Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Nov 17th 2004, 5:46 pm
#16
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Originally Posted by andrew63
I spent the first 30 years of my life in England (Essex/London), 1 in Australia (ACT/NSW), next 10 in Ireland (Wexford/Wicklow/Kildare/Dublin) and now I am in Australia (QLD) for good (pending visa etc).
Ireland WAS fantastic compared to England at first but in the last 3 years, massive donward spiral in my learned opinion.
The divide between the rich and poor is massive, 21% VAT (GST) and 46% basic rate income tax. Look at the prices of goods and houses over there. You couldn't afford to live there any more. The weather? Oh the weather! The racism that is now abound, the highest road carnage rate per capita. Withe the advent of the Euro, it was a green light to rip Joe Public off big time! But the people in general were some of the nicest I have ever met.
Just my opinion, if I had to leave Australia, I would want to go back to Ireland for my friends and the lifestyle but being able to afford living somewhere nice would probably prohibit me.
Just my opinion
Andrew
Ireland WAS fantastic compared to England at first but in the last 3 years, massive donward spiral in my learned opinion.
The divide between the rich and poor is massive, 21% VAT (GST) and 46% basic rate income tax. Look at the prices of goods and houses over there. You couldn't afford to live there any more. The weather? Oh the weather! The racism that is now abound, the highest road carnage rate per capita. Withe the advent of the Euro, it was a green light to rip Joe Public off big time! But the people in general were some of the nicest I have ever met.
Just my opinion, if I had to leave Australia, I would want to go back to Ireland for my friends and the lifestyle but being able to afford living somewhere nice would probably prohibit me.
Just my opinion
Andrew
Best decision I ever made, moved up to Northern Ireland, got a nice house, good job, finally felt I was making progress.
If Ireland is top of that list, then sorry, but the list is sloblocks.
Cheers,
JTL
Nov 17th 2004, 7:15 pm
#17
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Had to bump this thread up, or I might miss getting some points scored off me by The Good Mr Stanton. Only reason why I visit this forum.....
'YOU'VE BEEN STANTONED!'
Anya.
'YOU'VE BEEN STANTONED!'
Anya.
Nov 17th 2004, 8:47 pm
#18
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Originally Posted by Craig Brooke
Should have known - our Polish cleaners name is Anya!!.
Now, the pizzas here are just FANTASTIC that is the one thing that I will miss when we finally escape. I'll never eat a Deep Pan again. You're also right about their clothes and especially the sunglasses, they're so vain its untrue. Most of the mirrors in the cars are not pointing backwards but towards the driver so they can check that they look their best - no bleedin wonder they can't drive then eh? : Sorrento is nice but then it has to be for the tourists, venture into Napoli itself and North of the city where we are and its the absolute pits.
Anywhere will be heaven after this, even London :scared:
Ciao, Ciao
Now, the pizzas here are just FANTASTIC that is the one thing that I will miss when we finally escape. I'll never eat a Deep Pan again. You're also right about their clothes and especially the sunglasses, they're so vain its untrue. Most of the mirrors in the cars are not pointing backwards but towards the driver so they can check that they look their best - no bleedin wonder they can't drive then eh? : Sorrento is nice but then it has to be for the tourists, venture into Napoli itself and North of the city where we are and its the absolute pits.
Anywhere will be heaven after this, even London :scared:
Ciao, Ciao
mm
Nov 18th 2004, 1:32 am
#19
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Correct me if I'm wrong but a bit of a pattern seems to be emerging here. You can argue over the criteria used to evaluate what 'best' means - but, Australia is 6th in this poll, Melbourne was equal 1st and Sydney 5th (?) in the most liveable city survey and Australia had a number of universities in the recent top 50 'world's best' universities. All surveys incidentally were British and perhaps we'll leave it to Mike to remind us how eminent the BBC and 'The Economist' are so he can at least score some points out of it. 
I've holidayed admittedly in Ireland, quite a few times, Austria many times also. Despite the other comments I'm not surprised Ireland tops the poll and I am also surprised Austria (Australia without al as an Osterreicher once chuckled to me; some of them wear T Shirts with no kangaroos here) isn't higher up. Canada misses out because it is too close to the USA and it also has a French connection (I'm only joking). I've been in Portugal a few times and my experience anyway was that they were the opposite of rude, I can't speak for the traffic policemen though.
(Anya you would love the Professor Morrie Suckfizzle character in Bryce Courtenay's Four Fires - former Professor of Surgery at Krakow University, forced to be a 'reffo' in Australia) There's a giant change of topic in a thread if ever I saw one!
OzTennis
I've holidayed admittedly in Ireland, quite a few times, Austria many times also. Despite the other comments I'm not surprised Ireland tops the poll and I am also surprised Austria (Australia without al as an Osterreicher once chuckled to me; some of them wear T Shirts with no kangaroos here) isn't higher up. Canada misses out because it is too close to the USA and it also has a French connection (I'm only joking). I've been in Portugal a few times and my experience anyway was that they were the opposite of rude, I can't speak for the traffic policemen though.
(Anya you would love the Professor Morrie Suckfizzle character in Bryce Courtenay's Four Fires - former Professor of Surgery at Krakow University, forced to be a 'reffo' in Australia) There's a giant change of topic in a thread if ever I saw one!
OzTennis
Nov 18th 2004, 2:07 am
#20
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Originally Posted by wombat42
How do you explain this, Mike Stanton, Kong and eatstatic
But l guess we don't need statistics to explain what everyone already knows.
But l guess we don't need statistics to explain what everyone already knows.
The list pretty much reflects how boring most of these countries are : the higher up the list, the more boring. Switzerland and Luxembourg have got to be 2 of the dullest countries in the universe. As are their inhabitants. I worked in Lux for 2 years. It is even more insular and small-minded than Oz, and that's saying something.
For some people, wombat42, you will find there is more to life than sun, BBQs and large houses. You're not one of them. But, just like your namesake, you are continually digging yourself into a hole.
If you don't want stimulation (which must be the case, as you live in Adelaide), the top 7 will more than meet your needs.
Last edited by MikeStanton; Nov 18th 2004 at 2:13 am.
Nov 18th 2004, 8:36 am
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Originally Posted by MikeStanton
Jeez, what did I miss while I was in the vast brown land? If only I had realised how lucky I was being in Oz
The list pretty much reflects how boring most of these countries are : the higher up the list, the more boring. Switzerland and Luxembourg have got to be 2 of the dullest countries in the universe. As are their inhabitants. I worked in Lux for 2 years. It is even more insular and small-minded than Oz, and that's saying something.
For some people, wombat42, you will find there is more to life than sun, BBQs and large houses. You're not one of them. But, just like your namesake, you are continually digging yourself into a hole.
'
If you don't want stimulation (which must be the case, as you live in Adelaide), the top 7 will more than meet your needs.
The list pretty much reflects how boring most of these countries are : the higher up the list, the more boring. Switzerland and Luxembourg have got to be 2 of the dullest countries in the universe. As are their inhabitants. I worked in Lux for 2 years. It is even more insular and small-minded than Oz, and that's saying something.
For some people, wombat42, you will find there is more to life than sun, BBQs and large houses. You're not one of them. But, just like your namesake, you are continually digging yourself into a hole.
'
If you don't want stimulation (which must be the case, as you live in Adelaide), the top 7 will more than meet your needs.
You said: 'Switzerland and Luxembourg have got to be 2 of the dullest countries in the universe. As are their inhabitants. I worked in Lux for 2 years.'
C'mon, you're being too tough on yourself. *I* don't think you're dull....
I knew you wouldn't let me down. What a *treasure*!
Anya xxxxxx
Last edited by anya4oz; Nov 18th 2004 at 8:57 am.
Nov 18th 2004, 8:36 am
#22
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Originally Posted by MikeStanton
Jeez, what did I miss while I was in the vast brown land? If only I had realised how lucky I was being in Oz
The list pretty much reflects how boring most of these countries are : the higher up the list, the more boring. Switzerland and Luxembourg have got to be 2 of the dullest countries in the universe. As are their inhabitants. I worked in Lux for 2 years. It is even more insular and small-minded than Oz, and that's saying something.
For some people, wombat42, you will find there is more to life than sun, BBQs and large houses. You're not one of them. But, just like your namesake, you are continually digging yourself into a hole.
If you don't want stimulation (which must be the case, as you live in Adelaide), the top 7 will more than meet your needs.
The list pretty much reflects how boring most of these countries are : the higher up the list, the more boring. Switzerland and Luxembourg have got to be 2 of the dullest countries in the universe. As are their inhabitants. I worked in Lux for 2 years. It is even more insular and small-minded than Oz, and that's saying something.
For some people, wombat42, you will find there is more to life than sun, BBQs and large houses. You're not one of them. But, just like your namesake, you are continually digging yourself into a hole.
If you don't want stimulation (which must be the case, as you live in Adelaide), the top 7 will more than meet your needs.
Nov 18th 2004, 8:52 am
#23
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
OK, listen up folks!!
I think it's time the Economist quit doing these rubbish surveys and focused on doing ones about things we *really* want to know. Do you agree? How about:
Capital cities rated by providing cleanest public bathrooms.
Capital cities rated by number of decent bookshops (sorry, Cambridge wins 1-10 in that category ).
Ditto CD/DVD shops.
Countries with the most attractive policemen (it's gotta be Portugal, with Italian mounted policemen with swords a close 2nd - you can see I've studied this)
Cities providing the best adult/sex shops (Amsterdam?).
Worldwide cities rated by traffic lines/congestion cities (Cambridge, Bangkok vie for =1?).
World cities rated by quality of public transport (Geneva? Amsterdam? near the top with London & Cambridge at 44,899 and 111,999 respectively).
World cities rated by quality of Chinese food (surely a no-brainer!)
Countries making/selling the best beer.
Ditto wine.
Countries rated in order of decent supermarkets (yes, Mike, I agree they are very good in the UK!).
For Polly: Cities rated by price/quality of lettuce available.
Just added: Cities/countries with the highest, most scary rollercoasters!!
And so on.
That'll keep them busy for a while - and get their sales volumes up, too...
Anya.
I think it's time the Economist quit doing these rubbish surveys and focused on doing ones about things we *really* want to know. Do you agree? How about:
Capital cities rated by providing cleanest public bathrooms.
Capital cities rated by number of decent bookshops (sorry, Cambridge wins 1-10 in that category
).Ditto CD/DVD shops.
Countries with the most attractive policemen (it's gotta be Portugal, with Italian mounted policemen with swords a close 2nd - you can see I've studied this)
Cities providing the best adult/sex shops (Amsterdam?).
Worldwide cities rated by traffic lines/congestion cities (Cambridge, Bangkok vie for =1?).
World cities rated by quality of public transport (Geneva? Amsterdam? near the top with London & Cambridge at 44,899 and 111,999 respectively).
World cities rated by quality of Chinese food (surely a no-brainer!)
Countries making/selling the best beer.
Ditto wine.
Countries rated in order of decent supermarkets (yes, Mike, I agree they are very good in the UK!).
For Polly: Cities rated by price/quality of lettuce available.
Just added: Cities/countries with the highest, most scary rollercoasters!!
And so on.
That'll keep them busy for a while - and get their sales volumes up, too...
Anya.
Last edited by anya4oz; Nov 18th 2004 at 8:54 am.
Nov 18th 2004, 8:52 am
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Originally Posted by Quinkana
Well, really starting to whittle down the States of Europe now - Germany is out, Switzerland and Luxembourg given the flick. Can we just have the bottom line list of the good ones?
Nov 18th 2004, 8:54 am
#25
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Originally Posted by anya4oz
OK, listen up folks!!
I think it's time the Economist quit doing these rubbish surveys and focused on doing ones about things we *really* want to know. Do you agree? How about:
Capital cities rated by providing cleanest public bathrooms.
Capital cities rated by number of decent bookshops (sorry, Cambridge wins 1-10 in that category ).
Ditto CD/DVD shops.
Countries with the most attractive policemen (it's gotta be Portugal, with Italian mounted policemen with swords a close 2nd - you can see I've studied this)
Cities providing the best adult/sex shops (Amsterdam?).
Worldwide cities rated by traffic lines/congestion cities (Cambridge, Bangkok vie for =1?).
World cities rated by quality of public transport (Geneva? Amsterdam? neat the top with London & Cambridge at 44,899 and 111,999 respectively).
World cities rated by quality of Chinese food (surely a no-brainer!)
Countries making/selling the best beer.
Ditto wine.
Countries rated in order of decent supermarkets (yes, Mike, I agree they are very good in the UK!).
For Polly: Cities rated by price/quality of lettuce available.
And so on.
That'll keep them busy for a while - and get their sales volumes up, too...
Anya.
I think it's time the Economist quit doing these rubbish surveys and focused on doing ones about things we *really* want to know. Do you agree? How about:
Capital cities rated by providing cleanest public bathrooms.
Capital cities rated by number of decent bookshops (sorry, Cambridge wins 1-10 in that category
).Ditto CD/DVD shops.
Countries with the most attractive policemen (it's gotta be Portugal, with Italian mounted policemen with swords a close 2nd - you can see I've studied this)
Cities providing the best adult/sex shops (Amsterdam?).
Worldwide cities rated by traffic lines/congestion cities (Cambridge, Bangkok vie for =1?).
World cities rated by quality of public transport (Geneva? Amsterdam? neat the top with London & Cambridge at 44,899 and 111,999 respectively).
World cities rated by quality of Chinese food (surely a no-brainer!)
Countries making/selling the best beer.
Ditto wine.
Countries rated in order of decent supermarkets (yes, Mike, I agree they are very good in the UK!).
For Polly: Cities rated by price/quality of lettuce available.
And so on.
That'll keep them busy for a while - and get their sales volumes up, too...
Anya.
Nov 18th 2004, 8:56 am
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Originally Posted by tonyk38
LOL, that's more like it! I'll pay attention to that list any day!
How about:
Countries rated by those affording the best birdwatching?
Anya.
Nov 18th 2004, 9:02 am
#27
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Originally Posted by anya4oz
Tony
How about:
Countries rated by those affording the best birdwatching?
Anya.
How about:
Countries rated by those affording the best birdwatching?
Anya.
1. Costa Rica.
2. Tanzania.
3. Peru.
4. Ecuador.
5. Israel.
6. India.
7. Thailand.
8. Kenya.
9. Australia.
10.South Africa.
This list is entirely spurious, highly suspect and totally biased, so there!
Nov 18th 2004, 9:03 am
#28
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Ireland has many good qualities (but as you all are aware the weather is not one of them) however the black stuff is excellent the poteen even better if you can hack drinking it the food not too bad either and the crack is the best love ireland
Nov 18th 2004, 9:04 am
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Originally Posted by tonyk38
In that case.......here's my top ten:
1. Costa Rica.
2. Tanzania.
3. Peru.
4. Ecuador.
5. Israel.
6. India.
7. Thailand.
8. Kenya.
9. Australia.
10.South Africa.
This list is entirely spurious, highly suspect and totally biased, so there!
1. Costa Rica.
2. Tanzania.
3. Peru.
4. Ecuador.
5. Israel.
6. India.
7. Thailand.
8. Kenya.
9. Australia.
10.South Africa.
This list is entirely spurious, highly suspect and totally biased, so there!
Shame on you - why isn't SOT on there (she'll get upset....
)?Anya.
Nov 18th 2004, 9:08 am
#30
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Re: Australia better than the UK: OFFICIAL!
Originally Posted by anya4oz
Tony
Shame on you - why isn't SOT on there (she'll get upset.... )?
Anya.
Shame on you - why isn't SOT on there (she'll get upset....
)?Anya.
