If I ever say "Hey, I think I'll shop at Sainsbury's this time", kick me in the head

Not complaining per se, Pergau, just astonished at the general cost of living in the Sceptered Aisles (Sainsbury’s or otherwise); of course, the closer to Lunnon, the costlier. Since I had managed to leave my Mitchum’s back home somehow, I ran into a Boot’s in central London to replace it, since there was a very outside chance I might be on the Beeb in a few days, (I wasn’t, as it turned out, other than as just in the background).

I like garlic; a lot, in fact. But given the heat on the Tube in June I think it was better to just look sulphuric than to actually send out the cartoon stink lines!

Having visited the UK about 9 years ago, I found the general cost of living (and this is just a spitball) about 30% up, including transport, food, etc. Still, love visiting and exploring; seeing what little family still left, great pubs, museums, galleries, just enjoying people, the quick humour, God help me I even like travelling on trains (but that was wearing thin after being stuck for two hours outside Bath for no apparent reason…)

Rodd,

For your own sanity stay away from Ireland.

If you think the UK is pricey, try my local spar, or the EuroSpar as it is actually known. In this case Euro is used as an euphimism fro aggressively overpriced.

That said, the UK has got very expensive lately - I get to visit it fairly regularly and I find that it’s always more expensive than I remembered.

Drink is still cheaper, and better if you go to a real-ale pub, (If anyone from Guinness is reading this, please ignore it - I just said it to appease the foreigners).