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Thread: Coming Home....a couple questions.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Little Weighton, Hull, UK
    Beans
    1,057

    Coming Home....a couple questions.

    Sorry if this is more of a cafe post, but is UK-centric, so posting here!

    I am moving back to the UK (Manchester area) after being away for six years in a few days time. Because of Christmas stuff and work, this has to be my most poorly (read not at all) planned move ever, so would appreciate a little advice.

    Since I am not really in touch with anyone in the UK, I have no idea what's changed in the last six years. When I get back, I am gonna want to get hooked up with pretty much everything as quickly and painlessly as possible (broadband, mobile, tv etc etc) and would appreciate any recommendations you might have.

    While I am at it, what has changed in that time....anything drastic?!
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    ~~ If someone asks you to sudo rm -rf anything don't do it. ~~

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Glasgow, Scotland
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Ubuntu

    Re: Coming Home....a couple questions.

    We have a Labour government in power?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    UK
    Beans
    6,646
    Distro
    Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin

    Re: Coming Home....a couple questions.

    Welcome back. Queensland summer to UK winter - great choice!

    In terms of getting yourself set up back here... not much has changed.

    BT still has a relative monopoly on phone lines, although other providers can "lease" lines from them. However, unless you go with bulldog (formerly Cable & Wireless) you can't get a new line installed except with BT. Cable cover is a bit hit and miss, and everything's been taken over by Virgin now. Broadband takes anything up to 4 weeks to get connected - as for providers, if you are going with non-cable- have a look here: http://www.thinkbroadband.com/

    Mobile phones still have the big 4 companies - but 3 (newer 3G only network) is catching up. Still just as easy as before - walk into a shop or buy online.

    TV is going all-digital, although not yet in Manchester. But best to get a digital decoder. TV licences can be bought online now.

    As for the rest of the big stuff - Gordon Brown, airport security, NHS staffing... Actually, all sounds the same, eh?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UK
    Beans
    513
    Distro
    Ubuntu 20.04 Focal Fossa

    Re: Coming Home....a couple questions.

    Don't forget to visit http://www.ubuntu-uk.org/ for the UK mailing list, IRC, etc - we're very active!

    And welcome back.
    Last edited by freesitebuilder; December 31st, 2007 at 05:42 PM. Reason: Forgot something

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    London, UK
    Beans
    164
    Distro
    Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon

    Re: Coming Home....a couple questions.

    Stuff costs more than anywhere else in the world, we still don't get on with Europe, one in three people have a mobile, Facebook is destroying the fabric of our society, everyone is afraid of upsetting radical Islamists, the olympic bid has entered the realm of being farcical, Big Brother is /still/ watching us - though no-one is doing anything especially interesting - and you can only buy a house if you are a multi-million.

    Oh yeah, and the iPhone is stupidly expensive.
    "Theres a saying in showbiz: 'Never work with children or animals'. Nowhere is this more true than porno."
    Ubuntu user# 14361

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Little Weighton, Hull, UK
    Beans
    1,057

    Re: Coming Home....a couple questions.

    Excellent. Thank you everyone. Well, after an interesting week, am back (immigration people...ugh!). It is snowing here at the minute in Hereford. Here for a week or so, then off North, so still figuring things out.
    Yes it is expensive, petrol is a little over twice as expensive as I am used to. Other stuff, well it's never been exactly cheap here has it, so I expected that. Anyway, thanks, will look into user groups and such once settled....and not jet lagged.
    ~~ Ubuntu Forums Firefox/Flock Menu ~~ Ubuntu User Number 206 ~~ Linux user number 403379 ~~

    ~~ If someone asks you to sudo rm -rf anything don't do it. ~~

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