newjez

I had a Volvo in 95 that had heated seats. I liked them because the heat was instant, and you didn't need to wait for the main heater to get warm. Saying that, we have a scenic ATM and it heats up pretty quickly. BIL has a ford focus with that mesh stuff in the window which removes ice in no time. Most "standard cars" have heaps of extras nowadays. Some of them better than others, but I do like the way you can always leave the lights on and not have to worry about it.

Thinking of going on holiday in Norfolk this year. I worked in Norwich for a while. Loved it.

Ford fixed that.

So you go through absolute hell to gain sovereignty so you can just give it away again? Who said brexit wasn't funny?

Apparently you get bull sharks in the swan but I've never seen one. I've only ever seen dolphins.

Penguin. There the same thing aren't they?

That sounds like socialism Ken? If we kept that idea going, we'd be like a communist country.

I used to get a doner kebab in Perth, although technically I think it was a souvlaki. They were to die for The thing I bought in England called a kabab was so disgusting I've never ordered one ever again.

I'm not Welsh myself, but I have friends who are Welsh and I found them very friendly and welcoming.

Most of the places you describe you would probably call inner city. In the suburbs of Perth, you are in your house with the curtains closed because of the glare, or you get in your car in your garage and drive out after opening the electric door. You rarely go out on the street, and if you do, you never see anyone. Many people even have a man to mow their lawns. They just don't go outside. It is different for men and working women. But if you are a stay at home mum, Perth can be a lonely place.

There is definitely a Mt Lawley crowd. Mt Lawley was traditionally an Italian/Greek area. Originally (in the 50s) on the outskirts of the city. Market gardeners and the like. It was blessed with a very good high school. Better than many private schools. Still is, so it became a magnet for those with money, but not quite enough money to send their kids private. It became gentrified, and a lot of the Italians moved out. I tend to find that it is the nearly rich who are much more snobby than the rich. The maylands crowd were much more friendly

I can actually. I have the same sized feet as my eldest. In fact, my running shoes were previously his. He didn't like them, so I thought, waste not want not!

I'm from Perth. I grew up there. It's a beautiful city but I hated it for most of my life. I'm pretty unsociable, I really don't need people other than my family. I have a few close friends, but none of them live close. I left Perth the first opportunity I got. My wife is completely different to me. She is a social butterfly, has lots of friends. I tolerate most of them, but some I like. I dragged her to Perth many years ago when we were first married. I had thought it was just me, but she hated it. She was bullied, sent to Coventry by the local snobby Mt Lawley crowd. The only people who wanted to be friends with her had issues. She became depressed and we left. Been pretty happy living in the UK, and just visiting Perth once a year. We may move back to Perth for a year when we retire. The weather is good if you have a pool. But it's not just you. Perth people can be bloody weird. They can be surface friendly but with no substance. Not all of them obviously. I have some very good friends in Perth. But I have lived in many places, and I've never met people like Perth people before. I get where you are coming from. You deserve a medal for sticking it out.

It could invalidate your home insurance in the event of a fire. Unlikely, but possible.

That's so sad. I've had a love hate relationship with Perth. But at the time I didn't like it I left. I take it the rest of your family love it?

I used to love the cream IKEA used in there coffee. It was worth going just for the cream. Then they changed it for some horrible uht stuff and I've never had coffee there since.

I read the guardian because it's free, and I pay for the telegraph. The truth is in the middle somewhere.

The new series of all creatures great and small is pretty damn good. I would expect it to cause an exodus of old migrants back to England.

I think they are building a new mine down south aren't they Paul, how's that coming along?

House prices seem to be ticking up a little in Perth, so I guess that is a good sign.

Gough was tough till he hit the rough, uncle Sam and John were quite enough.

John major, Tony Blair, Gordon brown, David Cameron? Theresa may? Boris yes, but the man's an idiot.

That is true. When you leave the house in the morning in Perth you know which clothes you need to take with you. In the UK you generally need to take a jacket just in case. Although forecasting is getting better. Personally I think the weather for both has good and bad. It's the lack of sunlight in the UK in winter I struggle with.

National party?

I have seen a monaro in the UK. Just the one though. Pity they didn't make a diesel.