I'm back in the UK for a week. I've been here two days and I already miss my new home. I guess that means I made the right choice moving.


Reasons ..... Took two hours to get across London, three children harassing people on the train and the mother just put her fingers in her ears rather than telling them to stop, seeing the doll queue this Morning, hooded kids on street corners, the threat of more riots on Sunday and the kids are off for holidays.

I know it doesn't seem a lot but its enough for me to feel very grateful for my new life.

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I think I can relate...

Whenever I go back to the US to visit, it's so bittersweet. There are some things I miss (e.g. cheap shopping!), but for the most part, I see it (the US) so differently now. I guess I use to feel a bit immune to the level of crime, etc. there (meaning that it didn't use to bother me so much because I was so used to it). But now it just really gets to me. So even on my worst day as a foreigner here in CH, I do realize how thankful I am to be now living in such a peaceful country.

I hope the rest of your stay back in the UK goes well...

Stay safe!

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I absolutely agree! I go back to the UK every few months to visit family, who I miss loads. I used to spend a week there, but that has now gone down to three or four nights due to the fact that I cannot wait get 'home' to Switzerland. England seems so completely manic, everyone seems to be racing around, the shops are too big, too busy, too full of 'stuff'! It's sad because my family mean so much to me, but I spend most of my time in the UK wishing the days away.

You should try the Chelsea Physic Garden when they first open, before the crowds get there. It's magic and you can almost forget you're in central London.

I was lucky to live in Isleworth and then Roehampton- so I could just go and get lost in Richmond Park when the town 'got to me'.

Of course, London and area is just of typical of England though. When we go to the East Midlands- to our little market town- it is very easy, relaxed, no traffic, rolling hills, mellow stone villages, Castles and gardens. Yeah I know, this is not how the average Brit (who the **** is he) sees the East Mids, but it is lovely, and Rutland just up the road, Cambridge a bit below, and London right down there with direct trains. My heart soars when I go to the UK, and soars when I get back to CH.

I know exactly what you mean re: family. When I first used to go back to visit, I liked being back in the UK and being in all the hustle and bustle of it, but now 10 years down the line, the only thing I really go back for is to spend time with my family. And tho I hate saying goodbye to them all, when it's time to leave, it's because I'm "going back home" and I'm happy to be going back.

I'm also from a market town. Letchworth in herts. But its seems the mums are getting younger by the day and the highstreet is full of pound shops.....

So perfect for ex-pats who spend so much time complaining about the cost of living. I would have never gone into a £ shop when I lived in the UK, and now they are like a magnet when I visit, lol.

Market Harborough is still quite nice, although it has recently had the addition of a Starbucks, PizzaHut and a Zizzi's (Italian chain restau- always a laugh for French and Romands kids. [zizzi = willy]). But still got small cafés, restaus, pubs and individual boutiques, butchers, fishmongers and veggie stores. Love it.