My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
Mar 12th 2006, 12:29 pm
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 145
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
Originally Posted by Bella Donna
Firstly, sorry to hear it isn't living up to your expectations, but then we're all different and all are perhaps looking for something different from Australia. I liked Tory-glen Boy's advice to "find the extraordinary in the ordinary" - very profound but good advice nonetheless.
On your comment above, I have to agree that the lack of history is something that I have noticed. Makes the country seem somewhat soulless to me. We came from a small Somerset village with a couple of cozy, rustic pubs and a lovely Norman church, and I've rather missed the sound of church bells on a Sunday morning. We aren't churchgoers, and it's a good thing because I've only seen two churches in this area and they could be mistaken for ordinary buildings - nothing remotely inspiring about them. But it's things like this that you take for granted and don't appreciate until they aren't there any more.
That said, I'd rather have the warmth and friendliness of the Australian people, the clean air, the space and the sunshine any day. I cannot imagine living in England again...although I do rather envy you all your snow right now.
Sue
On your comment above, I have to agree that the lack of history is something that I have noticed. Makes the country seem somewhat soulless to me. We came from a small Somerset village with a couple of cozy, rustic pubs and a lovely Norman church, and I've rather missed the sound of church bells on a Sunday morning. We aren't churchgoers, and it's a good thing because I've only seen two churches in this area and they could be mistaken for ordinary buildings - nothing remotely inspiring about them. But it's things like this that you take for granted and don't appreciate until they aren't there any more.
That said, I'd rather have the warmth and friendliness of the Australian people, the clean air, the space and the sunshine any day. I cannot imagine living in England again...although I do rather envy you all your snow right now.
Sue
i am from Glasgow, but live in Somerset !!
small world ... but then again, thats what this site is all about !!
Mar 12th 2006, 12:48 pm
#17
Australia's Doorman
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: The Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia
Posts: 11,056
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
Originally Posted by arkon
I don't wish bad experiences on anyone but reading things like this do indeed make me feel better because I know I'm not alone. I just wish more people had the guts to post what they don't like about the place. I know there is a mafia on here that will try and intimidate anyone that says negative things about the place in the hope it will stop new users from posting their bad experiences but you just need to take a deep breath and do it.
Mar 12th 2006, 12:48 pm
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Albany Creek, QLD
Posts: 184
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
if you don't like it you know what to do.................................bugga off back to britain. easy solution eh.
australia is not britian so get used to it and shut ya moaning or leave the place.
australia is not britian so get used to it and shut ya moaning or leave the place.
Mar 12th 2006, 12:49 pm
#19
Back in OZ!
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 905
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
I feel qualified to answer this question, seeing as I grew up in Australia 8-23 and am moving back there in Nov (ignore my timeline below).
TV QUALITY - I agree!!!!!!! What the poster, said is true! TV is crap (thank goodness they get the american shows, at least). I will miss the TV!!
INTERNET - Yep...Internet ADSL is still new!! And yep...it amazes me that places like Target, KMart etc don't sell online!!!
COST OF LIVING - Yep - Stuff is expensive!!!! No Argos!!!! Food, costs more!! However, $250 a fornight doesn't sound bad to me! My tesco's shopping every fortnight comes in sometimes a tad under £100 or sometimes over £100 if I am buying cleaning products too! So $250 especially for a fortnight, wouldn't freak me out.
AUSTRALIAN RED TAPE & REGULATIONS - well can't comment on that, as I never really came up against any! But I know that I work with a Polish Accountant who got her degree in Poland, came to England and is now working retail whilst she re-studies to pass the UK's standards. So it happens in every contry.
LACK OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY & RESTAURANTS - Lack of restaurants etc - well, if we want a decent Curry in Perth...then we have to travel for it. Yes, in England your local chinese, curry or thai place might have been fantastic and staffed by authentic asian's but remember, Australia will be different....for a start, there arn't as many asian's - particularly Indians! I took my fiance (who is Indian) to a local Indian restaurant in Perth and the owner of the place was the only Indian there. He greeted my fiance like he was his long lost cousin, which immediately embarrassed the heck out of my partner...who just wants to blend in, not be the 'token asian' in town!
LACK OF HISTORY - Yep!! You got us there!! Being that our great Nation is only a few hundred years old (in white settlement terms) we're not going to have a lot of history - so no, you won't find old pubs! You will find older towns, aboriginal art work dating back centuries etc. Before the white settlers, our country went back a lot further.
WHERE IS EVERYBODY - Yep.....I AGREE!! My partner and I went out for a night and couldn't believe that the streets were so quiet at chucking out time! We got a seat in the pub....(unheard of in London) and we called a taxi and it was there before we'd even hung up the phone!! I was used to the quiet life prior to moving back to England....but now it gets me every time, I visit!! I think, that most ppl choose to meet up at home. They have BBQ's or drinks on the patio - it's cheaper, you still socialise and well....you don't have to travel far to get home!! (if you're hosting it)
STYLE & CLASS - doesn't bother me! I certainly don't wear, what everyone else wears here in the UK. I live in London, so no 2 people look the same!! Wouldn't bother me to see girls in board shorts, or men in graffiti tops - each to their own! Different strokes for different folks!!
YOU'LL LOVE IT - well...can't speak for that one! Yes, 1000's flock back to England each year....but 1000's flock back to Australia each year too! It isn't a competition. Just because we share the same queen - doesn't mean we're the same country. I love both England and Australia - but It's unfair to constantly be comparing them, as they are so different. I will miss different things about England, than I miss about Australia!
COST OF TRAVEL - yep....pretty pricey!! Bus fare aint so bad....not compared to London! I arrived here in 99 to 70p tickets and now 2006 it is £1.50!!!! :scared:
Anyway.....I aint trying to knock your post. After all...these are your feelings and who am I to criticise the way you feel. However, none of these points would stop me from moving back to Australia. It's just not enough of a reason! Yes, England has a past, that Australia could never compete with, yes - the pub culture over here is possibly a little nicer than the Australian one, yes - tv is crap in Oz....etc etc but.....
Australia isn't England....nor is it trying to be!
C'mon Peeps - "You'll love it"
TV QUALITY - I agree!!!!!!! What the poster, said is true! TV is crap (thank goodness they get the american shows, at least). I will miss the TV!!
INTERNET - Yep...Internet ADSL is still new!! And yep...it amazes me that places like Target, KMart etc don't sell online!!!
COST OF LIVING - Yep - Stuff is expensive!!!! No Argos!!!! Food, costs more!! However, $250 a fornight doesn't sound bad to me! My tesco's shopping every fortnight comes in sometimes a tad under £100 or sometimes over £100 if I am buying cleaning products too! So $250 especially for a fortnight, wouldn't freak me out.
AUSTRALIAN RED TAPE & REGULATIONS - well can't comment on that, as I never really came up against any! But I know that I work with a Polish Accountant who got her degree in Poland, came to England and is now working retail whilst she re-studies to pass the UK's standards. So it happens in every contry.
LACK OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY & RESTAURANTS - Lack of restaurants etc - well, if we want a decent Curry in Perth...then we have to travel for it. Yes, in England your local chinese, curry or thai place might have been fantastic and staffed by authentic asian's but remember, Australia will be different....for a start, there arn't as many asian's - particularly Indians! I took my fiance (who is Indian) to a local Indian restaurant in Perth and the owner of the place was the only Indian there. He greeted my fiance like he was his long lost cousin, which immediately embarrassed the heck out of my partner...who just wants to blend in, not be the 'token asian' in town!
LACK OF HISTORY - Yep!! You got us there!! Being that our great Nation is only a few hundred years old (in white settlement terms) we're not going to have a lot of history - so no, you won't find old pubs! You will find older towns, aboriginal art work dating back centuries etc. Before the white settlers, our country went back a lot further.
WHERE IS EVERYBODY - Yep.....I AGREE!! My partner and I went out for a night and couldn't believe that the streets were so quiet at chucking out time! We got a seat in the pub....(unheard of in London) and we called a taxi and it was there before we'd even hung up the phone!! I was used to the quiet life prior to moving back to England....but now it gets me every time, I visit!! I think, that most ppl choose to meet up at home. They have BBQ's or drinks on the patio - it's cheaper, you still socialise and well....you don't have to travel far to get home!! (if you're hosting it)
STYLE & CLASS - doesn't bother me! I certainly don't wear, what everyone else wears here in the UK. I live in London, so no 2 people look the same!! Wouldn't bother me to see girls in board shorts, or men in graffiti tops - each to their own! Different strokes for different folks!!
YOU'LL LOVE IT - well...can't speak for that one! Yes, 1000's flock back to England each year....but 1000's flock back to Australia each year too! It isn't a competition. Just because we share the same queen - doesn't mean we're the same country. I love both England and Australia - but It's unfair to constantly be comparing them, as they are so different. I will miss different things about England, than I miss about Australia!
COST OF TRAVEL - yep....pretty pricey!! Bus fare aint so bad....not compared to London! I arrived here in 99 to 70p tickets and now 2006 it is £1.50!!!! :scared:
Anyway.....I aint trying to knock your post. After all...these are your feelings and who am I to criticise the way you feel. However, none of these points would stop me from moving back to Australia. It's just not enough of a reason! Yes, England has a past, that Australia could never compete with, yes - the pub culture over here is possibly a little nicer than the Australian one, yes - tv is crap in Oz....etc etc but.....
Australia isn't England....nor is it trying to be!
C'mon Peeps - "You'll love it"
Mar 12th 2006, 12:51 pm
#20
Blah Blah Blah
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Posts: 885
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
Originally Posted by Pickle
if you don't like it you know what to do.................................bugga off back to britain. easy solution eh.
australia is not britian so get used to it and shut ya moaning or leave the place.
australia is not britian so get used to it and shut ya moaning or leave the place.
Mar 12th 2006, 12:53 pm
#21
womble
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,675
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
Originally Posted by ElshaUK
Lack of restaurants etc - well, if we want a decent Curry in Perth...then we have to travel for it. Yes, in England your local chinese, curry or thai place might have been fantastic and staffed by authentic asian's but remember, Australia will be different....for a start, there arn't as many asian's - particularly Indians! I took my fiance (who is Indian) to a local Indian restaurant in Perth and the owner of the place was the only Indian there. He greeted my fiance like he was his long lost cousin, which immediately embarrassed the heck out of my partner...who just wants to blend in, not be the 'token asian' in town!
Mar 12th 2006, 12:58 pm
#22
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Albany Creek, QLD
Posts: 184
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
Originally Posted by Buttockup
More research required, Pickle.
Mar 12th 2006, 12:58 pm
#23
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Sunny Brighton (the UK one)
Posts: 152
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
Originally Posted by Pickle
if you don't like it you know what to do.................................bugga off back to britain. easy solution eh.
australia is not britian so get used to it and shut ya moaning or leave the place.
australia is not britian so get used to it and shut ya moaning or leave the place.
Mar 12th 2006, 1:01 pm
#24
Australia's Doorman
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: The Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia
Posts: 11,056
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
Originally Posted by lostpom.com
I see you're in Birmingham Pickle !
Mar 12th 2006, 1:01 pm
#25
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Albany Creek, QLD
Posts: 184
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
Originally Posted by lostpom.com
I see you're in Birmingham Pickle !
Mar 12th 2006, 1:02 pm
#26
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
You obviously needed to get that off your chest. Hope you feel better Sorry you feel the way you do. Not going to argue with you because you experience is different to mine, we are all individual. How does your girlfriend feel about Gympie. Is she from there or from another part.
It may be worth your while trying somewhere bigger, you never know, it might be just what you're looking for.
A lot of what you say may be correct (I haven't had a problem with most of them personally) but surely the travel issue - yes it's expensive but there is a much smaller market here; the diversity of restaurants - not noticed it at all where we are - loads of different types but obviously different from the UK because it's further away, the ads on the tv and the quality of the tv - yes it's rubbish, but to me, it doesn't matter but I am obviously in a different place (husband, children, other hobbies etc).
One thing I don't understand, and Bella Donna mentioned it too - you say the place is lacking in history and then go on about oldy worldy pubs I am not a pub goer and haven't been since I left my 20's, but I don't remember much history there even in the quaint ones.
On history of buildings, memorials, places to visit - of course they are here. The Aborigines have been living in this country far longer than the UK goes back. Just because you can't visit a stately home just off the M1 doesn't mean it's not there.
Not having a go, I just don't understand the statement. Sorry.
Not aware of mafia putting people down for having the guts to say how they feel, sometimes it's the way that it's said that causes irritation.
I really hope you find what you are after whether it's here or back in the UK.
Sorry you feel the way you do. Not going to argue with you because you experience is different to mine, we are all individual. How does your girlfriend feel about Gympie. Is she from there or from another part. It may be worth your while trying somewhere bigger, you never know, it might be just what you're looking for.
A lot of what you say may be correct (I haven't had a problem with most of them personally) but surely the travel issue - yes it's expensive but there is a much smaller market here; the diversity of restaurants - not noticed it at all where we are - loads of different types but obviously different from the UK because it's further away, the ads on the tv and the quality of the tv - yes it's rubbish, but to me, it doesn't matter but I am obviously in a different place (husband, children, other hobbies etc).
One thing I don't understand, and Bella Donna mentioned it too - you say the place is lacking in history and then go on about oldy worldy pubs
I am not a pub goer and haven't been since I left my 20's, but I don't remember much history there even in the quaint ones.On history of buildings, memorials, places to visit - of course they are here. The Aborigines have been living in this country far longer than the UK goes back. Just because you can't visit a stately home just off the M1 doesn't mean it's not there.
Not having a go, I just don't understand the statement. Sorry.
Not aware of mafia putting people down for having the guts to say how they feel, sometimes it's the way that it's said that causes irritation.
I really hope you find what you are after whether it's here or back in the UK.
Mar 12th 2006, 1:03 pm
#27
Jonah & Suzie's Daddy!!!
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Wakefield, West Yorks
Posts: 352
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
Originally Posted by Pickle
if you don't like it you know what to do.................................bugga off back to britain. easy solution eh.
australia is not britian so get used to it and shut ya moaning or leave the place.
australia is not britian so get used to it and shut ya moaning or leave the place.
lol and what was all that about pubs on a friday saturday night ...hasn't lostpom got any mates to go round to or come round to theirs for a few like most aussies prefer to do
Mar 12th 2006, 1:05 pm
#28
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Albany Creek, QLD
Posts: 184
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
Originally Posted by Sir Les Patterson
well said lol
and what was all that about pubs on a friday saturday night ...hasn't lostpom got any mates to go round to or come round to theirs for a few like most aussies prefer to do
lol and what was all that about pubs on a friday saturday night ...hasn't lostpom got any mates to go round to or come round to theirs for a few like most aussies prefer to do
Mar 12th 2006, 1:11 pm
#29
Blah Blah Blah
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Posts: 885
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
Originally Posted by Pickle
research into what???
Mar 12th 2006, 1:13 pm
#30
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Albany Creek, QLD
Posts: 184
Re: My Top 10 Aussie Gripes
Originally Posted by Buttockup
My apologies - my wires are getting confused (as usual). Here - have a pint
cheers