WC 1M Post Challenge - You Ready?!

[Laura Knotek]

I forgot to mention that meat is a big thing here, which is a bit depressing in some ways.

I like Asian cuisine (Chinese, etc) and generally they focus on the vegetables and the meat is sort of secondary. This is traditionally but it may have changed in more recent times. Food tastes are changing there.. sigh

This typically means that Asian food in general is very fresh and flavourful.

Here in France because meat is what people want the Asian restaurants have changed their food to match the locals so the dishes are heavily meat oriented. Very few vegetables.

On top of that you find cheese in the Asian foods as well including even Japanese. Which I've NEVER seen before anywhere else.

I can appreciate that restaurant owners want to have customers but I do hope over time things change to be more authentic flavours. It's so hard to find a good Chinese, Thai and Indian restaurant here. I'm still looking...

Let's keep in mind that meat overall is very unsustainable. Especially beef. Out of everything chicken is the most sustainable but no where near a vegan diet.

Lastly, you may have heard of the French paradox. It's completely false. It's not what French people eat but how they eat and how much they eat.

I believe it's all about culture. There are huge varieties of foods, both junk and authentic, plus many ethnic and fusion foods in the USA and in the large cities in the UK, since the populations are so diverse and there are so many varieties of influences from many nationalities. That's not going to be the case in a country with fierce pride in the traditions of the perceived excellence of its foods: case in point, the Michelin Guides. A friend of mine from NYC has been to London, and he said it's just as easy to find great foods of every variety in London as it is in NYC. He rarely goes to traditional French restaurants in NYC, since he is lactose intolerant, and the majority of French foods contain lots of dairy. However, the majority of foods in London are not the traditional bland foods associated with traditional British foods.

 

[N_LaRUE]

I believe it's all about culture. There are huge varieties of foods, both junk and authentic, plus many ethnic and fusion foods in the USA and in the large cities in the UK, since the populations are so diverse and there are so many varieties of influences from many nationalities. That's not going to be the case in a country with fierce pride in the traditions of the perceived excellence of its foods: case in point, the Michelin Guides. A friend of mine from NYC has been to London, and he said it's just as easy to find great foods of every variety in London as it is in NYC. He rarely goes to traditional French restaurants in NYC, since he is lactose intolerant, and the majority of French foods contain lots of dairy. However, the majority of foods in London are not the traditional bland foods associated with traditional British foods.

London is very multicultural and you can find pretty much any type of food. How good it will be will come down to where it's located and who it's catered too. There's also a lot of fusion foods as well.

London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, etc, the large cities are generally good for variety and in general good food.

Once outside those cities I wouldn't say the same thing. You will find good restaurants but not necessarily ethnic ones.

People on the other hand don't really eat that well in the UK. There are many who like the old 'UK diet'. Lots of takeaways. Then there's the 'ready meals'...

Traditional French cuisine has a lots of dairy in it. However, like London, in lager cities in France, you can find other cuisines and pretty good variety if you want it. I can't say how good it will be but at least it's an option.

 

[N_LaRUE]

I should point out one other thing.

A lot of people will tell you how 'great' the Indian food is in the UK. I will put it this way. You need to search for good Indian food like you need to search for any other good food. We have been disappointed a few times. A lot of restaurants in the UK use jars or they have a 'base' curry and just modify that. So everything ends up tasting the same.

As for other foods, it's pretty much the same. We never found a good Chinese, even in China Town in London. We found some OK Thai.

 

[Laura Knotek]

I should point out one other thing.

A lot of people will tell you how 'great' the Indian food is in the UK. I will put it this way. You need to search for good Indian food like you need to search for any other good food. We have been disappointed a few times. A lot of restaurants in the UK use jars or they have a 'base' curry and just modify that. So everything ends up tasting the same.

As for other foods, it's pretty much the same. We never found a good Chinese, even in China Town in London. We found some OK Thai.

Have food trucks arrived in Europe? Those have even become popular here in Cleveland, which is not considered a large city (and isn't even the largest city in Ohio). The food trucks are really good, and there are lots of varieties available.

 

[N_LaRUE]

Have food trucks arrived in Europe? Those have even become popular here in Cleveland, which is not considered a large city (and isn't even the largest city in Ohio). The food trucks are really good, and there are lots of varieties available.

Yes, food trucks are here in France, UK and I think Spain. I can't say anything else about the rest of Europe.

There are lots of food trucks in rural France simply because it's cheaper and easier to have a restaurant on wheels to cater to people than to have a traditional one. You end up with a larger clientele as well.

Lager cities have more trucks though. It also appears to be a bit more seasonal here in France compared to the UK. In the UK they have markets where you can find the trucks along with other stalls. I haven't seen the same here. Saying that I haven't really gone looking for them in Paris yet.

 

[N_LaRUE]

So to break from food for a moment.

My wife and our cat had a disagreement over who owns the office chair.

I've never seen a cat look so smug.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

So to break from food for a moment.

My wife and our cat had a disagreement over who owns the office chair.

I've never seen a cat look so smug.

View attachment 141420

I'm sure that was one cat fight you were smart enough to stay out of...

 

[MSFTisMIA]

I think I went through some of that distraught feelings when I bricked the V35, as it was moreso about having to find a new daily driver vs being completely without a phone. All is well that ends well, I suppose.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

Thinking about the regular S10 for the GF. Was thinking about the S10+, but the S10 may be a better fit.

 

[worldspy99]

Thinking about the regular S10 for the GF. Was thinking about the S10+, but the S10 may be a better fit.

S10 is a nice device. S10+ felt just a tad unwieldy.

 

[Laura Knotek]

So to break from food for a moment.

My wife and our cat had a disagreement over who owns the office chair.

I've never seen a cat look so smug.

View attachment 141420

ROFL! The cat's expression is priceless.

 

[raycpl]

ROFL! The cat's expression is priceless.

Couldnt resist

 

[libra89]

Thinking about the regular S10 for the GF. Was thinking about the S10+, but the S10 may be a better fit.

I second 99, I think she'll like it. OneUI is great. It feels very different from previous software. Updates are solid. My S10e is still great to me.

 

[MSFTisMIA]

She's using One UI now since her mom bought her the Tab S5e for her birthday. I'm looking at a pair of cheap wireless earbuds to go with the tablet and the new phone. I may get her the dock I have that let's me charge both the watch and phone as well and a dual plug quick charge 3.0 for when she travels to charge the watch and phone and tablet.

She would be transitioning from a Nexus 7 2013 and Note 5 with both had Qi charging and micro USB to USB-C.

 

[libra89]

She's using One UI now since her mom bought her the Tab S5e for her birthday. I'm looking at a pair of cheap wireless earbuds to go with the tablet and the new phone. I may get her the dock I have that let's me charge both the watch and phone as well and a dual plug quick charge 3.0 for when she travels to charge the watch and phone and tablet.

She would be transitioning from a Nexus 7 2013 and Note 5 with both had Qi charging and micro USB to USB-C.

Wow this sounds like such an upgrade for her! What a sweet gift. Will she miss the S-pen though?

 

[libra89]

I don't take back my previous rant, but being able to ask what I'll like to know and letting go of foolishness is so nice. I think I'm starting to get it now.

 

[N_LaRUE]

What a day so far.

So our car needs some work. Anyone who knows anything about BMWs knows this is not a cheap endeavor. Add that it's a 4X4 and it goes up a touch more.

Anyway, we needed new tires. So I put the car in this morning for the tires. We decided to get an all season (not usual for here) so paid a little more for them.

Got the call the car was ready and went to get it.

When I go there I was told and shown that one of the rims has a crack in it. So I needed a new one. I had to get a BMW one of course...

So I went to BMW. Driving on my spare tire.

Found out I couldn't get the rim today but I'll have it tomorrow. Needless to say the rim isn't cheap...

So tomorrow I get the new rim and the last tire put on. I guess I'm happy it's just one.

After that I need to get some mechanical work done. Currently looking at different options.

So by the time I'm done will be well over 3500 Euros. Sigh.

 

[libra89]

What a day so far.

So our car needs some work. Anyone who knows anything about BMWs knows this is not a cheap endeavor. Add that it's a 4X4 and it goes up a touch more.

Anyway, we needed new tires. So I put the car in this morning for the tires. We decided to get an all season (not usual for here) so paid a little more for them.

Got the call the car was ready and went to get it.

When I go there I was told and shown that one of the rims has a crack in it. So I needed a new one. I had to get a BMW one of course...

So I went to BMW. Driving on my spare tire.

Found out I couldn't get the rim today but I'll have it tomorrow. Needless to say the rim isn't cheap...

So tomorrow I get the new rim and the last tire put on. I guess I'm happy it's just one.

After that I need to get some mechanical work done. Currently looking at different options.

So by the time I'm done will be well over 3500 Euros. Sigh.

Wow. What a day for you. Geez. I wish you good luck with the process and what you decide to do.

 

[Laura Knotek]

What a day so far.

So our car needs some work. Anyone who knows anything about BMWs knows this is not a cheap endeavor. Add that it's a 4X4 and it goes up a touch more.

Anyway, we needed new tires. So I put the car in this morning for the tires. We decided to get an all season (not usual for here) so paid a little more for them.

Got the call the car was ready and went to get it.

When I go there I was told and shown that one of the rims has a crack in it. So I needed a new one. I had to get a BMW one of course...

So I went to BMW. Driving on my spare tire.

Found out I couldn't get the rim today but I'll have it tomorrow. Needless to say the rim isn't cheap...

So tomorrow I get the new rim and the last tire put on. I guess I'm happy it's just one.

After that I need to get some mechanical work done. Currently looking at different options.

So by the time I'm done will be well over 3500 Euros. Sigh.

I'm sorry to hear that.

A friend of my cousin had a BMW. He got rid of it due to the high cost of maintenance and bought a Lexus. Perhaps Japanese cars aren't cheaper to maintain in Europe than European cars, but they are here.

 

[N_LaRUE]

I'm sorry to hear that.

A friend of my cousin had a BMW. He got rid of it due to the high cost of maintenance and bought a Lexus. Perhaps Japanese cars aren't cheaper to maintain in Europe than European cars, but they are here.

BMWs are expensive to maintain anywhere.

Cars in general are expensive in France. Both in maintenance and to buy.

The 'cheaper' cars are Renault, Citroen and Peugeot. All French makes and in large quantities on the road.

The used car market is very different here compared to other countries I lived in.

Maintenance is expensive because it's France.