hanging my head in shame

worried_jim

I wrote some time ago about a British friend who had lived in Florida for the last ten years moving her family back to the UK as they were struggling economically in the States. Karen’s husband and two children had never left the States so it was going to be a big deal for them. She arrived in January with her two children and the plan was for her husband Richard to follow after he had sorted out some business issues and sold the house in Orlando.
Her mother re mortgaged her house and bought a small traditional terrace for them and the kids got enrolled in local schools whilst the mother signed up for a nursing course at college. By summer the two children had lost their US accents and had settled in just fine.
Now it took a bit longer to get things sorted out in the States but Richard finally arrived a week ago the fist time the family had been reunited this year so are very happy to be back together.
Richard is absolutely blown away by England, he can’t comprehend that in the centre of the town there is an 8oo year old church with cars and buses driving past it. He has never seen a hill before and thinks the Downs are mountains and can see them from his house, in fact he can walk from the beach up to the top of a hill. He has also been slaughtered on proper beer, nobody let on how much stronger it is and he found out the hard way.
They all went to London yesterday and did the tourist things, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, boat ride.
Believe it or not Richard hasn’t been granted a work visa yet, just a six month tourist visit visa even though his wife is British and his children live here and the family have had to hire an immigration lawyer to help get this things sorted out. Richard will be setting up his own carpentry business and already has some sub contracting work lined up and many people that know him are already having him “help out” in their own homes with kitchen fittings etc which is a bit “naughty” but the mans got a family to support.
Richard is amazed that his wife came back to the UK after ten years away and immediately had her children in school and getting health care that he could only dream about from day one and now he is here he has been made to feel so welcome and is happy to be living the “British Dream” but he would like it a bit warmer!

savingwannabe

Am reading Hector and His Search for Happiness (as recommended by Frit and Firewalker) in between swearing at piles of marking. I teach about the benefits of living in the UK to my students in AS Economics. We are so fortunate to live here the industrial revolution started here we have soo much to be grateful for. No matter where i travel to it is not until i am back in good old Blighty that i feel safe, we have everything here and we take it for granted. The view of my garden is stunning. England's green and pleasant land. Thanks for cheering me up Jim.

SSA and boult posted this on our thread fab have to share it. New advert for a phone company, enjoy http://www.youtube.com/lifesforsharing

ampersand

A good post about your friends, Jim. I like them being Karen and Richard, who is indeed a Carpenter:).
You'll be training them up on mse soon, I hope.

worried_jim

ampersand wrote: »

A good post about your friends, Jim. I like them being Karen and Richard, who is indeed a Carpenter:).
You'll be training them up on mse soon, I hope.

Come to think of it Karen is a bit thin......
I was at a bbq a few years ago talking to a woman from the Czech republic and she said that Jesus was a carpet fitter I nearly choked on my hot dog.

Had some good news- I have just won a competition through Coke to see a concert @ the LG Arena in Birmingham and I have a choice of-
Peter Andre
Westlife
Boyzone
You can safely say this is one prize I wont be collecting as I'd rather cut off my own testicles with a blunt rusty spoon live on tv.

savingwannabe

Jim i am laughing, as usual glad you have taste dude. Stick em up on a site and see if you can sell them on (er i mean the concert tickets no bodily parts ok). Bet you'll make a few quid. If you get any tickets for the Specials, The Jam, They Might Be Giants, U2 (old dear that i am) call me ok?

worried_jim

Peter Andre tickets are going for a small fortune on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-x-PETER-ANDRE-TICKETS-BIRMINGHAM-LG-ARENA-/390257032120?pt=UK_Tickets_Tickets_LE&hash=item5add21bbb8
Could be a good Christmas.

savingwannabe

People are mad. £239? Are they crackers?

ampersand

That's great, Jim.
I'm really pleased for you - let us know how they go.
Do you subscribe to Travel Zoo? You could give yourself some bonne affaire out-of-England winter sun.....?

worried_jim

ampersand wrote: »

That's great, Jim.
I'm really pleased for you - let us know how they go.
Do you subscribe to Travel Zoo? You could give yourself some bonne affaire out-of-England winter sun.....?

Well believe it or not but I am actually hoping to have a holiday next year I think I can get a cheap week to Greece at the start of the season and certainly the sale of these tickets will go towards paying that.

worried_jim

worried_jim wrote: »

Peter Andre tickets are going for a small fortune on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-x-PETER-ANDRE-TICKETS-BIRMINGHAM-LG-ARENA-/390257032120?pt=UK_Tickets_Tickets_LE&hash=item5add21bbb8
Could be a good Christmas.

Just checked and these two tickets went for £225. I should have mine posted out today and they'll be on ebay asap.