What is the UK like to live in, these days?

[Splitlink]

Not to get mixed up with something of lesser importance, like who the hell is going to be the next US president. I thought that I should start a new thread for this.

I am, by now, a Catalan. I don't speak Catalan because when I came here, Franco forbade its use. I speak Castellano and the Catalans don't seem to mind. They tolerate my ignorance with good grace. Yesterday, I was walking by a stall selling for some cause and the young fellow touting for trade said, "Are you English? Would you like to participate?" My daughter laughed and said that no matter how I tried, the people could, still, tell.

The main point of this post is

Is Roundshaw that bad? I used to rent a house, for holidays, near Belmont and Carshalton. We, often, went into Sutton for shopping, but that was in the eighties, when my kids were small,

To be frank, I'm not sure whether the UK is the nice place that it used to be. Nothing stays the same, of course. There are plenty of places, still, in the country, I know, but I am a town dweller and don't think I'd like to go back to London, anymore.

Not to agree with Hiiusa, entirely, I've been to New York, too. A bit of a dump, in my opinion.

I can wander all over Barcelona and never see anyone that I should be cautious about. Although there is crime everywhere, these days, it is something that I read about in the papers.

 

[hhiusa]

Not to get mixed up with something of lesser importance, like who the hell is going to be the next US president. I thought that I should start a new thread for this.

I am, by now, a Catalan. I don't speak Catalan because when I came here, Franco forbade its use. I speak Castellano and the Catalans don't seem to mind. They tolerate my ignorance with good grace. Yesterday, I was walking by a stall selling for some cause and the young fellow touting for trade said, "Are you English? Would you like to participate?" My daughter laughed and said that no matter how I tried, the people could, still, tell.

The main point of this post is

Is Roundshaw that bad? I used to rent a house, for holidays, near Belmont and Carshalton. We, often, went into Sutton for shopping, but that was in the eighties, when my kids were small,

To be frank, I'm not sure whether the UK is the nice place that it used to be. Nothing stays the same, of course. There are plenty of places, still, in the country, I know, but I am a town dweller and don't think I'd like to go back to London, anymore.

Not to agree with Hiiusa, entirely, I've been to New York, too. A bit of a dump, in my opinion.

I can wander all over Barcelona and never see anyone that I should be cautious about. Although there is crime everywhere, these days, it is something that I read about in the papers.

300 travellers leave rubbish and excrement after 3-week-long Roundshaw Open Space occupation

Britain's Worst Places To Live

Metropolitcan Police
Police crackdown on drugs during raids on Roundshaw Estate

Metropolitcan Police
Sutton officers raid addresses on Roundshaw estate

 

[tomorton]

Any country / city is nice to live in if you've got the money to live in the nice parts.

 

[hhiusa]

Any country / city is nice to live in if you've got the money to live in the nice parts.

True, but he is asking about Roundshaw specifically.

 

[NVP]

Hahahaah

What is this fascination with roundshaw ?

Hiusa ....have you ever been to England ?

N

 

[NVP]

Not to get mixed up with something of lesser importance, like who the hell is going to be the next US president. I thought that I should start a new thread for this.

I am, by now, a Catalan. I don't speak Catalan because when I came here, Franco forbade its use. I speak Castellano and the Catalans don't seem to mind. They tolerate my ignorance with good grace. Yesterday, I was walking by a stall selling for some cause and the young fellow touting for trade said, "Are you English? Would you like to participate?" My daughter laughed and said that no matter how I tried, the people could, still, tell.

The main point of this post is

Is Roundshaw that bad? I used to rent a house, for holidays, near Belmont and Carshalton. We, often, went into Sutton for shopping, but that was in the eighties, when my kids were small,

To be frank, I'm not sure whether the UK is the nice place that it used to be. Nothing stays the same, of course. There are plenty of places, still, in the country, I know, but I am a town dweller and don't think I'd like to go back to London, anymore.

Not to agree with Hiiusa, entirely, I've been to New York, too. A bit of a dump, in my opinion.

I can wander all over Barcelona and never see anyone that I should be cautious about. Although there is crime everywhere, these days, it is something that I read about in the papers.

Hey S

Barcelona is a great city.....likewise New York is fantastic if you know the score ........and..London is one of THE goto capitals,of the world.....

Like everywhere though as a traveller it's important to be aware that some parts are more risky than other to be around and about after dark.....

N

 

[ffsear]

The Roundshaw estate was one of the worst in the country i seem to remember. It was knocked down, I think in the 1990's and the area saw a vast improvement after that.

Roundshaw took a beating during ww2 being right next to Croydon airport, our main fighter base during the battle of Britian. And the poor rebuilding and rehoming of people cause a lot of social issue, as it did in many towns.

I grew up not far away in Purley.

 

[ffsear]

Hey S

Barcelona is a great city.....likewise New York is fantastic if you know the score ........and..London is one of THE goto capitals,of the world.....


N

I love Barcelona, go there every year for a weekend with the Mrs.

The only think i don't get is the level of Graffiti?? Theres loads of it!, And not the artistic type (that i don't mind) but just tagging.

 

[Pat494]

Give me a walk down a leafy UK country lane on a sunny day.
The townies can stuff their filthy, crime ridden flea pits whether it's Europe. Asia or America.

:clap:

 

[Splitlink]

I love Barcelona, go there every year for a weekend with the Mrs.

The only think i don't get is the level of Graffiti?? Theres loads of it!, And not the artistic type (that i don't mind) but just tagging.

Yes, they are an artistic lot. The train seats are an especial target, but so is any shop shutter that has just been painted. But that is a harmless pastime--apart from the cost to the owner. It's not like getting your teeth kicked in in broad daylight.

 

[Splitlink]

I mentioned Roundshaw because I knew Sutton. I went to St. Heliers hospital, once, when I was bitten by a rabbit. Trust that to happen to a townie! I was separating it from its young, while I was putting them out on the lawn, in a bigger enclosure. There was a rabies scare on, that summer, and that's why I went. The doc said, "Rabies, no, but you had better have a tetanus shot" The finger would have done with a plaster but he gave a student nurse a bit of bandaging practice and I came out looking as if I'd been in WW2! Memories!

 

[NVP]

The Roundshaw estate was one of the worst in the country i seem to remember. It was knocked down, I think in the 1990's and the area saw a vast improvement after that.

Roundshaw took a beating during ww2 being right next to Croydon airport, our main fighter base during the battle of Britian. And the poor rebuilding and rehoming of people cause a lot of social issue, as it did in many towns.

I grew up not far away in Purley.

Hey ff.....bus ride in to watch palace then ?......or train into Norwood junction / selhurst ?

N

 

[NVP]

I mentioned Roundshaw because I knew Sutton. I went to St. Heliers hospital, once, when I was bitten by a rabbit. Trust that to happen to a townie! I was separating it from its young, while I was putting them out on the lawn, in a bigger enclosure. There was a rabies scare on, that summer, and that's why I went. The doc said, "Rabies, no, but you had better have a tetanus shot" The finger would have done with a plaster but he gave a student nurse a bit of bandaging practice and I came out looking as if I'd been in WW2! Memories!

My cousin still works at st helier......always sound it a pretty dour place ....all those white boxy buildings .......

They breed those rabbits well hard in London ...eh ?

N

 

[BSD]

Yesterday, I was walking by a stall selling for some cause and the young fellow touting for trade said, "Are you English? Would you like to participate?" My daughter laughed and said that no matter how I tried, the people could, still, tell.

Good morning mate.

Could also have something to do with the fact that you don't look very Catalan ???

 

[BSD]

I went to St. Heliers hospital, once, when I was bitten by a rabbit.

First time I've EVER heard of that happening, didn't know that such an occurrence was actually possible ???

Quite mindboggling what the Universe can throw at you from time to time...



PS London is still a fantastic place btw.

 

[Splitlink]

First time I've EVER heard of that happening, didn't know that such an occurrence was actually possible ???

Quite mindboggling what the Universe can throw at you from time to time...



PS London is still a fantastic place btw.

It was a grumpy rabbit. I get like that, sometimes, so I don't harbour ill feelings.

 

[Atilla]

It was a grumpy rabbit. I get like that, sometimes, so I don't harbour ill feelings.

So what I like to know is, do you still carry its left foot for good luck in your pocket?

 

[Splitlink]

We were on holiday and just looking after the rabbits for the house owner, Probably, ended up in the stock pot. The babies were born while he was away and his kids were delighted when they came back.

Reminds me of the story about a honeymoon couple. The following morning she ordered salad for breakfast. Her husband said, "So, you eat like a rabbit, as well?"

 

[Jason101]

Not to get mixed up with something of lesser importance, like who the hell is going to be the next US president. I thought that I should start a new thread for this.

I am, by now, a Catalan. I don't speak Catalan because when I came here, Franco forbade its use. I speak Castellano and the Catalans don't seem to mind. They tolerate my ignorance with good grace. Yesterday, I was walking by a stall selling for some cause and the young fellow touting for trade said, "Are you English? Would you like to participate?" My daughter laughed and said that no matter how I tried, the people could, still, tell.

The main point of this post is

Is Roundshaw that bad? I used to rent a house, for holidays, near Belmont and Carshalton. We, often, went into Sutton for shopping, but that was in the eighties, when my kids were small,

To be frank, I'm not sure whether the UK is the nice place that it used to be. Nothing stays the same, of course. There are plenty of places, still, in the country, I know, but I am a town dweller and don't think I'd like to go back to London, anymore.

Not to agree with Hiiusa, entirely, I've been to New York, too. A bit of a dump, in my opinion.

I can wander all over Barcelona and never see anyone that I should be cautious about. Although there is crime everywhere, these days, it is something that I read about in the papers.

Seems really random, your point from your preceding paragraph.
In Roundshaw the Merry-go-round pub was shut down years ago. Now it is a slightly better version of the 80's Roundshaw. Slightly less trouble there now, with a bit of re-generation. Culvers Estate, Carshalton has been knocked down and rebuilt with less dense housing. The St.Helier's Arms has been flattened after one to many murders. Sutton now has a busy night life, so there are a lot less trouble makers being big fish in small ponds. There is more of a buzz out and about at night now, with less of the moody atmosphere of the 80's.
I think what has partly happened is that as London's property prices have risen and Sutton has gone up a bit more in desirability, as people want to live as near to London as they can afford.
When I use to get the late night trains from London through South London the trains and stations were pretty empty so trouble makers could cause trouble.
Now a-days the trains, stations and streets are full well into the night, so the trouble makers are squashed out by decent people.
Having said that now I am living in a village just outside of Horsham, I could never go back to live there! But still good to visit occasionally.
Sometimes my sleepy village is a little dull, but on the other hand I can let my children out to play (and I can be in London in an hour or so).

 

[Splitlink]

Seems really random, your point from your preceding paragraph.
In Roundshaw the Merry-go-round pub was shut down years ago. Now it is a slightly better version of the 80's Roundshaw. Slightly less trouble there now, with a bit of re-generation. Culvers Estate, Carshalton has been knocked down and rebuilt with less dense housing. The St.Helier's Arms has been flattened after one to many murders. Sutton now has a busy night life, so there are a lot less trouble makers being big fish in small ponds. There is more of a buzz out and about at night now, with less of the moody atmosphere of the 80's.
I think what has partly happened is that as London's property prices have risen and Sutton has gone up a bit more in desirability, as people want to live as near to London as they can afford.
When I use to get the late night trains from London through South London the trains and stations were pretty empty so trouble makers could cause trouble.
Now a-days the trains, stations and streets are full well into the night, so the trouble makers are squashed out by decent people.
Having said that now I am living in a village just outside of Horsham, I could never go back to live there! But still good to visit occasionally.
Sometimes my sleepy village is a little dull, but on the other hand I can let my children out to play (and I can be in London in an hour or so).

Thanks for the informative post. We used to rent a home in Belmont. Very central fo get out and about with the kids. My friend lived in Kingswood. We used Sutton, or Epsom as shopping areas, otherwise we didn't go there much--at night, never. The last time I was there was in '87, so I expect the place has changed a lot. My kids are nearly as old as I was!