britabroad has left 359 comments

britabroad comments on Is a WILL written outside of Colombia legal?

My UK solicitor has informed me that my UK will is valid for my UK estate wherever I reside. However, she advised me to get a seperate will completed in Colombia for my estate here as the UK will will not cover this.

britabroad comments on

Nevertheless, if what he says is true I'm going to start dressing in a suit and hanging around where the secretaries have their lunch!

britabroad comments on Environmentalists wild Predictions

The UK government, and many European governments, have jumped onto the Global Warming bandwagon and now use it as a means of revenue. Carbon Emission testing for motor vehicles, enforced recycling of domestic waste by local councils, Congestion Charges in major cities, strictly controlled limits on air pollution by large companies, bio fuels etc etc. Well, the air in London is cleaner (during the 1940's they had something called "smog" - a mixture of smoke and fog caused by coal fires), and there salmon and seals in the Thames (as opposed to eels and dead rats). Central and local governments are also a whole lot richer, with stiff penalties being imposed to line the coffers. I can't wait to see them wriggle out of that one when the temperatures start to drop again in a few years. Interesting point about the natural water vapour too. I came to Cali last September and there's only been 18 days of no rain since I got here!

britabroad comments on Compassion and Decency

Kalder, you softy! (Can't do the 'wink' thing cos my Spanish keyboard is playing up) It's all very true. I guess that goes to show that the ordinary, and some of the not so ordinary, people of Colombia are basically caring individuals who have a strong sense of social justice and fairness. It's always the arseholes who grab the headlines, although every week there seems to be at least one less arsehole here to worry about.

britabroad comments on Venezuelan Army completes anti-paramilitary operation

Agreed.

britabroad comments on Venezuelan Army completes anti-paramilitary operation

This all smells a bit fishy to me. The Venezuelan army find a deserted camp with some AUC armbands in it, so they say. There are apparently numerous FARC camps inside Venezuela and they stumble on an AUC camp? Just doesn't ring true, unless the AUC have gone into Venezuela after the guerrillas themselves.

britabroad comments on

You mean North Wales? Yes, Snowdonia, opposite Anglesey. Beautiful. Mountains the size of Colombian foothills, lots of rain (just like Cali at the moment) and......sheep.

britabroad comments on Soldiers Deserve Better

Dan I don't know if your mob do the same but when I was in the military we didn't shower for a few days before going into the field so that we "smelt natural". We'd wash our important little places with water and while in the field we used odourless wet wipes, and dental powder for our teeth. The longest I went without a proper wash was 38 days, but I found that after a few days the BO vanishes anyway. (I could never smell my own but noticed that the other guys stopped smelling) When we got back to camp the guys there said that we didn't smell too bad at all considering. The Brit married quarters in the UK are in a pretty bad state, but the barracks are kept spotless. The UK government diverted the money from married quarters to pay for overseas pay and allowances and compensation for injured troops, without increasing the budget. Our equipment was crap and the rations are pretty bland too. That's why we beg, steal or borrow from you lot whenever we can.

britabroad comments on

Kat, I'll be near Caernarvon for a few days in July if you're really lonely. Can't believe that's the case though. We could go "sheep worrying".

britabroad comments on

Agreed. And if you ever venture here, we'll try some of that drunken English.

britabroad comments on

Due to ranting on this site I've met up with other ex pats living here in Cali, who also brought other ex pats along who aren't members here. As a result I've made some good friends. We socialise regularly in town and at each other's homes and the wives and girlfriends get on too. It's great learning Spanish and socialising with my Colombian family but sometimes you just have to revert to drunken English to keep your sanity!

britabroad comments on France is not just politics and Sex.....

Problem with France is that it's full of Frenchmen.

britabroad comments on The city town where you were born

LC, those pictures are stunning! I was born in Washington CD. That's County Durham in England, original seat of the Washington family, as in George. Washington Hall, the old manor house , is a shrine to Georgey Boy for US tourists, but used to be split into tenaments and was almost demolished during the 1930's. The original village is quaint, but the rest of it is a sprawling cesspit. Used to be a big coal mining area. People are very nice and friendly though. The Washington Coat of Arms consists of three stars above two red stripes on a white background and is said to have given the idea of the Stars and Stripes of the US flag.

britabroad comments on "Yankee" ?

LC, Many, many thanks.

britabroad comments on A Debt of Honour

Sloop, Liverpool was a big embarkation port, and many US troops arrived here too as it's on the Atlantic side of England. It's in Lancashire, where much of the pre~Europe Invasion training took place. And of course you're right. Not everyone was 18, it's just the minmum age that a "man" can be before doing active service. Having said that, there are records of 14 year olds lying about their age so they could fight in WW 1. Aztec, there it is. That just sums it all up for me. Banter and piss taking is fine, sometimes it's even to be applauded, but you've just summed up the reality of it all. Kalder, you can come out of your bunker now. We've all agreed that politicians are arseholes and that Colombia is better off than it's socialist neighbours, whether it's because of those damn Yanks or not. Quick question for my colonial cousins, where does the word Yankee come from? I understand it's from the Civil War, but what does it mean? In fact, I'll ask that on a seperate post, not here.

britabroad comments on A Debt of Honour

"When you go home, tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow, we gave our today"

britabroad comments on A Debt of Honour

Wow! Got very heated there for a moment. So, here we are. A group of reasonably educated (well, we can use PC's and write) people putting forward personal points of view. That's fine. It makes the world go round. But argueing with each other about historical incidents which occured because of the failings of those miserable, power hungry bastards in DC and London? C'mon! No point in falling out over those idiots. They don't represent us. We're individuals, right? WW2. I often poke my nose into these discussions because I feel quite strongly about the subject. I even exercise a bit of "patriotism" myself sometimes, although it's meant in good humour, and is generally received that way. I don't suppose that any Brit, Yank, Frenchman, Russian, Jap, German, Italian, Canadian, Australian etc etc relished the thought of fighting in WW2, WW1 or any other conflict. If they did, I'm sure that once they'd actually experienced the shit, their keeness wained a little to say the least. But they all continued fighting anyway because they all beleived in what they fought for, or thought they were fighting for. That's true bravery in my books. Whose got more courage? The rough, tough, psychopathic fighting machine who rushes a machine gun nest single handed, or the terrified 18 year old, whose just seen his best mate killed, yet climbs "over the top" into no man's land? Wars are started, and perpetuated, by politicians, not the run of the mill man in the street. He actually fights the war while the perpetrators sit on their fat arses giving orders about things that they know nothing about, ignoring military advice, feathering their own nests even more. Always been that way, always will be. Some wars are just, like preventing an invasion of your homeland. Some are not, like invading poorer countries to enslave a populace for monetary gain. The Brits were very good at that in the past. They were also very good at preventing invasion. Not meaning to ramble on, the important fact made evident here is that guys like you and me put on a uniform, picked up a rifle and fought and died side by side. Isn't that enough? It should be. The reasons why, who was better, who fought the best, who needed who more....all that crap doesn't hold water. They did it, and are still doing it, despite of and because of those useless arseholes in power. Now take a bollocking, shake hands and stop behaving like politicians.

britabroad comments on A Debt of Honour

It's the same in the UK and Europe. The people are not represented there because it's become "politically incorrect" to do so. The minority and the one's with the money have the say. Crazy isn't it? There's precious little difference in the UK between the Labour and Conservative parties either, which is why the opposition party is a toothless tiger and why Labour has won 3 successive elections. It's a case of "better the devil you know". God I'm glad I shit canned England.

britabroad comments on appropriate response

Why not curl up into a ball as if she's pole axed you. Really put it on, cry if you can. Roll about in feined agony, and stay there as if she's really caused you some damage. Then, when she reaches down to help you, upper cut her right in the jaw and knock her across the room! I don't advocate male violence against a woman, but when they're obviously "man beaters" they need to learn the lesson. You owe it to the next guy who she might be tempted to slap. (Can't believe I said that. Where's the edit button?.......)

britabroad comments on kalder, help, please...

lol And underneath it says "Please, not too fast". Slightly different ... today I saw an all purpose cleaning material in my local La 14 called "Bum".

britabroad comments on kalder, help, please...

slguy, It's not only to screw you colonials up. We do it to ourselves aswell. Try this Welsh place name (the longest place name in the world). Llanfawrpwllgwyngyllogogerychwyrndrobwyllantysiliogogogoch Which roughly translated means, "The church of St Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool of St Tysilios of the red cave".

britabroad comments on British Government promises to discuss new death threats in Colombia

"I could feel how passionate and enthusiastic he was about it." Must have had her sitting on his knee.

britabroad comments on British Government promises to discuss new death threats in Colombia

... and then they claim unemployment benefit too, send it home and buy a house in Poland with it.

britabroad comments on Banks and bank accounts

Noelito You were saying that the interest rates in Colombia were better than in Ireland. I only get 2% interest paid here on a Savings Account, so that may not be the case. Some UK current accounts pay up to 5% at the moment. So my cash stays in the UK and is transferred when I need it. If you're looking to live here long term and play the game by informing Revenue and Customs that you've quit the country you will need a Colombian account to show that your finances are being utilised here etc. There may be tax advantages in that, depending on your situation. I was totally transparent about emigrating here, but my UK bank cancelled my credit card as soon as they knew that I wouldn't be resident in the UK. I also used to have free ATM transactions abroad, but they stopped that too.

britabroad comments on British Government promises to discuss new death threats in Colombia

All I could find was that her father was a writer and that she attended a Catholic school in Barranquilla where her music teacher said she had a voice "like a goat".

britabroad comments on A Colombiano’s encounter with the Pope

When the last Pope visited the UK back in nineteen hunudred and cold death I was in the army. While in London he stayed in a huge old mansion (obviously owned by the RC Church) next to Wimbledon Common, in a very nice suburb of London. One Sunday morning he was to go to mass at the local catholic church, so the route, which was about 2 miles long, was lined with policemen from 6am "to control the crowds". We were used in plain clothes along the route to mingle with the crowd in case some nutter decided to do anything. Problem was, there were no crowds. At about 9am he came out of the mansion in his "Pope Mobile", surrounded by his own security, police motorcyclists, etc etc. The only "crowd" was a couple walking their dog who said, "Oh, is that the Pope?" Insult was added to injury when each police officer turned his back on the Pope Mobile as he passed. I thought that they were making some sort of protest. It looked awful. But apparently they were told to "Face the crowd" as he passed, so they did! I wonder if he was aware of that.

britabroad comments on What is your most embarrassing moment?

Now you've made me feel guilty and embarrassed!

britabroad comments on US troops Insane: American Hypocrisy

Yes, I suppose that when you look at it in a religious context it is insulting to muslims ... what isn't? The asking if they screw themselves is, as I said, tasteless but as they don't appear to really know what's being said it's harmelss. Immature and stupid, yes. And, as you say, totally devisive to the mission. I think that the problem is that the troops out there don't recognise friendlies. They're few and far between and when a smiling woman holding out a bottle of water to sweating soldier suddenly explodes in front of him....well, I can see their point. But that doesn't mean they should, or should be allowed to, act in such a way. I think it boils down to lack of supervision and lack of professionalism.

britabroad comments on fugdis

It's only cos she's from Houston.

britabroad comments on What is your most embarrassing moment?

My wife and daughter were flying to Cali from Miami. While the plane sat on the tarmac the captain came across the tannoy and announced that there would be a delay due to a problem with the luggage. The entire plane gazed out of the windows as the baggage handlers began to unload all of the luggage from the hold, paying particular attention to a bright pink suitcase. "That's my case!", announced my daughter loudly. "What do they think they're doing with it?" Everyone watched on with interest as the security officers began to force open the suitcase. Indignation turned to horror as one of them produced a huge black vibrator and turned it off. They assume that it had turned itself on inside the case and the noise was audible inside the lugage hold. My daughter sank back onto her seat and went scarlet. To make it worse, the fact is that it wasn't hers. It was my wife's and she's put it in our daughters case in case the customs people searched the luggage at the airport.

britabroad comments on US troops Insane: American Hypocrisy

Taking the piss out of an ugly kid.....well, within the confines of an APC I can see that being done. Verbally taking the piss with the local kids while passing round sweets.....tasteless, but harmless. Throwing a thunderflash into a herd of sheep.....if I was the shepherd I'd be fuming. Not even that funny. Throwing a puppy to it's death for no apparent reason.....come on. Please. Why didn't the other guys kick the living shit out of that jerk?

britabroad comments on Banks and bank accounts

Noelito, Can I ask what "International Banks" you tried to open your account with? I opened mine here with HSBC along with my Colombian wife with no problem. And her cedula is not the original as that was nicked 2 years ago (still awaiting replacement). Basically, it's down to the manager of the branch. If they think you'll be transferring millions here and will make a buck, they'll open an account. I was actually asked how much I'd be transferring each month and the manager actually said, "What will we gain from this?" I was gobsmacked. If your bank in Ireland has overseas branches they may be able to facilitate the opening of an account here. Off shore accounts are the other possibility, but HSBC require you to keep your balance at (you'll like this one) £60,000 if you reside in Colombia, because it's on their list of "dangerous countries". At least FARC etc will know you're worth at least that if they come knocking. It's ridiculous. Prepare yourself for the fees though, $2,200 for each ATM transaction, $2,500 for checking your balance, $1,600 tax once you've withdrawn more than $5m, etc etc. It took me months to get used to it and to stop argueing with the bank.

britabroad comments on British Government promises to discuss new death threats in Colombia

It comes as no suprise that twat Brown chooses to speak to a pop star about something like education. His own governments record on education is dire to say the least. He'll be talking to some tvnovella actor about the situation with Venezuela next.

britabroad comments on Where Did We Come From, Ugly Americans, REALLY?

It is a well known fact that all ugly Americans originally came from Germany and were called Clara, Heidi or Hans.

britabroad comments on Seven Sisters

Seven Sisters in the North, Elephant and Castle in the South ..... that means Parliament is surrounded by Colombians! Great! I'll be able to come home soon.

britabroad comments on Satanás

Cheers Kalder. Off to Unicentro this afternoon to add this one to my collection.

britabroad comments on Is Cali the world numero uno de SALSA in the world

"Salsa started getting picked up in Cali in the early 1980's" Salsa was BIG in Cali during the 60's. There is also a difference between the Salsa of the ballroom dancing contests and the "street salsa" danced in the Colombian clubs. The type of Salsa heard in Cali and the way it is danced to are also unique.

britabroad comments on THE BIG DAWG IS.... Leaving Colombia. Needs Kennel in Cali... New, or Used....

GS The larger dog cages you're talking about can be bought in Cali, but they cost about 800,000 pesos as they're imported from the USA. Carrefour do them in various sizes, as do some of the larger pet shops. We had one (which you could have happily used), but one of the 2 Alsatians we have, decided to eat it and it's now in 2 halves! Whatever happened to cut down cardboard boxes with an old blanket thrown in?

britabroad comments on Military Personnel Account for 20% of U.S. Suicides

I'm not suprised. The normal 15 month tour in Iraq is far too long and many troops suffer from "Burn Out", basically physical and mental exhaustion. Couple that with constant danger, combat, and witnessing the sights and smells of a battleground, and there's no wonder these guys are effected. In addition to this they may well suffer from domestic and matrimonial problems while overseas, which adds to stress etc. Although Bush has stated that this time will be reduced to 12 months it's still far too long, albeit broken down by short periods of leave. British forces typically serve 5 months or so in Iraq and Afghanistan, so there is a regular turn around of fresh troops. However, the numbers involved are far smaller so the logistics of this is far easier.

britabroad comments on Is this a reason to move to Colombia?

I disagree. From my own point of view Colombian health care is far better than in the UK. There are no waiting lists to see specialists, and the medical expertise of those specialists is also far better. Doctors here seem to actually care about their patients. In the UK people die while waiting up to 10 months just to see a consultant, having been referred by their General Practicioner. And if you're over 60, forget reaching 61 if serious illness sets in. According to the National Health Service you're not worth saving as the costs would be too high. The only way out is to go private, which costs a bomb. In Colombia, you can go private relatively cheaply, or if you have EPS it's even cheaper. Members of my family (both Colombian and British) have received top notch treatment here in Cali. One of my sons had visited his doctor in London on 3 seperate occasions and was eventually prescribed painkillers and physiotherapy, which lasted 3 months, with no result. While here over Xmas he paid about $120,000 to see a consultant. Result ~ correct diagnosis made which was supported by a CAT Scan, prognosis made the following day and in to a clinic for an operation the next day. Diagnosis, prognosis and treatment all done and dusted within 3 days. In the UK basically nothing had been done within 3 months, and IF his GP had even bothered to refer him to a consultant, he would still have about 3 months of waiting before this appointment. The irony is that many of the Colombian doctors were trained in the UK and speak very highly of the health care system there. If only they knew.

britabroad comments on Is the US headed in the wrong direction ?

The USA has been headed in the wrong direction since 1776.

britabroad comments on Hurrah for the US justice system

It's "Agent Provocateur", which is illegal in the UK. You'd think that Scotland Yard would have known that. In the UK it's not enough to click on a porn link. You need evidence other than that, so only those who have downloaded or printed images from a site are prosecuted, as that's tangible. Can't remember the name of the actor or entertainer (was it Matthew Kelly?) who was tried for looking at paedophilia web sites but found not guilty as he had not "acted" on what he found. Seems like those making the laws ensure there's a loop hole somewhere, which they then exploit themselves. How many MP's have been arrested for sexual offences in the past?

britabroad comments on Your First Concert Experience

"The Police" at Hatfield Polytechnic, England in 1980 when I was 17. Had tickets for me and my girlfirend, who dumped me the week before, so I went with a mate and we found two new girlfriends instead. I've had a soft spot for students ever since. Oh, and I remember that my ears were ringing for about three days afterwards.

britabroad comments on arranged marriages

Mrs Brit says that in the good old, bad old days, you would be expected to marry into a good family of the same or higher class than yourself. She also says that parents often judged a boyfriend as to his suitability for marriage, and maybe a little push in the right direction, but no real "arrangement" went on. Having said that, her mother - who immigrated to Colombia from Spain during the Spanish Civil War - was 12 when she got married, although she still lived with her parents until she was 16. At the age of 12 I can't see her making a decision about marriage by herself.

britabroad comments on

I have it safely in my display cabinet. Thought the scalping was a good one. Apparently the Red Coats taught the American Indians how to do it.

britabroad comments on Burglar Plays Dead In Funeral Home,,,Smart Guy Not

Slightly different, but keeping with the morgue theme. A fiend of mine was in the police in London. They used to winde up the new guys by sending them to the local hospital morgue to search a body ... usually at night etc. Anyway, when the body was pulled from the fridge, it would suddenly sit upright or scream or something scary. The body was, in fact, another policeman who had been lying in wait. One night they played this trick on a new guy who was really unpoplular. He was so pissed off that he threatened to make a formal complaint etc, so the guys calmed him down and told him that they were going to play the trick on some other guy, and if he wanted, he could be the one who sat up and screamed. The new guy jumped at the chance (liked to dish it out but couldn't take it), so they popped him in the fridge and told him to wait. After a few minutes of nothing happening he started to shiver and became a bit worried. All of a sudden a voice said to him, "It's fucking cold in here isn't it?", at which the new guy sat up so hard he bashed his head on the tray above him, and somehow managed to fight his way out of the fridge in pure panic. Once out, he found the rest of the guys outside the fridge, laughing their heads off. A second policeman had been hiding in the fridge all along.

britabroad comments on El buen acto sexual es rápido (BBC News)

Don't be daft! How long does it take to give a quick peck on the cheek, tell them you love them, and spit on the palm of your hand, for God's sake? The Italians take longer because they give them a cuddle afterwards.

britabroad comments on

....and apparently....Aromatic Crispy Duck.

britabroad comments on

The Vikings used moss. In 1713 personal cleanliness became an issue in England when Queen Anne reputedly left a "Sutikin" on the floor of St Pauls Cathedral in London. A Sutikin was a ball of soot, fluff, and vaginal discharge which built up in female groins until they became so big and heavy, they fell off. (the Sutikin, not the groin) Churchwardens were responsible for cleaning these from church floors. Apparently, at this time, people washed their clothing but not themselves. Anyway, here's a list of British inventions for which you may be eternally grateful. Bovril, Bouncing Bomb, Cordite, Corkscrews, Crosswords, Concertinas, Cat Flaps, Clockwork Radios, Depth Charges, Electric Motors and Generators, Flush Toilet, Harpic, Harier Jump Jet, Holgrams, Periscopes, Steam Engines, Locomotives, Tin Cans, Waterproof Fabric, Radar, Fax Machines, Golf, Soccer, Cricket, Rugby, Vaccum Cleaner and Vaccum Flask, Sandwiches, Stainless Steel, Rubber Bands, Wellington Boots, Sewing Machines, Shrapnel, Slide Rules, Penicillin, Sirens, Telephones, Tyres, Lifeboats, Fire Extinguishers, Rockets, Hovercraft, Lawn Mowers, Chicken Tikka Masala, Logarithms, Tarmac, Macintosh, Tanks, and......the World Wide Web. Oh, and concentration camps, hung, drawn and quartering, longbows, and scalping.

britabroad comments on

At last! The carrier pigeon finally got to Medellin then. They've done it again mate! Loads of incoming until Kalder and me stuck our heads over the sandbags, then.....nothing. You survived Paddy's Day then. Get Raaaaay back on here. We'll send him in first ... which is a British tradition.