How the UK has changed and not.

[Steve_A]

Hi People,

Some of you know that I recently had to go to the UK for a few days. It's been around eight or nine years since I last went and before then it was around another eight years.

Two things really struck me this time round.

The English seem to use less words in their day to day conversations and the English language seems to be more blunt and agressive. Because of this, there seems to be more tension in the air.

I didn't like the Americanisms slipping in to the English way we speak, sometimes making us sound cheap. You can't use Americanisms with an English accent, it sounds strained and hurts the ears.

Another thing I couldn't help but notice was the increased commercial air activity in the skies of the UK. I was on a National Express coach passing near to Derby and I counted five aeroplanes in the sky at the same time. I was speaking with a Brazilian couple who live in Essex, at Heathrow and they told me they counted up to eight at the same time.
I can understand why people think that the patchwork of vapour trails left behind are 'chem trails', especially in the winter when they tend to hang more.

I was astounded by the low prices in the shops. In many cases, they were lower than here in Brazil! In Barnsley, anyone with even limited resources could have a hey day. I bought eleven footballs to bring back to Brazil, for 2.99 a bash from SportsDirect and the woman told me that the previous week they were only 99p!

But some things never change. As it is December, Slade, Roy Wood, Mike Oldfield and the Pogues are all receiving heavy airplay. Some, for non English people, have been played very year since 1972.

Ken Barlow is STILL on Coronation Street (I thought I saw Minnie Caldwell in the background). People here in Brazil can't understand how a soap opera could last over fifty years!

I was taken aback a little by the use of TV and telephone technology and was also suprised as to the 'convenience' lifestyle the English seems to have slipped in to with ready meals overtaking fresh foods (at least in my experience). The British need to be careful not to slip too much into a convenience lifestyle because if things get rough, they will not know how to even peel a potato.

Just some thoughts.

Best regards,

Steve