You know what's awesome about the UK?

So, this post is basically a response to a friend's Facebook comment about my recent wardrobe post. The friend shall remain anonomyous and as such I will call her Jayner.

Jayner, in response to my post said 'You know what's great about the US? Closets.' Though I know this light-hearted attempt to lure me back the US with the promise of better clothes storage was not meant to warrant a proper response, never the less, the comment kept nagging at me. It was also interesting coming from Jayner who for so long has studied and adored the British Royal Family! Anyway, it got me thinking and I've decided, all in the name of good fun, to respond.

Ever since I immigrated to the UK in on 6/6/06 (yes '666') I have found countless things to miss about the US. They usually have to do with candy, fast food, weather, or shopping. Here is a quick list, in random order, I compiled (just in case you ever decide to emigrate these might be the things you don't think of):

1. 24-hour Wal-Mart's
2. Wendy's
3. Arby's 
4. Twizzlers (subtle gift idea)
5. Tootsie Rolls (this link also relates to 14)
6. Decent sitcoms (though I can normally find most of them the day after they air)
7. Candy Corn (this link also relates to 14 and 5)
8. Abundance of domestic space
9. Candy Canes (this link also relats to 14, 5, and 7)
10. Hershey Kisses (this link also relates to 14, 5, 7, and 9)
11. Authentic bbq (mainly pulled-pork sandwiches)
12. Crab legs
13. J Crew
14. Halloween costumes/parties (see 5, 7, 9 and 10)
15. 4th of July BBQs
16. Thanksgiving
17. Road Trips that take longer than 4 hours (see 16)
18. Warm Summers
19. Pretzels 

I'm sure there are more, but that's really all I can think of. As you can see most have to do with food, and to be fair, living in London means that, if I'm willing to pay imported prices, I can get pretty much all of these foods or I could just learn to make them myself. Please pay particular attention to the lack of 'closets' on this list.

So I got to thinking, what would I miss most if I lived outside UK or in other words, 'You know what's awesome about the UK?' So here is list of the things that make the UK worth losing all the things listed above. 

1. Universal Healthcare (NHS)
2. Pub life 
3. The BBC (particularly Iplayer, Radio 4, and BBC 2)
4. Pies... delicious meat pies (despite the name this looks delicious)
5. Borough Market
6. Trains
7. Fizzy Vimto
8. Sunday Roasts (mainly roast potatoes)
9. The Guardian
10. Eccentric British people
11. Tomatoes, perfect tomatoes!
12. Free admission to all museums (specifically the V&A)
13. Wimbledon (and it's lovely weather)
14. Boxing Day
15. 20 days minimum statutory holiday (not including 8 bank holidays, I get 25)
16. Extra Bank Holidays for Royal celebrations (this link also relates to number 10)
17. Kopperberg Pear Cider
18. Just a quick train/ferry ride to Europe
19. The South Bank
20. The 2012 Olympics (for which Rob and I have tickets)
21. Urban parks and rose gardens
22. Pimms (sans strawberries)
23. Caffe Nero Chai Lattes
24. Creature Comforts 

There are several here that I could very easy find or recreate in the US, I admit, but it's really the NHS, BBC, and Holidays that keep me here! Tax paid quality health care free at point of service for anyone in the country, citizen or not, commercial-free quality television and radio, and standard holiday entitlement double the amount in the US. 

So, Jayner, you can keep your closets. I'm fine right where I am, content with the charms of the UK, holding my umbrella under grey rainy skies.