Badge

how about I was late *back* from the airport because the car park ticket system went down and I had to locate customer service ...very annoying..

BM

Bix

Is Australia that little island in the southern hemisphere we see on tv every week ?

shell1

Hello

Lets get this thred back to where it started.........

Would love to offer any help in your article, we are due to go to Brisbane in 6 weeks

Shell1

Badge

I remember crossing the 'magic roundabout' (in Swindon) there in the small hours on the way to Cirencester/Stroud....now I think about it....where we live in the Melbourne SE suburbs looks very much like Glouscestershire...

when are you coming down to visit Pollyanna?

BM

Pollyana

Possibly March - F1 time again!! Can't see us making it before that cos we have the Gold Coast Indy next month which'll use up my holiday......!!

The Magic Roundabout - now that was fun! Anyone who learnt to drive in Swindon went there on the first lesson! To the poor souls that haven't been there - its one mini-roundabout with 7 little ones round the outside....... :scared:

cresta57

Cor Zebedee would have had a field day

jad n rich

Having bad image of Queenlanders trying to deal with this concept

Salli

Hi Polly,
I don't think you would want to be living in Swindon now.....there are some very nice villages around it if you can afford to live there....which brings me to our reasons for going....Oliver, I hope you find them helpful.

We rent a house in a lovely sleepy village (complete with a few pubs, village green, village hall etc.). We've loved living here and have some wonderful friends but just cannot afford to buy a house here and can't justify lining someone elses pockets with rent forever.

We had to think that if we couldn't stay in the village then where would we like to move to? We thought about Devon/Cornwall as house prices are much cheaper there but decided to move abroad for various reasons. Taxes seem to be increasing here with little improvement to show for it and by all accounts this is going to get worse. The weather seems to be getting wetter and we seem to be spending more and more time indoors. Plus, and a major reason, we had to consider whether we would want to spend our retirement here, in a place that's cold, wet and has huge waiting lists for just a Drs appointment (it usually takes me about 2 weeks to get an appointment with my Dr at my local surgery). I had to wait several years for exploratory knee surgery.

We did consider Canada (my husband is Canadian) and that was always a backup option if Australia said no, but again there was the cold to consider in retirement.

I know that Australia isn't perfect, nowhere is, but we will be able to go there and buy a house outright with no mortgage (something we would never be able to do here, and I'm not exagerating...I've checked out real estate sites and we have friends living in Oz). We are both looking forward to seeing the sun a bit more and being able to spend more time outdoors.

I know that nowhere in the world is safe anymore and that there are robbers, terrorists and paedophiles everywhere, but given that they are everywhere what is the point in staying here and not moving elsewhere.

Someone said that they didn't like the quiet, family oriented life, but that is exactly what we are looking forward to.

Australia isn't for everyone, but neither is the UK or anywhere else. It's good that we're all different and we all like different things. We should consider ourselves fortunate that we can make the decision of which country to live in based upon such trivial matters as living mortgage free or having more sunshine when so many people in the world have no choice about where they live and are terrified for their lives on a daily basis (this isn't meant to be a dig at anyone...just my opinion).

Wol

I must confess to sitting down and composing a short, pithy email to the gentleman from the Times, explaining concisely and in measured tones just why we are getting the hell out of the UK. The headings I chose were Politics, Social effects, Economics and Climate. I was going to add as the first, the EU.

It was only after the first three pages that I realised I was well into a rant to put the first page of this thread to shame!

So let it be known that my main reasons are:

The EU,Politics, Social effects, Economics and Climate.

So there!

Salli

Rog, that's very true....noone can argue that at least Australia doesn't have the Europe issue! Totally agree with you

MikeStanton

Correcting grammar isn't dogmatic - think about it. As for me being humiliated? You wish! My furry, striped friend. Gosh, Badge, you think you're the only one that has years of experience. Get real!

Let me know when you want to take a swing at me, and I'll leave my big office. Oh, and please don't forget to stand on a chair...

Vegemite Kids

Oliver,
I know it may not come across fully from his posts on here but you really should try to persuade grayling to contribute to your article.

After all someone (normally a very articulate someone You can karma me later G) who is leaving the UK even though they really like it will give a good side twist to your article.

Plus also Odaat would be a good choice too.

Just my opinion.

I dont qualify cos I'm australian, although if you want a semi outsiders view, after living in the UK for many years I can understand why so many want to leave.

simbacat

I can't agree I live in North Swindon and I am absolutely loving it. There are undesirable places in every city or town in the world. My part of Swindon is lovely. But I do agree with the medical care my husband is nearly waiting a year to have his tonsells out and the same time I am waiting to see the occupational Therapist for my child. Our reason for going is wanting an adventure. No more no less.

Vegemite Kids

Dont forget to bring your pole Mike

Badge

Not good enough. G'Night...see ya old boy..

BM