1096 What would you miss most

People having the time to stop and chat, the cheerfulness,smiling,the shrug of the shoulders when things go wrong , life coming before work, ..well i'm not going back anyway !!!!! Can still remember how miserable everyone in England seems to be........ :)

Its got to be the people, the attitude to life, and the HUGE generosity showed by neighbours who seem to actually care and understand. Never mind about the going back never thing, I have this living hell of one fab week in Italy, ploughing fields, planting crops, tendedring to vines, oh and working on the PC, then a miserable week back in England on the PC, stuck in traffic jams. The one thing that I fear most about going back to the UK is the traffic.

As well as talking about the things we would miss about Italy, why not mention the things we would dread being back in England, there must be Brits in the forum who still live in England that can relate to this, why not have a rant, traffic jams is mine.

rant away

I love travelling and agree with what has been said in this thread but I am also proud to be a Brit. I don't think slagging off the Brits is healthy. We have a great sense of humour, we are very self-depricating, we have great pubs, so many opportunities for young people. The dance scene is way ahead of all European countries (I'm a dance teacher) and we have the best theatre in the world. So yes, I am moving to Italy , for a few years (until the next country beckons) and yes I do want to experience a different way of life and I can't see myself returning to England but I will never do the typically British thing of slating the place I was born in and has made me the way I am.
Lets keep this forum about how great italy is and not how rubbish England is.

I kind of agree with you Anna, the post asks what people would miss about Italy, there was no intention of slagging off Britain, and I don't think anyone so far has, other than a mention of hating traffic jams, enjoy your travels Anna, I envy your intention to hop around, you'll love it I'm sure. :)

Ok on that note. I am looking forward to talking to people on public transport and not being thought of as a weirdo! I'm looking forward to good food that has not come straight from a tin. Beautiful scenery, feeling the sun on my skin and dancing until all hours of the morning instead of going home at 11pm! :D

Talking on public transport is compulsory over here, as is talking to strangers almost everywhere, I beleive that you can actually be deported for not doing it :) All other boxes will be ticked too. Hurry over, Italy is waiting...

Not that I am living there, but what I miss between visits would be the relaxed sociability of the people.

I think I would also miss the noise the dogs make when one of the local hunters decides to pay a pre season visit to the fields next door... NOT.

When does the hunting season start. :confused: ....just as the holiday makers go home.. :confused: .instead of dodging cars on the superstrada will we be dodging bullets instead :eek: !!!!!!!!!!

Ohh lowly senator, not sure of the date actually...

Have I got to call you Sir now !!!!! What is one of them anyway ???????? :confused: :confused: :o :o

Well obviously we get to look down our large patrician noses at everyone else.

Oh, hang on, that's giving me eye strain.

Only, probably better, the Magazine has informed me that I will be receiving additional slaves, ooops, errrrm, servants soon to attend to my needs, and I am to be encouraged to put on more weight and sneer more, I beleive, (but you can call me Pat... :o )

Looks like you've got it made Pat !!! ;)

[QUOTE=anna austin]I love travelling and agree with what has been said in this thread but I am also proud to be a Brit. I don't think slagging off the Brits is healthy. We have a great sense of humour, we are very self-depricating, we have great pubs, so many opportunities for young people. The dance scene is way ahead of all European countries (I'm a dance teacher) and we have the best theatre in the world. So yes, I am moving to Italy , for a few years (until the next country beckons) and yes I do want to experience a different way of life and I can't see myself returning to England but I will never do the typically British thing of slating the place I was born in and has made me the way I am.
Lets keep this forum about how great italy is and not how rubbish England is.[/QUOTE]

Anna,
I am not a Brit, however, I should point out that, in general, people who are completely happy in and with their country, do not dream about residing in another country. They stay where they are. To dream or to actually move to another country takes a certain degree of malcontent, to convince oneself about the new direction. Hence, it should not be surprising that some of this emotional content overflows once in a while. I am sure, they all love England, as much as you do. I left my country of birth in 1954, therefore, I speak from experience. And yes, I too found fault with my birth-country and left. But, deep down there is this very warm spot for it nonetheless.

I never said I was completely happy with my country. I just look at things objectively. I'm in my twenties and people often remark that I will be back as I am only young (how condescending!). How can you make a decision that big when you havn't seen what is out there?
I think you have missed the point I was trying to make, which was that people were beginning to make negative comments and that doesn't help anyone.

Of course you'll be back... to visit, to sit in the bar, tell them where you've been, what you've done, then you'll be off on your travels again, and those people will go back to their lives, and they'll think, ohhh, how brave Anna is, I could never do that...Live the dream Anna, because YOU want to. :)

[QUOTE=FrancisM]Anna,
I am not a Brit, however, I should point out that, in general, people who are completely happy in and with their country, do not dream about residing in another country. They stay where they are. To dream or to actually move to another country takes a certain degree of malcontent, to convince oneself about the new direction. Hence, it should not be surprising that some of this emotional content overflows once in a while. I am sure, they all love England, as much as you do. I left my country of birth in 1954, therefore, I speak from experience. And yes, I too found fault with my birth-country and left. But, deep down there is this very warm spot for it nonetheless.[/QUOTE]

Some people are just born with wanderlust - three generations of my family have had this, with no two generations living in the same place. True, there are going to be things that people don't like about their home country, it is also true that sometimes there is just so much that people like about another country that they want to experience it for themselves, and in doing so are in no way indicating dissatisfaction with their place of birth.

[QUOTE=Sano]Some people are just born with wanderlust - three generations of my family have had this, with no two generations living in the same place. True, there are going to be things that people don't like about their home country, it is also true that sometimes there is just so much that people like about another country that they want to experience it for themselves, and in doing so are in no way indicating dissatisfaction with their place of birth.[/QUOTE]

I fully agree with you. And, this is why I said, "..., in general, ...", allowing for the exception.

Hi Anna,

You just go & see what's out there!! :)

I moved from Germany to the UK when I was 28 - deciding after a 4 week holiday in Ireland that I had to move!!! :D

After 1 1/2 years in southern England, I moved to Aberdeen, Scotland where I stayed for 5 years! I then got fed up with the difficulty in travelling abroad, particularly the extra expense for flights to London, so I moved to Cardiff to be somewhere more central - which was fine but.... Two years down the line, I recently moved back to Scotland with my partner - this time to Edinburgh! And we love it! But still we think of relocating to Italy in a few years' time.... ;)

You only find the places you'd like after seeing for yourself what life is like there. There are pros & cons to every place you live and wherever you are, there will be things you miss ... and new things you come to love! :)

BTW, I'd miss British pubs and people queuing politely!!
Stephanie

[QUOTE=anna austin]we have great pubs[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Iona]I'd miss British pubs[/QUOTE]

I'm sorry, and please don't consider this anti-english (lived there 12 years, lots of friends there, cheer for them in the world cup!), but in my opinion most English pubs have gone right down the pan. They're awful! I'm surprised anyone would miss them! What would you miss most about them? The sticky carpets? The constant hue and smell from the cigarette smoke? The light and sound shows from the rows of gaming machines? The constant music played so loud that you can't hear the person sitting next to you? The wonderful service? The exciting individual interiors of the big theme pub chains?

I'm from Scotland and, but for a few here and a few there, I'd have the same to say about Scottish pubs.
The best pubs are without a doubt over here in Ireland; no big chains, no smoking, no loud music (unless you go to Temple Bar), no fruit machines. Perfect for socialising. Prices could be cheaper tho.. :(

Derek ( BIG England fan.. ;) )

[QUOTE=derekL]I'm sorry, and please don't consider this anti-english (lived there 12 years, lots of friends there, cheer for them in the world cup!), but in my opinion most English pubs have gone right down the pan. They're awful! I'm surprised anyone would miss them! What would you miss most about them? The sticky carpets? The constant hue and smell from the cigarette smoke? The light and sound shows from the rows of gaming machines? The constant music played so loud that you can't hear the person sitting next to you? The wonderful service? The exciting individual interiors of the big theme pub chains?

I'm from Scotland and, but for a few here and a few there, I'd have the same to say about Scottish pubs.
The best pubs are without a doubt over here in Ireland; no big chains, no smoking, no loud music (unless you go to Temple Bar), no fruit machines. Perfect for socialising. Prices could be cheaper tho.. :(

Derek ( BIG England fan.. ;) )[/QUOTE]
Hi Derek
It's ok I don't take offence but I have to say that you have obviously never been to Winchester. It's where I live at the moment and I would describe it as 'old England'. We have some great pubs here. They have a welcoming atmosphere, interesting decor with paintings of the locals done by local artists, live traditional music on some nights and no music on other nights. I agree with your decription of English pubs but not when it comes to the smaller country pubs particuarly in Winchester, Hampshire. I can't comment on real Irish pubs as I have never been there. :) But I'm glad you like them.

[QUOTE=anna austin]Hi Derek
It's ok I don't take offence but I have to say that you have obviously never been to Winchester. It's where I live at the moment and I would describe it as 'old England'. We have some great pubs here. They have a welcoming atmosphere, interesting decor with paintings of the locals done by local artists, live traditional music on some nights and no music on other nights. I agree with your decription of English pubs but not when it comes to the smaller country pubs particuarly in Winchester, Hampshire. I can't comment on real Irish pubs as I have never been there. :) But I'm glad you like them.[/QUOTE]

You're right, I've never been to Winchester but I was very close just a few weeks ago (Portsmouth - Bath). They sound just how pubs should be, so I can see how you might miss them. My local also has trad nights 2-3 nights a week. They're unplanned. You just turn up with an instrument and join in. We've had some great nights there. :D
Certainly one of the things I'd miss!

Derek

I don't think I'll miss them enough not to go to Italy though!! :)

Isn't it lovely that almost everyone would miss PEOPLE related things, it's kinda comforting I think... Something has just occured, there was something in the magazine a few months ago, walking towards a group of young people late at night isn't errm, "uneasy" over here... LOL, and being able to buy an ice cream at 2.30am :D

[QUOTE=derekL]I'm sorry, and please don't consider this anti-english (lived there 12 years, lot

I'm from Scotland and, but for a few here and a few there, I'd have the same to say about Scottish pubs.
The best pubs are without a doubt over here in Ireland; no big chains, no smoking, no loud music (unless you go to Temple Bar), no fruit machines. Perfect for socialising. Prices could be cheaper tho.. :(

Derek ( BIG England fan.. ;) )[/QUOTE]

Derek,
I've come across some nice pubs in Edinburgh, rural Kent & Sussex, but I generally agree on the nicer atmosphere in Irish pubs, especially with the impromptu live music sessions. I really enjoyed those! :)

Stephanie

[QUOTE=anna austin]Hi Derek
It's ok I don't take offence but I have to say that you have obviously never been to Winchester. It's where I live at the moment and I would describe it as 'old England'. We have some great pubs here. They have a welcoming atmosphere, interesting decor with paintings of the locals done by local artists, live traditional music on some nights and no music on other nights.[/QUOTE]
Umm don't take offence, but as someone who lives in (OK just outside) Winchester, I don't recognise that description of the pubs. The pubs in Winchester all honk of smoke, the beer is indifferent to vile, the racket in some of them could not be called music and the violence on the streets outside the pubs is enough to put anyone off. The police all wear stab-proof jackets which gives a feel for what life is like "on the streets" at chucking out time.

The City really has gone down hill as more and more shops are converted into booze-o-ramas.

Contrasting that with my locals in Pescara and around Teramo and there's no comparison. In Italy we have decent beer, excellent wine and first rate food.

[QUOTE=lotaresco]
Contrasting that with my locals in Pescara and around Teramo and there's no comparison. In Italy we have decent beer, excellent wine and first rate food.[/QUOTE]

Nice!! Just turned green with envy!!! :D

[QUOTE=lotaresco]Umm don't take offence, but as someone who lives in (OK just outside) Winchester, I don't recognise that description of the pubs. The pubs in Winchester all honk of smoke, the beer is indifferent to vile, the racket in some of them could not be called music and the violence on the streets outside the pubs is enough to put anyone off. The police all wear stab-proof jackets which gives a feel for what life is like "on the streets" at chucking out time.

The City really has gone down hill as more and more shops are converted into booze-o-ramas.

Contrasting that with my locals in Pescara and around Teramo and there's no comparison. In Italy we have decent beer, excellent wine and first rate food.[/QUOTE]
I dont take offence but I do think this all getting a bit petty now.

[QUOTE=Iona]Nice!! Just turned green with envy!!! :D[/QUOTE]
Pescara has the best social whirl going during the jazz season. The sessions spill out onto the street and it attracts musicians from all over the world, good ones.