I do not think this is an "area" problem.
I have had some of the same issues in the past few weeks as well. Like logging off, finding the site, server taking too long to respond, and a few times it has said that there was a database error and my posts to peoples profiles seemed to cycle until it timed out and never did post I had to do a "repost"...
It isnt an all the time thing but three or four times a day every few days.
just wanted you to know that it wasn't just in UK ..as I am in the US