Moving back to the UK after 12 years away

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Today. What can I expect to find?

― Gatinha (rwillmsen), Saturday, 28 January 2006 12:39 (twenty years ago)

Britons unconvinced on evolution

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Saturday, 28 January 2006 12:43 (twenty years ago)

the working class will have already been decimated when you were last here, so

more american focused, less european

more focus on 'customer service'. you'll have get used to trains having "customer service managers"

people more interested in healthy living

inner city regeneration/gentrification/skyrocketing property values

a more depoliticized population

― terry lennox. (gareth), Saturday, 28 January 2006 12:59 (twenty years ago)

drunks roaming streets at all hours

― emsk ( emsk), Saturday, 28 January 2006 12:59 (twenty years ago)

a boom in the number of homeless on the streets.

― terry lennox. (gareth), Saturday, 28 January 2006 13:00 (twenty years ago)

welcome back!

― emsk ( emsk), Saturday, 28 January 2006 13:01 (twenty years ago)

the working class will have already been decimated when you were last here, so
more american focused, less european
more focus on 'customer service'. you'll have get used to trains having "customer service managers"
people more interested in healthy living
inner city regeneration/gentrification/skyrocketing property values

a more depoliticized population

Are you a leading sociologist?

― Gatinha (rwillmsen), Saturday, 28 January 2006 13:02 (twenty years ago)

I should say that I have visited lots during that time, so all the things you mentioned won't come as a total shock.

― Gatinha (rwillmsen), Saturday, 28 January 2006 13:04 (twenty years ago)

British people are generally quite glib

― RJG (RJG), Saturday, 28 January 2006 13:04 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I've been thinking about that one a lot recently. The British sense of humour seems to be more ..anarchic than it was in the past.

I'm listening to 'World in Motion' to get me in the mood, which means I must be still pisswed!

― Gatinha (rwillmsen), Saturday, 28 January 2006 13:06 (twenty years ago)

The house you lived in 12 years ago will have at least doubled (but more likely tripled) in value.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Saturday, 28 January 2006 13:07 (twenty years ago)

Actually probably not, I lived in it as a student so it might well not be standing any more!

― Gatinha (rwillmsen), Saturday, 28 January 2006 13:08 (twenty years ago)

Are you a leading sociologist?

no, i've let it slide the last 18 months or so

― terry lennox. (gareth), Saturday, 28 January 2006 13:21 (twenty years ago)

gatinha maybe it'll be you that has changed. DID YOU EVER THINK OF THAT?

― papal rape, Saturday, 28 January 2006 13:37 (twenty years ago)

That as well. Does anyone know how much?

― Gatinha (rwillmsen), Saturday, 28 January 2006 14:03 (twenty years ago)

AA Gill's book gives a persuasive argument that the English look calm and placid but are in fact full of repressed anger.

― Bob Six (bobbysix), Saturday, 28 January 2006 14:12 (twenty years ago)

I read a review in Private Eye which made him out to be an utter, utter dick. Unsurprisingly.

― Gatinha (rwillmsen), Saturday, 28 January 2006 14:17 (twenty years ago)

I want to go to London. There are so many cheap fares right now. Too bad about the exchange rate. I am listening to a fantastic song called London Bridges by Ivy League.

― youn, Saturday, 28 January 2006 14:22 (twenty years ago)

hey they're on myspace in case you wanna listen.

― youn, Saturday, 28 January 2006 14:24 (twenty years ago)

Private Eye - there's a nasty english magazine full of repressed resentment and innate suspicion of anything modern, imaginative and 'intellectual'.

They probably have Momus's face on the office dartboard.

― Bob Six (bobbysix), Saturday, 28 January 2006 14:50 (twenty years ago)

If you've been reading it regularly, you've probably got a good idea what to expect, it's a surprisingly good source of news.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Sunday, 29 January 2006 11:48 (twenty years ago)

You think Private Eye know who Momus is?? They've probably got Joan Baez on their dartboard.

(I like Private Eye)

― Markelby (Mark C), Sunday, 29 January 2006 12:30 (twenty years ago)

Nottingham Forest and QPR are no longer major footballing forces.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 29 January 2006 12:34 (twenty years ago)

Momus is probably the editor. (Or at least svengali for Hislop)

― Ed (dali), Sunday, 29 January 2006 21:53 (twenty years ago)

http://images.countingdown.com/images/countdowns/movies/28925/1011/892695_thumb.jpg

― gear (gear), Sunday, 29 January 2006 22:02 (twenty years ago)

http://alexandrejean.blogs.com/images/DoctorWho.gif

― Johnny B Was Quizzical (Johnney B), Sunday, 29 January 2006 22:15 (twenty years ago)

"There are so many cheap fares right now."

where?

― Serge Protecteur (nordicskilla), Sunday, 29 January 2006 22:22 (twenty years ago)

a boom in the number of homeless on the streets.

(S)he's been away for 12 years, not 30.

― Teh HoBB (the pirate king), Sunday, 29 January 2006 23:32 (twenty years ago)

You can buy a decent cup of coffee, at last.

Sundays are a lot less depressing than they were - far more places are open and there's more to do.

The service culture still doesn't really cater for people who are working: deliveries, doctors' surgeries hours etc - but there are gradual moves in the right direction.

People take work very seriously - there's more of an underlying thought that your job secutiry is less. And students are far more competitive for jobs than I remember; far more importance is attached to vacation job experience and placements.

Property has become even more of national obsession - reflected in numerous TV programmes showing the popular dream of cleaning up financially on the property market.

The overall general level of happiness has gone down slightly, I'd estimate.

― Bob Six (bobbysix), Sunday, 29 January 2006 23:50 (twenty years ago)

The overall general level of happiness has gone down slightly, I'd estimate.

This is shocking news, here in Australia the English are renowned for their general level of happiness.

― estela (estela), Monday, 30 January 2006 01:29 (twenty years ago)

The Brits at home are as gay as ever so don't lose your shit thinking that has changed.

― joy joy, Monday, 30 January 2006 01:30 (twenty years ago)

Loads has changed but you will get used to it after about three years. I think I'm just about used to it now. My attempts to revive the north-south divide have lapsed of late.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 30 January 2006 08:46 (twenty years ago)

I would disagree about the level of happiness/unhappiness. I would say it's remained constant.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Monday, 30 January 2006 10:24 (twenty years ago)

Everyone will look about 12 years older.

― James Ward (jamesmichaelward), Monday, 30 January 2006 10:28 (twenty years ago)

People say 'fuck' a lot more on TV.

― Teh HoBB (the pirate king), Monday, 30 January 2006 10:35 (twenty years ago)

Well, I said 'slightly' because I think the level of happiness has remained almost the same, except there are increased worries about job security (becasue of the implications of globalisation and potential outsourcing of up-to-now 'safe' jobs) and personal financial stability (pensions schemes going belly up or closing to new entrants etc).

― Bob Six (bobbysix), Monday, 30 January 2006 10:39 (twenty years ago)

but there's a lot less nudity (on tv)

― Ste (Fuzzy), Monday, 30 January 2006 10:42 (twenty years ago)

The bowler hat has gone out of fashion.

― Teh HoBB (the pirate king), Monday, 30 January 2006 10:48 (twenty years ago)

the pop charts are at their lowest ebb

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Monday, 30 January 2006 10:49 (twenty years ago)

The Romans have departed.

― Teh HoBB (the pirate king), Monday, 30 January 2006 11:01 (twenty years ago)

Portishead have finally fucked off, you'll be glad to hear.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 30 January 2006 11:04 (twenty years ago)

...but oasis are still lingering

― Ste (Fuzzy), Monday, 30 January 2006 11:10 (twenty years ago)

There are more and cheaper ways to get out of the UK than 12 years ago: easyjet, ryan air etc.

― Bob Six (bobbysix), Monday, 30 January 2006 11:53 (twenty years ago)

England got OK at cricket for a year or so. But now things are back to normal.

― paulhw (paulhw), Tuesday, 31 January 2006 20:45 (twenty years ago)

Portishead are a cumin in.

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 13:06 (twenty years ago)

The overall general level of happiness has gone down slightly, I'd estimate.

This is shocking news, here in Australia the English are renowned for their general level of happiness.

You do know that sarcasm doesn't really work in print?

And I could swear there is much more nudity on telly these days.

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:09 (twenty years ago)

Awwwwww... Only 12 years? Amateur!

― The Late Fear And The Potato Fear (kate), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:10 (twenty years ago)

I mean, I outlasted the Tories!

― The Late Fear And The Potato Fear (kate), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:13 (twenty years ago)

Increased levels of: snobbery, rudeness, selfishness

― Dadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:16 (twenty years ago)

Then: Australian barmen & barmaids / Now: South African barmen & Polish barmaids

― Dadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:18 (twenty years ago)

there are no working class people in the UK, everyone is a graduate and a homeowner and no-one is poor. riiiiiiiight.

― The Man Without Shadow (Enrique), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:19 (twenty years ago)

Even MORE cynicism than 12 years ago!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:22 (twenty years ago)

it is a bit like 1994, white-boys-with-guitars-running-tings-wise < / lex> so you'll be ok.

― The Man Without Shadow (Enrique), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:22 (twenty years ago)

In fact, apart from Polish barmaids, I can't think of any other improvements (certainly none of equivalent importance)

― Dadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:25 (twenty years ago)

haha word (it's ok, the ladyfriend is 1/2 polish)

― The Man Without Shadow (Enrique), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:27 (twenty years ago)

Generally though, more immigrants in the UK - there's a good thing

― Dadaismus (Dada), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:30 (twenty years ago)

apparently there are a lot more underage prostitutes trafficked from the continent than there were 12 years ago :(

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 1 February 2006 14:30 (twenty years ago)

there is noticeably more health hysteria

― dave q (listerine), Thursday, 9 February 2006 09:16 (twenty years ago)

so er gatinha, how is it? have you gone into culture shock?

― emsk ( emsk), Thursday, 9 February 2006 09:36 (twenty years ago)

Take That split up just after you left, but got back together just before you came back again, so that's ok. Hmm. You're not Jason Orange, are you?

― JimD (JimD), Thursday, 9 February 2006 09:47 (twenty years ago)

I...am lovin' it.

― Gatinha (rwillmsen), Wednesday, 15 February 2006 18:55 (twenty years ago)

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