It looks like we are going back
May 23rd 2003, 2:14 pm
#16
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3
Here in Alberta Canada the labor laws are very weak.
Allot of people work without any played holiday and organizations can lay people off for simple thinks like not fitting in with co-workers.
Also if you get laid off the law states that any one-week notice is required.
People start work here at 8 not 9 and in allot of cases are expected to work though to 5:30 pm.
When I was in England I worked 8 to 4 with five weeks paid holiday with the norm being 4 weeks
And we have it easy here in comparison to the US were things are allot tougher than here.
In a BBC survey the average North American works 2 months on average a year longer compared to the average European.
Also health in the US over 5 million people have no health care benefits with 100% in the UK.
The thing a dislike the most over here is the commercialism with is extreme and the sport, which totally crap.
Allot of people work without any played holiday and organizations can lay people off for simple thinks like not fitting in with co-workers.
Also if you get laid off the law states that any one-week notice is required.
People start work here at 8 not 9 and in allot of cases are expected to work though to 5:30 pm.
When I was in England I worked 8 to 4 with five weeks paid holiday with the norm being 4 weeks
And we have it easy here in comparison to the US were things are allot tougher than here.
In a BBC survey the average North American works 2 months on average a year longer compared to the average European.
Also health in the US over 5 million people have no health care benefits with 100% in the UK.
The thing a dislike the most over here is the commercialism with is extreme and the sport, which totally crap.
May 23rd 2003, 9:30 pm
#17
Just Joined
Joined: May 2003
Location: London
Posts: 17
Re: Going home
Originally posted by daisymoll
I think taxes may be just as high over here you know. I may be wrong but it sure feels like it and we don't seem to get a s many services. I also never felt as if there would be a problem getting a job when I was in the UK.
As for longer hours, some companies over here start their employees off on as little as five days holiday. Yes some employees in the Uk work ridiculous hours but it all comes down to choice and time management in the end and that is the same in the UK and the world over. In each country my husband has worked he has had coworkers who do the long hours (Over here some people even go in on the weekends). We choose not to fall into this trap and I have to say that my husbands career has never been hindered by this. He gets his work done well and that has always been recognised. If people are willing to do it than employers aren't going to say no are they... You talk as if these problems are unique to the UK, believe me they are not
I think taxes may be just as high over here you know. I may be wrong but it sure feels like it and we don't seem to get a s many services. I also never felt as if there would be a problem getting a job when I was in the UK.
As for longer hours, some companies over here start their employees off on as little as five days holiday. Yes some employees in the Uk work ridiculous hours but it all comes down to choice and time management in the end and that is the same in the UK and the world over. In each country my husband has worked he has had coworkers who do the long hours (Over here some people even go in on the weekends). We choose not to fall into this trap and I have to say that my husbands career has never been hindered by this. He gets his work done well and that has always been recognised. If people are willing to do it than employers aren't going to say no are they... You talk as if these problems are unique to the UK, believe me they are not
Yes thats all true. Long hours don't only exist in the UK you know! It was a bit of a shock coming here initially, with these idea's that I would be working far fewer hours etc. Turned out I put in just as many as before, if not more...(still , that was back when I had employment, so shouldn't moan too much!)
May 24th 2003, 12:36 pm
#18
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2003
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 346
Re: Going home
Originally posted by daisymoll
I definitely agree with this. I personally think that one of the main reasons why there is less community spirt in the UK is because so many women are now working full time. I think in the past that they would have been the cement of the community but now they no longer have time for housework, runnning around after kids etc. I am not being sexist either coz I am a woman!!!
I definitely agree with this. I personally think that one of the main reasons why there is less community spirt in the UK is because so many women are now working full time. I think in the past that they would have been the cement of the community but now they no longer have time for housework, runnning around after kids etc. I am not being sexist either coz I am a woman!!!
Despite this there is a great community spirit here. I have lived here for 3 years now and know all my neighbours and all their kids. We all keep an eye on the kids when they are playing outside (it is perfectly safe here for kids as young as 3 to play outside without constant supervision) and the kids of all ages know each other and play together. As soon as the kids get home from daycare they are outside playing and all weekend long, as adults we often have a drink with our neighbours at the weekend and have 'street' parties 2 or 3 times a year. Twice a year the neighbourhood gets together to tidy up the grass, leaves and rubbish that gathers and generally make the place tidier after which there is coffee and hot dogs for everyone. These things are cultural and very much part of the Swedish mentality, which has nothing to do with working practices.
Maybe in the UK we just don't have that community mentalty or are to wrapped up in our own busy lives to take the time for it. Life here is definitely a slower pace than the one I led in England and people move around a lot more too. It is difficult to identify with an area that you are only going to live in for a short time, mind you if the identity is already there and you are welcomed into it you can feel part of the neighbourhood very quickly.
I still find some of the Swedish customs a little strange but they do work, there is a neighbourhood here and there is a community that works together (in the main) and generally gets on without too many disputes. But somehow I can't see it working like this in the UK
May 24th 2003, 6:23 pm
#19
Came Back 2003
Joined: Sep 2001
Location: Home & Settled
Posts: 659
Re: Going home
Originally posted by Emm
I have to disagree. I'm not sure why there is less community spirit but it is not due to the women being at work. When I moved to Sweden I found myself to be one of the only women at home in my neighbourhood with kids. It is the norm for both parents to work full-time here and the kids to go to daycare.
Despite this there is a great community spirit here. I have lived here for 3 years now and know all my neighbours and all their kids. We all keep an eye on the kids when they are playing outside (it is perfectly safe here for kids as young as 3 to play outside without constant supervision) and the kids of all ages know each other and play together. As soon as the kids get home from daycare they are outside playing and all weekend long, as adults we often have a drink with our neighbours at the weekend and have 'street' parties 2 or 3 times a year. Twice a year the neighbourhood gets together to tidy up the grass, leaves and rubbish that gathers and generally make the place tidier after which there is coffee and hot dogs for everyone. These things are cultural and very much part of the Swedish mentality, which has nothing to do with working practices.
Maybe in the UK we just don't have that community mentalty or are to wrapped up in our own busy lives to take the time for it. Life here is definitely a slower pace than the one I led in England and people move around a lot more too. It is difficult to identify with an area that you are only going to live in for a short time, mind you if the identity is already there and you are welcomed into it you can feel part of the neighbourhood very quickly.
I still find some of the Swedish customs a little strange but they do work, there is a neighbourhood here and there is a community that works together (in the main) and generally gets on without too many disputes. But somehow I can't see it working like this in the UK
I have to disagree. I'm not sure why there is less community spirit but it is not due to the women being at work. When I moved to Sweden I found myself to be one of the only women at home in my neighbourhood with kids. It is the norm for both parents to work full-time here and the kids to go to daycare.
Despite this there is a great community spirit here. I have lived here for 3 years now and know all my neighbours and all their kids. We all keep an eye on the kids when they are playing outside (it is perfectly safe here for kids as young as 3 to play outside without constant supervision) and the kids of all ages know each other and play together. As soon as the kids get home from daycare they are outside playing and all weekend long, as adults we often have a drink with our neighbours at the weekend and have 'street' parties 2 or 3 times a year. Twice a year the neighbourhood gets together to tidy up the grass, leaves and rubbish that gathers and generally make the place tidier after which there is coffee and hot dogs for everyone. These things are cultural and very much part of the Swedish mentality, which has nothing to do with working practices.
Maybe in the UK we just don't have that community mentalty or are to wrapped up in our own busy lives to take the time for it. Life here is definitely a slower pace than the one I led in England and people move around a lot more too. It is difficult to identify with an area that you are only going to live in for a short time, mind you if the identity is already there and you are welcomed into it you can feel part of the neighbourhood very quickly.
I still find some of the Swedish customs a little strange but they do work, there is a neighbourhood here and there is a community that works together (in the main) and generally gets on without too many disputes. But somehow I can't see it working like this in the UK
I think that there is still plenty of community spirit in the Uk, you just have to know where to find it. I think the problem today is that people move house much more often than they used to and so the community never really builds up. Before I went to Oz I lived in a little village in the north of England, most people in this area had lived there all their lives and when we needed to build a new village hall 5 years ago we all got together and raised over £20,000 in a year (the rest was funded by the lottery) to build a new one. Now that was all down to community spirit. The thing about this that most of the fund raising was done by the people who have lived there a long time people who had just moved to the area found it hard to grasp this idea of fundraising for yourselves and we found that those that did come and join in are now very much part of the community and hopefully will continue to be so.
Susan
May 26th 2003, 4:57 pm
#20
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 147
Re: It looks like we are going back
Originally posted by davidjh
Well we are going back to the UK from Canada.
Two dogs - two children 1 & 2 – me and my wife Kate came here two and a half years ago and have never really settled for lots of reasons.
When we arrived in Toronto - Canada the Dot.com balloon had just popped big time in Canada and the US, which made it virtually impossible to get a job within the IT sector. This was a massive difference from what I was used to in the UK, Anyway after six weeks of trying we could not find work and things started to get a bit desperate to say the least. I would have gone back to England then but we had the dogs and at the time they would have had to be put into 6 months quarantine on return and there was not a chance in hell that I would leave them in Canada.
So we decided to hire a mini-van and load our gear up and head west from Toronto and see if we could find work elsewhere.
Six weeks later after quite an adventure we arrived in Calgary and we decided to stay has we could go any further as both Kate and me the dogs and kids where boarding on madness.
Anyway to cut a long story short we managed to find jobs in Calgary purchased a 4-bed 2-½ bathroom detached living the life in the Rocky Mountains.
But as the days crept by things started to get on our wicks about living here in Canada.
Not that Canada’s a bad country to live with low crime space est., the problem is we are British and have found it impossible adjust to the way of live here and its culture.
I am point now was I missing the bad things about England as well as the good.
Well we are going back to the UK from Canada.
Two dogs - two children 1 & 2 – me and my wife Kate came here two and a half years ago and have never really settled for lots of reasons.
When we arrived in Toronto - Canada the Dot.com balloon had just popped big time in Canada and the US, which made it virtually impossible to get a job within the IT sector. This was a massive difference from what I was used to in the UK, Anyway after six weeks of trying we could not find work and things started to get a bit desperate to say the least. I would have gone back to England then but we had the dogs and at the time they would have had to be put into 6 months quarantine on return and there was not a chance in hell that I would leave them in Canada.
So we decided to hire a mini-van and load our gear up and head west from Toronto and see if we could find work elsewhere.
Six weeks later after quite an adventure we arrived in Calgary and we decided to stay has we could go any further as both Kate and me the dogs and kids where boarding on madness.
Anyway to cut a long story short we managed to find jobs in Calgary purchased a 4-bed 2-½ bathroom detached living the life in the Rocky Mountains.
But as the days crept by things started to get on our wicks about living here in Canada.
Not that Canada’s a bad country to live with low crime space est., the problem is we are British and have found it impossible adjust to the way of live here and its culture.
I am point now was I missing the bad things about England as well as the good.
Know complety where you're coming from. Good luck with the move back!
May 28th 2003, 10:29 am
#21
Just Joined
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1
Re: It looks like we are going back
Sorry to hear about your disappointment! You were very courageous to have done what you did. You can feel proud of yourselves. Many people dream of just taking off to achieve a dream, but I wonder how many have the courage to do it.
I have lived in Thailand since 1984. I came here with a rucksack and found a job teaching English a few days before I was about to give up. I left because of the weather. I discovered tropical weather while backpacking in the Caribbean and South America 1981 and thought how daft I was to tolerate British weather when I didn't have to. So, I got myself qualified in English teaching and just left to try my luck in Thailand. It worked out.
In spite of all its faults, the UK is a wonderful place to live, but Thailand is home for me.
I'm sure it will work out for you back in the UK!!
Best regards
Peter
I have lived in Thailand since 1984. I came here with a rucksack and found a job teaching English a few days before I was about to give up. I left because of the weather. I discovered tropical weather while backpacking in the Caribbean and South America 1981 and thought how daft I was to tolerate British weather when I didn't have to. So, I got myself qualified in English teaching and just left to try my luck in Thailand. It worked out.
In spite of all its faults, the UK is a wonderful place to live, but Thailand is home for me.
I'm sure it will work out for you back in the UK!!
Best regards
Peter
Originally posted by davidjh
Well we are going back to the UK from Canada.
Two dogs - two children 1 & 2 – me and my wife Kate came here two and a half years ago and have never really settled for lots of reasons.
When we arrived in Toronto - Canada the Dot.com balloon had just popped big time in Canada and the US, which made it virtually impossible to get a job within the IT sector. This was a massive difference from what I was used to in the UK, Anyway after six weeks of trying we could not find work and things started to get a bit desperate to say the least. I would have gone back to England then but we had the dogs and at the time they would have had to be put into 6 months quarantine on return and there was not a chance in hell that I would leave them in Canada.
So we decided to hire a mini-van and load our gear up and head west from Toronto and see if we could find work elsewhere.
Six weeks later after quite an adventure we arrived in Calgary and we decided to stay has we could go any further as both Kate and me the dogs and kids where boarding on madness.
Anyway to cut a long story short we managed to find jobs in Calgary purchased a 4-bed 2-½ bathroom detached living the life in the Rocky Mountains.
But as the days crept by things started to get on our wicks about living here in Canada.
Not that Canada’s a bad country to live with low crime space est., the problem is we are British and have found it impossible adjust to the way of live here and its culture.
I am point now was I missing the bad things about England as well as the good.
Well we are going back to the UK from Canada.
Two dogs - two children 1 & 2 – me and my wife Kate came here two and a half years ago and have never really settled for lots of reasons.
When we arrived in Toronto - Canada the Dot.com balloon had just popped big time in Canada and the US, which made it virtually impossible to get a job within the IT sector. This was a massive difference from what I was used to in the UK, Anyway after six weeks of trying we could not find work and things started to get a bit desperate to say the least. I would have gone back to England then but we had the dogs and at the time they would have had to be put into 6 months quarantine on return and there was not a chance in hell that I would leave them in Canada.
So we decided to hire a mini-van and load our gear up and head west from Toronto and see if we could find work elsewhere.
Six weeks later after quite an adventure we arrived in Calgary and we decided to stay has we could go any further as both Kate and me the dogs and kids where boarding on madness.
Anyway to cut a long story short we managed to find jobs in Calgary purchased a 4-bed 2-½ bathroom detached living the life in the Rocky Mountains.
But as the days crept by things started to get on our wicks about living here in Canada.
Not that Canada’s a bad country to live with low crime space est., the problem is we are British and have found it impossible adjust to the way of live here and its culture.
I am point now was I missing the bad things about England as well as the good.
Jun 5th 2003, 12:26 pm
#22
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 236
Re: Going home
Originally posted by daisymoll
I definitely agree with this. I personally think that one of the main reasons why there is less community spirt in the UK is because so many women are now working full time. I think in the past that they would have been the cement of the community but now they no longer have time for housework, runnning around after kids etc. I am not being sexist either coz I am a woman!!!
Also, on another point I was just dicussing England with my husband and I think the disappointing thing about England is the pessimism that seems to exist despite people actually doing quite well. Take my inlaws for example, they have a massive house, a pension sorted out as far as we can make out, they are away in their caravan for the fifth time this year and this isn't even their main holiday and they seem to be able to get whatever they want and yet England is still rubbish. One thing I find about the Candians is that even though deep down I think they know some things are rubbish, I find that they don't like to hear a bad word said against their country. I wish more Brits would follow suit and take pride in their country a bit more. It was great last year with the jubilee and the football coz it felt like the whole country united for a bit, we need more of that spirit. I think Brits just really need to realise that it isn't all bad!!!
I definitely agree with this. I personally think that one of the main reasons why there is less community spirt in the UK is because so many women are now working full time. I think in the past that they would have been the cement of the community but now they no longer have time for housework, runnning around after kids etc. I am not being sexist either coz I am a woman!!!
Also, on another point I was just dicussing England with my husband and I think the disappointing thing about England is the pessimism that seems to exist despite people actually doing quite well. Take my inlaws for example, they have a massive house, a pension sorted out as far as we can make out, they are away in their caravan for the fifth time this year and this isn't even their main holiday and they seem to be able to get whatever they want and yet England is still rubbish. One thing I find about the Candians is that even though deep down I think they know some things are rubbish, I find that they don't like to hear a bad word said against their country. I wish more Brits would follow suit and take pride in their country a bit more. It was great last year with the jubilee and the football coz it felt like the whole country united for a bit, we need more of that spirit. I think Brits just really need to realise that it isn't all bad!!!
yes you can be sexist and be a woman!
and it is a sexist view that all the problems in the world are based on women going to work and not being there for the kids.
two points i would like to raise
1- most mums have to work either because their single or their partners don't earn enough and unless you want to live in a run down area with lots of crime and devience, you have no choice.
2- what about fathers? most fathers (not all) for centuries have gone to work and left the family side of it to the mum's, well guess what! 21 st century and most fathers still do that, even though mums in the family are working too!
so lets give working mums a break and give fathers more onus on the blame (that is those that are still around!)
ellen ( not really a feminist, but educated)
Jun 5th 2003, 12:30 pm
#23
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 481
Re: Going home
Originally posted by ellen1
yes you can be sexist and be a woman!
and it is a sexist view that all the problems in the world are based on women going to work and not being there for the kids.
two points i would like to raise
1- most mums have to work either because their single or their partners don't earn enough and unless you want to live in a run down area with lots of crime and devience, you have no choice.
2- what about fathers? most fathers (not all) for centuries have gone to work and left the family side of it to the mum's, well guess what! 21 st century and most fathers still do that, even though mums in the family are working too!
so lets give working mums a break and give fathers more onus on the blame (that is those that are still around!)
ellen ( not really a feminist, but educated)
yes you can be sexist and be a woman!
and it is a sexist view that all the problems in the world are based on women going to work and not being there for the kids.
two points i would like to raise
1- most mums have to work either because their single or their partners don't earn enough and unless you want to live in a run down area with lots of crime and devience, you have no choice.
2- what about fathers? most fathers (not all) for centuries have gone to work and left the family side of it to the mum's, well guess what! 21 st century and most fathers still do that, even though mums in the family are working too!
so lets give working mums a break and give fathers more onus on the blame (that is those that are still around!)
ellen ( not really a feminist, but educated)
Theres no need to get like that!! Everyone is entitled to a view. I wasn't even criticising working mums anyway, I was just saying that this is probably one reason why people don't have so much time to talk to each other and is one along with other reasons on this post eg moving around a lot more that contributes to there being less community spirit in some places!!! At what point in my post did I say women shouldn't work??? I really take offence to being labelled as being anti working women when I really haven't said anything of the sort!!
Some people on this forum are completely oversensitive!!
Believe me, I would have to work in Canada as well if I wasn't pregnant. My husband and I only just get by on what he earns in this supposed cheap country. This is not unique to the UK. When I go back there I am going to work at least part time anyway as I think I would go out of my mind being at home 24/7.
Last edited by daisymoll; Jun 5th 2003 at 12:35 pm.
Jun 5th 2003, 12:54 pm
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 236
oh dear, i am sorry if i offended, but like you i too have an opinion, if you have children you will know what i mean, if this is your first child, you soon will!
community spirit has died a death in most of the uk, as in most other places in the world, it is a sad fact! there are many reasons for it, i just suggested a few in response to your post
maybe i touched aa nerve
ellen
community spirit has died a death in most of the uk, as in most other places in the world, it is a sad fact! there are many reasons for it, i just suggested a few in response to your post
maybe i touched aa nerve
ellen
Jun 5th 2003, 1:09 pm
#25
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 481
Originally posted by ellen1
oh dear, i am sorry if i offended, but like you i too have an opinion, if you have children you will know what i mean, if this is your first child, you soon will!
community spirit has died a death in most of the uk, as in most other places in the world, it is a sad fact! there are many reasons for it, i just suggested a few in response to your post
maybe i touched aa nerve
ellen
oh dear, i am sorry if i offended, but like you i too have an opinion, if you have children you will know what i mean, if this is your first child, you soon will!
community spirit has died a death in most of the uk, as in most other places in the world, it is a sad fact! there are many reasons for it, i just suggested a few in response to your post
maybe i touched aa nerve
ellen
Maybe I misread your post a bit and assumed that you were calling me sexist, perhaps I over reacted abit, who knows!!
Things can be read in so many ways...
Anyway what Can I say I am a raging mass of hormones!!
Last edited by daisymoll; Jun 5th 2003 at 1:34 pm.
Jun 6th 2003, 12:45 pm
#26
Senior member
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Paris
Posts: 835
Hello all. We have been back in the UK for a couple of months now. I completely forgot about this forum. All I can say is that both my wife and I are LOVING being back in the UK. We are living in Wimbledon currently and both working in London. I wont bother listing all the reasons why we are happier in the UK than we were in Sydney - its all been said before many many times on these forums.
I was interested to read about the 'death' of community spirit in the UK. Bit of generalisation maybe? Back in the small town in South Gloucestershire where I grew up nothing has changed. Neighbours still help each other, school fetes are still a success, community fundraisers for church repairs continue, people still look out for each other and younger neighbours still pop in on the old folk to check they are OK. Must be only in specific parts of the country that the spirit has apparently died?
Anyway, we are back and very very happy with the choice we made. Work is fantastic, challenging and rewarding - I am suddenly surrounded by real professionals and not half wits. You can NOT beat the UK if you are a professional of working age. Oh boy, when I recall how bored and unchallenged I was at work in Sydney......
I was interested to read about the 'death' of community spirit in the UK. Bit of generalisation maybe? Back in the small town in South Gloucestershire where I grew up nothing has changed. Neighbours still help each other, school fetes are still a success, community fundraisers for church repairs continue, people still look out for each other and younger neighbours still pop in on the old folk to check they are OK. Must be only in specific parts of the country that the spirit has apparently died?
Anyway, we are back and very very happy with the choice we made. Work is fantastic, challenging and rewarding - I am suddenly surrounded by real professionals and not half wits. You can NOT beat the UK if you are a professional of working age. Oh boy, when I recall how bored and unchallenged I was at work in Sydney......
Jun 6th 2003, 3:44 pm
#27
Release the hounds!
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 302
Originally posted by Herman
Hello all. We have been back in the UK for a couple of months now. I completely forgot about this forum. All I can say is that both my wife and I are LOVING being back in the UK. We are living in Wimbledon currently and both working in London. I wont bother listing all the reasons why we are happier in the UK than we were in Sydney - its all been said before many many times on these forums.
I was interested to read about the 'death' of community spirit in the UK. Bit of generalisation maybe? Back in the small town in South Gloucestershire where I grew up nothing has changed. Neighbours still help each other, school fetes are still a success, community fundraisers for church repairs continue, people still look out for each other and younger neighbours still pop in on the old folk to check they are OK. Must be only in specific parts of the country that the spirit has apparently died?
Anyway, we are back and very very happy with the choice we made. Work is fantastic, challenging and rewarding - I am suddenly surrounded by real professionals and not half wits. You can NOT beat the UK if you are a professional of working age. Oh boy, when I recall how bored and unchallenged I was at work in Sydney......
Hello all. We have been back in the UK for a couple of months now. I completely forgot about this forum. All I can say is that both my wife and I are LOVING being back in the UK. We are living in Wimbledon currently and both working in London. I wont bother listing all the reasons why we are happier in the UK than we were in Sydney - its all been said before many many times on these forums.
I was interested to read about the 'death' of community spirit in the UK. Bit of generalisation maybe? Back in the small town in South Gloucestershire where I grew up nothing has changed. Neighbours still help each other, school fetes are still a success, community fundraisers for church repairs continue, people still look out for each other and younger neighbours still pop in on the old folk to check they are OK. Must be only in specific parts of the country that the spirit has apparently died?
Anyway, we are back and very very happy with the choice we made. Work is fantastic, challenging and rewarding - I am suddenly surrounded by real professionals and not half wits. You can NOT beat the UK if you are a professional of working age. Oh boy, when I recall how bored and unchallenged I was at work in Sydney......
Oh btw, with regards to the community spirit thing....I certainly wasn't trying to say that it doesn't exist anymore in the UK, and certainly it some area's its more prevelant than others. I have grandparents up in west yorkshire, and I know that their neighbours still look out for them, make sure that they're doing all right etc
Jun 6th 2003, 5:17 pm
#28
Came Back 2003
Joined: Sep 2001
Location: Home & Settled
Posts: 659
Originally posted by Herman
Hello all. We have been back in the UK for a couple of months now. I completely forgot about this forum. All I can say is that both my wife and I are LOVING being back in the UK. We are living in Wimbledon currently and both working in London. I wont bother listing all the reasons why we are happier in the UK than we were in Sydney - its all been said before many many times on these forums.
I was interested to read about the 'death' of community spirit in the UK. Bit of generalisation maybe? Back in the small town in South Gloucestershire where I grew up nothing has changed. Neighbours still help each other, school fetes are still a success, community fundraisers for church repairs continue, people still look out for each other and younger neighbours still pop in on the old folk to check they are OK. Must be only in specific parts of the country that the spirit has apparently died?
Anyway, we are back and very very happy with the choice we made. Work is fantastic, challenging and rewarding - I am suddenly surrounded by real professionals and not half wits. You can NOT beat the UK if you are a professional of working age. Oh boy, when I recall how bored and unchallenged I was at work in Sydney......
Hello all. We have been back in the UK for a couple of months now. I completely forgot about this forum. All I can say is that both my wife and I are LOVING being back in the UK. We are living in Wimbledon currently and both working in London. I wont bother listing all the reasons why we are happier in the UK than we were in Sydney - its all been said before many many times on these forums.
I was interested to read about the 'death' of community spirit in the UK. Bit of generalisation maybe? Back in the small town in South Gloucestershire where I grew up nothing has changed. Neighbours still help each other, school fetes are still a success, community fundraisers for church repairs continue, people still look out for each other and younger neighbours still pop in on the old folk to check they are OK. Must be only in specific parts of the country that the spirit has apparently died?
Anyway, we are back and very very happy with the choice we made. Work is fantastic, challenging and rewarding - I am suddenly surrounded by real professionals and not half wits. You can NOT beat the UK if you are a professional of working age. Oh boy, when I recall how bored and unchallenged I was at work in Sydney......
As Andrew says yes it is good to see you back and I am glad to hear that everything is working out for you and your wife. Like you we are so glad to be back and I think that it is only after you have lived in another country for however long or short a time do you realise how lucky we are to live in the UK.
Do keep posting and all the best for the future
Susan
Jun 6th 2003, 5:41 pm
#29
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 83
I was wondering where you got to Herman! Good to see your're back, and enjoying yourself. Bored and unchallenged....that sounds a lot like our few years in Oz! Nothing like a few years away to make you appreciate home. Good on yer Herman.
Good to see your're back, and enjoying yourself. Bored and unchallenged....that sounds a lot like our few years in Oz! Nothing like a few years away to make you appreciate home. Good on yer Herman.
Jun 10th 2003, 1:53 am
#30
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,175
Nice to hear a happy story Peter McAlpine!
Well folks, I've been in Edmonton, Alberta for almost 5months now, we've had our problems but in all honestly so far I'm in no hurry to head back home.
Here we can afford an acreage at a third of the price back in the UK, we can eat out every night, theres so much more to do, the people are sooo friendly and the climate is better for us(I hate rain and so far its only rained twice!), we have an almost new SUV at a ridiculously cheap price as its a manual gearbox!
Its been a struggle for me trying to find a job, at the moment I am earning half what I was in the UK BUT can still afford to buy all our food and have almost half my wage left over!(which is more than I could back in Scotland)
Luckily my fiance has an excellent job which is in high demand and I'm looking to up my wage too so things can only get better.
My fiances parents came over for a holiday and were shocked at how cheap it was to eat out etc., they thought we were exxagerating things!
I really cant see me missing much about the UK, we are going for a holiday at xmas & I know that this will only strengthen my feelings about canada, its nice to be able to go out and not be harrased or gawped at, service with a smile is commonplace, the countryside is magnificent, if you are in Alberta pleeease visit Jasper, it is amazing!, whilst Scotland is beautiful, Alberta is something else.
When I was 14 I saw a picture on my cousins wall, I said to her 'I want to live there one day', it was the Rockies(well I'm only a 4hour drive away!)
Anyway I just wanted to add my comments, immigrating isn't for everyone, I know a couple who holidayed here for 3 weeks, moved over about 6months later then went back home after 3 days! and they came in the summer, we landed in -30 with 3foot of snow!
OK, I'll stop rambling now
Pammy
Well folks, I've been in Edmonton, Alberta for almost 5months now, we've had our problems but in all honestly so far I'm in no hurry to head back home.
Here we can afford an acreage at a third of the price back in the UK, we can eat out every night, theres so much more to do, the people are sooo friendly and the climate is better for us(I hate rain and so far its only rained twice!), we have an almost new SUV at a ridiculously cheap price as its a manual gearbox!
Its been a struggle for me trying to find a job, at the moment I am earning half what I was in the UK BUT can still afford to buy all our food and have almost half my wage left over!(which is more than I could back in Scotland)
Luckily my fiance has an excellent job which is in high demand and I'm looking to up my wage too so things can only get better.
My fiances parents came over for a holiday and were shocked at how cheap it was to eat out etc., they thought we were exxagerating things!
I really cant see me missing much about the UK, we are going for a holiday at xmas & I know that this will only strengthen my feelings about canada, its nice to be able to go out and not be harrased or gawped at, service with a smile is commonplace, the countryside is magnificent, if you are in Alberta pleeease visit Jasper, it is amazing!, whilst Scotland is beautiful, Alberta is something else.
When I was 14 I saw a picture on my cousins wall, I said to her 'I want to live there one day', it was the Rockies(well I'm only a 4hour drive away!)
Anyway I just wanted to add my comments, immigrating isn't for everyone, I know a couple who holidayed here for 3 weeks, moved over about 6months later then went back home after 3 days! and they came in the summer, we landed in -30 with 3foot of snow!
OK, I'll stop rambling now
Pammy