Australia_bound?

Sorry but HAVE to point out NOT ALL OF THE UK IS LIKE THAT. Very nice where I live, although weather could be better! Pity some people only ever experience the south of england, as it's better up North!!!!

chaval

fair play to u....do you have many shops in north yorks where none of the assistants dont even speak english ?? you know one of those pre-requisites for going to a country ?

Buzzy--Bee

Quite a lot of the South is rather nice too.........

There's some lovely parts of Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire for instance.

Cheers

Buzzy

Australia_bound?

No I've not noticed any none English speaking assistants in my local shops, well apart from local curry house where one or two struggle with more than basic greeting.
I live in a small town, that has very good services library, leisure centre etc. Surrounded by beautiful countryside and lots of historic places within a short drive.
Seems it must be Utopia compared to all the negativity that other areas of the UK appear to be according to lots of folk on here!! Or maybe I appreciate what I have??? Who knows....but I'm sure I'll be just as if not more contented when in Australia

Australia_bound?

I thought some areas of Hampshire were great when I visited some years ago!!

Buzzy--Bee

Yes, and Harrogate bain't be too dowdy either!

Cheers

Buzzy

HiddenPaw

If you want to find shops and restaurants where the staff don't speak English then look no further than the ethnic communities of Australia's cities!! Not seen the signs in 8 languages in Melbourne hospitals? Or the translation services available from virtually every government organisation from the tax office to the driving licence test centres?

Cripes, you might think speaking English is a pre-requisite to getting to Oz but it just isn't so - you can bring in family members with little or no command of English at all!!

ozzieeagle

On the speaking English part, Hiddenpaw is 100 pct correct about here. In fact last week on Melbourne Radio station 3AW, it was reported over the Xmas roster in an outer easter hospital of Melbourne. That there were no English speaking doctors on Call.

In fact it got so bad, That at one stage in A&E, The female doctor couldn't make herself understood and had to repeat herself about 5 times to try and get the next patient to come in. Eventually she said baby, there were 3 babies in the waiting room, still no response. It was only when she said Baby boy, and there only being one boy waiting that the message got through. Also at the same time, one of the patients was so frustrated at trying to make herself understood, that she became hysterical and had a panic attack.

That kind of situation doesn't disturb me too much, as I've never encountered it at the central hospitals of Melbourne, that we are more likely to frequent.


Back to this thread, Many thanks for your responses, My wife has read them, and this stage I'm Vetoed with a capitol V. To do with Major Issues she has with our two younger children, 7 and 11, (almost 8 and 12) Basically she thinks we could end up with a badly fragmented family, which is probably correct, Ive got to admit. I tried to get her to raise the issues on here, she hates chat type activities on the computer, and doesn't enjoy being in front of a computer screen.

She had some real negative things to say about her perceived experiences, on recent visit in relation to our kids in the UK. I could go on about her views, but they would probably offend some people. I think the most pertinent words, she used were "aggressive and competitive". Personally I think kids are the quickest of all to adjust, Still on the children issue the Status quo is probably the safest option.


What this means is, unless she has a change of heart, which I won't be pushing her for. I probably won't be able to realise my ideal of retiring to both countries.

Such is life.

Thanks again all for your input.

NKSK version 2

So what?

That service industry with not much else manages to make the UK the 4th (or 6th depending on your source) biggest economy in the world (with the 22nd biggest population) with one of the wealthiest per capita incomes.

BadgeIsBack

There are loads of great villages in the Uk ,south and north, the best are very expensive - quite a bit more expensive than even the next best down. But the next best down - there's quite a gap.

I look on estate agents sites in the UK to look for a 3/4 established bed detached house in a village. Big price hike than anything else.

BTW, I know how obsessed Brits are with detached or not, for me its the land size for lifestyle variety, not for status.

ozzieeagle

What would be your favourite area and Estate agents ? I might build up a few links and run erm past the wife, when she is feeling more receptive.

I must say I really appreciated everyones input on this thread, both for and against, It gave me a hell of a lot to think about. I couldn't beleive it when my wife started to agree with all the anti MK brigade lol.

I must have strong chav like tendancies hehe.

Softly Softly is my approach at home now.

NKSK version 2

Peak District gets my vote followed by Shropshire, Devon, Somerset and Suffolk.

Del Boy

Don't tell me you still haven't booked your ticket home...

Grayling

And mine

G

phoenixinoz

Your wife is very perceptive and astute ozzie

Good luck with whatever you decide