My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Living overseas

Weird things I miss about living in in the UK

54 replies

Internationaltraveller · 09/03/2013 14:21

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?
OP posts:
Report
Earlybird · 09/03/2013 14:59

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

Report
SkiBunnnnny · 10/03/2013 01:25

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

Report
anonymosity · 10/03/2013 01:27

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 Blush

Report
LoopDeLoops · 10/03/2013 01:31

Yes to queues.

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

Report
TheCatInTheHairnet · 10/03/2013 01:35

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.

Report
TheCatInTheHairnet · 10/03/2013 01:36

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

Report
BlameItOnTheBogey · 10/03/2013 05:00

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

Report
Mondrian · 10/03/2013 05:55

Pub gardens on a nice sunny day.

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

Report
RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief · 10/03/2013 06:01

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.

Report
ScumbagCollegeDropout · 10/03/2013 06:07

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

Report
surroundedbyblondes · 10/03/2013 06:20

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

Grin

Report
CountryMama · 10/03/2013 06:22

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!!)

Report
ScumbagCollegeDropout · 10/03/2013 06:22

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

Report
Whowouldfardelsbear · 10/03/2013 06:25

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.

Report
recall · 10/03/2013 06:33

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 ?

Report
SkiBunnnnny · 10/03/2013 13:03

Yes to buying wine in supermarkets too!

Report
dikkertjedap · 10/03/2013 18:01

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 ...
Report
thanksamillion · 10/03/2013 19:56

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 Grin

Report
frosch · 11/03/2013 12:20

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

Report
Internationaltraveller · 15/03/2013 02:11

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!

OP posts:
Report
Frogman · 15/03/2013 02:31

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!)

Report
Internationaltraveller · 16/03/2013 02:00

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

OP posts:
Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Internationaltraveller · 16/03/2013 02:01

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.

OP posts:
Report
MooseBeTimeForCoffee · 16/03/2013 02:06

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)

Report
Internationaltraveller · 16/03/2013 02:07

Yes, what's up with the big trucks?

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.