Well, firstly, widening the road would destroy lots of valuable hedgrows, and nature corridors. Next, we have compulsory purchase orders rather than eliminate domain. The government does not get the land cheap and must pay fair market rate. However, most land owners would fight tooth and nail, and purchasing the land and building the road becomes expensive
You're talking about 14 years of Tory bullying, they're gone, the current government doesn't change the laws of the land to get their own way !@Trebor74
So true, same can be said for Australia. Indian here is awful but Thai wonderful. You can see so clearly what countries are prominent in migration and the history of the country by this
Of course, instead of Mexican food (being a totally familiar "external" cuisine as a cultural element) as it is in the US, Indian food is its equivalent in the UK.
I started watching your channel during lockdown, since we first "met" you, you appear to have become much less stressed, more relaxed and balanced. Whether that's because of a better work-life balance or whether you have grown as people, I can't say, probably a bit of both. I would beg you, for you and your kids, stay in UK or at least in Europe, it seems to be so good for you all.
Narrow roads with flat fields either side - there are a large number of reasons why they are not widened: conservation areas, drainage, historical reasons, hedgerow conservation, nature conservation, flora conservation, SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), geological reasons and plain simple cost, if a road has low usage then it is not considered as a cost viable route for widening.
Yes I agree ... its the low usage that ensures these magical corridors are saved from development. There is usually an 'A' road alternative ... prob longer ... its a choice one has to make. Know that these quiet roads are mostly used by locals and they know where the scary bends are and will drive accordingly (well hopefully anyway).
Plus just we’re not that into cars here? We don’t want everything car focussed - I’d rather have a small scenic road. And I’ve never blown a tire so that weird to me.
To the point about widening the country roads, UK government doesn't have the same willingness/ability to confiscate land for infrastructure as the US and most other countries. Hence roads can take 20-30 years of planning/protests before construction starts in the UK. HS2 being a related example.
I thought the exact same! I nearly didn't recognise Mac, (younger version of my memory! ) And to look at Blair, so open and relaxed, the proud mum of 6 gorgeous children..Well done all of you...
No, we don't need the roads widened in the countryside .. don't need more asphalt or tarmac... grass is so much better! 🙃 As being a Brit...I've never seen families weeing beside the road😅 We are a small country, therefore most buildings are smaller..our cars were on the whole smaller, though with 4x4 they are getting bigger! You get more drink with less ice... Biscuits for breakfast is unusual here! A choc hobnob...nah, 11am with coffee yes! 😅🤣 Jet stream keeps us from get Canada cold...😊 Enjoy your rest of your stay...however long it is! 😊 Love our long full history ... the good bits and the bad. No country is perfect, but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.😊
The reason the UK's not so great for Mexican food is not so much down to the UK's distance from Mexico. It's much more down to the considerable lack of Mexican immigration into the UK. The US is great for Mexican food because for much of its history and still today the US has received a large amount of immigration from Mexico which resulted in a huge introduction and adoption of Mexican ingredients and cuisine into the US over the years. Traditionally, the majority of immigration into the UK came from the Caribbean Island nations, Desi nations (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh), Malaysia, Hong Kong and Cyprus, which were once part of the British Empire and all around the same distance from the UK as Mexico is. All of the immigrants from those nations brought their ingredients and cuisine with them, exactly like the Mexicans did to the US. This is why the UK has amazing Caribbean, Greek, Turkish, South Asian Desi and South Asian Oriental food that's just as difficult to find in the US as quality Mexican food is to find in the UK. One of the common complaints of British immigrants in the US is that they can't find and really miss the great South Asian, Caribbean, Greek, Turkish, and traditional British cuisine of the UK. Also, the majority of the somewhat unique Turkish and Greek cuisine in the UK didn't actually come from Turkey or Greece. It came from Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean that was annexed by the UK from 1914 to 1960 and which still today is unharmoniously divided between a separate Turkish population and a separate Greek population.
@@MacandBlair it's a touch of sarcasm , plus of course you do know that a lot of roads are hundreds of years older than the USA 😂 , just do the driving the British way , if the roads are too small for you just use bigger roads else were , if parking is to tight for you buy / rent smaller vehicles , you really don't have to get the bigger new cars .
I have seen comment from another American family currently resident in the UK, who've witnessed people urinating at the side of the road on more than one occasion. I don't in any way dispute what you or they are saying, but in nearly 50 years of driving I've never seen it happen. I spent 5 years in Germany and it was a thing there. It's illegal in this country to urinate anywhere in public and if a policeman was to be passing whilst someone was in the act, they would be dealt with. I don't know what brought you to these shores Mac, but you and your family have made the utmost of every minute you've been here and experienced as much as you can. I'm sure we Brits will be as one in hoping you remain here living your lives amongst us. Here's to the next 4 years.
I am a UK citizen and I can't even count the amount of times I have seen people, mostly men it has to be said, but people peeing on the side of the road. So I definitely agree with the Mac and Blair family on that one...
@@123bwlchactually thats a misnomer, people have not been referred to as Britisg Subjects for a long time, when you apply to become a british national you dont take the British Subject test you take the British Citizenship test.
@@Jason_L10you can be a British Subject without being a legal British citizen. it's related to changes in citizenship law and decolonisation. A British Subject can hold a British passport but is not considered a UK national.
Last yr, I saw 2 Africans urinating in public in the daytime and I had an argument with an Eastern European, who urinated at the side of a street in the town center on a Sunday morning.
Congratulations on your 4 years here! Gosh I can’t believe it’s 3 years since I first found you with your 1 year anniversary video😮. Love your perspective on life and I dearly hope you never leave because you are a gorgeous family and we are lucky to have you ❤🎉🎉🎉🎉 bravo xx❤❤
Ive always been meaning to move to the UK before coming across your channel, but you two are even more of an inspiration to make it happen and not give up. Ive been to the UK twice, and for different reasons each time. Great video and Can't wait to see what the next 4 years bring to you both. See you lot on the other side of the pond hopefully next year!
I wouldn't recommend moving to the UK now that there's been a change of government. The new government is very unpopular right now because of changes they have implemented, mostly tax related that will make the cost of living in the UK greatly increase. The new prime minister, Kier Starmer, has been a gloom and doom merchant in speeches he has made about the upcoming future of the UK.
I think perhaps in the USA it is more like Compulsory Purchase :the owners have to do it and accept the financial recompense ,even if they don`t want to .
@@hyperbole6529 It has been used in the past here in the UK ,if there is considered a need for the public good . Governments can vote themselves great power, witness the Labour Party, now in power, who will do everything they can to make the UK fit into their ethos i e. the populace should be dependent on the government for everything .
@@Jill-mh2wn Correct, infrastructure in the US gets built much faster because they would never allow 20-30 years of dithering and indecision because one landowner refuses to sell. The state can, and will, impose a purchase on the owner like it or not.
This video was lovely , thank you Mac and Blair ... though did sound a bit like you are leaving us😮I can't believe it's been 4 years. You both are looking so well, Mac you lost weight. Sending you all love and many blessings
I love it when you said the roads may have been there a couple of hundred years. The Romans built so many of the roads we still use today. Oh and an unusual note unsmoked bacon is called green bacon. So you buy either green or smoked.
@@Jill-mh2wn Some amazing churches worth visiting, some nearly 1000 years old, but yes, it is not something you discuss in public and is actually quite rude
There are health benefits in eating mushrooms in the mornings. However, the probable reason, I think, for eating them in the morning is that mushrooms are usually collected in the morning so it has probably been a long-standing tradition to eat them when they have been freshly picked.
They are also included to add balance to the meal, as well as adding fiber and they also absorb liquids like fats and because they have a lo-GI, they release the energy slower.
@@Jason_L10 If I cook something like sausages, bacon or steak of any type in a pan I like to par-boil some mushrooms then finish them in the left behind flavours with a sprinkle of mixed herbs. Quick and easy way to bulk out a meal with something which has less carbs than potato.
@@annother3350 Par-boil. It means drop them into some boiling water for about 30 seconds to get them hot quickly so when you put them into hot oil they do not take long to cook and so do not end up with burnt patches and cold centres.
Until the last 30 seconds of this vid I literally thought you'd gotten too homesick and were leaving. From a purely selfish point of view, that would be a shame - we like having you here! But even if you do eventually decide to go back to the States - hopefully you'll still come and visit us from time to time.
Hi Mac & Blair. I was curious what the children think of their time in the UK and are you happy with how they have settled down to life in general? Also, how has their integration into their schools been, both for them and for you? Were there things that surprised you? Sorry that's a lot of questions, but I am genuinely curious.
This video made me subscribe. Thank you for being so warm and generous on your thoughts of the UK. I'm glad your experience is mainly positive. For what it's worth, i have 5 kids, English of course, and none of them will touch a mushroom !! All the best to you both and God bless you.
I think we're lucky to have Mac and Blair and their family here but to me it sounds like we're gonna loose them at some point which is a shame because they're so decent.
Really enjoyed this video! I’m an American transferring with my company to their England location. LOL, the ketchup with Mexican food as “sauce” cracked me up 🤣 Please share your favorite American style BBQ places in England because I’m going to miss that so much!
Perhaps the farmers like that the roads splitting their land are narrow because if those lanes were widened the traffic would speed up and cause other dangers.
Because everything good about Britain is inherited and everything new is making it worse each year. We've had 27 years of Blairism and I don't think the country will even exist in another 27
The Mexican food is authentic in the areas that Mexicans live, so if it's Mexican-owned etc It makes sense that it's going to be much better in the US as Mexico shares a border with the States. I wouldn't even bother here unless you know an exceptional place. There's a comparatively tiny population of Mexicans here (10k-ish) and we have so many other options based on the specific communties here, e.g Indian, Turkish, Italian etc There are 2million British Indians so best to stick to Indian food if you want something spicy, otherwise you have to hunt down the good places because Mexican food isn't that popular here.
Due to climate change the UK may get much colder winters. If the gulf stream shifts slightly the seas round the UK will cool resulting the UK being much colder in the winter
I'm interested in how British the children are getting, are their accents changing or phrases they use? Do they watch British children's tv or US shows/cartoons.
If you are going to drive everywhere, expect problems. My tip is try out public transport, its not just for poor people here and it can get you just about anywhere you want to go with no parking hassles
depends on where you live though. My nearest bus stop is about a 10 minute walk away, nearest train station is about a 25 mintue walk, and im not too far outside a city. At that point driving is just much easier.
RE: roads & parking. Don't forget you're a family of 8, so your vehicle will be bigger than the majority of UK family cars. In the UK our cars are more UK-family based (size-wise) which cope with the smaller/narrower roads better. Also you're driving on the left in the UK - so not the side you are used to, you are likely to drive nearer the middle of the road than on the edge of the road. 😁 Parking deck = multi-storey car park for those who don't know :)
Also many of these multi-storey car parks were built in the 60's and 70's when SUVs didn't exist. UK cars were much smaller (and still are to a large extent) so you will have trouble navigating older car parks in larger vehicles
The weeing at the side of the road thing (I know there are already comments) I have almost never seen in the U.K. In France it’s much more common (I remember seeing someone wee up the side of the (free)public toilet building). It’s odd that you have seen so much of it.
I agree @leebaker8524 's comment below. I would suggest that people seen relieving themselves at the roadside are foreign, commercial drivers, or people from outside the UK who are unfamiliar with our practises.
I feel your pain regarding toilets. My father used to tell me that BP garages always have toilets, so I buy all my fuel from BP so I have an excuse to use the WC.
I'm not a mushroom, or beans guy. Really glad you guys are here, and you're slightly different perspective from the usual ones. Showing how you've managed with a fairly large family is very interesting. It's seeing you be accepted as an African American, which was the first reason i started watching you. I stayed for your lovely videos, and insights into our country. Race has never been an issue, and i've been proud of that. (I'm mixed race. Ive not had any issues for years/decades). I hope you never leave us, or stop with your videos.
The equivalent of Mexican food here in the UK is Indian food. We do however have South American communities here which includes Mexican dishes. You just have to know where they’re located. London has a lot of Mexican restaurants, as well as many other restaurants.
Apart from the food differences you mentioned such as flavour, product availability (biscuits) and cultural choices (Mexican) is it worth mentioning what is actually in food in the UK compared to the US ? There are very different food quality standards relating to sugar content, additives and preservatives. There are some other RUclipsrs who compare the "same" product (Ketchup, Fanta orange, MacDonalds etc.) and the differences are stark and frightening. I'd be really interested in knowing whether you general health, including weight control, is different here in the UK compared to the US.
You should go see the Ring of Kerry when the wild flowers are out in Southern Ireland. Thats a cross between Cornwall, Scotland, znd the Lake District.
The US purchase Tax was so frustrating. Just when you think that 4x $10 notes will cover you, they hit you with "That will be $47.58 sir". Great .... now I have a pocket full of pennies.
It is amazing that it has been 4 years. Time has flown. I think a lot of us are just so used to driving in narrow roads we don't give it a second thought. The big Mushroom is called a Field Mushroom. They are superb. I have a cider whilst watching this. I'm British, nothing is strange to me. I was beginning to think you are leaving us. Thank goodness you clarified that. 😃
Our narrow roads are very old they go through farm land which we need. Just suck it up. I love our hedge rows. Some roads are also un adopted roads. So no one looks after the un adopted roads.
The roads are so narrow as they were cattle drover routes …. The raised banks are because they’re ancient and the mud of the road was worn away and the hedges left up high. The farmers own the land and the hedge rows can be many hundreds of years old …. Take a 30 yards and count the types of plant x110 plus 30 = the age of the hedge. Plus many are protected as they sustain indigenous wildlife … voles, owls, insect. Etc. This isn’t America yet … we don’t want to tarmac everything for cars. A few of our main roads were built by the Romans and are still in use… Watling street … Dover to London to St Albans …. We just put tarmac on the Roman road!
What have uour childrens school experiences been like. Are you relieved about not having to worry about school shootings. Are you worried about guns when you back to the states. Will you order kevlar backpacks.?
Such wholesome content. Outstanding parents giving their children the best of all opportunities. Good: The NHS Bad: The fact i have to share this Island with other people (I am awkward and hate everyone) Unusual: we have invented SO many sports we're crap at. Be lucky.
I’m so glad to find you in my feed again. I thought maybe you guys had gone back to US. I’m a Brit who lives in the US I remember fairly early in my stay here walking my daughter to school and feeling oddly, intensely, happy for what seemed like no reason then it suddenly dawned on me that it was the weather! The temperature the drizzle the sun coming in and out - you can miss that! I can also remember going for long walks (in England) in the pouring rain and really enjoying it
American food is expensive and over processed often containing additives that the EU banned years ago. You have to drive everywhere as public transport is not great, your welfare system has no safety net for very poor and vulnerable people. Drugs and Guns (what else can you say about that). Every country has its problems and every empire declines now is not the time to return to the U.S, but understandable if you are homesick.
And don’t forget working in UK you have had the holiday time which has allowed you to do so much travelling. If you’d been in the US you wouldn’t nearly have had so much time off 😂
OMG!! Has it been this long? I do notice it as I watch your daughter grow into a lovely young lady. I remember the first videos, Blair would never appear, always busy with something. The boys as they reach milestones you can see them pull the same face or do something the one older than them did at that age, I still love your videos even after all this time. Thank you
AAAAccckkk, the ease of travel! I'm a Brit living in the US (I've been here for over 20 years) My daughter was visiting Las Vegas and I was going to visit her. Fantastic trip! But, how to get to the airport? If I was really lacking then I'd use Greyhound. Apparently, Greyhound doesn't 'do' my area anymore. So, the cheapest way to get to the airport is to hire a car (yes, they will hold a certain amount of money on your card) . So, if you have a spare thousand dollars, then yes, you too can get to and from the airport. Public transport?! Pfffttt!!
Go behind a hedge love! Those hedges that make the roads so narrow 😂 They were designed for horses, not cars. Part of living somewhere with history. As a car driver, you're a new addition. As for narrow 'parking lots', a minicum of driving skill helps
As a Brit, born and raised in London, I can tell you that the best authentic Mexican restaurants/Latino restaurants are generally located in Elephant and Castle, Brixton or Stockwell. I recommend you check out Old Kent Road. Que Chidos Tacos is reallllyy goodddddd.
You seem really light hearted and relaxed. You're laughing at things like people weeing on the side of the road. I bet you wouldn't have done when you first came lol. You're turning British!
No no you both, Nothings cheap, Its just cheaper. Gosh if companys hear that prices may go up some more. Ha. Talking of Bacon, I get a £5,00 pack, 1KG. Smocked or Unsmocked at Home Bargans. Good thick slices. Unlike some stores that are thin and wateery. Dam now ive spread the word.
Definitely agree with car parks. I drive a small car, but even I hate how tight the manoeuvring space is. Although I’d hate to see country lanes widened, I do find that fact that some people speed along them at 60mph scary. I’ve never actually seen people relieving themselves on the side of the road.
@Dame Tremonti of course it's an offence otherwise the police wouldn't hand out on the spot fines for anyone caught doing it. I've had issues for the last few years with people coming up the side and back of my house doing it and both the police and council have told me it's an offence no matter if anyone witnesses it or not. Do you think we still live in the medieval period? It's a public health and sanitary issue if for nothing else than for the smell with urine. During the last 3 summers when we get some heat the smell of urine around my house is revolting because the brickwork soaks it up and the heat on it releases the horrible ammonia stink. Why would that be acceptable to you? It's disgusting
@@DameTremonti Mac stated that they could see the genitals. People have also been fined for urinating in a public space. Some councils have prosecuted people as they have proscribed it as littering.
In Scotland, did you mean Cairngorms (the mountains) catacombs are something very different, most famous ones are in Italy, under Rome ❤ By the way, I know you've travelled up the west side of England whilst travelling to Scotland but have you been through Durham and Northumberland? When I say through, did you stop? Did you visit Alnwick, Alnmouth or Bamburgh? Did you visit the largest forest in the UK, Keilder Forest which surrounds the 26 mile round Keilder Water, is also the UK's first (& best by far) dark sky park. I think you haven't been here or you'd be talking about our land of beautiful, long beaches and castles 🎉 ps, also Beamish Open Air museum, best in Europe, 200 years of, living, English history , you won't find a better experience 😉
I spent three weeks in Montana this summer, what a wonderful place but...the food prices are sky high...your in for a shock when you go back; for grocery bill will double
There’s a cave near me where you go down and then you get on a little boat to travel along underground channels it’s called Speedwell cavern in Derbyshire a guy has to use his feet on the cave ceiling to propel the raft style boat.
I am English, and my wife is from Missouri. we lived in Farmington, Missouri, for 3 years before we came to England in 2011 Things I miss about living In small town America is politeness in shops and biscuits and gravy things I don't miss is over the top tipping great vlog guys
Urinating at the side of the road, or by the side of your car is frowned on here. I think it would only happen v late at night when pubs are closed. See it all the time in Europe though, particularly in France. Perhaps the ppl you see doing it, are new incomers who don't yet know, its not the done thing here. I agee our roads are very narrow, particulaly in the countryside, but they were orginally dirt roads for horses and wider ones for carts and horse drawn coaches. Hedgerows were invented 4 to 6 thousand years ago, and so some of them are very historical. We really don't want to rip them out for the sake of the motor vehicle. Millions of them have already been lost. They are a boon to nature and also stop flooding as well as acting as land boundaries. They are beautiful too ... particularly in spring and summer. We have far more variety in food here now after joining the EU in the '70s and after ppl from our old colonies moved here and opened restaurants. We are now far more adventurous and sophisicated, but yes, I've never met a Mexican in the UK, so that must be why we dont have good Mexican food. I'm glad you feel safe here. That is worth everything, particularly when you have children. I agree with you about the turning in a multi story car parks. You really have to be mindful/careful with steering. You have seen more of the UK than most of us have, as Brits usually opt to travel abroad. I must try to get to Anglesea one day. I'm surprised you don't hate our weather more ... the rain has got worse thanks to climate change. 😢😪😮💨 I do think your stay has broadened your horizons. Wish more Americans would travel and not just for their holidays. Hope you continue to enjoy life here.
In the 60's/70's the seasons were very definined. Winters were much colder, and the snow was more powdery. It was normal to walk in 6-12ins of snow, and the country didn't shutdown as it often does now
I've been living in England since 1977. I really wish we had decent Mexican restaurants, so that's an "unusual". In the 1950s, citizens of former UK colonies were invited to come to the 'mother country' to work here in the mills etc, and that has led to a lot of Indian and other restaurants, which I think is really good. A/C - the weather here seems to vary over the years. In the 80s we had some scorching summers and pretty cold winters. The last two or three winters and summers have been quite moderate.....this year (2024) spring seemed to blend into summer and then into autumn with not much change. But when it gets really warm, I wish we had A/C installed as standard in most homes! And in contrast to Scandinavia, Britain grinds to a halt when there's two inches of snow on the ground! I wish our train network could cope with snow and likewise our roads and even our drivers. If the Trans Siberian railway can run punctually then there is no reason why Britain could not have reliable rail services in bad weather! I'd find it hard to imagine life without a kettle! And I like that we have an electricity supply that means that kettles boil quickly and we have sockets that seem to be a bit safer to use than the US ones! The obvious ones: The NHS: Health care free at the point of access should be a human right, especially in a developed country. No one should be struggling to afford an epi-pen, an inhaler or insulin and the last thing anyone diagnosed with cancer or a serious illness/accident needs is the worry of how to pay for medical treatment. Kinda linked to that is workers' rights - the right to a decent period of maternity leave, the right to take sick leave, etc. Family life and family stability and security matters and could be compromised by enormous medical debts or by job loss. Guns: Americans seem to have an attachment to guns as a symbol of freedom. Your gun laws are outdated and belong to a time when there was no organised law enforcement and people might well have had to defend themselves. I am very glad I live in a country where gun crime is rare and where police do not routinely carry guns. You need to impose gun control! Food and animal welfare: It sounds like it is easier to find food that is not packed full of additives and preservatives here and that possibly our laws on food additives are stricter than ones in the US? Likewise our laws on welfare of cattle, hens, sheep etc?
Biscquits/Biscuits. I'm a Brit whos family loves them. My nieces brought 2 dozen packets when they came over from NY. You used to be able to buy them in the American stores but they stopped selling them years ago.
It's nice to hear that you've enjoyed your stay here and equally nice to hear a positive assessment of life in the UK. As you're well aware we like a good moan 🤣
Truly, I very much agree with you on the issue of child safety when comparing the US with most other countries. It was a major part in our decision to leave the US after my six year contract ended. Throughout the world, countries are moving away from automobile centric planning, so any idea of widening European roads is a non starter. Btw, in UK lingo, a flat is called a puncture.
Biscuits ( US) taste like salty scones but much softer. So maybe a scone mix with more liquid and cooked in a muffin pan Just a guess In US KFC sells biscuits with their meals But biscuits and gravy ! Yuk. Still after years in US I didn’t understand that combination
Have you tried crumpets yet? I mean they're not a replacement for biscuits but are delicious when toasted till slightly crispy & dripping in butter 😁 Did you by chance mean the Cairngorms? 🤔😁
The history is the best. I belong to English Heritage & the National Trust. My favourite place is in Northumberland, it is so beautiful. I also love the Channel Tunnel that takes us to France & the rest of Europe. (I don't like flying or going on ships). The employment laws are excellent, too. Of course, our free NHS is a star. The potholes in the road are awful.
You stressed that on a narrow road you must yield, pull over or stop but you forget to mention that half the time, the oncoming vehicle will make way for you! So its already only half as bad as you claim 😊
Well, firstly, widening the road would destroy lots of valuable hedgrows, and nature corridors. Next, we have compulsory purchase orders rather than eliminate domain. The government does not get the land cheap and must pay fair market rate. However, most land owners would fight tooth and nail, and purchasing the land and building the road becomes expensive
No, no, no - we should force rules through and give over all our countryside to serve cars for the benefit of Americans.
Prior to compulsory purchase land tends to get downgraded from AAA,so they do get it cheaper.
You're talking about 14 years of Tory bullying, they're gone, the current government doesn't change the laws of the land to get their own way !@Trebor74
You’re right, hard to find a good Mexican in the UK. It’s also hard to find a good Indian restaurant in the US!
Not true, I've been to some excellent Indian restaurants in the NYC!!
So true, same can be said for Australia. Indian here is awful but Thai wonderful. You can see so clearly what countries are prominent in migration and the history of the country by this
Of course, instead of Mexican food (being a totally familiar "external" cuisine as a cultural element) as it is in the US, Indian food is its equivalent in the UK.
Nah, Kebabs are the equivalent. USA eat Mexican food as quick street food.
I started watching your channel during lockdown, since we first "met" you, you appear to have become much less stressed, more relaxed and balanced. Whether that's because of a better work-life balance or whether you have grown as people, I can't say, probably a bit of both. I would beg you, for you and your kids, stay in UK or at least in Europe, it seems to be so good for you all.
Dude literally looks 15 years younger!🤣👍
@@troublesome1019much fitter
Narrow roads with flat fields either side - there are a large number of reasons why they are not widened: conservation areas, drainage, historical reasons, hedgerow conservation, nature conservation, flora conservation, SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), geological reasons and plain simple cost, if a road has low usage then it is not considered as a cost viable route for widening.
Yes I agree ... its the low usage that ensures these magical corridors are saved from development. There is usually an 'A' road alternative ... prob longer ... its a choice one has to make. Know that these quiet roads are mostly used by locals and they know where the scary bends are and will drive accordingly (well hopefully anyway).
Or resurfacing!
@@howardchambers9679 Ssh! Don't mention pot holes!
Plus just we’re not that into cars here? We don’t want everything car focussed - I’d rather have a small scenic road. And I’ve never blown a tire so that weird to me.
Most roads in the Uk were there long before motor vehicles
To the point about widening the country roads, UK government doesn't have the same willingness/ability to confiscate land for infrastructure as the US and most other countries. Hence roads can take 20-30 years of planning/protests before construction starts in the UK. HS2 being a related example.
You’re always so positive. You both also look younger than you did four years ago!
I thought the exact same! I nearly didn't recognise Mac, (younger version of my memory! ) And to look at Blair, so open and relaxed, the proud mum of 6 gorgeous children..Well done all of you...
That’s so true.❤️
True .
No, we don't need the roads widened in the countryside .. don't need more asphalt or tarmac... grass is so much better! 🙃 As being a Brit...I've never seen families weeing beside the road😅
We are a small country, therefore most buildings are smaller..our cars were on the whole smaller, though with 4x4 they are getting bigger!
You get more drink with less ice...
Biscuits for breakfast is unusual here! A choc hobnob...nah, 11am with coffee yes! 😅🤣
Jet stream keeps us from get Canada cold...😊
Enjoy your rest of your stay...however long it is! 😊
Love our long full history ... the good bits and the bad. No country is perfect, but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.😊
Gulf stream...
@@Kitiwake Meant Gulf stream ... 😅
Never seen families weeing at the side of the road either, but I suppose it could happen anywhere in the world if a family was really desperate.😂
The reason the UK's not so great for Mexican food is not so much down to the UK's distance from Mexico. It's much more down to the considerable lack of Mexican immigration into the UK. The US is great for Mexican food because for much of its history and still today the US has received a large amount of immigration from Mexico which resulted in a huge introduction and adoption of Mexican ingredients and cuisine into the US over the years.
Traditionally, the majority of immigration into the UK came from the Caribbean Island nations, Desi nations (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh), Malaysia, Hong Kong and Cyprus, which were once part of the British Empire and all around the same distance from the UK as Mexico is. All of the immigrants from those nations brought their ingredients and cuisine with them, exactly like the Mexicans did to the US. This is why the UK has amazing Caribbean, Greek, Turkish, South Asian Desi and South Asian Oriental food that's just as difficult to find in the US as quality Mexican food is to find in the UK.
One of the common complaints of British immigrants in the US is that they can't find and really miss the great South Asian, Caribbean, Greek, Turkish, and traditional British cuisine of the UK.
Also, the majority of the somewhat unique Turkish and Greek cuisine in the UK didn't actually come from Turkey or Greece. It came from Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean that was annexed by the UK from 1914 to 1960 and which still today is unharmoniously divided between a separate Turkish population and a separate Greek population.
You can get all the right Mexican food. My friend runs the largest Mexican food import business (she's Mexican) but yeah otherwise harder to get.
They need to go to the restaurant -- Wahaca. There is great mdexican food here, it;s just not soi prevalent
Leave the roads alone! We like doing 60mph on a single track with blind bends! It builds character. 😊
🤣🤣🤣 it does.
@@MacandBlair it's a touch of sarcasm , plus of course you do know that a lot of roads are hundreds of years older than the USA 😂 , just do the driving the British way , if the roads are too small for you just use bigger roads else were , if parking is to tight for you buy / rent smaller vehicles , you really don't have to get the bigger new cars .
@@howardchambers9679 😅🤣😂
@@lawrenceglaister4364 They now have 6 children! They need bigger transport just because of that.....
Life must be good. Mac is aging backwards . I’d say, looking 10 years younger
Facts
And a bit of weight loss !!!!
I have seen comment from another American family currently resident in the UK, who've witnessed people urinating at the side of the road on more than one occasion. I don't in any way dispute what you or they are saying, but in nearly 50 years of driving I've never seen it happen. I spent 5 years in Germany and it was a thing there. It's illegal in this country to urinate anywhere in public and if a policeman was to be passing whilst someone was in the act, they would be dealt with.
I don't know what brought you to these shores Mac, but you and your family have made the utmost of every minute you've been here and experienced as much as you can. I'm sure we Brits will be as one in hoping you remain here living your lives amongst us. Here's to the next 4 years.
I am a UK citizen and I can't even count the amount of times I have seen people, mostly men it has to be said, but people peeing on the side of the road. So I definitely agree with the Mac and Blair family on that one...
@@summerssummers1986 Your a subject to the crown no such thing as a British citizen.
@@123bwlchactually thats a misnomer, people have not been referred to as Britisg Subjects for a long time, when you apply to become a british national you dont take the British Subject test you take the British Citizenship test.
@@Jason_L10you can be a British Subject without being a legal British citizen. it's related to changes in citizenship law and decolonisation. A British Subject can hold a British passport but is not considered a UK national.
Last yr, I saw 2 Africans urinating in public in the daytime and I had an argument with an Eastern European, who urinated at the side of a street in the town center on a Sunday morning.
Winters are definitely warmer in the UK now than they were 30-40yrs ago.
Or 20
To be fair we had better season's.
@ we did.
We had very little snow in the 60s and 70s. Early 80s was a different matter.
@ depends where you lived. Very heavy snow in 60’s in Northumberland.
Congratulations on your 4 years here! Gosh I can’t believe it’s 3 years since I first found you with your 1 year anniversary video😮. Love your perspective on life and I dearly hope you never leave because you are a gorgeous family and we are lucky to have you ❤🎉🎉🎉🎉 bravo xx❤❤
I love that you enjoy the country. You both look younger with your hair like that. I hope you stay forever.
Protecting nature that's why they do not widen the road. to protect nature. Not to mention sheep and cows roam free they are not cooped up in a shed
Don't go!
Stay here Blair family!
We like having you!
In my 20 years driving up and down the country, I have never seen adults urinating at the side of the road.
Good. But I am 70 and a woman and move further away from the road to "Visit Mrs Murphy" as it was called in our family when I was little.
@@Lily-Bravo😂😂
You're a good driver who keeps their eyes on the road then!
Ive always been meaning to move to the UK before coming across your channel, but you two are even more of an inspiration to make it happen and not give up. Ive been to the UK twice, and for different reasons each time. Great video and Can't wait to see what the next 4 years bring to you both. See you lot on the other side of the pond hopefully next year!
Cone on over! We don’t bite!
I wouldn't recommend moving to the UK now that there's been a change of government. The new government is very unpopular right now because of changes they have implemented, mostly tax related that will make the cost of living in the UK greatly increase. The new prime minister, Kier Starmer, has been a gloom and doom merchant in speeches he has made about the upcoming future of the UK.
@@MissA3839If you’re an American then you need to mind your own business.. 😡
@@MissA3839pay no heed it is just fine
No one would sell their land to get more traffic around them in Britain. Great video ❤
I think perhaps in the USA it is more like Compulsory Purchase :the owners have to do it and accept the financial recompense ,even if they don`t want to .
@Jill-mh2wn That's terrible
@@hyperbole6529 It has been used in the past here in the UK ,if there is considered a need for the public good .
Governments can vote themselves great power, witness the Labour Party, now in power, who will do everything they can to make the UK fit into their ethos i e. the populace should be dependent on the government for everything .
@Jill-mh2wn labour is a party of lunatics. But yes, I do think they forced people out on the HR2 routes. That's terrible, too, lol
@@Jill-mh2wn Correct, infrastructure in the US gets built much faster because they would never allow 20-30 years of dithering and indecision because one landowner refuses to sell. The state can, and will, impose a purchase on the owner like it or not.
This video was lovely , thank you Mac and Blair ... though did sound a bit like you are leaving us😮I can't believe it's been 4 years. You both are looking so well, Mac you lost weight. Sending you all love and many blessings
I love it when you said the roads may have been there a couple of hundred years. The Romans built so many of the roads we still use today. Oh and an unusual note unsmoked bacon is called green bacon. So you buy either green or smoked.
As someone who is looking to visit the U.K. soon, this is very insightful, thank you!
Just leave Jesus behind ,we are mostly a secular country
@@Jill-mh2wn Some amazing churches worth visiting, some nearly 1000 years old, but yes, it is not something you discuss in public and is actually quite rude
There are health benefits in eating mushrooms in the mornings. However, the probable reason, I think, for eating them in the morning is that mushrooms are usually collected in the morning so it has probably been a long-standing tradition to eat them when they have been freshly picked.
They are also included to add balance to the meal, as well as adding fiber and they also absorb liquids like fats and because they have a lo-GI, they release the energy slower.
@@Jason_L10 If I cook something like sausages, bacon or steak of any type in a pan I like to par-boil some mushrooms then finish them in the left behind flavours with a sprinkle of mixed herbs. Quick and easy way to bulk out a meal with something which has less carbs than potato.
I didn't think of that
@@martinconnelly1473 you boil mushrooms?!
@@annother3350 Par-boil. It means drop them into some boiling water for about 30 seconds to get them hot quickly so when you put them into hot oil they do not take long to cook and so do not end up with burnt patches and cold centres.
You can always try Polish, Indian, Chinese, Turkish, Chinese, Thai food and many others
Until the last 30 seconds of this vid I literally thought you'd gotten too homesick and were leaving. From a purely selfish point of view, that would be a shame - we like having you here! But even if you do eventually decide to go back to the States - hopefully you'll still come and visit us from time to time.
Hi Mac & Blair. I was curious what the children think of their time in the UK and are you happy with how they have settled down to life in general? Also, how has their integration into their schools been, both for them and for you? Were there things that surprised you? Sorry that's a lot of questions, but I am genuinely curious.
Me too. Would love to hear from the children. How different are UK and US schools?
well done Mac and family ,you have most probably seen more of the uk than most residents, glad your liking it here
This video made me subscribe. Thank you for being so warm and generous on your thoughts of the UK. I'm glad your experience is mainly positive. For what it's worth, i have 5 kids, English of course, and none of them will touch a mushroom !! All the best to you both and God bless you.
So beautiful to see how you’re integrating into our culture. Thank you 🙏
I think we're lucky to have Mac and Blair and their family here but to me it sounds like we're gonna loose them at some point which is a shame because they're so decent.
Really enjoyed this video! I’m an American transferring with my company to their England location. LOL, the ketchup with Mexican food as “sauce” cracked me up 🤣 Please share your favorite American style BBQ places in England because I’m going to miss that so much!
Are the children happy, that's the main thing 💝
Most carparks in the UK were built in the 60/70's and had to fit into an existing footprint cars were also smaller back then.
So were the people!
The regulations need updating
Perhaps the farmers like that the roads splitting their land are narrow because if those lanes were widened the traffic would speed up and cause other dangers.
On country roads it’s custom to beep your horn as you approach a blind bend to warn any oncoming traffic.
Imagine that,there is something positive in the UK...you would never believe that if you opened a newspaper or switched on the tv.
IKR? Everybody I know is moaning about the country and several of them are actively looking into emigrating
@@thadtuiol1717 Let me know when they find Eden.
Trump. 😂😂
Because everything good about Britain is inherited and everything new is making it worse each year. We've had 27 years of Blairism and I don't think the country will even exist in another 27
The Mexican food is authentic in the areas that Mexicans live, so if it's Mexican-owned etc It makes sense that it's going to be much better in the US as Mexico shares a border with the States. I wouldn't even bother here unless you know an exceptional place. There's a comparatively tiny population of Mexicans here (10k-ish) and we have so many other options based on the specific communties here, e.g Indian, Turkish, Italian etc There are 2million British Indians so best to stick to Indian food if you want something spicy, otherwise you have to hunt down the good places because Mexican food isn't that popular here.
Due to climate change the UK may get much colder winters. If the gulf stream shifts slightly the seas round the UK will cool resulting the UK being much colder in the winter
I'm interested in how British the children are getting, are their accents changing or phrases they use? Do they watch British children's tv or US shows/cartoons.
If you are going to drive everywhere, expect problems. My tip is try out public transport, its not just for poor people here and it can get you just about anywhere you want to go with no parking hassles
depends on where you live though. My nearest bus stop is about a 10 minute walk away, nearest train station is about a 25 mintue walk, and im not too far outside a city. At that point driving is just much easier.
With 6 children it`s more problematical than loading them and the related equipment into the car .
British families will find this also .
Two buses and a long walk to my sons school...or a ten minute drive. I'm driving in order to get to work on time
Ice in drinks = less drink = waste of money
More than that- taste buds do not work well when too cold so lots of ice- poor quality drink because you can't taste the difference
RE: roads & parking. Don't forget you're a family of 8, so your vehicle will be bigger than the majority of UK family cars. In the UK our cars are more UK-family based (size-wise) which cope with the smaller/narrower roads better. Also you're driving on the left in the UK - so not the side you are used to, you are likely to drive nearer the middle of the road than on the edge of the road. 😁
Parking deck = multi-storey car park for those who don't know :)
Also many of these multi-storey car parks were built in the 60's and 70's when SUVs didn't exist. UK cars were much smaller (and still are to a large extent) so you will have trouble navigating older car parks in larger vehicles
The weeing at the side of the road thing (I know there are already comments) I have almost never seen in the U.K. In France it’s much more common (I remember seeing someone wee up the side of the (free)public toilet building). It’s odd that you have seen so much of it.
I'm in my 60's and in my life I've never ever seen anybody doing a wee by the side of the road
If I really have to pee at the roadside, I'll stop at a field gate and climb over it, to pee on the inside of the hedge.
I agree @leebaker8524 's comment below. I would suggest that people seen relieving themselves at the roadside are foreign, commercial drivers, or people from outside the UK who are unfamiliar with our practises.
So glad you are all settled and enjoying your time here
You look much younger now. Even your voice sounds younger. Must be down to eating healthier than the US with fewer processed chemicals.
I feel your pain regarding toilets. My father used to tell me that BP garages always have toilets, so I buy all my fuel from BP so I have an excuse to use the WC.
I'm not a mushroom, or beans guy.
Really glad you guys are here, and you're slightly different perspective from the usual ones. Showing how you've managed with a fairly large family is very interesting. It's seeing you be accepted as an African American, which was the first reason i started watching you. I stayed for your lovely videos, and insights into our country. Race has never been an issue, and i've been proud of that. (I'm mixed race. Ive not had any issues for years/decades).
I hope you never leave us, or stop with your videos.
Love to hear people feel safe in the UK. I hope you enjoyed Scotland!!!
Mac long time viewer here, you are looking so much better now, congratulations. You and your family are an inspiration , so open minded.
I agree, they are both looking so much younger, it's taken about 10 years of each of them :)
The equivalent of Mexican food here in the UK is Indian food. We do however have South American communities here which includes Mexican dishes. You just have to know where they’re located. London has a lot of Mexican restaurants, as well as many other restaurants.
Apart from the food differences you mentioned such as flavour, product availability (biscuits) and cultural choices (Mexican) is it worth mentioning what is actually in food in the UK compared to the US ? There are very different food quality standards relating to sugar content, additives and preservatives. There are some other RUclipsrs who compare the "same" product (Ketchup, Fanta orange, MacDonalds etc.) and the differences are stark and frightening. I'd be really interested in knowing whether you general health, including weight control, is different here in the UK compared to the US.
You both look fitter and healthier and younger four years later.
I love the British isles I was born and bred in Lancashire. Would never go anywhere else
Are the children doing well at school and how have they settled in and making friends? Is the UK education system compared to the USA much different?
You should go see the Ring of Kerry when the wild flowers are out in Southern Ireland. Thats a cross between Cornwall, Scotland, znd the Lake District.
The US purchase Tax was so frustrating. Just when you think that 4x $10 notes will cover you, they hit you with "That will be $47.58 sir". Great .... now I have a pocket full of pennies.
It is amazing that it has been 4 years. Time has flown. I think a lot of us are just so used to driving in narrow roads we don't give it a second thought. The big Mushroom is called a Field Mushroom. They are superb. I have a cider whilst watching this. I'm British, nothing is strange to me. I was beginning to think you are leaving us. Thank goodness you clarified that. 😃
Our narrow roads are very old they go through farm land which we need. Just suck it up. I love our hedge rows. Some roads are also un adopted roads. So no one looks after the un adopted roads.
How are you getting so many flats? I've been driving 40 years and only ever had 3.
The roads are so narrow as they were cattle drover routes …. The raised banks are because they’re ancient and the mud of the road was worn away and the hedges left up high. The farmers own the land and the hedge rows can be many hundreds of years old …. Take a 30 yards and count the types of plant x110 plus 30 = the age of the hedge. Plus many are protected as they sustain indigenous wildlife … voles, owls, insect. Etc. This isn’t America yet … we don’t want to tarmac everything for cars. A few of our main roads were built by the Romans and are still in use… Watling street … Dover to London to St Albans …. We just put tarmac on the Roman road!
What have uour childrens school experiences been like. Are you relieved about not having to worry about school shootings. Are you worried about guns when you back to the states. Will you order kevlar backpacks.?
Such wholesome content. Outstanding parents giving their children the best of all opportunities.
Good: The NHS
Bad: The fact i have to share this Island with other people (I am awkward and hate everyone)
Unusual: we have invented SO many sports we're crap at.
Be lucky.
Did you mean the Cairngorms? Catacombs are underground tombs 🤣
I’m so glad to find you in my feed again. I thought maybe you guys had gone back to US. I’m a Brit who lives in the US I remember fairly early in my stay here walking my daughter to school and feeling oddly, intensely, happy for what seemed like no reason then it suddenly dawned on me that it was the weather! The temperature the drizzle the sun coming in and out - you can miss that! I can also remember going for long walks (in England) in the pouring rain and really enjoying it
American food is expensive and over processed often containing additives that the EU banned years ago. You have to drive everywhere as public transport is not great, your welfare system has no safety net for very poor and vulnerable people. Drugs and Guns (what else can you say about that). Every country has its problems and every empire declines now is not the time to return to the U.S, but understandable if you are homesick.
As a fellow American, I appreciate your experience, and it sounds like you had a great adventure. Thank you for sharing.
And don’t forget working in UK you have had the holiday time which has allowed you to do so much travelling. If you’d been in the US you wouldn’t nearly have had so much time off 😂
OMG!! Has it been this long? I do notice it as I watch your daughter grow into a lovely young lady. I remember the first videos, Blair would never appear, always busy with something. The boys as they reach milestones you can see them pull the same face or do something the one older than them did at that age, I still love your videos even after all this time. Thank you
AAAAccckkk, the ease of travel! I'm a Brit living in the US (I've been here for over 20 years) My daughter was visiting Las Vegas and I was going to visit her. Fantastic trip! But, how to get to the airport? If I was really lacking then I'd use Greyhound. Apparently, Greyhound doesn't 'do' my area anymore. So, the cheapest way to get to the airport is to hire a car (yes, they will hold a certain amount of money on your card) . So, if you have a spare thousand dollars, then yes, you too can get to and from the airport. Public transport?! Pfffttt!!
Go behind a hedge love! Those hedges that make the roads so narrow 😂 They were designed for horses, not cars. Part of living somewhere with history. As a car driver, you're a new addition.
As for narrow 'parking lots', a minicum of driving skill helps
As a Brit, born and raised in London, I can tell you that the best authentic Mexican restaurants/Latino restaurants are generally located in Elephant and Castle, Brixton or Stockwell. I recommend you check out Old Kent Road. Que Chidos Tacos is reallllyy goodddddd.
Yes, I've heard that there's a large Latin American population in that area these days. Must check it out!
You seem really light hearted and relaxed. You're laughing at things like people weeing on the side of the road. I bet you wouldn't have done when you first came lol. You're turning British!
Narrow roads are great as they slow the cars down and make them more pedestrian friendly.
Clearly you have never been to Devon with a local driver
No no you both, Nothings cheap, Its just cheaper. Gosh if companys hear that prices may go up some more. Ha. Talking of Bacon, I get a £5,00 pack, 1KG. Smocked or Unsmocked at Home Bargans. Good thick slices. Unlike some stores that are thin and wateery. Dam now ive spread the word.
Definitely agree with car parks. I drive a small car, but even I hate how tight the manoeuvring space is. Although I’d hate to see country lanes widened, I do find that fact that some people speed along them at 60mph scary. I’ve never actually seen people relieving themselves on the side of the road.
Peeing at the side of the road is actually an offence. It is not cultural. How did you cope with all the different accents in the UK?
No its not. You can pee anywhere SO LONG as you're not exposing your genitalia to other people.
@Dame Tremonti of course it's an offence otherwise the police wouldn't hand out on the spot fines for anyone caught doing it. I've had issues for the last few years with people coming up the side and back of my house doing it and both the police and council have told me it's an offence no matter if anyone witnesses it or not. Do you think we still live in the medieval period? It's a public health and sanitary issue if for nothing else than for the smell with urine. During the last 3 summers when we get some heat the smell of urine around my house is revolting because the brickwork
soaks it up and the heat on it releases the horrible ammonia stink. Why would that be acceptable to you? It's disgusting
@@DameTremonti Mac stated that they could see the genitals. People have also been fined for urinating in a public space. Some councils have prosecuted people as they have proscribed it as littering.
@@DameTremontilike men pretending to be women in female changing rooms?
@@stoneagepig3768wash it off, hose it away you lazy complainer.
In Scotland, did you mean Cairngorms (the mountains) catacombs are something very different, most famous ones are in Italy, under Rome ❤
By the way, I know you've travelled up the west side of England whilst travelling to Scotland but have you been through Durham and Northumberland? When I say through, did you stop? Did you visit Alnwick, Alnmouth or Bamburgh? Did you visit the largest forest in the UK, Keilder Forest which surrounds the 26 mile round Keilder Water, is also the UK's first (& best by far) dark sky park.
I think you haven't been here or you'd be talking about our land of beautiful, long beaches and castles 🎉
ps, also Beamish Open Air museum, best in Europe, 200 years of, living, English history , you won't find a better experience 😉
Anglesey is one of my favourite places too! Our daughter, son-in-law and grandsons live on Anglesey - a fabulous place to bring up children.
I spent three weeks in Montana this summer, what a wonderful place but...the food prices are sky high...your in for a shock when you go back; for grocery bill will double
There’s a cave near me where you go down and then you get on a little boat to travel along underground channels it’s called Speedwell cavern in Derbyshire a guy has to use his feet on the cave ceiling to propel the raft style boat.
I am English, and my wife is from Missouri. we lived in Farmington, Missouri, for 3 years before we came to England in 2011 Things I miss about living In small town America is politeness in shops and biscuits and gravy things I don't miss is over the top tipping great vlog guys
Farmington is a nice town. I'm from St. Louis and have been to as well as passed through Farmington several times.
Did you mean Cairngorms, rather than Catacombs? "Catacombs" are like underground cemeteries! (That sounds pretty cool!!!)
There’s fewer than 10,000 Mexicans in the UK and most of them are in London. We don’t have ‘biscuits’ here so that’s why you can’t order them.☺️
We don't have 'American biscuits'. Scones however absolutely should rise - and they're the same recipe. 'American scones' are not the same as ours.
Urinating at the side of the road, or by the side of your car is frowned on here. I think it would only happen v late at night when pubs are closed. See it all the time in Europe though, particularly in France. Perhaps the ppl you see doing it, are new incomers who don't yet know, its not the done thing here.
I agee our roads are very narrow, particulaly in the countryside, but they were orginally dirt roads for horses and wider ones for carts and horse drawn coaches. Hedgerows were invented 4 to 6 thousand years ago, and so some of them are very historical. We really don't want to rip them out for the sake of the motor vehicle. Millions of them have already been lost. They are a boon to nature and also stop flooding as well as acting as land boundaries. They are beautiful too ... particularly in spring and summer.
We have far more variety in food here now after joining the EU in the '70s and after ppl from our old colonies moved here and opened restaurants. We are now far more adventurous and sophisicated, but yes, I've never met a Mexican in the UK, so that must be why we dont have good Mexican food.
I'm glad you feel safe here. That is worth everything, particularly when you have children.
I agree with you about the turning in a multi story car parks. You really have to be mindful/careful with steering.
You have seen more of the UK than most of us have, as Brits usually opt to travel abroad. I must try to get to Anglesea one day. I'm surprised you don't hate our weather more ... the rain has got worse thanks to climate change. 😢😪😮💨
I do think your stay has broadened your horizons. Wish more Americans would travel and not just for their holidays. Hope you continue to enjoy life here.
You 2 are wonderful!
I have to say, I love narrow country roads 😂
What a lovely ride you and your family have given us.
Haven’t watched your channel for a couple of years and honestly didn’t recognise you. British food has done you some good.
In the 60's/70's the seasons were very definined. Winters were much colder, and the snow was more powdery. It was normal to walk in 6-12ins of snow, and the country didn't shutdown as it often does now
I've been living in England since 1977.
I really wish we had decent Mexican restaurants, so that's an "unusual". In the 1950s, citizens of former UK colonies were invited to come to the 'mother country' to work here in the mills etc, and that has led to a lot of Indian and other restaurants, which I think is really good.
A/C - the weather here seems to vary over the years. In the 80s we had some scorching summers and pretty cold winters. The last two or three winters and summers have been quite moderate.....this year (2024) spring seemed to blend into summer and then into autumn with not much change. But when it gets really warm, I wish we had A/C installed as standard in most homes! And in contrast to Scandinavia, Britain grinds to a halt when there's two inches of snow on the ground! I wish our train network could cope with snow and likewise our roads and even our drivers. If the Trans Siberian railway can run punctually then there is no reason why Britain could not have reliable rail services in bad weather!
I'd find it hard to imagine life without a kettle! And I like that we have an electricity supply that means that kettles boil quickly and we have sockets that seem to be a bit safer to use than the US ones!
The obvious ones:
The NHS: Health care free at the point of access should be a human right, especially in a developed country. No one should be struggling to afford an epi-pen, an inhaler or insulin and the last thing anyone diagnosed with cancer or a serious illness/accident needs is the worry of how to pay for medical treatment. Kinda linked to that is workers' rights - the right to a decent period of maternity leave, the right to take sick leave, etc. Family life and family stability and security matters and could be compromised by enormous medical debts or by job loss.
Guns: Americans seem to have an attachment to guns as a symbol of freedom. Your gun laws are outdated and belong to a time when there was no organised law enforcement and people might well have had to defend themselves. I am very glad I live in a country where gun crime is rare and where police do not routinely carry guns. You need to impose gun control!
Food and animal welfare: It sounds like it is easier to find food that is not packed full of additives and preservatives here and that possibly our laws on food additives are stricter than ones in the US? Likewise our laws on welfare of cattle, hens, sheep etc?
Biscquits/Biscuits. I'm a Brit whos family loves them. My nieces brought 2 dozen packets when they came over from NY. You used to be able to buy them in the American stores but they stopped selling them years ago.
It's nice to hear that you've enjoyed your stay here and equally nice to hear a positive assessment of life in the UK. As you're well aware we like a good moan 🤣
Truly, I very much agree with you on the issue of child safety when comparing the US with most other countries. It was a major part in our decision to leave the US after my six year contract ended. Throughout the world, countries are moving away from automobile centric planning, so any idea of widening European roads is a non starter. Btw, in UK lingo, a flat is called a puncture.
Thanks
I think with the Mexican restaurants, its supply and demand, if they were popular, there would be more.
Scones do rise if made correctly😊 Try a cheese scone! Fantastic!
Agreed, they taste a bit like American biscuits.
Or apple ones (fresh out of the oven and spread with salted butter). Delicious!
Biscuits ( US) taste like salty scones but much softer. So maybe a scone mix with more liquid and cooked in a muffin pan
Just a guess
In US KFC sells biscuits with their meals
But biscuits and gravy ! Yuk. Still after years in US I didn’t understand that combination
Love scones 🎉
@@DevonRex116never seen or had an apple one, where would I find them ?
Have you tried crumpets yet? I mean they're not a replacement for biscuits but are delicious when toasted till slightly crispy & dripping in butter 😁
Did you by chance mean the Cairngorms? 🤔😁
The saying goes "If in Rome do as the Romans do" and if you don't like it either put up with it or leave.
Having all those wonderful children around the place and then adding twins must have made the time fly past!
The history is the best. I belong to English Heritage & the National Trust. My favourite place is in Northumberland, it is so beautiful. I also love the Channel Tunnel that takes us to France & the rest of Europe. (I don't like flying or going on ships). The employment laws are excellent, too. Of course, our free NHS is a star. The potholes in the road are awful.
You stressed that on a narrow road you must yield, pull over or stop but you forget to mention that half the time, the oncoming vehicle will make way for you! So its already only half as bad as you claim 😊