Originally Posted by Wickedsid

I really like London, hubby hates it he has to work there regularly and can rarely find decent digs, parking is a pain etc. However, we are going to take our two youngest daughters for a long weekend at the end of the summer, as they have never been and I feel weird taking them to Oz without them never having at least visited their capitol city.
Hoping hubby will enjoy it too as he will be doing the tourist type things instead of grafting all day!!
Carole

Originally Posted by Jim2004

I'm sure you'll have a wonderful day

Sorry for my but I just see a lot of the bad side.

I hear ppl out here moan about 'the smog' ...lol, and parking, congestion charge and all the rest, but thankfully I don't have any of that

To see all the 'sights' for the first time, I'm sure will be excellent!

Originally Posted by Wickedsid

Thanks,
I'm sure me and the girls will love it, hubby will drag his heels for the first hour or so. I understand a bit, I think, where your coming from as hubby is ALWAYS stressed when he comes home from a London job!!
Mind you we live in Birmingham, so you think he would be used to it by now, although on a slightly smaller scale.
Carole

Originally Posted by Jim2004

Yeah I'm only in Watford now so only 10 mile up the M1, tho in my opinion, it was just enough for quite a while, but the things we moved out of London for, and heading this way now, so we though about Australia ...lol

Seriously tho, I grew up in NW London and lived there till we needed to buy a house, for many reasons but one being needing a garden for kids!

Choice was a 2 bed flat in NW London with a patio if lucky!

or

3 bed detached house with 125' garden in Watford!

nuff said, but now the house isn't enough ........ need friendlier ppl too ...lol, oh and a bit of constant sun won't go a miss!

Originally Posted by Wickedsid

At least we had beautiful sun all day today

Originally Posted by Professional Princess

I have discovered that I love London, warts and all. I love our Jubilee, although i am not a Royalist, I cannot wait for the next Coronation.

Our history is so incredible, I cant believe we are contributing to it in our own small way.

Its a comforting thought to think that instead of leaving a country I dislike, Im leaving the country I love, to move to a country I must learn about.

So the day I get my visa, will be the second proudest day of my life.

The first was when I discovered that Britain really is Great.

Originally Posted by Professional Princess

Going through the whole migration process I have found, you go through loads of different stages.

Mine started off as 'I cannot wait to leave the UK', to being frantic about 'making it to Oz', money worries, right down to the sheer panick of the thought of being refused.

They all boiled back down to a strong dislike of the UK.

Then reading the comments on this sight of 'rose tinted specs syndrome', I wondered if there was a right or wrong way to be feeling in this stressful process.

As some of you know, in the past 2 months I have had a fair bit happen to me.

I have nearly lost my mum, I have been the victim of identity fraud and my money stolen, I have had my phone line tapped into and calls made.

Tempted to blame it on 'the damn UK', I thought to myself that crap happens and it can stick anywhere. Distance no object, bad luck is knows no prejudice.

So with the trauma of mum being ill, I slowly began to re-think my views on the UK, whilst still keeping my dream firmly within my sights.

The other week I was at Lambeth embankment on business and as I glanced up I spotted the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Lots of boats sailed slowly down the Thames.

I had seen it a hundred times if not more, but this time I really saw it.

Staring round at all the old buildings, the history, the sun shining, the tacky souvenir shops at the bridge, I grabbed my mobile phone and called the one person I pour my feelings to - my Mum.

'Mum, Im looking at Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, I have never noticed how beautiful London is!' I said to her in an excited voice.

'Thats taken you long enough' Mum replied.

Taking a last glance at the huge clock that sees in every new year for the UK, I wished I had brought my camera.

Totally fascinated with my new found love of this sometimes very hostile Capital, I got the bus to Waterloo station.

Passing the London Eye, I marvelled at the huge thing going round slowly, the people waiting their turn, some with Union Jacks, some with families, but all of them wanting their own perfect view of London.

Now last week I watched the VE day celebrations on TV, I really wish that I had gone to see it live in London instead of watching it on TV.

Seeing those proud war vets choking with emotion, standing there to every song sang by todays stars (except Cliff Richard as I dislike him as much as Celine Dion), their war medals hanging on their jackets.

The crowd waving their Union Jacks, I still cannot believe I watched this as its something I wouldnt normally see.

When Dame Vera came on the stage and those old soldiers fought back the tears and stood up as she greeted them, something quite suddenly hit me.

I no longer dislike the UK. I am ready to emigrate to Australia as that is my ambition, my vision and where I see my future.

I have discovered that I love London, warts and all. I love our Jubilee, although i am not a Royalist, I cannot wait for the next Coronation.

Our history is so incredible, I cant believe we are contributing to it in our own small way.

Its a comforting thought to think that instead of leaving a country I dislike, Im leaving the country I love, to move to a country I must learn about.

So the day I get my visa, will be the second proudest day of my life.

The first was when I discovered that Britain really is Great.

Originally Posted by Professional Princess

Going through the whole migration process I have found, you go through loads of different stages.

Mine started off as 'I cannot wait to leave the UK', to being frantic about 'making it to Oz', money worries, right down to the sheer panick of the thought of being refused.

They all boiled back down to a strong dislike of the UK.

Then reading the comments on this sight of 'rose tinted specs syndrome', I wondered if there was a right or wrong way to be feeling in this stressful process.

As some of you know, in the past 2 months I have had a fair bit happen to me.

I have nearly lost my mum, I have been the victim of identity fraud and my money stolen, I have had my phone line tapped into and calls made.

Tempted to blame it on 'the damn UK', I thought to myself that crap happens and it can stick anywhere. Distance no object, bad luck is knows no prejudice.

So with the trauma of mum being ill, I slowly began to re-think my views on the UK, whilst still keeping my dream firmly within my sights.

The other week I was at Lambeth embankment on business and as I glanced up I spotted the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Lots of boats sailed slowly down the Thames.

I had seen it a hundred times if not more, but this time I really saw it.

Staring round at all the old buildings, the history, the sun shining, the tacky souvenir shops at the bridge, I grabbed my mobile phone and called the one person I pour my feelings to - my Mum.

'Mum, Im looking at Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, I have never noticed how beautiful London is!' I said to her in an excited voice.

'Thats taken you long enough' Mum replied.

Taking a last glance at the huge clock that sees in every new year for the UK, I wished I had brought my camera.

Totally fascinated with my new found love of this sometimes very hostile Capital, I got the bus to Waterloo station.

Passing the London Eye, I marvelled at the huge thing going round slowly, the people waiting their turn, some with Union Jacks, some with families, but all of them wanting their own perfect view of London.

Now last week I watched the VE day celebrations on TV, I really wish that I had gone to see it live in London instead of watching it on TV.

Seeing those proud war vets choking with emotion, standing there to every song sang by todays stars (except Cliff Richard as I dislike him as much as Celine Dion), their war medals hanging on their jackets.

The crowd waving their Union Jacks, I still cannot believe I watched this as its something I wouldnt normally see.

When Dame Vera came on the stage and those old soldiers fought back the tears and stood up as she greeted them, something quite suddenly hit me.

I no longer dislike the UK. I am ready to emigrate to Australia as that is my ambition, my vision and where I see my future.

I have discovered that I love London, warts and all. I love our Jubilee, although i am not a Royalist, I cannot wait for the next Coronation.

Our history is so incredible, I cant believe we are contributing to it in our own small way.

Its a comforting thought to think that instead of leaving a country I dislike, Im leaving the country I love, to move to a country I must learn about.

So the day I get my visa, will be the second proudest day of my life.

The first was when I discovered that Britain really is Great.

Originally Posted by wombat42

Its Royal Family Fat Fergie flogging weight watcher diets to the Americans to pay off her million dollar shopping spree debts when she runs out of taxpayers money, Camilla Shagging Charles and his idiot spoilt brat pot smoking, Nazi dressing son. Where would Britain be without them.