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Old Apr 19th 2007 | 1:27 am
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Exclamation A few thoughts

Well. My mum died so we all went over for the funeral. Looking at the UK with my now canadian eyes here are a few impressions I got. (Bearing in mind Im pretty happy in Canada with my lot)

Wow, its was soooo green. Spring had sprung, the weather was FANTASTIC too.

So much for kids to do, Warwick Castle was like a dream for my 4 year old. FANTASTIC. So many other options too.

It was BRILLIANT to catch up with family, although obviously the circumstances could have been happier.

Daily grocery prices seemed a fair bit cheaper than Canada.

Driving was not too bad, the M1 was OK, getting around was OK, but not as easy as Canada. Borrowing a TomTom was a help though. Couldnt live with an M3 / M25 commute everyday though. Got used to narrow twisty roads, roundabouts and manual gearboxes again pretty fast. Lot of diesel powered german executive cars around, in fact a lot of new cars everywhere. Very few old beaters on the road that I saw. General impression was of a lot of disposable income...dont know if its rooted in debt though.

Customer service is ABYSMAL. Girl actually answered personal mobile call while selling me rail tickets. Not impressed!

House prices are RIDICULOUS in nearly all places.

Travel costs are insane, $150 for 2 to travel by train from Gatwick to Bedford return...WTF!

Obsession with schools / living in the right area for a decent school is alive and well, but pretty well justified too.

Cameras EVERYWHERE. Looks like a police state to an outsider. Private security firms in city centers were a surprise too.

Real Beer GOOD! (Fullers)

Hoodies / petty crime...didnt see any. Lots of graffiti on and around the train though.

Overcrowding. Actually the bits of London we went through seemed to be pretty well covered for parks and farmland areas around. Nice playgrounds seemed a common feature.

Public Footpaths / Right of way. What a joy, paths everywhere! Dont get that sort of access to the countryside here in Ontario.


My overall conclusion, if you have a house and a decent job to pay for travel and a few awaydays, I cant understand why you would throw it away to come to Canada for the sake of a larger house. England is a pretty nice place...IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO LIVE IN A NICE AREA. Based on visiting family in Woking Surrey and a North Beds Village, and a friend in Radcliffe near Nottingham.

Was nice to get back home though and get a decent coffee and a shower and sleep in my own bed too.

Last edited by iaink; Apr 19th 2007 at 1:54 am.
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 1:41 am
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Default Re: A few thoughts

Originally Posted by iaink
Well. My mum died so we all went over for the funeral. Looking at the UK with my now canadian eyes here are a few impressions I got. (Bearing in mind Im pretty happy in Canada with my lot)

Wow, its was soooo green. Spring had sprung, the weather was FANTASTIC too.

So much for kids to do, Warwick Castle was like a dream for my 4 year old. FANTASTIC. So many other options too.

It was BRILLIANT to catch up with family, although obviously the circumstances could have been happier.

Daily grocery prices seemed a fair bit cheaper than Canada.

Driving was not too bad, the M1 was OK, getting around was OK, but not as easy as Canada. Borrowing a TomTom was a help though. Couldnt live with an M3 / M25 commute everyday though. Got used to narrow twisty roads, roundabouts and manual gearboxes again pretty fast. Lot of diesel powered german executive cars around, in fact a lot of new cars everywhere. Very few old beaters on the road that I saw. General impression was of a lot of disposable income...dont know if its rooted in debt though.

Customer service is ABYSMAL. Girl actually answered personal mobile call while selling me rail tickets. Not impressed!

House prices are RIDICULOUS in nearly all places.

Travel costs are insane, $150 for 2 to travel by train from Gatwick to Bedford return...WTF!

Obsession with schools / living in the right area for a decent school is alive and well, but pretty well justified too.

Cameras EVERYWHERE. Looks like a police state to an outsider. Private security firms in city centers were a surprise too.

Real Beer GOOD! (Fullers)

Hoodies / petty crime...didnt see any. Lots of graffiti on and around the train though.

Overcrowding. Actually the bits of London we went through seemed to be pretty well covered for parks and farmland areas around. Nice playgrounds seemed a common feature.

Public Footpaths / Right of way. What a joy, paths everywhere! Dont get that sort of access to the countryside here in Ontario.


My overall conclusion, if you have a house and a decent job to pay for travel and a few awaydays, I cant understand why you would throw it away to come to Canada for the sake of a larger house. England is a pretty nice place...IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO LIVE IN A NICE AREA. Based on visiting family in Woking Surrey and a North Beds Village, and a friend in Radcliffe near Nottingham.

The UK is not that bad - but MANCHESTER is.
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 1:41 am
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Default Re: A few thoughts

Originally Posted by iaink
Well. My mum died so we all went over for the funeral. Looking at the UK with my now canadian eyes here are a few impressions I got. (Bearing in mind Im pretty happy in Canada with my lot)

Wow, its was soooo green. Spring had sprung, the weather was FANTASTIC too.

So much for kids to do, Warwick Castle was like a dream for my 4 year old. FANTASTIC. So many other options too.

It was BRILLIANT to catch up with family, although obviously the circumstances could have been happier.

Daily grocery prices seemed a fair bit cheaper than Canada.

Driving was not too bad, the M1 was OK, getting around was OK, but not as easy as Canada. Borrowing a TomTom was a help though. Couldnt live with an M3 / M25 commute everyday though. Got used to narrow twisty roads, roundabouts and manual gearboxes again pretty fast. Lot of diesel powered german executive cars around, in fact a lot of new cars everywhere. Very few old beaters on the road that I saw. General impression was of a lot of disposable income...dont know if its rooted in debt though.

Customer service is ABYSMAL. Girl actually answered personal mobile call while selling me rail tickets. Not impressed!

House prices are RIDICULOUS in nearly all places.

Travel costs are insane, $150 for 2 to travel by train from Gatwick to Bedford return...WTF!

Obsession with schools / living in the right area for a decent school is alive and well, but pretty well justified too.

Cameras EVERYWHERE. Looks like a police state to an outsider. Private security firms in city centers were a surprise too.

Real Beer GOOD! (Fullers)

Hoodies / petty crime...didnt see any. Lots of graffiti on and around the train though.

Overcrowding. Actually the bits of London we went through seemed to be pretty well covered for parks and farmland areas around. Nice playgrounds seemed a common feature.

Public Footpaths / Right of way. What a joy, paths everywhere! Dont get that sort of access to the countryside here in Ontario.


My overall conclusion, if you have a house and a decent job to pay for travel and a few awaydays, I cant understand why you would throw it away to come to Canada for the sake of a larger house. England is a pretty nice place...IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO LIVE IN A NICE AREA. Based on visiting family in Woking Surrey and a North Beds Village, and a friend in Radcliffe near Nottingham.

Was nice to get back home too and get a decent coffee and a shower and sleep in my own bed too though.
Awesome post Iaink, I couldnt have put it better myself, Thats the way i see it too, if you have a pretty decent life in England dont give it all up to come and struggle here!!

Well done excellent post
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 1:42 am
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Default Re: A few thoughts

Hi Iaink- sorry to hear about your mum

Originally Posted by iaink
Well. My mum died so we all went over for the funeral. Looking at the UK with my now canadian eyes here are a few impressions I got. (Bearing in mind Im pretty happy in Canada with my lot)

Wow, its was soooo green. Spring had sprung, the weather was FANTASTIC too.
It is very green and such fab weather recently, england is truely beautiful in the spring
So much for kids to do, Warwick Castle was like a dream for my 4 year old. FANTASTIC. So many other options too.

There are good options for kids

It was BRILLIANT to catch up with family, although obviously the circumstances could have been happier.

Daily grocery prices seemed a fair bit cheaper than Canada.

I would say from reccie to calgary recently grocery prices are similar or slightly more in calgary

Driving was not too bad, the M1 was OK, getting around was OK, but not as easy as Canada. Borrowing a TomTom was a help though. Couldnt live with an M3 / M25 commute everyday though. Got used to narrow twisty roads, roundabouts and manual gearboxes again pretty fast. Lot of diesel powered german executive cars around, in fact a lot of new cars everywhere. Very few old beaters on the road that I saw. General impression was of a lot of disposable income...dont know if its rooted in debt though.

I think in affluent areas we are fairly well off in UK. traffic anywhere in SE is a nightmare IMHO, which is why we live ooop north. had to go via heathrow recently and it served to remind me just how crowded the SE is

Customer service is ABYSMAL. Girl actually answered personal mobile call while selling me rail tickets. Not impressed!

it is fairly bad

House prices are RIDICULOUS in nearly all places.

this is ture but they won't go up signigficantly for a while I reckon due to threatening interest rates and the lack of people coming onto market for first time (ie the current market is fueled by people already in the market)

Travel costs are insane, $150 for 2 to travel by train from Gatwick to Bedford return...WTF!

travel to and from airports seems to be the worst- but it can be pricey- its all about when you travel

Obsession with schools / living in the right area for a decent school is alive and well, but pretty well justified too.

I agree with this

Cameras EVERYWHERE. Looks like a police state to an outsider. Private security firms in city centers were a surprise too.

haven't noticed it soo much - obviously we have them up here- maybe you either get used to them or they are worse in the other areas

Real Beer GOOD! (Fullers)

Hoodies / petty crime...didnt see any. Lots of graffiti on and around the train though.

Overcrowding. Actually the bits of London we went through seemed to be pretty well covered for parks and farmland areas around. Nice playgrounds seemed a common feature.

Public Footpaths / Right of way. What a joy, paths everywhere! Dont get that sort of access to the countryside here in Ontario.

My overall conclusion, if you have a house and a decent job to pay for travel and a few awaydays, I cant understand why you would throw it away to come to Canada for the sake of a larger house. England is a pretty nice place...IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO LIVE IN A NICE AREA. Based on visiting family in Woking Surrey and a North Beds Village, and a friend in Radcliffe near Nottingham.

England is a nice place, if you live in a nice area. We do and we like it a lot and will miss it. But we are skiers and yearn to live near world class skiing, and my OH happens to be in a profession that is sought after in some places (although less so in UK) which makes moving quite attractive. Also we want an adventure! and why not?
Gryphea
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 1:44 am
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Default Re: A few thoughts

PS . also we are not 'throwing it away' or 'giving it all up to come and struggle'

Gryphea
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 1:46 am
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Default Re: A few thoughts

Hi Iain,
Firstly I am sorry to hear about the loss of your Mum

I live in Camberley which is just down the road from Woking and I have to say your impression of this area is absolutely spot on.
There does seem to be a lot of money around at the moment, loads of new 07 plate cars on the road, and everyone seems to have builders round doing some sort of home improvement at the moment.

In fact the more I think of what a good place I currently live in the more I question why I want to move to Canada? You are quite correct, the main reason for me moving is to sell my house and be mortgage free in Canada.

Why did you start this post
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 1:57 am
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Default Re: A few thoughts

Originally Posted by gryphea
PS . also we are not 'throwing it away' or 'giving it all up to come and struggle'

Gryphea
Your not here yet are you?? moving country isnt a walk in the park you will struggle even if you have a cushy job and wonderful mortgage free house to walk into. not being negative just realistic.
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 2:02 am
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Default Re: A few thoughts

Originally Posted by britishvixen21
Your not here yet are you?? moving country isnt a walk in the park you will struggle even if you have a cushy job and wonderful mortgage free house to walk into. not being negative just realistic.
We don't have a mortgage-free house to walk into but aren't struggling. Should we be?
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 2:04 am
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Default Re: A few thoughts

As long as people are motivated for the right reasons its not "throwing it away", but my eyes were somewhat opened again to the access to the countryside, the numerous fantastic castles, kids farms, national trust properties, zoos etc etc that are two a penny in the UK and few and far between in Canada. The greeness was also extraordinary...and the lack of bloody mozzies. You cant buy that here (Ontario).

The point of the post was just to tell how I saw it after 7 years away, with a fresh perspective. Sometimes you just dont see whats right under your nose. Even Manchester has good stuff right on the doorstep. But it is an expensive place to live. One or two good jobs are a necessity I suspect to get the best of life there...far more so than in Canada.

Last edited by iaink; Apr 19th 2007 at 2:07 am.
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 2:05 am
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Default Re: A few thoughts

Originally Posted by britishvixen21
Your not here yet are you?? moving country isnt a walk in the park you will struggle even if you have a cushy job and wonderful mortgage free house to walk into. not being negative just realistic.
I have reread my last post and understand it could have been read wrongly. I never ever said it will be a walk in the park- I for one minute don't think it will be, just merely saying we are not giving everything up to get there! If it doesn't work out we will come back having had an adventure! We aren't burning any bridges. I was merely pointing out that not everyone moving to canada is off permanently, is going there to struggle or is giving everything up, which other people had mentioned!

Gryphea
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 2:15 am
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Default Re: A few thoughts

Very sorry to hear about your Mum Iain, that must be tough. Glad you and your family made it back though.
Great post, summed it all up very nicely When I was back last week I also noticed how many new cars were on the road and I always notice the greenness compared to here.
Now I just have to show the post to my husband and get him thinking.........
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 2:17 am
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Default Re: A few thoughts

Originally Posted by iaink
As long as people are motivated for the right reasons its not "throwing it away", but my eyes were somewhat opened again to the access to the countryside, the numerous fantastic castles, kids farms, national trust properties, zoos etc etc that are two a penny in the UK and few and far between in Canada. The greeness was also extraordinary...and the lack of bloody mozzies. You cant buy that here (Ontario).

The point of the post was just to tell how I saw it after 7 years away, with a fresh perspective. Sometimes you just dont see whats right under your nose. Even Manchester has good stuff right on the doorstep. But it is an expensive place to live. One or two good jobs are a necessity I suspect to get the best of life there...far more so than in Canada.
I think it was a good post and I think lots of people have rose tinted specs about lots of things! Sometimes maybe a change is as good as a rest!!! Of course whilst I don't deny england is beautiful in parts ( and I have previously lamented I will miss the green) you were here over fantastic unseasonal weather which probably helped form your opinion, as for the bugs, well obviously this is something I am concerned about ...........(although this maybe balanced by reduction in hayfever!)

Manchester does have good stuff on its doorstep (although its a bit rainy for me!). I think one or two good jobs are a necessity to get the best of life. We have two fairly good jobs (albeit one at 60%) and we still live in a fairly small house, take summer holidays in the Uk and blow it all for one week skiing. And my OH has horrendus commutes.

Gryphea
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 2:18 am
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Default Re: A few thoughts

Sorry to hear about your Mum.

Agree, of course, with your post. Am so looking forward to enjoying the outdoors when we're next in England.
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 2:19 am
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Default Re: A few thoughts

Originally Posted by iaink
Wow, its was soooo green. Spring had sprung, the weather was FANTASTIC too.
But Canada wil catch up though, no?

Originally Posted by iaink
Daily grocery prices seemed a fair bit cheaper than Canada.
Lots of people are saying this.

Originally Posted by iaink
Lot of diesel powered german executive cars around, in fact a lot of new cars everywhere. Very few old beaters on the road that I saw. General impression was of a lot of disposable income...dont know if its rooted in debt though.
Credit, credit, credit, company cars, credit, company cars, credit.

Originally Posted by iaink
Customer service is ABYSMAL. Girl actually answered personal mobile call while selling me rail tickets. Not impressed!
Always will be crap. It's not in the modern British nature to serve.

Originally Posted by iaink
House prices are RIDICULOUS in nearly all places.
Naturellement.

Originally Posted by iaink
Travel costs are insane, $150 for 2 to travel by train from Gatwick to Bedford return...WTF!
Naturellement aussi.

Originally Posted by iaink
Cameras EVERYWHERE. Looks like a police state to an outsider.
More cameras per person than anywhere else on Earth including North Korea and Russia. Makes you feel proud.

Originally Posted by iaink
My overall conclusion, if you have a house and a decent job to pay for travel and a few awaydays, I cant understand why you would throw it away to come to Canada for the sake of a larger house.
You forget! You forget the wanderlust!
 
Old Apr 19th 2007 | 2:26 am
  #15  
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Default Re: A few thoughts

Originally Posted by Tableland
But Canada wil catch up though, no?
No, it will be green for a month in May and then get burned to a toasty brown crisp by July.

Wanderlust...Ive not forgotten, I suspect there is nothing you can do once you decide to look elsewhere anyway, but Im not at all sure its a rational reason to sell up everything and move. Baby / Bathwater interface needs to be closely examined.

On balance I am still happy to be in Canada (just as well as I couldnt afford to move back), but the UK is far from the decaying cesspool of humanity its sometimes portrayed as by the media...if you have the means to live in a reasonable area.
 


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