Holiday in the UK after 11yrs away - What's changed?
Discussion
My wife and I moved to Western Australia 11 years ago and thanks to having two children and the world having covid in that period, we've not been back yet. However, we're looking at a holiday in June 2024 - What's changed?
My parents say everything is the same, my wife's parents say "everything has turned to s**t" and I read stories on here about the NHS falling apart, Ambulances that dont arrive, people getting murdered and the government being useless.
So has life in the UK really changed in the last 11 years? Or are these things just the same as they were, and now I think about it, part of the reason we left in the first place?
My parents say everything is the same, my wife's parents say "everything has turned to s**t" and I read stories on here about the NHS falling apart, Ambulances that dont arrive, people getting murdered and the government being useless.
So has life in the UK really changed in the last 11 years? Or are these things just the same as they were, and now I think about it, part of the reason we left in the first place?
ked and everything is expensive.I moved to the USA 19 years ago. I've been back to the UK quite a few times since. I guess it depends on where you're going and what you're going to do, and to a degree on your social background.
Paying for things and public transport spring to mind for me. Nearly everything is 'tap & go' by card or pay by phone, sometimes it's nigh on impossible to pay by cash. The US seems to lag the UK in this respect. I have often found myself having to ask how to do things that UK folks obviously do 'naturally'. I think it makes me look like I've just dropped out of 2004....which effectively I almost have
For context for me, this is based on me (54) visiting the south west and Brighton areas.
Cars are everywhere, residential streets packed after working hours etc. Filling up a car with fuel is eye wateringly pricey. Parking spaces are ridiculously small/narrow for the cross over SUVs so many drive today. Shops seem pretty run down these days with few people in them. Telephoning any sort of customer service takes an age and there are excuses for times of "high demand". There are Costa coffee shops everywhere. When its grey and miserable, it truly is (still). When its warm and sunny, it's great to be there. I'm used to much warmer, sunnier weather these days and a few continuous days of grey, overcast and damp or rain, gets to me quickly now
My brother lives in Melbourne and I've been several times in the last 10 years or so and I'd say Oz is closer to the UK in society than the US, so you may still find similarities.
PH is still my closest window of what's happening in the UK and how it happens.
Paying for things and public transport spring to mind for me. Nearly everything is 'tap & go' by card or pay by phone, sometimes it's nigh on impossible to pay by cash. The US seems to lag the UK in this respect. I have often found myself having to ask how to do things that UK folks obviously do 'naturally'. I think it makes me look like I've just dropped out of 2004....which effectively I almost have
For context for me, this is based on me (54) visiting the south west and Brighton areas.
Cars are everywhere, residential streets packed after working hours etc. Filling up a car with fuel is eye wateringly pricey. Parking spaces are ridiculously small/narrow for the cross over SUVs so many drive today. Shops seem pretty run down these days with few people in them. Telephoning any sort of customer service takes an age and there are excuses for times of "high demand". There are Costa coffee shops everywhere. When its grey and miserable, it truly is (still). When its warm and sunny, it's great to be there. I'm used to much warmer, sunnier weather these days and a few continuous days of grey, overcast and damp or rain, gets to me quickly now
My brother lives in Melbourne and I've been several times in the last 10 years or so and I'd say Oz is closer to the UK in society than the US, so you may still find similarities.
PH is still my closest window of what's happening in the UK and how it happens.
What are you coming back for ?
If it's to see friends and family then that's what you should seek to enjoy.
If you are seeking affirmation your move was the right thing to do then go to a few horrible spots in the UK and you will feel better with your decision.
You could travel less far to do the same. Even in Aus.
If it's to see friends and family then that's what you should seek to enjoy.
If you are seeking affirmation your move was the right thing to do then go to a few horrible spots in the UK and you will feel better with your decision.
You could travel less far to do the same. Even in Aus.
200bhp said:
My wife and I moved to Western Australia 11 years ago and thanks to having two children and the world having covid in that period, we've not been back yet. However, we're looking at a holiday in June 2024 - What's changed?
In terms of coming for a holiday, what's changed is that everything is on an App and very few people (except taxis, barbers and non franchise take aways) take cash. You'll need a UK compatible smart phone for certain. Roads are far busier but less people commute on Mondays and Fridays than did before the pandemic. 200bhp said:
My parents say everything is the same, my wife's parents say "everything has turned to s**t" and I read stories on here about the NHS falling apart, Ambulances that dont arrive, people getting murdered and the government being useless.
Well this will depend on your politics and where you are, but I think most would agree that the government are / have recently been useless, NHS and public services are worse and Ambulances definitely don't arrive as quickly unless you are really in trouble. I don't think people would think crime is worse if they stopped to think about it but knife crime is a rising issue. You would think people are less tolerant but I (stale pale & male) haven't particularly noticed this directly. Depending on how long you are here for you probably won't notice much change in these things unless you get sick. 200bhp said:
So has life in the UK really changed in the last 11 years?
Very much so. Politics since 2012 has become far more polarised and combative and the country is, I think, much worse for it and I think most people would agree regardless of which side you would take. Danny Boyle's opening of the London olympics feels like it was about a very different country.
200bhp said:
Or are these things just the same as they were, and now I think about it, part of the reason we left in the first place?
That possibly depends on why you left, but from here looking back 11 years I doubt the reasons why you left have been changed enough to make you think you should return. Besides, you probably can't afford a place to live anymore...We moved back to the UK last summer after about 13 years in France.
Most noticeable difference is dreadful call centre response times. 'We value our customers' - yeah, right.
Also more traffic, thousands more potholes, fewer pubs and fewer police.
Royal Mail seems to have lost the plot.
Amazon works brilliantly.
Water companies are behaving dreadfully, bloody criminals.
Not too much else seems to have changed here that hasn't changed everywhere (technology mainly).
Most noticeable difference is dreadful call centre response times. 'We value our customers' - yeah, right.
Also more traffic, thousands more potholes, fewer pubs and fewer police.
Royal Mail seems to have lost the plot.
Amazon works brilliantly.
Water companies are behaving dreadfully, bloody criminals.
Not too much else seems to have changed here that hasn't changed everywhere (technology mainly).
Edited by Pitre on Wednesday 17th May 08:33
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