Things you miss/don't miss from the UK (credit, school)

[mxcolin]

Since I left the UK about 5 months ago for sunny Southern California I thought I'd compile a list of things that I miss/don't miss about the UK.

Miss

• Friends and Family (obvious one really)
• The BBC (apart from their coverage of the Royals)
• News from the world outside of the US
• The 24 hour clock
• Writing dates the right way around
• Celsius
• Good tea
• Cold water straight from the tap that tastes great
• Being able to withdraw cash from ATMs that aren't owned by your own bank and not being ripped off for doing so
• Chip and pin
• Good supermarkets that sell everything including quality food
• Paying the advertised price for things and not having to add tax
• Celebrity Juice and other great TV shows
• Cynicism and moaning (seriously)
• Back Bacon
• Good sausages
• Atheism and Liberalism
• My credit history
• Simple taxes
• The NHS
• Range of good modern music
• Good quality white bread
• Cookers with grills
• Good quality microwave meals
• M & S
• Good quality fish and chips
• Great Indian Food. The stuff here is barely edible.

Don't Miss

• The abysmal weather
• Dirtiness
• Disgusting toilets
• Negativity
• Football (especially anyone droning on about the Premiership)
• Sky
• The Daily Mail and The Sun
• Bad coffee
• The Royal Family and especially anything to do with the Jubilee and the general sycophantic coverage they receive
• People's lack of ambition
• High taxes
• Talk about the Olympics
• Glorification of idiots
• Robbie Williams (although I guess he is here, at least I don't have to hear or see him)
• Getting wet all the time (see weather)
• Terrible customer service
• Criminal petrol prices
• Constant roadworks
• Crappy mobile phone reception
• Complete obsession with and centralisation to London

I'm sure there are more but thought I would get the ball rolling. Some of these might seem contradictory but I think people will know what I mean

[Jezer]

I'm with you on most of that.

One thing I'd add are the interminable advertisments on US TV.

Oh, how about a decent electrical supply at 230V and a loo that doesn't block so easily!

I used to work in Orange County BTW.

[dragonborn]

Miss:
Football
Pubs
Real beer
The countryside
British TV & radio
The proximity to continental Europe
Fewer religious nuts
Better public transport
Not feeling like I have to conform (not as much)
The NHS
The weather (lack of extremes)

Don't miss:
Chavs
Driving on the left
The Euroscepticism
The weather (I miss it and don't miss it at the same time)

[mxcolin]

Definitely miss a toilet that doesn't block so easily. How could I have missed that. Mine has blocked like 6 times easily in 5 months. Don't think my loo blocked once in the last 30 odd years when I lived in the UK :-)

[dragonborn]

Originally Posted by mxcolin

Definitely miss a toilet that doesn't block so easily. How could I have missed that. Mine has blocked like 6 times easily in 5 months. Don't think my loo blocked once in the last 30 odd years when I lived in the UK :-)

LOL! Yes! I don't know if it's the water pressure or what, but American toilets don't flush as well!

[Mag3.14]

I would second the following:

Miss
Friends and Family (obvious one really)
Being able to withdraw cash from ATMs that aren't owned by your own bank and not being ripped off for doing so
Back Bacon
My credit history
Simple taxes
Good quality white bread
Good quality microwave meals
Good quality fish and chips

Don't Miss
The abysmal weather
Dirtiness
Negativity
Football (especially anyone droning on about the Premiership)
The Daily Mail and The Sun
Bad coffee
The Royal Family and especially anything to do with the Jubilee and the general sycophantic coverage they receive
People's lack of ambition
High taxes
Talk about the Olympics
Glorification of idiots
Getting wet all the time (see weather)
Terrible customer service
Criminal petrol prices

I really don't miss the expense of overall living. The BBC is total crap too.

[Cruithne]

Originally Posted by mxcolin

Since I left the UK about 5 months ago for sunny Southern California I thought I'd compile a list of things that I miss/don't miss about the UK........

Oh my God. A kindred spirit! SO pleased you posted this. I also moved to California from the UK in October. I agree with most of your list.
I would also add:

Miss
Being able to take a car journey anywhere without losing a wheel down a pothole.
Branston pickle on sandwiches.
HP sauce.
Not being asked if I want mustard and mayonnaise on a cheese sandwich???? (Of course not why would you even ask me that?)
TESCOS - never thought I'd hear myself saying that.
Horizon
ITV, Channel 4, BBC2 - good TV in general.
British sense of humour.
Sarcasm.
The Metric system - come on people - you know it makes sense.
Beachhuts.
Beaches without freeways right next to them.
Being able to walk to everything.
Politicians that aren't completely nuts.
Sensible motorways.


Don't miss
My kids coasting at school.
Apathy / Lack of drive or aspiration.
Dentists.
Totally utterly crap builders / contractors.
British unimaginitive square box housing built with no skill (see above).
Equally rubbish, poor quality furniture (see above).
People who drive like maniacs.

As you said, there are probably more - I'll add later.
Thanks for posting. What a fun thread.

[Jaggy001]

Misses

Potato Scones
Crumpets (Scottish style)
Maltesers
Eccles cakes
Jaffa cakes
Ribena
Steamed puddings with custard
Going to the football
Being able to walk everywhere
The Glasgow humour
Great Indian food

Don't miss

The jealousy around success ('its not fair' .... 'fat cats' ... etc.)
The weather
The taxes
Neds (Non Educated Delinquents)

[Jaggy001]

Originally Posted by munna21977

I do not miss the Chinese Buffet or Mexican Food of UK. US has much better to offer in chinese and mexican. i do not miss the lack of rest rooms in UK.

That depends where you are. Just down the street from my mother's place in Glasgow there is a chinese restaurant as good as most Chinese restaurants we have found in the US. Same with Chinatown in London.

[chilaili]

Miss
Black pudding
M & S
Waitrose
English pubs
English countryside in the Spring
Good lingerie (from M&S)
The NHS
Politicians who don't talk about "family values" or their relationship with god all the time
English sarcasm
The Metric system


Don't Miss
Any kind of service person (builder, plumber, electrician) who won't work on a weekend
Shops that close at 6pm
20% VAT
Shops that won't do a refund, only a "store credit"