Vash the Stampede

Hard to believe. I was born and raised in Perth, and I can tell you that hard drugs were definitely there. Just check the newspaper headlines from time to time.

Speed was the big thing when I lived in Perth, but cocaine was becoming quite popular as well. Ice (a speed spin-off) is now a significant problem in Australia (see the Four Corners report here) and I'd be amazed if it wasn't readily available in WA.

Amazulu

It is. Hard drugs are a real problem in Perth.

keel

I'm English.

My Father (also English) is currently traceing our family and so far he can trace it back to 1621 AD in the Norfolk area, that's directly related, and our surname is on records/graves etc about 300 years before this in the same area.

I never said they were passport Brits but that does seem to be a good term to use.

The Uk comprises the English, Scotish, Welsh and Irish I think that these days you can say there is also a fifth group "New British".

Keel

keel

Good point

But are you saying the Irish or Scottish are purely a nationality and not a race?

I think it is an over simplification to say race issues are only about colour.

Keel

kaiajo

So because none of your friends do it, it doesn't exist. Wake up for goodness sakes, Australia has a massive drugs problem - same as the rest of the world. I was only reading in the Herald the other day about how widespread the problem is here - drugs are easily available anywhere, schools, colleges, nightclubs, bars, street corners. It's no different here to in the UK, despite what some Australians would have us believe.

And to those people thinking of coming out here for reasons of escaping taxes, working less hours for more money, cheaper housing, cheaper cost of living etc. etc., think again. We had the same dreams this time last year and had a very rude awakening when we arrived. We are financially much worse off here as our wages are lower and we pay out more each month (cost of housing, food etc). It's nice living by the beach though. As other people have said, come for the experience or for a change of scenery or the sunshine, but dont expect it to be better than the UK - it's different, but not better.

elmtree

I'm leaving the U.K 'cos this house needs decorating.

kporte

We are fed up here. the uk is work centric and beginning to get me down. it's not that we view Oz in unrealistic terms but rather that our attitude, having travelled so far, will change. new start and all that. we are here on this globe for the blink of an eye.my wife and i feel this move will be good for us and so unto the breach...... we will return if it's pants!

mindblower

Blair ,Brown and all the other failed socialists

Country lost identity, strangled by politial correctness, public services a mess,immigration a shambles, crime etc etc

Riddance!

elmtree

Disillusioned in Failsworth, nr. Oldham, writes :

Agree entirely. However, I'm sure Aus has similar problems, according to what is written on here by so many. I think the crux is; those of us who are heading to Aus want a change as much as anything else.

Britain still has so many great things going for it, as does Australia, but I think we all want a shot at something different and, hopefully, something better.

I am well aware that Britain is a country with so many freedoms and loads of choices when it comes to just about every facet of life. However, we just don't want to be here any more and, while we have the possibility that things might be more enjoyable in Australia, and we have the chance to try it for ourselves, we should go for it.

Our three-week recce this year gave us enough of an impression to try it out. More than anything else, we loved the weather. However, add to that the ( put the word 'impression' in front of the following, as there may be those who will try and put me right ) space, the laid-back atmosphere, the glorious beaches, the clean and reliable public transport, the parks everywhere that had kiddies' playgrounds in them that hadn't been vandalised, the apparent lack of hoodies and pit-bull terriers, the school children - teenagers - who stood up to let adults sit down on the train, and much more.

As I said, it was just our impression, but it is one that lasted the whole three weeks and made us want to give it a go.

Britain really is a great place to live when compared to so many other countries, but we are hoping that Australia just might be that little bit better.

TheAshleys

Here here. We are leaving for mostly the same reasons. The city is still the place pretty much as it was 20 years ago, but you dont have to travel far now to feel like you are in a 3rd world country. It was nice to spend summers evenings having a beer in Docklands, and St Pauls, but the journey home reminded us every time why we are going. Crap public transport, through areas full of strange looking people, who are so rude. I just cant get my head round this wearing veils. You are not allowed, by law to wear a crash helmet in a car on the road, as it is supposed to limit your vision (I know as I got pulled for wearing mine in a Caterham 7 I used to own). How then, can they wear those ? Go figure.

Whatever happened to the feeling of proud to be English ? 20 years ago I would never EVER have left this country. Now, I cant wait to get out.

BAY

Feel the same. Makes me sad to see whats happened

kingfisher241049

Marriage

BadgeIsBack

Nice post.

Well your impression probably will prove right, much of what you report is true; make sure you move to a decent area - this is really important - and you may well find that things will go well.

elmtree

Thanks. Of course you're right regarding finding the right area. We liked where we rented on our recce but the house prices may be a bit out of our reach. However, if we do get over ( please, please, please ), we will have another good look around before settling.

I think it also the sense of adventure that pulls people to faraway Australia
rather than something else that pushes us away from Britain, despite what we all think - perhaps we look for reasons to leave to justify the decision to ourselves and others.

We can't wait to go to Rottnest Island again ( and again ) and all the other great places we visited. Plus all the ones we wanted to visit but didn't because we didn't have the ten or twenty years to spare.

ljj

Got to echo what others have said, there are nice places and not-so-nice places in both the UK and Aus. Choose your area if that is a priority.

I worked in the cemetery near Failsworth so know exactly what you are talking about, the memories of babies playing in the street with black nappies on, with not a parent in sight. People being mugged at grave-sides. Having flaming objects or bodily functions pushed through the letter-box in the office is a million miles from where we are now.

I lived in a supposedly 'nicer' area in the UK, and it was, but it was certainly getting worse. My parents have bricks hurled at them when they are trying to play bowls at the local park and some kids would think nothing of breaking a shop window because the shop-keeper stood his ground and refused to serve them alcohol. The childrens playground was burnt regularly. I have said to people here we couldn't have the free BBQ's in the park in the UK as there would be all sorts of things being burnt on it:scared:. Here you tend to find people leave them clean as they would want to find them themselves.

We are overstretching ourselves a little financially in the area we are living in Melbourne as I have never felt so safe in all my life. It is within 30 mins of the city, by the beach and it has such a great community feel. I have lived here for over 3 years and this feels so at home (within a week of being here) and I can't think of anywhere I would rather give my children a start in life. I would rather live in a shed in this area than a mansion in an area that wouldn't suit us. So it's whether your priorities are materialistic or not.

Travelling to different areas in Melbourne there are some that wouldn't be my first choice, not for snob reasons - just again for feeling secure.

Make sure you research where you move to. And yes, I would say the grass is greener over here - for us, anyway, it doesn't work out for everyone.

Give it a try and good luck wherever you settle.

LJJ