Travel/holiday thread

[First Aspect]

Is that you losing an argument*, because your comment has little to do with what you were replying to?

*I know this an impossibility.

You are just upset because you inadvertently showed a dreadful lack of empathy towards others.

I forgive you.

 

[Psamathe]

unless they are going somewhere against Foreign Office recommendations and then expect the local Embassy / Consulat to save them

Do they do that these days? I did that once and decided to call British Consulate before entering the country basically "I'm going, I'm telling you so if I don't come back you can do something" to which they replied "Don't go. If you don't come back we won't do anything whatsoever".
(I went anyway and it was a bit iffy at times).

 

[PurplePenguin]

Some people have much higher expectations of consular services than me.

 

[First Aspect]

Some people have much higher expectations of consular services than me.

Have you any direct experiences?

 

[PurplePenguin]

You are just upset because you inadvertently showed a dreadful lack of empathy towards others.

I forgive you.

It's ok to lose an argument. You will survive. You'll move on and find another subject to argue about.

 

[First Aspect]

It's ok to lose an argument. You will survive. You'll move on and find another subject to argue about.

Why must you present everything in life as an argument?

 

[PurplePenguin]

Have you any direct experiences?

A handful of times for some sort of service. I stayed in one high commission for a couple of weeks too.

 

[PurplePenguin]

Why must you present everything in life as an argument?

It didn't take you long.

 

[First Aspect]

A handful of times for some sort of service. I stayed in one high commission for a couple of weeks too.

And have they got worse?

My only knowledge is second hand, of high commissioners hosting tea parties for British Council volunteers. Which seems jolly lovely but I'm not sure what would have happened in the event of widespread civil unrest.

Or, I could just have been watching an episode of Death in Paradise.

 

[briantrumpet]

There are many different types. I have done a few.

As a penguin, it's probably a good way to see bits of the world you'd not get to see otherwise. Flappers would only get you so far.

 

[PurplePenguin]

And have they got worse?

My only knowledge is second hand, of high commissioners hosting tea parties for British Council volunteers. Which seems jolly lovely but I'm not sure what would have happened in the event of widespread civil unrest.

Or, I could just have been watching an episode of Death in Paradise.

The UK has always run a system of "full cost recovery" for consular services. This means that things are expensive where they can charge and usually administered by locally employed staff. This contrasts with other countries who subsidise things a bit more. The result is that a Brit will feel a bit ripped off whilst a Kiwi might end up having a night on the town with a compatriot. I don't think this has changed over the years.

The general problem I was referring to is that a lot of people think consular services are akin to a get-out-jail card in monopoly. Unfortunately, they don't get you out of jail. At best, they are a phone a friend who doesn't want to talk to you service.

Separately, the other work they do in promoting the country has changed over the years because international communication has improved a lot.

 

[briantrumpet]

Separately, the other work they do in promoting the country has changed over the years because international communication has improved a lot.

Didn't the Andrew formerly known as Prince do stuff like that too?

 

[Psamathe]

Didn't the Andrew formerly known as Prince do stuff like that too?

Nah. That was just free travel and personal enrichment at the UK taxpayers expense.

 

[First Aspect]

The UK has always run a system of "full cost recovery" for consular services. This means that things are expensive where they can charge and usually administered by locally employed staff. This contrasts with other countries who subsidise things a bit more. The result is that a Brit will feel a bit ripped off whilst a Kiwi might end up having a night on the town with a compatriot. I don't think this has changed over the years.

The general problem I was referring to is that a lot of people think consular services are akin to a get-out-jail card in monopoly. Unfortunately, they don't get you out of jail. At best, they are a phone a friend who doesn't want to talk to you service.

Separately, the other work they do in promoting the country has changed over the years because international communication has improved a lot.

Is this an argument?

 

[PurplePenguin]

Is this an argument?

No. You asked a question, so I attempted to answer it.