Cincy USA

I was lucky enough to find myself a smashing American girl 17 years ago and moved to the States after we married 14 years ago. Whenever I am asked "Do you like it here?" my stock response is "Take the whole healthcare/insurance crap out of the equation and I'd be happy as a pig in ****", and that's pretty much the truth. I've assimilated to most everything else but the lack of social healthcare - or even compassion for social healthcare - really grips my ****. I can't say that the care I've received has been necessarily any better or worse than that I got back in England, but I do know there's an extra level of anxiety when you are laying in bed and can almost hear the cash registers chirruping away out in the corridor. Even WITH pretty good healthcare insurance - which we pay stupid premiums for - we still found ourselves almost $7k poorer last year and (so far) $3500 out-of-pocket this year. The one year we didn't have health insurance (2003) was the one year my missus was diagnosed with early stage uterine cancer and need to have the uglies cut out as an in-patient. One afternoon, one night, and one morning in hospital racked up $28k worth of bills. I then spent two years fighting them - on moral grounds - and got the cost down to 'merely' $6500. I basically had to threaten them with us declaring bankruptcy and getting nothing unless they agreed. So yes, great place to live, a country which knows how to enjoy itself - if a little intolerantly and often in a religiously-controlling fashion - with some genuine opportunities, vistas and choices... BUT beware the healthcare trap. It will bleed you dry in more ways than one. I do miss my footie, but more recently - the last two years - the TV coverage and accessibility to internet streams etc etc has made it much easier. Next season is going to be a dream. Seattle and (especially) Portland LOVE their "soccer" and I'm sure you'll find some like-minded folks once you get there. If not, just look for a good football-mad pub or sports bar - of which there are now many right across the country - wear your red & white and start impressing the locals! (That's pretty much what I did) Good luck - the Pacific Northwest is a great place to live by all accounts. We are looking to move to Portland at some stage mainly because of its affordable housing stock and groovy progressive attitudes. Cincinnati is WAY too conservative for my taste but its cheap as chips to live here, and it's near where the missus grew up. If she's happy, I'm happy.

A MASSIVE shout out to Pascal at Molly Malones in Covington for opening the doors at 7:30am to allow me to properly celebrate - so very VERY drunk....

7:30am. And I think I have persuaded the barman at our favourite pub to open up especially for me and the missus?!!

Phuq

When I moved to the States my intake went up from 20 smokes a day to almost 60. The reason? A carton of cigs cost just $20. I knew I had to do something. I picked a day at random, giving myself just 24 hours notice. I went out on the the porch and smoked one last ciggie then flicked the butt onto the lawn and told myself "no more" I didn't tell the wife I'd quit until the next morning. I used a patch on Day 1 but on Day 2 forgot to put one on. Didn't make a difference to me at all. Realised that after almost 20 years of smoking my habit wasn't the nicotine, but the very habit itself. I couldn't do anything or go anywhere without lighting up. I used lollies (like someone else mentioned earlier) - Chupa Chups - and they helped the oral fixation. The 'need' passed after about 5 days. Now, some nine years later, I could not even entertain the idea of smoking, almost as if I have forgotten how to (does that makes sense?) Whenever we're out and about I reassure myself that I made the right decision by watching people who smoke and realising just how effing stupid they look. I also grimace at the smell everytime I walk past those 'smoking outside of the building' in downtown Cincinnati and can't get away from people who smell of cigarette smoke quickly enough if I have to stand next to them at the supermarket etc It's an utterly ludicrous habit. I can't believe that I ever started, regret the massive amounts of quids and bucks I sp*nked away but very happy I was able to quit as easily as I did. My health has certainly been compromised by my 20+ year addiction and often feel as if I am still paying the price for my stupidity. Good luck to ANYone trying to quit - your body and wallet will thank you for it!

Hiya Dan! Yes Molly Malone's in Covington, just across the river from downtown Cincy. They should have the sound on, yes. I can usually persuade them.

That's fantastic news! I had already persuaded my local to connect a laptop to one of their bigscreens and show it via a 'stream' but now I don't have to! Toppest of the top-most ******** this is

Listening via proxy to FiveLive. Lucky bourbon poured, ready.

Mr G's were on Shirley High Street from the early 70's and later out on Marsh Lane too. (As well as Eastleigh, Winchester, Salisbury & Lymington) There was _also_ another electrical/white goods store called Gibbs on Shirley High Street on the other side of the road to Mr G's a block or two up.

Yes, I went to the pub. Me and the wife were the only people in the place, so that was good. However the two regular Irish barmen (one a Liverpool supporter, the other a Manure freak) were relentless in their ****-taking. They both know to serve me up a large whisky whenever Saints score, so they dipped out on that, the tips on that, and I tipped out on getting bladdered on a Monday afternoon. We were woeful.

The wife is already negotiating to take the day off work so we can hit Molly Malone's in Covington together that afternoon. I like the idea of Monday afternoon drinking.

I will doubtless be the only Red & White shirt in the midst of a bunch of American MoanUtd gloryhunters at Molly Malone's in Covington, KY

Perhaps he should punch a hole in the back of his wardrobe? Maybe the new owner is behind it along with the lion and the witch?

Orange Peel and/or mothballs Put the mothballs inside containers with holes in the side/top

I'll help pass the time with this revelation... an anagram of "Andrew Andronikou" is "Nino, our ****** dad"

Why is it only a "level playing field" for the Skates when they are playing downhill?

Left back or right back?

frimpong-frimpong-frimpong-frimpong-frimpong-iddle-i-poe.... frimpong-frimpong-frimpong-frimpong-frimpong-iddle-i-poe-iddle-i-poooooooeeee>

Oh the irony in this comment on the "Pompey Upbeat" news story from Southstand Johnny So when your team were playing downhill - via repetitive cheating - it was OK, but now you're complaining at having to play uphill?! Hypocritical ***

Unfortunate name for a politican.... http://www.nndb.com/people/875/000127494/ I wonder if he ever met Ed Balls?

Avram Grunt will be off to West Ham before his team get to the showers

AA's and Grunty's constant whining seems very transparent to me. When the last wheel finally falls off Pompey's mobile home both of them will blame the FA, the FL, the PL and Uefa for not giving them the right opportunities to be sold to a new owner. If I could bet money on that, I would.

I thought this BBC news article was about Pompey's fan base for a while... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8599122.stm

Fantastic - and importantly DECISIVE - result. Great to watch it - albeit on a dodgy internet stream - but sad that it then cut off before the trophy was paraded round Wembley as I hoped to see all my mates in the crowd. Well done to the players and AP and a BIG up to all the supporters who created what looked and sounded like an utterly brilliant atmosphere. High-fives to each and every MF-ing one of ya!

Thank FF that! Top ******** lads, well done everyone!