That would be a looooot of smog. No, of course I don't think that. I've visited and even worked temporarily in various bits of the states - it's practically a continent in itself, with very varied economic, social and geographic differences.

Thanks. I'm being investigated for narcolepsy right now. It's good to finally have a doc who is interested . I'm a bit at fault really...I'm not one for unnecessary doctor visits , so although I have mentioned it, I've never really pressed the point until now, because I've started experiencing these 'episodes' in the…

Actually this a debate I've had a few times with my American colleagues. Whose quality of life is higher and what do you measure that by ? My American pals have houses so big, my flat would fit in the bathroom. We have 70sq m flat and that cost us about $400,000. We take home less money, I'd reckon 40% of what they…

Also, VAT is effectively a sales tax...so you guys do kind if pay that.
I have to say, I prefer the EU model. The idea of being effectively bankrupted by healthcare is kinda barbaric to us.

Yes. I now live in sweden and I pay 40% of my whole wage (that's of it all, not a part of it at 40%) in tax. Whilst that did make me cringe at first, I realise that what I get back from it is worth it. Great healthcare, 480 days parental leave on 80% of your wage, per child, which can be used until said sprig is 8 or…

I second the "please touch" thing. I find that my fiancé firmly but gently getting hold of me seems to break it a bit. It doesn't work if I'm actually gibbering in a corner, pointing at the "things" on the bed, but apparently it's effective if things are just getting going. I feel really sorry for him, it must be…

Yeah, there's research that shows the proportions of a baby animal's face (big eyes, widely spaced...etc) are perceived as cute. It extends across humans, kittens, puppies...pretty much most baby animals. I guess they have to be attractive to parents...because kids, whilst lovely, are a challenge sometime ;)

I definitely remember a percentage of mine. There are others which I clearly don't, as my hubby to be will tell me I had one in the night and I don't have any recall. It's extremely unpleasant and after many years of dealing with it I don't really have any solutions.

Yes...the terror never diminishes. That feeling of something settling next to you...the pressure, the inability to move, and worst of all, the feeling that whatever it is, is malign. Do you have any coping strategies? I just try to move, which of course I can't, but a friend of mine told me that attempting to move…

I get these. And sleep paralysis. It's incredibly disturbing, and you can have waking recall if you manage to panic yourself awake. I sleep maybe three hours a night in little twenty minute, or half hour bursts; if I fall asleep longer than that, this tends to happen. That was bad enough, but over the last few years…

I have those... I 'wake' and feel someone is sitting next to me on the bed. Or there's something stood next to the bed. And it's not a benign presence. It's terrifying. Get yourself checked out. I've had some terrible sleep related crap and am now being investigated for narcolepsy...

They are OK. I mean how much 6 foot blonde beefcake can you take before you're bored (joking, joking) I'm marrying a Swede this summer. I miss Yorkshire a lot. I even miss my Mancuncian cousins....sigh..where in America are you from? What do you do?

MWAHAHA. I am a born and bred Yorkshire girl, now living in Sweden. Enjoy that Greggs! Enjoy the Yorkshire tea. Enjoy the being able to buy paracetamol for less then SEVEN QUID.

Well.. that's disturbing. I kinda miss Gregg's. They were the working person's non-poncy way to get a sausage roll...

Oh gosh, it must be sooooo comfy. I slept on a wool matress last year when I visited a friend and oohh.. oh so good. I have a british orthopeadic matress. It's a dream, but the wool one was better. Bribe a strong person with beer on a sunny day - make sure you turn it at least once.

By making my bed I mean cleaning the sheets/duvet cover. Of course, as I'm sure you know... to leave a clean bed "messy" i.e. undone, un-tucked, is actually better in terms of mites, etc,

I've been making my bed once a week (minimum, would like to do it more) forever. Even when I was so poor I had to hand tread it all in the bath, wring it out by hand and air it on the drying green out the back. I actually thought I was abormal (all my colleaugues/friends didn't) but then I saw one of the films about…

YES YES. I live in Sweden and it's very common to see people shaking out/putting the bedding over the balcony.

pffft. so 80 grand's worth of yummies? if i'd promised that, i'd want it in IN BULLION.

I'll do what I always do, which is do what my doc advises! Very interesting to see these inter-country differences. High five to you, cosma, from a very cold, grey and dark Sweden.