Wanderer Returns

I know it's going a bit off topic but I'd be interested to see how much groceries are in the UK now. When I arrived back in Australia 18 months ago, I couldn't believe how much more expensive most food items were compared with the UK (with a few notable exceptions). For example, a little punnet of tomatoes is about $4 over here (c.£2.15), whereas back in Tescos they were 69p! Tescos fresh orange juice was about £1.20/litre, whereas you'll pay $4/litre here for an equivalent product.

I can highly recommend Overseas Packers & Shippers, if you plan on shipping a load of stuff back. All our stuff arrived yesterday, and not a single item was broken or damaged https://www.overseaspackers.com.au/

Thats quite a good idea but it could go on for hours - even days. A few years back they tried the 'golden goal', but it never really worked because teams were so petrified of conceding they sat in defense and took their chance at penalties. Might be better if they just drew lots at then end of extra time. That way no one player will bear the shame of a missed penalty.

What a great moment! I would've loved to have been there, but I was just an embryo at the time

So very England - definitely - but the better team? That's highly subjective. The Italians were well-organized, skillful, and determined, as they always are, but they have a cynical side which rears it's ugly head when they're on the back foot. Lots of deliberate, niggling fouls which disrupt the flow of the game, and just under the referee's radar. Some call it gamesmanship. I call it cheating. On the night they were pretty evenly matched and 1-1 was a fair result, but when it went to penalties I'd have bet my house on Italy. The immense pressure that was on our lads - I don't think we'd have won whoever had taken the penalties. I think we've turned a corner now, and we won't be hearing about 1966 quite so often.

It's pretty much been an unwritten rule for decades that you should always take out travel insurance with an independent insurance company, and not rely on airlines' or credit card companies' insurance. Plenty of companies cover the one-way trip over (I think I used Columbus), but you usually have to call them up, because you can't usually book it online with it being a non-standard option.

As opposed to AFL - the only sport where they have a 'Final' and then a 'Grand Final' to make it sound more exciting

I suppose it's what you're into really. I'll watch NRL/AFL if I'm with friends if they've got it on to be social, but I generally don't care who wins - apart from State of Origin night, of course

You're having a laugh, aren't you?! In games involving the oval ball they're stopping every couple of minutes for some kind of set play, and that kills the drama for me. I enjoy watching it from time to time, but there's nothing like the level of skill involved that there is in football. The only reason that football hasn't ever caught on over here is that the Aussies just aren't that good at it, and when it comes to sport, I hate to say it but Australians are only interested in what they can win at!

Hope you make a speedy recovery, Paul - and don't break the other toe doing a celebration dance on Monday morning!

I was chatting about this with a friend the other day, and he quite-rightly pointed out that back in the 'good old days' half the players were on the p*ss, and they weren't fully match fit a lot of the time. There was no shortage of talent or enthusiasm - just look at Gazza. He could've been one of the greats, but instead we remember him more for his off-pitch antics. In the last 20 years there's been a seismic shift away from the drinking culture for many young Brits - statistics say that a quarter of 20-somethings are completely teetotal. The pub may still be the focal point of socializing for many of our generation, but not for the younger ones, who rely heavily on social media. This has also permeated sport, which has become far more competitive, and with more countries competing at the highest level players need to at the top of their game. Let's hope it's a fantastic final on Sunday (or Monday morning for us), and the enormous weight of expectation on the English players doesn't affect their performance.

@Paul1Perth Hi Paul, a heads-up - you don't need to subscribe to Optus to watch the final because they are (generously) live-streaming it for free. All you need to do is go to the Optus Sport website. I appreciate that given the 3am kick-off time in Perth, you may still wish to download it and watch it later!

Absolutely love it! #totalenvy! There's one lad with a mask on. Bet his mam told him, "Don't go out without your mask on!"

@ramot thanks for the heads up - I will check that out for Wimbledon. You can watch the final on the Optus Sport website for free - they lived streamed the semis and the final for free.

I was born almost exactly 9 months after 1966. My dad hated football but my mum loved it, so it must've been all her doing!

Then you've never lived! Although don't bother now, as the black pudding they have over here is nothing like in the UK.

Staffordshire . We used to have them in our Caravan in Wetton - on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border

You must live in the south of England!

...the World Cup or Euros are on?! I know it sounds sad, but I so miss the buzz when England (or Scotland, Ireland or Wales) are on a roll. I imagine the atmosphere back in Blighty is amazing at the moment. Oh dear, I feel a sicky on Monday morning approaching!

No, and neither are chips part of a full English - although I'm sure plenty of greasy spoons would accommodate the request. It's either toast, fried bread or my personal favourite - oatcakes!

For the 3 days of summer each year?! If you already have a container booked then it's probably worth it, otherwise no.

Evidence of funds for what purpose? You've posted in the Visitor Visas section. I'm sure you are aware that Australian borders are closed at the moment, unless you are a returning citizen or permanent resident.

Sorry for hijacking your post, but as a matter of curiosity, once your application has been approved can you apply for an Australian passport - or do you have to wait until after the ceremony?

A return flight? With whom?... I'm all ears!

One of the vagaries of mind of the human condition - wanting what we can't have. If the borders were open, how many of us would be going back for an annual, or even biannual, trip? You need to be rolling in it, in addition to it sucking up your holidays for the entire year. I also feel that, from my own experience, it wasn't healthy going back every year when I did it (while my mum was still alive) - it just made the homesickness worse when I returned to Australia.