I recently had the good fortune to spend a month in Adelaide with my son and his family. We found the locals very helpful and exceptionally friendly. Not all resting, had to carry out some QA at some vineyards in McLaren Vale and the Borrossa Hills.
Spent 3 days in Singapore and came back last night. One thing that struck me was the difference in Adelaide, Singapore and the UK, was cleanliness. Heathrow was stinking in comparison, pavements over here are dirty with chewing gum and litter everywhere

Good to see you are enjoying retirement Graham.
Wouldn't mind doing some vineyard QA myself

Anyone who doesn't understand that "standards" in the UK don't tend towards those of the (so-called) Third World simply doesn't get out much!

I have seen the same effect in other countries; not to put too fine a point on things, "standards" fall to those of (what we might call) the common denominator.

On the other hand, Graham, had you travelled to certain other destinations which I could "recommend", things wouldn't have looked too bad (in comparison) upon your Happy Return to Good Old (once, anyway) Blighty!

You could "Recommend" other destinations Geoff? Oh come on now, I don't want to go to Manchester or Newcastle!

The point I was making was that Heathrow is the first thing that many travellers see when they fly into the UK and it does not create a good impression. Whereas, Adelaide and Singapore were spotless and everybody was so helpful and friendly and staff were well presented. Not a yellow bib in site.

Come on Heathrow, smarten up and get some mops out!

I couldn't agree more there, Graham.

But this is nothing new ... the UK has always appeared "down at heel", strewn with litter (not to mention chavs and all the rest), and generally in need of a lick of fresh paint. Who knows, maybe that's part of its "charm" that supposedly attracts so many tourists from overseas.

And as for "helpful and friendly" ... well, I guess that's asking a bit much of staff who can't speak English!

Meanwhile, I can't help but wonder why you haven't mentioned the armed police? Such a warm, comforting welcome, surely?

As I may have mentioned a couple of times in the past, if you look upon the UK as a Third World country, and expect the same level of "standards", then you won't be too disappointed. That's what I do!

And it's not likely to get any better now, is it? The "excuse" (for poor service, and all the rest) for at least the next five years will surely be:- "government cuts"!

Heathrow is supposed to be the one of the busiest airports in the world. The must be getting so much revenue from airport tax.

When you compare Heathrow to Changi in Singapore or Dubai International then they need to get their act together.

Surely the problem is an endemic one with the "English" race: "Look after Number One and sod the rest" attitude!!!

Actually, I disagree. I like to think of the English as dogged, decent, loyal, tolerant ... docile, even. Fair play. Law abiding.

Although I would support the view that such characteristics continue to be somewhat diluted; especially by the recent unsustainable levels of immigration by folk with seemingly no interest at all in adopting (what we might call) an English way of life.

The trait that you mention surely belongs with bankers, the money-men, the bean-counters and those who not so long ago were referred to as "Yuppies"!

Or perhaps you're getting the English confused with the so-called "British". Completely different tribes, in my book.

Geoff
Maybe 20 years ago your description of the English would have been true, however I think the younger generation are very selfish and have a totally different attitude with regard to fair play and being law abiding.
Maybe I'm getting too old and cynical but it definitely seems that things ain't what they used to be!!

I believe that our English way of life has been systematically destroyed over the last decade or so ... by the very people whom we pay to be custodians of it. That is (or, at least, was - I'm glad to say) the so-called government.

Why would they want to do that, you might ask. Try looking up "Common Purpose", for starters!

But what I really can't get my head around is how come all us True Englishmen stood aside and did nothing as our country (traditional values, and all the rest) was taken from us.

Also ... so-called "Women's Lib" has a lot to answer for, in my opinion. Now we have a generation of kids who don't know their fathers.

And I won't even mention "PC", 'Elf 'n' Safety, "Diversity", Yuman Rights ... and all the rest of that [censored].