joho

If you had read futher down the page at another comment I made, I mentioned some nice sunny days too. I lived in Somerset (where I believe you would like to live) for 30 years and then in the midlands for another 6, so I am aware of the weather and that aint no generalisation. I left 5 years ago, I came back for a visit and that was my overall impression after living somewhere that the sun shines a lot, sorry if it doesnt match yours.

Hope you have a nice picnic the weather must have picked up nicely since I left on Wed, cause nowhere had tipped 18 the whole time I was there and I was very cold and even snowed the first week I was there. Unfortunatly for me I have MS and find the cold very hard to tolerate now as my feet are always numb.

Jo

eurotramp

Even so...only because its not warm all the time doesn't mean its that drap and the statement "Nothing appealed to be at all." is just a bit over the top. If you personal need the warmer weather that's a different story, but this does not make this country as bad as you make it.

I have never lived in a country were so many people having such a bad opinion about their own country...England is a very nice country if you pick the nicer areas...unfortunate the London suburbs are not one of them, that's why we will move away. I would never pick a country purely on the weather.

Anyway..nothing nicer then a landscape covered in snow and sunshine and a walk in it..then the beautiful spring when the first green is on the trees like right know sitting with a beer in a pub garden like today..then the summer..you never know what the weather is the next day and you treasure every sunny day..then we move on to the autumn, not my most favourite time of the year but still wonderful with all the autumn colours in nature...best time for long walks kicking around the leafs.

I could go on..I love the sun, but I think I would get bored of it if I had it all year around to be honest....nothing wrong with this country.

Pollyana

I think it shows just how different people are, and how subjective ur opinions are - Joho and I were within a couple of miles of each other for part of the time. I LOVE the cold weather, really suits me, the snow was great too - but then I don't have her health issues.
Had to laugh at her comment that Asda scared her wittless - I love the local huge Asda, the choice is brilliant, and I'd much refer to shop there rather than gawdamned Coles where I'll be next week. She's in no hurry to return, I'll be back, in 6 months.
I don't find the UK drab or grey, to me its vibrant and full of life, whether I'm out here in the countryside, or exploring London as I have over the last few days.
Each to their own - be boring if we all liked the same stuff

joho

To true Polly, one persons trash is another ones treasure.

Why was my statement 'nothing appealed to me' over the top. It was the truth to ME, nothing did appeal at all. It is the way I feel and I am glad, because it means the decision we made to move was the correct one. I was very worried that although I had not had any urges to move back, the simple act of being in the country would have changed my mind, but it didnt.

If you are planning to move to Somerset I am sure me and Polly could point out some of the bad areas if you need some advice, although I am sure a lot must have changed in 5 years.

Just to add though, we never moved to Australia for the weather, I am not a sun worshiper at all. My health issue never came to light until 2007 after we had been her 2.5 years. We came because we hated the way the UK was going, the violence, break ins etc and if we are honest we wanted some adventure in our lives.

England is a very beautiful country for a tourist and I am still proud to be British, it just isnt where I want to live.

Jo

Jimclevs

Hiya Jo

Glad to see the 3 of you are back - and in good form

Jim and the boss

ps........... and here comes the sun if I'm not mistaken

BadgeIsBack

A decent lounge? That's what matters. Sort the details and the rest will follow.

Alfresco

I know.

pogsy

G'day Jim

BadgeIsBack

You know, I think it depends on the style of post. I don't think is it over the top if that is a personal opinion and it clearly is. I'm not sure she was even trying to paint the UK as a bad place. I think saying something is drab and grey in a country in a certain place and time coming out of winter might be reasonable. I found parts of it the same - but knew the landscape would be transformed in other places and further into spring.

I think posters who say things like a country is full of morons (for example) is far more incendiary.

Kapri

It's been like this since Easter - hardly grey and drab is it?
Well not here in beautiful Dorset anyway. Obviously there are parts of the country that are not nice (like every other country) but thankfully we don't live there

Kapri

I can understand this Jo and I think it's great that you have made the right decision

There are a few things things I don't like about where I live but I just don't see the grey drabness. My area is beautiful, green and light most of the time.

I have lived in Birmingham, and I did find it grey and drab there. That's why I moved! It did have it's advantages (great nightlife and shopping) but that wasn't what I wanted.

Glad you have found the right place for you, hon

Pollyana

Yep, I could certainly show you places round here that are not so lovely and idyllic, and I've seen bits of London this week which I know would appear rundown and depressing after being in them for a while - I'm well aware I am looking at some of those with rose-tinted specs. But I do still feel more at home in the UK than in Brisbane, even in bits I'm not as familiar with,like north London.

Gorgeous weather here though, has been since Easter and the temperature is perfect - for me! In fact the only eye-opener has been realising that if I were to come back here to live then some of the people I would have expected to rely on have moved on wih their lives not necesssarily to somewhere that i would wish to follow them.

elice_in_oz

Completely agree with you Badge.
The last 2 times we went back to Cornwall for a visit, it was cold, wet and grey skies for the most part of the week we spent there. One of those times was Christmas, so didn't really expect any different, but the second time was beginning of August . Average temp 15°C! So yes, it was drab and grey and depressing.

However, having been to Cornwall a couple of times before those two, I know what a beautiful place it really is when the sun shines. Probably one of the most amazing places in the world. So not always drab and grey...
Unfortunately, we just didn't make it within the one week of sunshine they get in the summer that time

eurotramp

Hold on a moment...you words were..."My observations are the place is grey and drab and cold. Nothing appealed to be at all" that just sound so generalising about the whole of the country and not as just for you...
Is just the way you wrote it, but never mind.

We probably will move to Somerton and surrounding, because hubby will work in Yeovilton. We already went twice to check the area out and we are very impressed with the place and cant wait.
Hubby had a job offer in the US and Belgium as well, he is a IT Specialist..but I rather stay in England..I would have loved to go back to Germany, he could have had a job there as well, but unfortunate with the kids being teenagers and so far in their education..this would have not worked out.
I don't mind..England has some Problems, but so has every other country in this world..I have lived in some of them.

I just love Europe and I don't think I will ever leave it.

fish.01

Would you still not have more support in the UK than Brisbane though polly? You really seem to like it there it seems a shame to leave.