Benefits Street on 4oD
Jan 26th 2014, 10:06 pm
#91
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Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Redneck Wonderland
Posts: 9,932
Re: Benefits Street on 4oD
That seems to trivialise it. I don't know your story but maybe it was trivial for you and you were lucky enough to be able to do it just on a whim.
Our situation was a little different to that. We'd often thought that we'd one day like to move to Australia but there was no strong driving force to do so and in any case I wasn't qualified enough to apply. But after two terms of Labour rule and into a third, the area in which we lived had changed drastically and irreversibly for the worse, the country was overspending and we could see the metaphorical train crash coming. Then there was the EU - whether we liked it or not, and the not very democratic future that it promises. So given the state of play, my wife and I decided to put the work in to enable us to take our family away from it and move to Australia. It was quite a mission to qualify for our visas (I had to study part time in the evenings for nearly 4 years to get the degree we needed) and it wasn't an easy move but now that we've settled we have no regrets at all. It was the best thing we could ever have done
Our situation was a little different to that. We'd often thought that we'd one day like to move to Australia but there was no strong driving force to do so and in any case I wasn't qualified enough to apply. But after two terms of Labour rule and into a third, the area in which we lived had changed drastically and irreversibly for the worse, the country was overspending and we could see the metaphorical train crash coming. Then there was the EU - whether we liked it or not, and the not very democratic future that it promises. So given the state of play, my wife and I decided to put the work in to enable us to take our family away from it and move to Australia. It was quite a mission to qualify for our visas (I had to study part time in the evenings for nearly 4 years to get the degree we needed) and it wasn't an easy move but now that we've settled we have no regrets at all. It was the best thing we could ever have done
I came out with the wife & 2 kids for a couple of reasons:
My dad had always had an ambition to sail the world. He was lucky enough to retire at 56 & do just that. When he got to NZ he came back to the U.K for a couple of months & before we knew it our 9yr old son had talked his way into a trip of a lifetime back there & the rest of Australasia for 2 yrs.
We came out in 2002 to pick him up after his epic voyage & he didn't want to come home. At the same time my dad was diagnosed with prostrate cancer & elected to stay in Australia to live out his days in the warm.
A no brainer really a child that hated the thought of going back to the U.K & a sick parent made us realise that maybe we should apply for a visa and spend some time with my dad. He'd been away for much of the previous decade.
His insistence on my getting a trade made it easy & we were back within 12 months. I don't think we thought about it for more than a couple of weeks. It just seemed the right thing to do.
Skip forward 11 years & my folks are back in the U.K dad fully recovered from one cancer only to get another more serious one. My son & daughter in law over in W.A. Him in the navy, her a stay home mum to our granddaughter. Our daughter & her partner & two girls just an hour down the road.
It would seem our lives are over here at the moment, though with the recent death of Deb's brother, our hearts are over in the U.K. His funeral takes place an hour from now it's been a long & difficult 3 weeks since he passed. Today will bring some closure to that & we can move on.
Jan 26th 2014, 10:20 pm
#92
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: Benefits Street on 4oD
A bit flippant maybe
I came out with the wife & 2 kids for a couple of reasons:
My dad had always had an ambition to sail the world. He was lucky enough to retire at 56 & do just that. When he got to NZ he came back to the U.K for a couple of months & before we knew it our 9yr old son had talked his way into a trip of a lifetime back there & the rest of Australasia for 2 yrs.
We came out in 2002 to pick him up after his epic voyage & he didn't want to come home. At the same time my dad was diagnosed with prostrate cancer & elected to stay in Australia to live out his days in the warm.
A no brainer really a child that hated the thought of going back to the U.K & a sick parent made us realise that maybe we should apply for a visa and spend some time with my dad. He'd been away for much of the previous decade.
His insistence on my getting a trade made it easy & we were back within 12 months. I don't think we thought about it for more than a couple of weeks. It just seemed the right thing to do.
Skip forward 11 years & my folks are back in the U.K dad fully recovered from one cancer only to get another more serious one. My son & daughter in law over in W.A. Him in the navy, her a stay home mum to our granddaughter. Our daughter & her partner & two girls just an hour down the road.
It would seem our lives are over here at the moment, though with the recent death of Deb's brother, our hearts are over in the U.K. His funeral takes place an hour from now it's been a long & difficult 3 weeks since he passed. Today will bring some closure to that & we can move on.
I came out with the wife & 2 kids for a couple of reasons:
My dad had always had an ambition to sail the world. He was lucky enough to retire at 56 & do just that. When he got to NZ he came back to the U.K for a couple of months & before we knew it our 9yr old son had talked his way into a trip of a lifetime back there & the rest of Australasia for 2 yrs.
We came out in 2002 to pick him up after his epic voyage & he didn't want to come home. At the same time my dad was diagnosed with prostrate cancer & elected to stay in Australia to live out his days in the warm.
A no brainer really a child that hated the thought of going back to the U.K & a sick parent made us realise that maybe we should apply for a visa and spend some time with my dad. He'd been away for much of the previous decade.
His insistence on my getting a trade made it easy & we were back within 12 months. I don't think we thought about it for more than a couple of weeks. It just seemed the right thing to do.
Skip forward 11 years & my folks are back in the U.K dad fully recovered from one cancer only to get another more serious one. My son & daughter in law over in W.A. Him in the navy, her a stay home mum to our granddaughter. Our daughter & her partner & two girls just an hour down the road.
It would seem our lives are over here at the moment, though with the recent death of Deb's brother, our hearts are over in the U.K. His funeral takes place an hour from now it's been a long & difficult 3 weeks since he passed. Today will bring some closure to that & we can move on.
My thoughts are with you and your family this evening. I hope you are all coping okay.
Jan 27th 2014, 5:00 am
#93
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,695
Re: Benefits Street on 4oD
I think you'll find it's not so different over here. Sure the sun shines & there are nice beaches. That's nice for holiday though not conducive to long a term commitment like migrating. Sun & sand don't pay mortgages & before Badge jumps in, neither do dolphins!
You were taken to task because, as any perspective migrant does, you need to justify your move. Running down the country you're leaving is one way of doing that. I've just come back from 7 weeks in Cleethorpes, well just outside. All the lads I grew up with have good jobs, nice homes & their kids have done very well employment wise. The town I left 11 years ago has changed quite a bit, it wasn't as bad as I'd been led to believe though. Sure the demographics have changed somewhat. There are Poles, Afghans & many other nationalities in the shopping centre now & it's common to hear foreign tongues. Rather like Australia in many ways, it's become more culturally diverse. Refreshing in some ways particularly cuisine wise lol.
I was very happy living there before we came out here, I could be just as happy if we chose to return. Calling the country a 'cesspit of a mess' won't endear you to many of us who were quite content living there. Especially when you realise that no matter what the country it's the same sh!t, just a different bucket!
You were taken to task because, as any perspective migrant does, you need to justify your move. Running down the country you're leaving is one way of doing that. I've just come back from 7 weeks in Cleethorpes, well just outside. All the lads I grew up with have good jobs, nice homes & their kids have done very well employment wise. The town I left 11 years ago has changed quite a bit, it wasn't as bad as I'd been led to believe though. Sure the demographics have changed somewhat. There are Poles, Afghans & many other nationalities in the shopping centre now & it's common to hear foreign tongues. Rather like Australia in many ways, it's become more culturally diverse. Refreshing in some ways particularly cuisine wise lol.
I was very happy living there before we came out here, I could be just as happy if we chose to return. Calling the country a 'cesspit of a mess' won't endear you to many of us who were quite content living there. Especially when you realise that no matter what the country it's the same sh!t, just a different bucket!
Hi Cresta
I'm not coming to Australia hoping it's going to be better than the UK. I'm coming because I'm just ready for a change to be honest, an adventure even.
I have known for a long time I would try Australia, it was just a matter of when. We have sort of been pushed into going this year as our Visa will run out on us if we don't make the move. So this year it is!
I also know after five years, ( if I last that long) I'll probably want to try somewhere else. I love traveling and normally get itchy/ feet after five years. So I may end up back in Britain or elsewhere. Who knows.
I know it must be hard for other people to see me write what I have about our country, but I'm only sharing my experiences. I go to a lot of poverty stricken areas and I was just sharing my views. I know not everyone agrees, but what can I say, I know what I have experienced and seen and that's that.
I know Cleethorpes well, spent many a happy day there with my family when I was a child.
They have an excellent chippy on the main street. I haven't been for a few years so not sure if it's still there.
Jan 27th 2014, 5:03 am
#94
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,695
Re: Benefits Street on 4oD
Right guys I'm bowing out of this thread, I feel like a broken record 
and it's just getting a bit repetitive for me!
Have fun!
and it's just getting a bit repetitive for me!Have fun!
Jan 27th 2014, 5:35 am
#95
Banned
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Re: Benefits Street on 4oD
I think you'll find it's not so different over here. Sure the sun shines & there are nice beaches. That's nice for holiday though not conducive to long a term commitment like migrating. Sun & sand don't pay mortgages & before Badge jumps in, neither do dolphins!
You were taken to task because, as any perspective migrant does, you need to justify your move. Running down the country you're leaving is one way of doing that. I've just come back from 7 weeks in Cleethorpes, well just outside. All the lads I grew up with have good jobs, nice homes & their kids have done very well employment wise. The town I left 11 years ago has changed quite a bit, it wasn't as bad as I'd been led to believe though. Sure the demographics have changed somewhat. There are Poles, Afghans & many other nationalities in the shopping centre now & it's common to hear foreign tongues. Rather like Australia in many ways, it's become more culturally diverse. Refreshing in some ways particularly cuisine wise lol.
I was very happy living there before we came out here, I could be just as happy if we chose to return. Calling the country a 'cesspit of a mess' won't endear you to many of us who were quite content living there. Especially when you realise that no matter what the country it's the same sh!t, just a different bucket!
You were taken to task because, as any perspective migrant does, you need to justify your move. Running down the country you're leaving is one way of doing that. I've just come back from 7 weeks in Cleethorpes, well just outside. All the lads I grew up with have good jobs, nice homes & their kids have done very well employment wise. The town I left 11 years ago has changed quite a bit, it wasn't as bad as I'd been led to believe though. Sure the demographics have changed somewhat. There are Poles, Afghans & many other nationalities in the shopping centre now & it's common to hear foreign tongues. Rather like Australia in many ways, it's become more culturally diverse. Refreshing in some ways particularly cuisine wise lol.
I was very happy living there before we came out here, I could be just as happy if we chose to return. Calling the country a 'cesspit of a mess' won't endear you to many of us who were quite content living there. Especially when you realise that no matter what the country it's the same sh!t, just a different bucket!
and spot on.
Jan 27th 2014, 8:57 am
#97
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Benefits Street on 4oD
Yes, everyone's life stories are different which lead to one persons perception of a country being different to another's while both can be equally valid. My view of Australia is very Canberra-centric but I'm acutely aware that it's not at all representative of Australia as a whole. Likewise with Chris's little English paradise.
Whether we admit it or not, politics frequently plays a large role in emigrating, and because Western politics is largely confrontational right versus left politics , a left driven transformation of a country will alienate the right enough to make them want to move, likewise the opposite. And especially true if it's a permanent transformation such as those inflicted by the Thatcher and Blair/Brown eras. But maybe you see that as bollocks because it played no role in your emigration story?
Whether we admit it or not, politics frequently plays a large role in emigrating, and because Western politics is largely confrontational right versus left politics , a left driven transformation of a country will alienate the right enough to make them want to move, likewise the opposite. And especially true if it's a permanent transformation such as those inflicted by the Thatcher and Blair/Brown eras. But maybe you see that as bollocks because it played no role in your emigration story?
I think I might have had a whinge about the corporate life my life in the Uk was turning into...and at the time, Australia offered something different....my generation struggled with the rapid increases in the 2000s...
Moving to Melbourne was partly mercenary.
But I felt exhausted after 10 years and I saw a move as a means to settle down.
Jan 27th 2014, 5:39 pm
#98
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Location: London - but only until I can afford to move back to Sydney
Posts: 938
Re: Benefits Street on 4oD
Jan 27th 2014, 6:09 pm
#99
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Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 10,994
Re: Benefits Street on 4oD
Jan 27th 2014, 10:22 pm
#100
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 218
Re: Benefits Street on 4oD
this story only makes me agree with the work-for-dole plans of PM Tory Abbottoir.
Jan 28th 2014, 12:30 am
#102
MODERATOR
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Redneck Wonderland
Posts: 9,932
Re: Benefits Street on 4oD
It's a very bad idea! No matter what safeguards are put in place the poorest paid in society end up shafted. Workers on minimum wage struggling end up out of work as greedy employers see a chance to get more staff for free. The low paid worker finds themselves on the dole then finds themselves re-employed doing the same job, this time for a dole payment.
Jan 28th 2014, 12:50 am
#103
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: Benefits Street on 4oD
"Reality TV" is not real. An illusion. Images on a screen, made by a TV company with the aim of selling advertising.
