KnotAwl

North America is so backward compared to virtually every other country I have lived in or travel through in the last 18 years.

Born in England and raised ‘British’ even in Canada. Retired to England after 60 years living and working in Canada and it is the first time I’ve felt like I belong. Canada is a nation of immigrants. But had always been so so and the country is whatever immigrants make of it. England has a five thousand year history. Immigrants move there and become British. I love that about England. I feel surrounded by a culture that resonates in my soul.

Pinocchio scared the piss out of me.

End of the line, mate.

Spring. England has the most glorious Spring of any country I have seen (70+ and counting).

Nanny State on steroids.

French will get you through much of Europe and north and west Africa and be useful in Southeast Asia in certain circles and Quebec in North America. Spanish is less useful in Europe and useless in Africa but powerful in Latin America. German is limited to Europe.

I still get “luv” and “luvvy” and I’m 75. And look it!

I’ve noticed this trend developing over the years and wondered if it was trending. I’m a smaller older male and women now seem to delight in going out of their way to force you to move for them. I wondered if it was an attention seeking or an aggressive retribution thing. You seem to suggest it is the latter.

I’m an older gent and I’ve starting carrying a cane to manage the situation. It is exactly as you describe it. Women talking expect the world to part in front of them like Moses leading his people through the Red Sea. With a cane I will just come to a dead stop on my side of the pavement and mime looking for my glasses with my cane firmly planted exactly where they were planning to shove me out of the way. They have to collapse their phalanx to get by when they see the cane. They don’t like to, but even at their level of entitlement they recognize some aspects of civility still pertain. I know. Ii is silly and childish of me and at my age I should know better. But it is my one small act of defiance against this tidal wave of encroaching social rudeness. I do what I can.

There are no bad counties. Never been in one. This is wall to wall the best country of the 70+ I have lived in, worked in, and traveled through. You have no idea how sweet this land is. Straight up sweet. Thanks for letting me live and work among you for the last four years. I will miss you.

Hard yes. BBC iPlayer has a lot I like to watch. And with the license I get ITV, Channel 4, and My5 streaming services as well. I don’t pay for any other streaming service.

Trying to avoid everything iconically American: McDonald’s Starbucks, etc until that wrecking ball in the White House croaks on his own stupidity.

Trying to avoid everything iconically American: McDonald’s Starbucks, etc until that wrecking ball in the White House croaks on his own stupidity.

Trying to avoid everything iconically American: McDonald’s Starbucks, etc until that wrecking ball in the White House croaks on his own stupidity.

I had been following Eastern religions for several years. At one point, late at night, I had just left my steady girl after an on again off again relationship lasting nearly ten years and I was looking for a fresh start. So I go out my coins and my copy of the I Ching and started casting my coins to get a reading. After three consecutive solid line in the lower hexagram I started getting excited. If I threw three solid lines in the upper hexagram I would land on the first reading in the I Ching. I threw another solid line and then another. Five solid lines. I stopped and did something I hadn’t ever done in my life. I prayed that God, who I didn’t know and didn’t believe existed, would bless this final throw. I threw the coins and they came up unbroken. Six solid lines. But I didn’t even look in the I Ching cuz I’d been studying it for years and knew what it said. Instead I looked up from where I was standing at the pine trees against the dark sky that surrounded the parking lot, and the Milky Way galaxy spread majestically across the sky. And as I looked I felt a Presence from beyond the farthest reaches of the stars travel faster than I could think to breathe and come and stand next to me. Then this Presence standing beside me seemed to say? think? breathe? this thought into me “I am here. And I care for you.” I was struck dumb. Nothing like this had ever happened to me or anyone I had ever known or read about. I began to read the Bible, starting with Mark. By the time I had made in through Matthew I knew something was happening to me and my understanding of who Christ was. By the time I got to John I was ready to accept Him as my Saviour and Lord and just wanted to learn how. John explained that to me and that sealed the deal. 50 years on I have lived as a Christian. My life has been unbelievably blessed by following Christ. I have a brother I was very close to and he decided to go a different way in life. I look at his life and I look at mine and almost cannot believe what a vast difference such a simple decision can make. It is quite literally night and day. That’s my story.

Learning to accept yourself with all your strengths, faults, advantages, and limitations. It is a wonderfully liberating place to be.

Lincoln Cathedral’s impressive height, reached in the 14th century, was not surpassed until the 20th century. Begun in 1072 as a Norman church, it morphed into one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Europe.

This is me. I pretend search for something in my pockets to take up more space while I stand there. I use the same technique when someone deliberately walks directly st me.

Best price in town on Irish Cream. I must be gormless cuz I can’t tell the difference.

Canuck here. 🇨🇦 Canadian wheat is the best in the world. Many strains were developed in Canada specifically for our climate.

This is the way it is done among those who are well travelled. Thank you for being civil. Would you mind having a word with wanker upthread who hasn’t a freaking clue?

If a Brit goes to the States, and he’s asked where he’s from, he’ll say the UK, or England. He won’t say Essex. When an American goes abroad and he is asked where he is from, he’ll say Idaho, or some other state, expecting that everyone in the world will know where that is. Say America. It will help you to not look like a wanker from the outset.

To be fair, there is not much to laugh at in America when you elect a clown as your president.

Canuck here. 🇨🇦 OP is spot on. The UK is by far the best country I have lived and travelled in. Lived worked and travelled in 70+ countries. Had roots and family in the UK so been living here for the last four. Don’t know that I will ever go home. You don’t know how good you have it here.

“Gone for a burton” means a thing or person has been upended. “Gone all wobbly” means weak in the knees. “He’s got the collie-wobbles” means he’s succumbing to nerves.

Been living on my pension for 15 years. Paid into it for 35. Want to live for another 20 so I even out. Beyond that is gravy.

Thank you for your kind thoughts. I didn’t want to spoil my father’s memory with harsh words. He was always a gentleman.

Thanks. It happened awhile ago, but it still hurts. Appreciate the comment. Cheers.

Following my father’s funeral I went to the pub he and mom loved intending to have a pint and a bite at their table and remember what a fine man he was. A family came over and demanded I move as I was alone and they wanted the table. The server followed me out and asked why I was leaving. She offered to shoe them out, but I couldn’t face it. I heard her ripping them off a strip as I left. So careful what you think and say. Everyone has their own hurts.

Following my father’s funeral I went to the pub he and mom loved intending to have a pint and a bite at their table and remember what a fine man he was. A family came over and demanded I move as I was alone and they wanted the table. The server followed me out and asked why I was leaving. She offered to shoe them out, but I couldn’t face it. I heard her ripping them off a strip as I left. So careful what you think and say. Everyone has their own hurts.

Not sure about the frame without the drag, but that nose is Jamie Farr’s.

Not sure about the frame without the drag, but that nose is Jamie Farr’s.

Tea shops!

The preserves and the ginger beer. Give the rest a pass.

Did not start my career until I was 26. Did not meet my future wife until I was 27. Got married at 28 and everything started to fall into place. But yeah, you do need to be making those decisions.

Stare of death when you walk in saying, “This is not your turf, mate. Sod off.” I do. Instantly. I don’t need that shit with my pint.

I’m fairly new to the UK so I am happy to learn from others. But I currently live in Horsham in Sussex and find it very pleasant indeed. It has around 40 plus thousand folks, lots of marketplace walking and stalls, a nice central park and plenty of walking trails around and good services. About one hour from London by train if I want to see a play. I have no complaints.

If you are a Canadian of any vintage at all you have done this is the winter for a neighbour or a stranger more than once.

Practically everyone in the UK.

In rural Ontario they are called rolls pollies. Can’t speak for other places.

Woodlice

Boudicca sacked the Roman capital of England at Colchester, and the Roman settlements at London and Winchester as well. Her statue astride her war chariot sits near Westminster Bridge just beyond Big Ben.

Colchester in Essex was once the capital of England.

Audi drivers are dicks. Every dicking one of them. Dicks drive Audis.

Loved our year in Germany. What wonderfully hospitable people!

Retire. That is the only real relief. Now I no longer have to impress anyone I can finally relax and be myself.

Listening to Classic FM, feet up, tea and bikkies at hand with a good book at my side.

Society in general appears to be less civil and this is reflected in online forums. I rarely initiate a post, though I continue to respond. If it gets toxic I just ghost the thread.

In 20 years, at the far outside, the Boomer Bump will have passed and things will settle back down to normal demographics. You need to be able to draw £2-3,000 a month, depending on whether you live in the north or the south without eating into your principal.