again ,almost right in the UK you have the right to work a 40 hour week (now I believe 38hours) and entitled to OT for every hour after not so in Aust you work averaged rosters (for those of us in the blue collar,sectors ) you work over time at no penalty because you have been paid a premium on your normal hours ,sick leave is awarded at X number of days PA use any more than 4 you are in the disaplinary proceedure, anual leave includes your public hols so you work on Australia day the national holiday , anual leave is accrued at 8hrs per accrued day yet you work 12 hrs shifts your AL is paid at 12hrs so for each day off costs you 1.5 annual leave days so 30 days leave becomes 20 .your very clever to drag stats to support your arguments but they are meaningless unless you qualify them I.E. who was included which sectors ,what was the criteria for the study etc as a friend of mine once said 87% of all stats are made up . A point in fact a stat I once read stated that the average wage in the uk was £500 a week (rounded ) when I looked at the list of groups involved if you removed just the top 3 earners on the list (which represented .3%)you dropped the figure to £285 the study was done on a thousand people working in the london money area the only variation was biulding cleaners .yet the study claimed figures true for the whole of the country .so please stats are nice but by no means proof of anything.

Fascinating history please. Interesting yes. I have been read Manning Clarkes history of Australia. The history regarding Perth which is where I am up to at the moment is interesting, it does explain alot about the Aussie and his attitudes.

Sorry I am going to disagree regarding the old Churches and castle bit. I was born in a village with the castle on the hill.It most certainly was not just tourists. The English Heritage took over the building to put it into it's former glory.Every summer they have out concerts. re enactments, a children's festival with every single thing you can think of for them with culture from all over the world, including an Aboriginal who was trying to stay in Britain permanently because he found himself a niche' telling dreamtime and Aboriginal culture.South American musicians, pottery, Chinese writing. It is totally free for children. Christmas pageants, French,German market, Victorian fare, and a wonderful Christmas lantern parade that has been going for 300 hundred years that starts at the castle and they go right around the village,also a British food fare.I can assure you most wern't tourists.

That's in my village.I have a feeling you have never done anything,never had a look.I have often thought some of your postings naive to say the least, and young and all that but I am bothered because you are a teacher and appear to be very narrow in your out look.I have been to so many places here and so more to come but I do find it bland in some cases and not all in comparison,but them I am a history freak and interested in other countries history.

I will continue to read through the history of Australia because it is interesting and I want to know what shaped this country.My next one is going to be America.maybe you should go and live in a different country for more experiences.

thats just funny more uk music on the radio than I heard in the uk maybe in the uk you couldn't afford aradio there being so expensive

thanks for the orginal post CFU hope you don't mind my cheating and using it inthis way to add my tuppence

Ok the culture one.

Lived in the European City Of Culture

Worked and still do in the arts

There is more access to it here, its is more original in most forms and it has a freshness and vitality to it. Where is it?

Get off your winging pommie arses and start to bloody integrate. Then you might actually to enjoy Australia.

If you don't like it...I'm sure you'll be missed when you leave to what is obviously a better country, the one you ran away from in the start!

Well said Khoardiroy! They obviously just come her to whinge and believe themselves to be superior! lol.

Let me guess. A Scouser?.

...and you base this on what exactly?

Nope but your lack of awareness of society and culture obviously applies to the UK as well as Australia

Was I talking to you?

Just for a change, life's short etc. My wife is Aussie, which is another factor, but I loved England as well. It's an experience!

I think the geographical comment was aimed at myself...but your response would have been mine. Eloquent I believe. Personally I wouldn't make any patronising assumptions as others have.

What the Hell are you on then?. Saying 'Let me guess, a Scouser' is a 'patronising assumption'. !! How?

Please guys, I'm sick of shutting threads that dissolve into abuse. There's room on the forum for all views, lets have a bit of live and let live

Duely noted.

The condemnation you offer to a country no longer ruled by failed imperialism.

Whether you were talking to me or not will not prevent me from answering as unlike you I will not dominate the thread.