Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

I was under the impression that the supermarkets have clamped down big time on selling alcohol to those under the age of 18 and I know this from my own personal experience. Being back in June this year and in ASDA with my 17 year old son, he had a box of 8 Carling Black Label (the weak stuff) on the conveyor belt and the cashier asked him if the beers were for him and that he'd have to show photo ID....obviously, being under-age, I had to say that they were for me. So, deep down, I was applauding the staff at ASDA for insisting on the proof of age thing....however, an awful lot of 15/16/17 year olds hang around with 18 year olds and they simply get them to go in and buy the booze - that's where ASDA's morals get flushed down the pan unfortunately!! I was also aware of the signs posted in town centres when back home declaring that anyone caught with an opened container of alcohol would have it confiscated and possibly fined....so I do get the feeling that efforts to deal with the pissed-up youth culture thing are being put in place....I can't comment on how successful it is as yet, but my friend who arrived back home in the UK this year said how much the area has changed for the better in the last 4 years of her departure.

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

Well fed chickens, they even got a special Christmas dinner. I trust you acknowledge my consistency "UK, not all of it rough", "Canada, ok but cold and pretty dull all in all".

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

That's maybe a bigger problem back in the UK.

Back there I had a 100 year old, terraced, two bedroom house and a salary that covered my needs with little spare, even with a mortgage of only £400 a month.

Here, my equity of £123k bought a 4 bed home and a duplex to provide a rental income. My income here is just a little more than my UK net income (after mortgage costs) was for just me, but here it has been paying for a family of four. So more, much more, can be achieved in Canada with less.

The fall in UK property prices has messed that up for a lot of people since then. But £70k will still buy a nice 3 or 4 bedroom house here - OH YES IT WILL.:)

A Minimum-wage job would then give a similar income to ours. More, in fact, for a couple, as the tax rules would mean the full $16k would be kept - whereas we have $15.5k plus child tax benefit.


If I ranked areas of Bristol on a scale of 1 to 10, according to desirability, I'd say where I lived was a 6.

The two worst parts of Moncton I'd equate to 6 and 7.

So £70k and one of the worst paying jobs in Canada gets a nice home in NB in a nice area and a better standard of living for a family than I had on my own, in a civil service job in Bristol.

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

I don't know why we all simply can't agree. The country (like every other one after you get to forty or so) is going to the dogs.

And don't (the totally ineffective) policemen look so young these days?

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

Nope! You're to wise for that. Plus, I can't see anyone that reads "The Telegraph" sitting on any fence ;)

Y

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

Him, wise? You're joking of course. He drives a Beetle while living in the wilderness.

I don't think you're wise either. Just parochial.

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

Well thanks for that property link Bristol, I was amazed what $350,000.00 buys you there. Incredible!

Take a look:

http://www.homesacrosscanada.com/cgi...4709&tm=284158

What's the employment situation there?

Y

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

What's the problem with that? It's his choice!

As you seem to think I'm narrow minded, and unwise. I'll keep my opinion of YOU private, as there is always one on the BE forum I suppose ;)

Y

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

There are those on this forum that like to contribute for the benefit of others and they know who they are. And there are those who like to use their intellectual ability like a weapon, fully aware of the impact their posts might have on OP's. Not a pleasant trait.

Thank goodness the majority do not use this site as a means to aggravate people who are genuinely reaching out for information to help with their decision making, or simply, as a means to connect.

Tinytears, I hope you find the peace of mind you are looking for in Canada. Nobody should have to live as you describe, and I wish you and your family well. In a bizarre way, the 'button-pushing' by certain members of BE is probably very helpful to you, although most likely by default, not intention. :)

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

Thank you. I completely agree with what you have said and looking back through the two posts, the same two or three people who seem to be contributing to further their own means/causes/opinions rather than contributing anything of real substance.

That said we only need to look at the posts of others who are already in Canada who say to the contrary. I am damn sure that Canada isn't some sort of hidden oasis that is free of all the problems that plague many western countries but I'm also damn sure it hasn't reached the level it has here either.

We aren't expecting some sort of heaven on earth, we really aren't, we just hope and pray that we have found something that can give us a better lifestyle than we currently have here.

As I keep saying the yob culture that we have been unfortunate enough to experience ourselves is only one of the contributing factors to the move, there really are many others (more pull factors than push factors).

Thank you for hitting the nail on the head and you are right in some warped way they have helped the decision making process.

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

When you say western countries are you thinking of western europe or do you include Canada and the US? There are some, such as myself, who do not consider north America to be part of the west but more so as a separate entity.

ALSO I have come to the conclusion that parts of England are rotten but not all. So have you considered selling up and moving elsewhere within the UK OR is it to be Canada at all costs?

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

No we are and always have been selling up to move to Canada, staying in the UK wasn't an option. I will accept that there are areas of the UK that aren't ruled by thugs, but, I remain firm in my belief that it is a matter of time - after all if this has hit our little piece of suburbia then it can spread anywhere. As I keep saying there are many many many many reasons for us not wanting to stay in the UK and these haven't changed in any way for us. I have only mentioned one of our reasons for making the move on here, there really are many many others.

I have never thought of Canada or America as anything other than part and parcel of the Western world but I am interested in hearing your views on this.

Edited to add that reading through not just these posts but the forums in general, has made me more determined than ever to move. There are so many people who say that the move was the best thing they have ever done, and very few that say otherwise.

I understand you have been there for a long time, as has my uncle, and I am sure you are experiencing the same sort of disillusionment as he is, he says that he too can see a big change in the country and I believe everything he says. He has been in Canada for almost 40 years now and is married to a Canadian. When we went out last year for our reccy we had many conversations with him about the state of the Country but despite everything he still says that he has absolutely no regrets at all about making the move and that we still should do it and that he supports us all the way.

One of my siblings also lives in Canada and has been there ten years now, also married to a Canadian now and has two children. We too have spoken at length about the situaiton, the economy and the recession and again they are fully supportive of our move.

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

Most people consider Canada and the States to be part of the west. I do not.

There are subtle differences.

North America was colonized by Europeans and its recorded history goes back some 500 years whereas Europe's dates to the Romans and Greeks.

Architecturally and culturally North America can not even begin to compare to Europe. We are the New World and make no bones about it.

From the point of view of racial tensions and violence Canada has none of any consequence. The US was plagued with it but in the last decade it has become a non issue. On the other hand there are still problems in Europe. For instance I think of France where some 1,000 cars were burnt by immigrant youth who felt a sense of alienation. North America is more of a ‘melting pot’ whereas I am far from convinced this is the case in Western Europe.

However from a purely materialistic point of view the standard of living is comparable, maybe even better than, western Europe. (I have lived in the UK and on the continent).

I see enough another differences between the two continents not to lump them together.

Similarly, although I have never lived any further east than Calcutta, I wouldn’t consider Australia and NZ to be part of the west either.

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

Have been here since 1962 and in retrospect it was excellent move although i did not know it at the time. I agree 100% with your uncle.

Re: Bittersweet Christmas
 

The fact that you have supportive family here will be of great assistance in getting you settled much more quickly. They will be able to walk you through so many aspects of everyday life here. I believe you have said in previous posts that you have visited Canada a number of times and no doubt during these visits you checked into things and your glasses are fully clear rather than rose-tinted. I, like your uncle and Montreal Mike, have been here for many years and I also have no regrets. Your reasons for leaving the UK are nobody's business but your own. As I said in another thread, I have no doubt whatsoever that the crime/bullying/harassment you experience in your area is true and as you've experienced Canada on vacation, you want to live here. GO FOR IT and to Hell with those on this website with their smart-aleck, negative, judgmental comments.