Confused.. Why Canada?
Nov 14th 2007, 6:44 pm
#316
Banned
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 785
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
London and the UK is, on average, deidely more expensive than Canada, my visits made me think that what cost $1 in Canada cost One Pound in the U.K, twice as much.
The beauty of TO/Canada and the Internet is that we have access and ability to enjoy the pricing of the U.S., and with the current Canadian $ trading above US $ , plus the traditional low prices of the U.S., Cross Border shopping is back.
My Neighbour just bought a car for $40,000CDN that normally costs $76,000 here, he just shuffled off to Buffalo.
Cold, Florida is a days DRIVE away, buy your new car there, your Holiday is free.
The beauty of TO/Canada and the Internet is that we have access and ability to enjoy the pricing of the U.S., and with the current Canadian $ trading above US $ , plus the traditional low prices of the U.S., Cross Border shopping is back.
My Neighbour just bought a car for $40,000CDN that normally costs $76,000 here, he just shuffled off to Buffalo.
Cold, Florida is a days DRIVE away, buy your new car there, your Holiday is free.
Nov 14th 2007, 7:08 pm
#317
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 536
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
It is funny that you should mention fish and chips. I had a hankering for some authentic british fish and chips while I was in Spain, but where I was living, I was unable to locate a single place that specialized in british fish and chips. But as it happens, I was able to indulge in some great fried fish or pescatos fritos as the Spanish call it, sitting on the patio of a restaurant on the banks of the River Triana in Seville. Oh, and this was the middle of the february. The sun was shining, the temperature was in the 20s.. and the pescatos fritos? Muy delicioso!
The cost of living in the UK is just ridiculous as has been pointed out to you many times - another example is childcare costs. Still think the quality of life in the UK is so great?
and others have chosen to live in Canada which you may not understand, but it is their choice and decision so just deal with it!
Nov 14th 2007, 7:10 pm
#318
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 536
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
But you just used your family scenario to tell us how unbearable things are in the UK. If you can afford to stay at home, while your husband works and still afford to run a house and pay a mortgage, it is not all that bad is it? You can't have it both ways, which is what you seem to be trying to do.
Nov 14th 2007, 7:10 pm
#319
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,020
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Sounds like you have been spending too much time in Torremolinos or many of the other British ghettos along the coast.
It is funny that you should mention fish and chips. I had a hankering for some authentic british fish and chips while I was in Spain, but where I was living, I was unable to locate a single place that specialized in british fish and chips. But as it happens, I was able to indulge in some great fried fish or pescatos fritos as the Spanish call it, sitting on the patio of a restaurant on the banks of the River Triana in Seville. Oh, and this was the middle of the february. The sun was shining, the temperature was in the 20s.. and the pescatos fritos? Muy delicioso!
It is funny that you should mention fish and chips. I had a hankering for some authentic british fish and chips while I was in Spain, but where I was living, I was unable to locate a single place that specialized in british fish and chips. But as it happens, I was able to indulge in some great fried fish or pescatos fritos as the Spanish call it, sitting on the patio of a restaurant on the banks of the River Triana in Seville. Oh, and this was the middle of the february. The sun was shining, the temperature was in the 20s.. and the pescatos fritos? Muy delicioso!
Nov 14th 2007, 7:11 pm
#320
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Cars are often mentioned but there's also a huge saving in car insurance costs if you buy the policy in the US. I just looked at getting the Toyota Canadian plates, the insurance would be $750/year, if we leave it on the US plates and buy an expat policy with a US company it's $80. The Honda went from $300 to $2000 when we localised it.
Nov 14th 2007, 7:11 pm
#321
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 536
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
It is 2097, Europe is trying to deal with the hordes fleeing the worst drought in African History at the same time they battle the worst storms ever.
London has flooded, the inhabitants have been forced to flee , as has much of the population of the coast as high winds and raising sea levels threaten to engulf the tiny Island.
Australia is being engulfed by raging fires and the water levels are not high enough to deal with them, people are fleeing int the outback and an uncertain future.
The U.S has lost much of its' mid western grain belt due to higher temperatures and are dependent upon imports from Canada, which are reporting record yields due to more available land for farming.
Asia reports record fatalities due to the flooding at the Three Gorges Dam and air quality that is unbreathable.
The US/Canada are threatening to sink any ships trying to enter their ports, all Air Ports are closed, the Mexican border also.
Canada, faced with elevated temperatures are exporting some of the vast resources found under the ice Caps and utilising the now open North West Passage to transport these materials.
Canada continues to enjoy an abundance of fresh Water, the population still under 40 million due to a freeze on Immigration in 2057.
Why Canada, Dooms Day, take your poison???
With due recognition to Gore and An Inconvenient Truth.
London has flooded, the inhabitants have been forced to flee , as has much of the population of the coast as high winds and raising sea levels threaten to engulf the tiny Island.
Australia is being engulfed by raging fires and the water levels are not high enough to deal with them, people are fleeing int the outback and an uncertain future.
The U.S has lost much of its' mid western grain belt due to higher temperatures and are dependent upon imports from Canada, which are reporting record yields due to more available land for farming.
Asia reports record fatalities due to the flooding at the Three Gorges Dam and air quality that is unbreathable.
The US/Canada are threatening to sink any ships trying to enter their ports, all Air Ports are closed, the Mexican border also.
Canada, faced with elevated temperatures are exporting some of the vast resources found under the ice Caps and utilising the now open North West Passage to transport these materials.
Canada continues to enjoy an abundance of fresh Water, the population still under 40 million due to a freeze on Immigration in 2057.
Why Canada, Dooms Day, take your poison???
With due recognition to Gore and An Inconvenient Truth.
Nov 14th 2007, 7:16 pm
#322
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 536
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Think I'll stick with Canada
From the Telegraph.
British expats in Spain targeted for crime
Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 11/11/2007
Paredon, nestling on the Costa Blanca, is typical of many villages that have succumbed to the British invasion of this part of Spain.
Official figures put the number of Britons on the Costa Blanca at about 100,000, but the real number is thought to be double that, as many chose not to register with the government or only visit their holiday homes for part of the year.
Paredon is not the British mecca that is Torrevieja or Calpe, but there is a rising population of Britons, many retired, who want to pass their final years here in the Spanish sun.
Many expatriate towns have their own enclaves, British bars, fish and chip shops and the British residents often speak little or no Spanish.
Crime here has not been on the scale of the Costa del Sol, otherwise known as the Costa del Crime. But foreign gangs of Kosovans, Albanians and Romanians, have targeted the chalets of Britons and other foreigners, wrongly believing them all to be rich.
Charles Svoboda, deputy president of the campaign group No to Urban Abuses, which fights the notorious 'land-grab law' in the Valencia region, believes Britons and other foreigners are at greater risk of crime as unemployment grows.
"With the building industry and particularly the holiday home industry, going into recession, there will be lots more people on the dole which is always a stimulator to crime," he said.
From the Telegraph.
British expats in Spain targeted for crime
Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 11/11/2007
Paredon, nestling on the Costa Blanca, is typical of many villages that have succumbed to the British invasion of this part of Spain.
Official figures put the number of Britons on the Costa Blanca at about 100,000, but the real number is thought to be double that, as many chose not to register with the government or only visit their holiday homes for part of the year.
Paredon is not the British mecca that is Torrevieja or Calpe, but there is a rising population of Britons, many retired, who want to pass their final years here in the Spanish sun.
Many expatriate towns have their own enclaves, British bars, fish and chip shops and the British residents often speak little or no Spanish.
Crime here has not been on the scale of the Costa del Sol, otherwise known as the Costa del Crime. But foreign gangs of Kosovans, Albanians and Romanians, have targeted the chalets of Britons and other foreigners, wrongly believing them all to be rich.
Charles Svoboda, deputy president of the campaign group No to Urban Abuses, which fights the notorious 'land-grab law' in the Valencia region, believes Britons and other foreigners are at greater risk of crime as unemployment grows.
"With the building industry and particularly the holiday home industry, going into recession, there will be lots more people on the dole which is always a stimulator to crime," he said.
Nov 14th 2007, 7:20 pm
#323
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 536
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Looks like its Nigeria then
France flops in the love league
By Henry Samuel
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 28/06/2007
The French reputation for romance suffered a knock yesterday after a poll found it was one of the most frustrated nations in bed.
Couple at the beach: France finds itself among the flops in the love league
Nigeria came top of the satisfaction league, followed by Mexico and India, in the poll by Durex
A survey held in 26 countries puts France second from bottom of the table in terms of sexual satisfaction, only trailed by Japan. Britain was around mid-table.
The poll of 26,000 people showed that while the French were near the top of the ratings in terms of sexual activity, having intercourse 120 times a year, and the number of orgasms, only a quarter of those questioned said they were "satisfied". Britain, which came near the bottom in terms of frequency of intercourse - at 92 times a year - had a 40 per cent satisfaction rate. This was above Germany and Italy, another country with a passionate reputation.
Nigeria came top of the satisfaction league, followed by Mexico and India. Japan was last on 15 per cent in the poll by the condom maker Durex.
"A myth collapses," lamented Le Parisien. "The French lover's morale - and everything that goes with it - is at half mast."
However, Gallic honour was saved by Jacques Waynberg, director of the French Institute of Sexology, who said the expectations in France were simply higher than elsewhere.
"France and Japan have a long erotic tradition and are thus more demanding," he said. "As they raise the bar very high, it's only normal that they are more dissatisfied."
France flops in the love league
By Henry Samuel
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 28/06/2007
The French reputation for romance suffered a knock yesterday after a poll found it was one of the most frustrated nations in bed.
Couple at the beach: France finds itself among the flops in the love league
Nigeria came top of the satisfaction league, followed by Mexico and India, in the poll by Durex
A survey held in 26 countries puts France second from bottom of the table in terms of sexual satisfaction, only trailed by Japan. Britain was around mid-table.
The poll of 26,000 people showed that while the French were near the top of the ratings in terms of sexual activity, having intercourse 120 times a year, and the number of orgasms, only a quarter of those questioned said they were "satisfied". Britain, which came near the bottom in terms of frequency of intercourse - at 92 times a year - had a 40 per cent satisfaction rate. This was above Germany and Italy, another country with a passionate reputation.
Nigeria came top of the satisfaction league, followed by Mexico and India. Japan was last on 15 per cent in the poll by the condom maker Durex.
"A myth collapses," lamented Le Parisien. "The French lover's morale - and everything that goes with it - is at half mast."
However, Gallic honour was saved by Jacques Waynberg, director of the French Institute of Sexology, who said the expectations in France were simply higher than elsewhere.
"France and Japan have a long erotic tradition and are thus more demanding," he said. "As they raise the bar very high, it's only normal that they are more dissatisfied."
What I noticed while I was living there is that the majority of Spanish women in their 20s, 30s and even 40s are slim, well dressed, fashionable and feminine. Sure they have some overweight women, but they are in the minority. Contrast that with the N American fatties.... ughhh...
Nov 14th 2007, 7:25 pm
#324
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
I would take a sensual French/Spanish/European woman over some sexually repressed, uptight, overweight Canadian woman any day.
What I noticed while I was living there is that the majority of Spanish women in their 20s, 30s and even 40s are slim, well dressed, fashionable and feminine. Sure they have some overweight women, but they are in the minority. Contrast that with the N American fatties.... ughhh...
What I noticed while I was living there is that the majority of Spanish women in their 20s, 30s and even 40s are slim, well dressed, fashionable and feminine. Sure they have some overweight women, but they are in the minority. Contrast that with the N American fatties.... ughhh...
Nov 14th 2007, 7:30 pm
#325
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 536
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Yeah, at least a 24 hour drive from Toronto. In the winter? No thanks. It would cost you $300 per person to fly there. You can fly from the UK to Spain and numerous other warmer climes for a quarter of that.
Nov 14th 2007, 7:32 pm
#326
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 536
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Most of the attractive women in Toronto are recent immigrants, Persians, E Europeans and sure many Asian women as well, as long as they are not "Canadianized".
Nov 14th 2007, 7:35 pm
#327
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
I can't say I've analysed all of the attractive women in Toronto but there's that Belinda Stronach, she's not a recent immigrant and yet phwoar! And then what about that Avril Lavigne? She spits a lot but I bet she's fun if you approach from behind.
Nov 14th 2007, 7:35 pm
#328
Happy in NB
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Island View, New Brunswick
Posts: 2,020
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Personally I moved because it was as bad as they are telling you in this thread, and I don't have intention of returning to live in the UK. People get angry because you are questioning their reasons for leaving and have they really thought it through. Well I would say that emigrating is never being done lightly so many people have gone through heart wrenching decisions to leave their country of birth. Emigration because of the Weather seems an extremely trivial factor to me.
For what it is worth in my impression (living in NB for 2 years after leaving London commuter belt).
- The sum total of cost of living in Canada is about the same as the UK. ie Food is expensive here in relation to salary, housing is cheaper, gas is cheaper, income taxes are about the same.
- Tax on the whole are probably slightly lower.
- Schools in NB are less disruptive than Schools in Surrey UK (both daughters vouch for this and we lived in a reasonably affluent area of Surrey).
- Crime is unbelievably lower in NB than Surrey UK.
I don't care on iota if you question our motives, or if you think we are crazy, because we are happy living and contributing to a society that values it's people more than in the UK.
Good luck living in Spain when it is touching 40-50c throughout the summer.
Good luck when buying a house / property, be very careful about buying land to build on.
Good luck getting things done quickly (if you live in NB with its laid back attitude you will get some idea of the speed of service in Spain).
Watch out for the unashamed, visible racism that will take your breathe away. I was stunned when two middle aged Spaniards made ape like movements and noises at a racially mixed couple on the beach. This may have been a one off, but I have never seen it in the UK or Canada.
End of my contribution on this thread, hope it helps clarify things for you.
Nov 14th 2007, 7:40 pm
#329
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Griffin ring a bell?
Nov 14th 2007, 7:50 pm
#330
Happy in NB
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Island View, New Brunswick
Posts: 2,020
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
I know racism is around and I have heard lots of ill educated people being abusive about other races when they are in a group discussing issues that they attribute to those races. However I have only seen really overt, in your face, shouting across the street, insulting racism in three places.
Germany
France
and Spain
All by middle class, seemly educated people, not the thugs or skinheads that you know are too dim to string thoughts about real reasons for community problems.