster Beach Cafe) and I longed to be there with my friends in the hot sun, looking at the blue sea. J then reminded me that most of the time we were huddled under blankets and patio heaters moaning about the weather. I think it's easy to remember a place with rose tinted glasses isn't it?

And I definitely don't miss the coffee. Love the coffee here, mmmm.

[StevieD]

Footballers wives!! :laugh

I have it all to look forward to next July........... at least we going to a wedding to give us an excuse :laugh

[denisesykes]

God , you are so right about the British press, my inlaws sent us a copy of the News of the World last week and after being here nearly 2 years, I had completely forgotten what an utter load of trash is in the tabloids!
I have no desire to return, it is cheaper for us to pay for family to visit us than go ourselves and family is the only thing that I would be going back for!

Denise

[incredible hulse]

Just flew in from a month in the UK last night. This was our first visit back from being in NZ for 19 months. Must say I'll probably go against the grain and say I loved it. Had good weather for most of it and did a fair bit of tourist activities (museums, cornwall, safari parks, farms, etc), took in 3 footie games (3 leeds wins), enjoyed a few nice (cheap) curries, sunk a few beers with former colleagues (something I really miss with NZ where I confess to be struggling to "bond" with the kiwi work force) and generally met up with friends and family. Went out for a few meals and can't say I thought they were expensive (again in real terms)

My observations mainly were:
- Supermarkets are so plentifully stocked and in real terms so cheap !
- Ditto for clothes, furniture shops
- There are so many roads to places - Agree there is more traffic on the road and we had a couple of problems with jams but traffic flows fine in the main in the UK and it is not just one road in and out. I personally get more frustrated with traffic in Paraparam than the UK as it is so pitiful slow and liable to jams with in real terms not a vast amount of cars.
- It was nice to be let into moving traffic and getting thanked on the roads
- Papers; sorry going the other way here also but must say I enjoyed getting a paper and having a decent read. I'm not talking about the tabloids but comparing the Times to the insular Dom Post there would only be one winner for me
- London is an amazing city to visit for history, architecture, museums, etc
- It was nice to see some towns that didn't look like they had been constructed from flat pack with no planning
- Public transport - must say there appears to have been major investment here and the services we used were plentiful, extensive and very very reliable. Tube prices have gone up markedly though
- Chavs are still out in force and probably slightly more so than hoons
- Having to pay for parking again :uhoh

[Denzil3003]

As someone still in the thought process of moving to NZ I've been waying up the pros and cons of the BIG move. I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that the things I will miss about the UK will be happily satisfied through an occasional holiday here but the irritations and just the thought of having kids here is insurmountable and therefore the BIG move is the obvious answer... Just need to make sure I'm not jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, so to speak...

[K&CS]

Just flew in from a month in the UK last night. This was our first visit back from being in NZ for 19 months. Must say I'll probably go against the grain and say I loved it. Had good weather for most of it and did a fair bit of tourist activities (museums, cornwall, safari parks, farms, etc), took in 3 footie games (3 leeds wins), enjoyed a few nice (cheap) curries, sunk a few beers with former colleagues (something I really miss with NZ where I confess to be struggling to "bond" with the kiwi work force) and generally met up with friends and family. Went out for a few meals and can't say I thought they were expensive (again in real terms)


Sorry slightly off topic, but interested about the Leeds games. Must be great to see them winning. I see that there has been a good turnout at their games which is surprising. What's the atmosphere like? How do the fans feel about what has happened to Leeds and do you think they can ever pull themselves out of this? Seems ridiculous to be celebrating no longer being on negative points.... Are you a Leeds person?

No plans at the moment to visit UK. Been here 19 months and feels too soon plus DH really not keen to go, so it will be some time before I can make any observations.

Kate

[incredible hulse]

Sorry slightly off topic, but interested about the Leeds games. Must be great to see them winning. I see that there has been a good turnout at their games which is surprising. What's the atmosphere like? How do the fans feel about what has happened to Leeds and do you think they can ever pull themselves out of this? Seems ridiculous to be celebrating no longer being on negative points.... Are you a Leeds person?

No plans at the moment to visit UK. Been here 19 months and feels too soon plus DH really not keen to go, so it will be some time before I can make any observations.

Kate
Kate - Must say the atmosphere at Leeds now is getting back to what it was 20 years ago. I've been going for most of those years (home and away) and been a season ticket holder for about half of them but moved away from Leeds 14 years or so ago. Crowds are back now mainly because prices are realistic and winning help. There is a real seige mentality about the place (in a good way) and the fans are enjoying sticking 2 fingers up to the Football league. I think everyone thinks we have been treated unfairly and would like nothing more than to turn things round. Also think the troubles of the last 5 years or so have bottomed out and we can rebuild again, although with the current board in place we are hindered somewhat. Hopefully Bates will sell up at the end of the year to let someone move it one. Honestly think if we go up this year I think the momentum will keep us going.

I'm currently saving for a wembly trip in case we make the playoffs and must say it is one of the real things I miss about home

MOT
Steve