British Expatriate Network

We've been here about 6 years but still miss lots about UK - mainly the social life.
I'm from Liverpool and my husband's from Shrewsbury.
Any other expats in this area?

Hi Den and welcome to Britnet,
we just moved to Mountain View from New Jersey. I'm originally from Birmingham, and my husband's Dutch. It's been a while since I've lived in Blighty (1994), and I can't say that I miss it very much.

Where abouts in the Bay area are you?

Well, where are you?

I'm in Capitola/Santa Cruz, which isn't technically the Bay Area (it's the Central Coast), but if you live in San Joser you'll know where it is...

Andrew

Oh, and welcome! grin

hi - thanks for getting back to me.

We're in South San Jose - Evergreen area. I know both Mountain View (used to work by Netscape) and Capitola (love the art & wine festival) very well.

I'm actually going back to UK tomorrow for a family wedding. I go back fairly often - 3 or 4 times a year - with work. So I get my English-fix - HP Brown Sauce, real bacon, lunchtime drinking (my company's office is in the City!), taramaslata (not strictly English I know but can't find it in CA).....

smile

Okay, I know where you live, we used to live in the Rose Garden (not that near but still!!)

You can get all of that down here..Honest.

Hp Normal, HP Curry Sauce and HP Spicy..

Yes, the A&W festival is good down here - have you been to the Begonia Festival? Very cool.

We live 2 blocks from the big railway tressle (about 5-7 minutes form the beach)

Have a safe trip, and shout when you get back!

Later - Andrew

I don't really know the area that well yet - but having lots of fun discovering! I don't know what the Rose Garden is, but I'm looking forward to roasting marshmellows on the beach in Santa Cruz this summer (sounds very American to me). I'm very pleased with all of the local shops where I can find almost anything! (Trader Joes and the Milk Pail).

Have fun back in Blighty, and let us know when you get back. Oh, and have some greasy fish and chips smothered in salt and vinegar for me smile And a nice cold glass of scrumpy at some country pub.

The Rose Garden is an area in San Joser.

I'm not sure if you've ever been to the Rosicrucion Museum in San Jose (if you haven't then you should), but this is where the Rose Garden is located (there is a Rose Garden there also).

If you drive up Bascom Avenue (as if you're going to the airport) and where Zanotto's is located (there's a KFC on the corner too) bear off to your right and head down a tree lined road. Lincoln High School will be on you right....This is the beginniong of the Rose Garden area.

Andrew

Thanks for the info - I'll add it to my (very long) list of places to visit smile

Hi Den, I'm in south san jose and the place you can get taramaslata is the International Bazaar at the junction of Curtner and Union, which is just after Foxworthy.
Small store tucked away on the corner with everything you could expect of it's International claim. Kippers too! Oh and gyro meat, for your kebabs, and the best Russian yoghurt in the whole wide world. Nothing none fat about it. Great grin

Thanks for the info - I'll check it out.
We used to live on Tully so I know the area you mean, if not the shop.

My husband will go mad when he hears about the kippers!

Hi,

I'm new to the Board, just picked up on this thread.

I'll be working in the Palo Alto area from August 2002 onwards, maybe forever ! wink

I'm very keen not to lose touch with "home", and what better way than to get together with fellow Brits in my local area.

So if any of you are willing to befriend an ex-Mancunian/neo-Nottingham 37 year old, then I'm your man ! Get-togethers and social events would be nice. cool

Hopefully my girlfriend/partner will also be able to come and join me in the not-too-distant future ; I haven't got my head around the complexities of the H1-B/H-4 visa details yet.

Hope to write/speak/meet you all soon,

Mark

I'm over near Concord/Walnut Creek so not really up for an after work get together but weekends are possibles.

Stix - I'm on an H1-B, spouse on an H4.

Hi my wife and I are also in the central valley, in manteca. I've been here just under a year. Wife has lived here all here life. Can't remember what those visa codes mean. Not too much like Kent is it!!Hope all is going well
matt

Things are going quite well except for the old green card process which is now officially taking an eternity.

Nope, not like Kent at all! I've been here nearly 2 years and always have a laugh at the road signs Los Angeles this way, San Fran that way and so on.... doesn't really compare with Snodland 1 mile, Strood 2 miles. :grin:

Do you miss much from Kent or have you settled into the MacZip CA model and don't miss much?