What do you miss most about the UK?

[QueenOfBlades 224]

I think I'll end up missing quite a few things when I move to the US. My family, of course. The humour, the general Britishyness. I remember when I was there last time and we all were watching TV, Bridget Jones came on and I was explaining the various Britishisms in it.

My fiance tells me there are also a lot of things that will be harder to come by in the US. Ribena, Robinsons, any blackcurrant flavoured drink in general really. He'd never even heard of them before he saw me drinking Ribena once. Also he says it is not very common out there to put brown gravy over lots of things. Like no Shepherd's Pies. Or nice meaty pies with gravy all over it. I like gravy. He says they have white gravy more often out there. I'm like.. white.. gravy? D=. Not sure if it's the same thing as our white wine sauce. We decided we may have to order in some Bisto from time to time.

It will also be a big culture change for me really as I'm a massive LGBT supporter and have been since I was 13, and I will be moving to the deep South and it is not as liberal there as it is in England. Plus I live in a big city so everything is close by, and in Aiken, you have to get in the car to drive to get anywhere. All very spread out. That was the main thing my baby noticed when living with me for a while.

However, America has Dairylea Lunchable pizzas >:0). They had them in the UK for ages then they suddenly stopped, and I wrote a strongly worded letter to them asking why the US got them and we didn't. When we did our shopping in Walmart, I was like .... D= Wow.. and stuffed the trolley full of them XD. I also developed a love for Hot Pockets out there. OH! And Red Lobster. I must go to Red Lobster again for their garlic shrimp scampi. Delicious. And the unlimited refills of drinks. The meal portions are huge.

As said up there ^ my phrases and stuff will need to adjust as well. Though my fiance has taken on a lot of my phrases. It always makes me giggle when something happens and he shouts "OH B*LLOCKS!", and a very Leicestershire phrase, "Stop being mardy"

Edited June 27, 2013 by QueenOfBlades

[markonline1 11]

Just thought of this as I was pouring a glass - SQUASH!!! Correct me if I'm wrong (please!) but I have never seen squash in the USA, and that's all I drink all day....

I am planning on bringing a big bottle of Robinson's in my suitcase each time I visit up until I get my visa, so I have some stockpiled ready for my arrival!

I've found places that do Ribena and Robinsons Barley Water by me, if you are prepared to pay for it, but no proper orange squash.

I have however started drinking stuff called MIO. It comes in a little bottle and you fire a couple of shots into water to give it flavor. It took me a couple of drinks to get used to the slightly different taste, but I like the stuff now, and to me seems pretty much like the squash I used to drink back home.

Edited June 27, 2013 by markonline1

[orangedesk 27]

I've found places that do Ribena and Robinsons Barley Water by me, if you are prepared to pay for it, but no proper orange squash.

I have however started drinking stuff called MIO. It comes in a little bottle and you fire a couple of shots into water to give it flavor. It took me a couple of drinks to get used to the slightly different taste, but I like the stuff now, and to me seems pretty much like the squash I used to drink back home.

If you're in the midwest, you can get Ribena at Meijer, but it's $5 - we still buy it though

This place is based in Chicago where I am and you can buy things online and they'll ship it to you: http://spencerfoods.com/ we go there for my guy's lucozade lol

[orangedesk 27]

Only if you buy a proudly made in the US barge or gas guzzling SUV, plenty of fuel efficient European and Japanese made cars on the market. As a side note... why does anyone buy Buick, Mercury, Lincoln, Saturn or any of those brands? Are they stupidly cheap or do people just buy them because they are US brands? They look horrendous!

I was scrolling back and just had to respond to this one. My guy is a total petrolhead and would have so much to say on this topic. He HATES lincoln, buick and chrysler cars.

BUT, Saturn here is gone now and was the same as your Vauxhall.

[katieflossom 54]

I've found places that do Ribena and Robinsons Barley Water by me, if you are prepared to pay for it, but no proper orange squash.

I have however started drinking stuff called MIO. It comes in a little bottle and you fire a couple of shots into water to give it flavor. It took me a couple of drinks to get used to the slightly different taste, but I like the stuff now, and to me seems pretty much like the squash I used to drink back home.

Ooh thanks for the tip - I'll give it a whirl. Sadly don't like Ribena much, but will try this MIO stuff!

[Protocol417 161]

If you're in the midwest, you can get Ribena at Meijer, but it's $5 - we still buy it though

This place is based in Chicago where I am and you can buy things online and they'll ship it to you: http://spencerfoods.com/ we go there for my guy's lucozade lol

+100!!!

I'm at Jolly Posh way too much. I should just sign my paychecks over to them

Really wish they had Vimto, though...

[Protocol417 161]

Simple (to me anyway) phrases like "spot on" will often cause a blank look.

Wait, really? I've heard tons of Americans use that one.

[Pooky 3,693]

I have taught one of my West Cost outlaws many and varied swear words for her to misuse at her friends and colleagues.

[Naddy&Mikey 2]

Apart from the consumables. I'm actually going to miss living in the U.K. Not only because my family live here but the whole essence of England.

[Anna Grant 169]

I found the Holy Grail! Robinsons Barley water http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_grocery?_encoding=UTF8&field-brandtextbin=Robinson%27s&node=16310101

I never thought to check Amazon. Woo hoo! They do Reggae Reggae sauce:

http://www.amazon.com/Levi-Roots-Reggae-Jerk-Sauce/dp/B00BHFE08U/ref=sr_1_2?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1372588510&sr=1-2&keywords=reggae+reggae+sauce

Despite buying several bottles to bring with me, I just couldn't justify the weight of the bottles so had to leave them all behind :-(

[orangedesk 27]

+100!!!

I'm at Jolly Posh way too much. I should just sign my paychecks over to them

Really wish they had Vimto, though...

YES!!! I love Jolly Posh. That's where we got our Christmas crackers

OMG and your profile location is right by where I live. I need to message you!!!

[Autumnal 25]

Wait, wait. Meijer has Ribena?! I'm so there...

[orangedesk 27]

Wait, wait. Meijer has Ribena?! I'm so there...

Yep!! Check the world foods aisle! They also have weetabix and treacle (which I love)

[Protocol417 161]

I think I'll end up missing quite a few things when I move to the US. My family, of course. The humour, the general Britishyness. I remember when I was there last time and we all were watching TV, Bridget Jones came on and I was explaining the various Britishisms in it.

My fiance tells me there are also a lot of things that will be harder to come by in the US. Ribena, Robinsons, any blackcurrant flavoured drink in general really. He'd never even heard of them before he saw me drinking Ribena once. Also he says it is not very common out there to put brown gravy over lots of things. Like no Shepherd's Pies. Or nice meaty pies with gravy all over it. I like gravy. He says they have white gravy more often out there. I'm like.. white.. gravy? D=. Not sure if it's the same thing as our white wine sauce. We decided we may have to order in some Bisto from time to time.

It will also be a big culture change for me really as I'm a massive LGBT supporter and have been since I was 13, and I will be moving to the deep South and it is not as liberal there as it is in England. Plus I live in a big city so everything is close by, and in Aiken, you have to get in the car to drive to get anywhere. All very spread out. That was the main thing my baby noticed when living with me for a while.

However, America has Dairylea Lunchable pizzas >:0). They had them in the UK for ages then they suddenly stopped, and I wrote a strongly worded letter to them asking why the US got them and we didn't. When we did our shopping in Walmart, I was like .... D= Wow.. and stuffed the trolley full of them XD. I also developed a love for Hot Pockets out there. OH! And Red Lobster. I must go to Red Lobster again for their garlic shrimp scampi. Delicious. And the unlimited refills of drinks. The meal portions are huge.

As said up there ^ my phrases and stuff will need to adjust as well. Though my fiance has taken on a lot of my phrases. It always makes me giggle when something happens and he shouts "OH B*LLOCKS!", and a very Leicestershire phrase, "Stop being mardy"

It's getting easier and easier to access British TV, and more places seem to be stocking British foods. Dunno about your area, but here, I can get Ribena and Robinsons from the grocery store two blocks away, and I live on the edge of civilization. (Doesn't really help me, though... I'm a Vimto gal.) But yeah, most people here don't even know what blackcurrant is, must less heard of blackcurrant-flavored drinks.

Wow, I just looked up Aiken SC. I feel for ya, hun, I do. Only saw one British restaurant in Augusta and all they had was pork pies and shepherds pie (or what we call shepherds pie, the one with beef). Oof.

Well, if it makes you feel any better, I haven't had a decent pie or pasty in the US, anyways...

[Protocol417 161]

Yep!! Check the world foods aisle! They also have weetabix and treacle (which I love)

Mariano's has it too, fellow suburbanite

Along with a pretty good selection of English cheeses and various other stuff (blackcurrant biscuits, spotted #######, devon custard, etc.)

Don't want to be taking business away from good 'ol Jolly Posh, though... although Nick and co. seem to be doing very well with business, and they're unlikely to go the way of British Accents (RIP - still miss that place!), it's still a good idea to support them when you can.