Perhaps an insane question...but why exactly are you leaving?
Apr 3rd 2009, 9:26 pm
#121
Fighting my corner
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 11,948
Re: Perhaps an insane question...but why exactly are you leaving?
I think that Australia is inclined to be quite homogenous in areas, with lots of differences between areas. It's almost a lifestyle choice. (Obviously there are subtle mixes again).
The UK has all these areas mixed in quite a bit, and the economic landscape varies from mile to mile, from place to place. An idyllic village, a depressed once idyllic village, a market town, a conglomeration of cities with depressed towns/suburbs in between etc..
The UK has all these areas mixed in quite a bit, and the economic landscape varies from mile to mile, from place to place. An idyllic village, a depressed once idyllic village, a market town, a conglomeration of cities with depressed towns/suburbs in between etc..
Apr 3rd 2009, 10:05 pm
#122
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Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Epsom
Posts: 1,705
Re: Perhaps an insane question...but why exactly are you leaving?
This is very similar:
http://www.theage.com.au/national/ap...0225-8hm7.html
The video shows people walking by as the man is being assualted.
I think it's very easy for people to say they would intervene, but if confronted by the situation the reality might be different.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/ap...0225-8hm7.html
The video shows people walking by as the man is being assualted.
I think it's very easy for people to say they would intervene, but if confronted by the situation the reality might be different.
Apr 4th 2009, 1:30 am
#123
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Benowa, Gold Coast
Posts: 252
Re: Perhaps an insane question...but why exactly are you leaving?
So we've heard about the beautiful countryside of the UK, the pubs, the arts - Australia's natural beauty, rednecks and ease of living, but I have to admit that no one has mentioned the UK's gloomy cities of substandard life, the way gangs of youth hang around the streets, the general demeanor of anger and violence inherent in them, lack of classroom discipline, mad laws, expensive living, an obsession with 'elf and safety' ...etc, etc. Because much as I love the UK, it's these things that put me off returning and would really love to here from those recently left the UK or still there to find out how these things affected your decision to leave.
I'm not hearing this at all so I can only presume you all lived in idyllic villages untouched by all the things I mentioned above. When I went back in November, I found people I knew were either on benefits (and perfectly healthy people too!) or they were scared, angry and financially exhausted from living in the UK.
I'm not hearing this at all so I can only presume you all lived in idyllic villages untouched by all the things I mentioned above. When I went back in November, I found people I knew were either on benefits (and perfectly healthy people too!) or they were scared, angry and financially exhausted from living in the UK.
Michelle
Apr 4th 2009, 2:14 am
#124
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Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 4,298
Re: Perhaps an insane question...but why exactly are you leaving?
that's my deep thought for the evening. This is jack killian, saying goodnight brisbane.......wherever you are.
Apr 4th 2009, 2:45 am
#126
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Posts: 10,784
Re: Perhaps an insane question...but why exactly are you leaving?
Think this can be hit and miss. I've been so impressed - we have a bulk-billing doctor and I can almost always get an appointment that day. There is a bulk-billing x-ray centre next door to the surgery and having had a few broken or possible broken bones this year, it's convenient (rather than having to drive half-way across Bristol).
Late last year, after a spate of ill health, I had a CT scan, ultrasound, various blood tests - some at private hospitals/clinics. All were booked in for the same week, results back the next and I didn't pay a penny of wait for longer than 5 mins past any appointment. Also parked free and easily at each
So far, very good
Late last year, after a spate of ill health, I had a CT scan, ultrasound, various blood tests - some at private hospitals/clinics. All were booked in for the same week, results back the next and I didn't pay a penny of wait for longer than 5 mins past any appointment. Also parked free and easily at each
So far, very good
Apr 4th 2009, 2:47 am
#127
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 839
Re: Perhaps an insane question...but why exactly are you leaving?
Where you grow up is very important!
Apr 4th 2009, 2:51 am
#128
Chan eil aon chànan gu le
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: On the ning nang nong
Posts: 22,437
Re: Perhaps an insane question...but why exactly are you leaving?
I totally disagree with you! It is very important to me that my family never forget where they are from and who they are.
Apr 4th 2009, 4:00 am
#130
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Apr 4th 2009, 8:19 am
#131
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Thread Starter
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Location: Castle Hill, Sydney (previously Brum)
Posts: 1,095
Re: Perhaps an insane question...but why exactly are you leaving?
Yes, you're absolutely right here. It is a much 'easier' way to live here, which is why the decision to migrate back to Blighty is so, so hard for us. We do appreciate all the good things about Oz...being able to walk into a docs (although most are useless), no parking fees to go shopping (although I got caught for $4 yesterday as was just over the 3 hours....grrr!) the weather is mild, it's an idyllic place to bring kids up and the emphasis is on family entertaining. Yes, the teens are more polite, but they never seem to have much to say; there's a weird lack of fighting spirit or attitude....although we do see this more in migrant kids. Most of my kids' friends are from the US, NZ, UK, India, HK, Brazil & Sri Lanka or if they're Aussies, then they're very 'atypical' Aussies. The downside of it all is, we've found after over 23 years here, is the blandness of this existance...it's easy, but humour and social interactions are pretty damn superficial compared to the UK....although I'm sure there'll be plenty posting here who have possibly experiencing this in the UK. Yes, we loved it at first in Sydney, it was like being on holiday for the first 6 years, but now I want to go home and take the rough with the smooth and actually 'live' rather than exist in an admittedly VERY comfortable lifestyle.
Hi Ezzie, we left 9 months ago and have no regrets so far. I loved Scotland and I still do, we had a great life but partly mid life crisis drove us to Oz. So far, I just find the way of life so much easier. Simple things like taking the dog for a walk is just so much more pleasant, i.e. dont have to give her a bath to remove the mud etc. At the weekend we seem to do a lot more stuff together as a family. It is so pleasant to go places that your kids are welcome, back home it was difficult to even find a child friendly restaurant. No-where is perfect, there is crime here as well as the UK. The kids have settled in school and the youngest really has embraced the ozzie way of life, I cant think of a better country to bring up a young family. We are from Glasgow and yes bad things happen there but we lived the usual surburban life where it was not seen to be on our doorstep really the same as here. I have found that the teenagers here in Oz seem more polite than at home I think they benefit from mixing with adults a lot.
Michelle
Michelle
Apr 4th 2009, 10:41 am
#132
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Posts: 351
Re: Perhaps an insane question...but why exactly are you leaving?
We have lived/worked in various countries over the past 20 years and personally feel that nowhere has the same humour/banter/work ethics (including work hard and play hard!) as the UK - and Scotland in particular (albeit having only worked in Scotland and England). My OH who is not from the UK (so perhaps a better, more independent judge than I am) feels this quite strongly.
Apr 4th 2009, 11:00 am
#133
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Perhaps an insane question...but why exactly are you leaving?
We have lived/worked in various countries over the past 20 years and personally feel that nowhere has the same humour/banter/work ethics (including work hard and play hard!) as the UK - and Scotland in particular (albeit having only worked in Scotland and England). My OH who is not from the UK (so perhaps a better, more independent judge than I am) feels this quite strongly.
Apr 4th 2009, 11:54 am
#135
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Location: Brisbane
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Re: Perhaps an insane question...but why exactly are you leaving?
