British Expats - I am Amazed

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)

- The Barbie (https://britishexpats.com/forum/barbie-92/)

- - I am Amazed (https://britishexpats.com/forum/barbie-92/i-am-amazed-519237/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneypen20 (Post 6019026)

Never been to Coventry, never felt the need. Heathrow is obviously a dump, it's an airport, the surrroundings of Brissie Airport aren't the most inspiring ;) However, much as I love Aus I also love Britain - good and bad. Let's face it, your visit is not a happy one. Nothing like a thread like this to stir the emotions though, nice one Ste :lol:

I await Grayling's post with erm, I was going to say interest, but I already know what he would put so maybe I should say I expect Grayling along shortly :rofl:

Graylings a MAN?

I thought he was a sheila, apologise Grayling lol

Seriously I did !!!

Yer not like me to be non-controversial !! ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timber Floor Au (Post 6019029)

Graylings a MAN?

I thought he was a sheila, apologise Grayling lol

Seriously I did !!!

Yer not like me to be non-controversial !! ;)

When do you fly home?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timber Floor Au (Post 6018995)

well.. lets say this, ppl say they miss the uk ?

Do they miss every town village and city? no of course not.. so I think its a valid phrase. Albeit not actually specific to the n'th degree :)

Hey look... im genuinely sad that you had a bad trip home... all I was saying was that in your original post you slated the UK, as a whole... and its the opinion of alot of us that there is so much going for the UK, so much beauty, so much to offer.. (and we know there is some bad too.. like everywhere!)

If you post comments like that.. and your completely entitled to do so, then others will disagree.. If you were just slating Coventry, then go ahead.. I've never been so can't comment!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneypen20 (Post 6019031)

When do you fly home?

Got to finish clearing house today :(
Funeral Thursday, solicitors again Friday.
Get pissed Saturday
Puke up Sunday
Leave Monday ! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sambapink (Post 6019033)

Thats cool.. but my view on forums if all we ever did was post , questions and comments with Isnt it , wouldnt it, and shouldnt it.. then ppl would just retort yes or no :)

Its all about for me anyway stirring up ppls real opinions, not some namby pamby wouldnt wanna offend anyone, kinda reply. That would be so boring, and kinda ... american :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timber Floor Au (Post 6019035)

Got to finish clearing house today :(
Funeral Thursday, solicitors again Friday.
Get pissed Saturday
Puke up Sunday
Leave Monday ! :)

Some itinerary:( I'll try and lay on a bit of blue sky,turquoise ocean and temps in the 30s for you on Tuesday then :D Seriously mate, the journey would be shit even if Coventry was nice. Not a trip I want to make in a hurry. Hope it's as good as it's able to be.

So we agree on something then.. :) ... It was just kinda funny 'cos I had just finished posting a thread on being Patriotic to England :eek: But hey each to their own... I'll agree to strongly disagree with ya! :p Now get ta bed sounds like u've lots to do!! Best of luck ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneypen20 (Post 6019042)

Its been a nightmare, a real nightmare !! But thats a whole other story...

needless to say, to this point the nicest ppl i have met, was a charming Traffic Warden.. who deserves a medal for being so cool... long story :)

and the staff of C&G in Coventry, who are fantastic !

Worse experience so far, dealing with funeral ppl.. who refuse to talk to me... again a long story

Ste ( btw Korea , Seoul Airport is MASSSSIVE and cant wait to return ;)

Owzit goin maaaaate

What no green and pleasant land?...that's it i'm never goin back

When you go past Gloucester on your travels give it the "vees" from me...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timber Floor Au (Post 6019035)

Got to finish clearing house today :(
Funeral Thursday, solicitors again Friday.
Get pissed Saturday
Puke up Sunday
Leave Monday ! :)

Sorry to hear that you're not enjoying the UK Ste, even more sorry to hear about your dad :(

Hope all goes as well as can be expected on Thur

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timber Floor Au (Post 6018936)

Gday Fellas.

Just a quickie, as its 4:30'ish here am !!

Why oh why do ppl miss the UK ? Why on earth would they get homesick from this craphole ?

Im in Uk at mo, In Coventry.. and I can tell you its bloody disgraceful !

My first and last visit back to this country, ever FACT... and in the 4 years I had been away, I had totally forgotten.. some of the reasons we moved in the first place...

That diluted memory is now a fully revitalised, 100 proof reality !!!

The place is a DUMP. From Heathrow, airport.. all the way upto and including Coventry.

I have never in my life seen anything like it.

Example.
Cov City Centre is like a scene from Romancing the Stone 2 meets Beirut ! I seriously have difficulties, finding any english speaking voices in the crowds of bloody foreigners.. its mental .

HSBC bank on Corporation street, is like a Morrocan Bazarr , with staff wandering around with notepads, and cheesy grins in amongst the dentention centre like crowds, hustling and bustling for attention, and not one speaking fluent or indeed pidgeon english.

This isnt a racist rant, whatsoever, but OMG whats happened to the UK ?

Really.. its pathetic, and any of you fellow poms in Oz, I cant wait to get back and see you guys, and those I havent met who post on here about missing the uk.. well lol.. your welcome to it... its officially a DUMP.

Those embarking on ther journey to the Antipodes, and having reservations etc.. just BLOODY DO IT. If your too tight to spend the money for a flight back to this dump ( UK ) - should you ever get homesick - then dont even consider Oz. Leave migration to ppl, who are at least over 50% sure of their move.

If however, you want a wonderful, vibrant, lifestlye.. then move to Australia !

I cannot comprehend how bad this place has gotten. I also think its just discgraceful, the litter rubbish.. dirtyness of it all. the lack of maintenance of ppls homes and gardens, the FRENETIC speeds ppl drive at , I have found disturbing... and the poor very poor service you get at shops, etc... The potholes everywhere in the roads, apparent taxes coming in on per/mile driving.. the congestion, the dreary im stuck in a BLACK AND WHITE movie feel of it all.. as everyone wears grey black or grey and black clothing.. the filthyness of everything, including the dirty air..

Its official, UK is a DUMP.

Signed:

Timber Floor Au ( add your name to the petition ) lol

I think that "going home" was the best "wake up" call we've had.

Done it twice now.

Both times couldn't wait to get back on that flight home!

On a different note, hope all goes well with the stuff you have to deal with just now. We've had to go through what you are just now. Not good!

Keep your chin up!

Morayfield is waiting, with anticipation(!!!!!!) for your return.

M

Quote:

Originally Posted by sambapink (Post 6019033)

It's a game of percentages though isn't it. I lived in Bath for a decade and the Cotswolds for five years - a couple of jewels in the British Isles crown. Sure nice architecture and countryside, but both horrendously and massively blighted by the utterly insane traffic density on British roads. My old road in the Cotswolds had a grand total of five houses on it and went only to a small hamlet. And yet I had to stop walking up and down it with my dog because of the volume of traffic using it as part of some convoluted rat-run. When I lived in Bath (and this was 7 years ago - **** knows how bad it is now) I once left my car parked for two weeks straight for fear of losing my parking spot!!

Many of those same lovely bits of the UK are slowly disappearing. Farms (stewards of the land) fold due to ludicrous supermarket purchasing power and are either bought as second homes or redeveloped. Most of the lovely old villages that sported a pub, post office, butcher and baker are now barren dormitories only busy at the weekend when wealthy city dwellers drive down to the 'country'. It was bad when I left and it's only going to get worse as the current British obsession with property development gathers pace.

So - be as patriotic as you like - it won't alter the fact that the very things the British cherish are slowly disappearing forever.

Hi Timbo, I didn't realise you were here in the UK & also want to send my condolences regarding your situation at the moment. I hope you get through the next few days okay & do the things you need to do that will settle your mind.

Then back HOME, eh, to some proper civilisation, because although I know you can't generalise & there are some beautiful places to live, I can't agree with you enough.

I lived in Devon until last year - The English Riviera no less. Every year we lived there we looked at miserable cold grey skies from October through to about June; the only time you would see a Council worker appear to clean up the graffiti or empty the rows of overflowing silo bins was in the summer when the tourists were due; night after night our small town was over-run with boozed up louts who seemed to get younger every week; grinding unemployment & poverty in the low-season; abused by low-life come to spend their Giro from Birmingham, Coventry & the surrounds in the summer. No work, very limited educational opportunities (2 primary schools, one under special measures & one community college within 15 miles) drug use witnessed daily, & the very few families who could afford to live there in any kind of comfort, only did so because the fathers worked away in London during the week. I tell you, it was bliss. Not.

Unbelievably, we do have a better quality of family life here in Kent, but the cost has been hard - swapping the beach & the countryside for a panoramic view of the council estate & the A26!

It seems anywhere you go, you win some & lose some - I'm hoping we win a little bit more in Oz :)

So sorry that you have had the trip that we all dread and that you are hating what you see. My sympathies on your loss.

Like some of the others who have no other option, I go home for my sanity at least once a year, it is what sustains me and enables me to live in this godforsaken, isolated, shallow, boring environment. Mind you, I dont come from Coventry so cant comment on that area in particular. Last trip I drove over 2000 miles and the time before that it was over 3000 miles in the 6 weeks I was there - being able to see the variety and sheer beauty of the place was a joy. I am sure the country is changing but I have hopes that it will change for the better soon. I see my parents and my peers in their retirement and know where I would much prefer to end my days and it isnt here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle (Post 6018989)

Note to self... I must get a reality check and visit the UK in late winter.....

Last time I went TFA, 3 years ago... I was amazed how clean and green it was.... weird eh. The time before that back in 1987, I couldnt wait to get out of the place. Going again in June... minus the family, on my lonesome.... not sure what this next visit will bring. It's going to be a bit heartwrenching seeing my father and mother though, as it will almost certainly be the last time I see them together.

.

:(Oh dont, thats so sad, hope your trip is a good one,:wub: