kirsty&al

Some things that feel like the 70s (whether these are true or not, either of the UK then or Oz now, is irrelevant) - note that the retro feel is mostly positive:

- People still use their indicators.
- Shop keepers will tell you that you don't need their product.
- Our local paper seriously suggested making a macramé wall hanging to brighten up the hall.
- People sell stuff by the side of the road (they also have honesty boxes that don't get nicked).
- Knitting, embroidery and making your own clothes are still popular.
- There is a "Buy Australia" campaign.
- Public Toilets are still open and generally well maintained (they also have loo roll - according to my wife).
- The petrol prices change every day - depending on the day of the week.
- The price of petrol goes down as well as up.
- Some roads are still dirt tracks/gravel roads.
- A bar in your sitting room, gold taps and brick feature walls are still considered plus-points by estate agents.
- Outside of the cities the roads are still empty.
- You can still turn right off dual carriageways.
- Internet shopping is poor; people still use the Yellow Pages.
- Generally teenagers don't treat you as a moron.
- Kids still walk and cycle to school (without an adult) and seem to have a lot more freedom generally.

My wife was worried that all the men would be beer-swilling, foul-mouthed, sports-watching sexists, but we haven’t met one yet.

Disclaimer: these comments are based on my own experiences and on the area in which I live. I am sure there are other areas of Australia where the things I have said do not apply.

Regards
Alistair
PS: A friend from Tassie says that it is still like the 50s there.

MikeStanton

Why, haven't you managed to open the front door?

Still, there's always question time in Oz parliament...

kirsty&al

More times than you have opened your mind.

MikeStanton

How's the draft in yours?

kirsty&al

I prefer it bottled.
Guinness Draught: Pure Genius.

OzTennis

Careful who you are talking to. He (allegedly) did Physics at Imperial College London as a first degree and then went 'up to Oxford'. His professors won Nobel Prizes and Oxford teaches you to have an open and enquiring mind. Where did he miss out?

OzTennis

walla

on one issue, I would say Australia is ahead in terms of disability services.

You can get Walkers crisps in Perth at the British Shop in Riveton

SherKhan66

LOL Actually I've just had a very tasty pizza funnily enough! Much tastier than the virtual reality ones you lot seem to devour! Having said that, I guess your ones are much lower in fat
ANYWAY, BACK TO TOPIC!

OzTennis

To add to disability services, in the UK is it possible for a woman (teacher) to have a child and be guaranteed a job to return to in 5 years time? No, it's have a child and if you want to continue working it's turn it over to the child minder and get back to work (what's my child's name again child minder?) The Australian policy encourages mother to bring up her child (although you can turn it over to the child minder or husband/partner if you want to return to work, there is a choice). Ahead on maternity/paternity/long service leave I'd say.

Australia is also ahead on history - it's soooo old UK history.

OzTennis

Wendy&Mike

Got to say, I agree with Alistair.

I would say that the biggest difference that I noticed was crime. Aus is definitely 30 years behind when it comes to crime. Partly why I/we came here. Just recently there was a fight in the middle of Brisbane - no one was hospitalised or arrested - it was teenagers having an argument that got out of hand. This made front page news, and there was calls for an inquiry as to how to make the city center safer. In the UK there can be murder and it doesn't get any coverage.

I/we also noticed toilet paper in public toilets - oh yes, and we noticed public toilets. And (un vandalised) parks for children to play in.

One other thing. Drink driving - in this weeks International Express it states that in UK there is approx 500,000 breath tests per annum. An advert on Aus TV states there are 2,500,000 breath tests per annum in Queensland alone. I do however believe that this is a bigger problem here but am reassured by the fact something is being done about it.

Anyway, midnight here, very late, too many tinnies and still got to drive home (just kidding).

All the best,

Mike.

diddy

Does this apply to all jobs?

Ta,

Paul.

MikeStanton

Oh yeah? Aus burglary rate is one of the highest (possibly the highest) in the OECD countries. Incidence of rape is much higher than in UK; as is often the case where countries have a backward attitude to women.

MikeStanton

Teach, get over it.

So, you went to the University of Wollgamagooolwagggawompawoop or the local TAFE. OK, it counts for nowt, outside Oz. But, you can take comfort from the fact that somebody, somewhere has heard of it.

Haven't they?

OzTennis

I'm not sure Paul, I only know about this in teaching because my sister-in-law is a teacher and each time she has had children (3 times) she has had a conserved position - for 7 years I think it is. This conserved job isn't necessarily in the school you taught at before going on maternity leave but an equivalent post nearby at least.

There is a series on satellite TV here called Booze Britain. Binge drinking is another thing that the UK is well ahead of Australia at. The under 25's, girls in particular, proudly lead Europe at this.

OzTennis

Grayling

Never any trouble with drinking in Australia:


http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...55E421,00.html



G