Bbc taking a bit of grief at the moment though
Last edited:
Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
Living in England
- Thread starter Racek
- Start date
Bbc taking a bit of grief at the moment though
- Thread starter
- #82
- Thread starter
- #83
As an ex-pat I've had a chance to reminisce on the UK and the best thing about the UK is the architecture. The worst things is the fact that everyone seems in such a rush. No-one has time for anyone even shop staff. Of course there is the exception to both that proves the rule.
Seems that wherever I go most ex-pats seem to miss the bacon.
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
That to, but in a city that has lost most of it's beautiful stone buildings I realised how much I miss the architecture. The Royal Pavillion, Harringtons (as was), The clock tower, Brighton station, all great buildings.
Mmmmm, bacon!!!!!
- Thread starter
- #85
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
Not really, Danish bacon is amazing.
Although I do have some reasonable bacon that come from an organic butchers. Pig was killed on the Thursday and I had the bacon in my hands the following Wednesday.
- Thread starter
- #87
That is pretty good.
It does annoy me sometimes, when people moan that you cannot get the same food here as you can in the UK. Surley that is part of living in a different country! I miss a chinese take-away sometimes, but I can live with that.
The attitude to modern architecture in the UK stinks though, no more than in Brighton. It is almost impossible to build something new in this city let alone something exciting and daring. I have lost count of the projects which have been proposed and failed. I know we got the AMEX but this was only just and only after a 10 year battle and the constant will of thousands of supporters.
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
Exactly. People moan about the price of food over here, but if you eat "in season" food then it's cheaper than the UK, especially if you buy it from a fruiterers instead of a Supermarket. There are foods over here that you'd not get in the UK without paying mad prices.
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
Where as Christchurch has the opposite problem. A lot of the new builds are generic glass and steel cubes.
If I had my way everything would be designed by Frank Gehry. Everything. How cool would that be?
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
If only. However there is a 14m limit to building the CBD (central business district) now (so in the event of any other major disasters rescue is a lot easier). That limits the options on what buildings can be built.
Another issue with the UK is that whenever a cafe, restaurant, bar is taken over the new owner believes that all everyone wants is a high end beech wood, chrome, bright lights and expensive version of what went before. Reality is most want a decent product in half decent surroundings at a fair price.
I guess a lot of this is vanity as it's better to tell people you own a chain of high end cafes as opposed to 10 greasy spoons? A lot of British pub history and culture is wiped out by this attitude.
I guess a lot of this is vanity as it's better to tell people you own a chain of high end cafes as opposed to 10 greasy spoons? A lot of British pub history and culture is wiped out by this attitude.
Brighton or NZ?
Woodchip
It's all about the bikes
NZ. After the quakes and a lot of the tall buildings didn't cope to well they decided to completely redo the entire CBD (except about 4 buildings that are taller than the 14m limit). One of the tall buildings had the stairs collapse ('Seismic Gap' On Forsyth Barr Building Stairs Had... | Stuff.co.nz) so I think the 14m comes from the height of the turntable fire engine ladder. Not sure to be honest though (and the 14m may not be accurate but it is about that).
EDIT: Found it- Christchurch rebuild plan revealed - National - NZ Herald News It's 28m or upto 8 storeys. Guess it's not limited to the length of the ladder.
mikeyjh
Well-known member
Best - The Countryside, the optimistic manner of the people who don't phone in to Radio 5 or read the daily mail and those that don't blame all our woes on the unemployed, immigrants and cyclists.
Worst - The South East and the complete and utter reliance of many people on their car. It's the greatest reflection of our total and complete loss of any focus on the society as a whole and a wholesale acceptance of thatcherite individualism.
Worst - The South East and the complete and utter reliance of many people on their car. It's the greatest reflection of our total and complete loss of any focus on the society as a whole and a wholesale acceptance of thatcherite individualism.
Kumquat
New member
- Mar 2, 2009
- 4,459
Well said sir.
Brighton or NZ?
Austrian Gull
Well-known member
What I miss: the BBC, devotion to sports teams, a good pub, variety of food (which is so much better than its reputation), sense of humour, the coast
What I don't miss: pointless celebrities, people's willingness to pay far too much for entrance prices etc., queues and traffic jams
What I don't miss: pointless celebrities, people's willingness to pay far too much for entrance prices etc., queues and traffic jams
Interesting. It doesn't stop imaginative design though. A lot of the issue, IMHO, is the merging of building and architecture in the process. You need a very thick line between these two disciplines if you're to get great buildings. Sadly, to reduce cost, new builds are often given to under-one-roof "design and build" business who are only interested in the bottom line.