Hi from The Giraffes
 

Hi everyone,

Ms Giraffe here, writing from Northern England on a very rainy day.
I am not from England although I love many of its traditions and things about it. I just think our life here is becoming harder all the time.

We chose to move up North to get into the housing ladder but haven't settled down well. My OH's family are in the South and mine abroad, so it feels like we are in exile, working really hard, and quite lonely, to make ends meet.

Some very good things have happened here and some people have been very friendly to us. But it worries me the way some young parents interact with their children - disengaged, aggressive, and you just know a troubled generation is being brought up. I don't want to be here when the consequences explode on our faces (sadly we can see some already).

We are thinking of having a family of our own, and I don't want the children to grow up in a city where antisocial behaviour is becoming more frequent all the time. At least once a week, there is someone smelling of alcohol, putting their feet up on the bus or playing loud music without headphones - this is not normal for me, and I don't want it to become normal.

I have mixed feelings about the idea of emigrating again, but Mr Giraffe reminds me our children and ourselves deserve a better quality of life. We are attracted by the idea of Canada and considering our options/ doing our research homework.

It's been very interesting to read from all of you, and I look forward to many more postings!

Ms Giraffe

Re: Hi from The Giraffes
 

Hi Ms Giraffe
Welcome to BE. We're from the rainy north too. The weather's not like this all the time........well perhaps most of it:(
Feel free to ask any questions, theres always someone here that can answer!

Re: Hi from The Giraffes
 

Hello and welcome to BE

Re: Hi from The Giraffes
 

Hi

I've mentioned this before but it strikes me over and over how well parents (generally) interact with their children over here, and how vast the difference to what I remember in the UK.....

Everywhere you go there are parents calling their kids pet-names such as pal or buddy and continually encouraging them. "Good JOB!" "There ya go!!""Awesome!" ... are phrases you hear all the time, and it's usually for some small thing that would pass without comment in the UK, where kids are often ignored when they are being "good" and clouted or reprimanded for any small "offence".

I'm sure the key to respect from our youth is to show them respect first, and make them feel confident and good about themselves......

Welcome to BE and good luck with your hopes for Canada! :thumbsup:

Re: Hi from The Giraffes
 

Hello Mrs Giraffe and welcome to BE
So far I have found everything so family friendly here
Best of luck to you
Terese

Re: Hi from The Giraffes
 

We hear you on that one! The way this country is going is something we don't want to be a part of either - so Calgary here we come!

This site has been a brilliant resource for me, I'm sure you'll find the same thing.

We're hoping to leave these grey shores in August for good!

Re: Hi from The Giraffes
 

Welcome

Check out wiki as much there will help you, also what occupation do you both have? May make it easier. Would also suggest coming over to which ever area you like if you can and check it out. We moved just over 3 months ago, have no kids but have settled really well and loving it. We have the lifestyle we wanted, live rural with land we would never have in the UK and more affordable. It can work if it is something you really want

Re: Hi from The Giraffes
 

Hi everyone, and thank you for the welcome and encouragement.
We are both public sector working, in admin/communications and customer service, OH looking to study counselling/psychology soon. Have worked really hard and would have pretty good references and transferable skills, but sadly not much as yet in terms of climbing up the career ladder.

We have not yet decided on areas, although we are attracted to BC because the weather is more temperate and there seems to be a lot going on there. Would prefer city suburb (if no yobbishness around) or small, friendly town, to rural, just on the basis of personal likes, but I am sure we could adapt to other circumstances. Sadly, it seems we have missed the boat for the desirable areas (Vancouver, Victoria) because we bought too late in UK to benefit from any equity, so that may also inform where we go.

Will do a lot of reading... Separate posts with questions coming soon!

Re: Hi from The Giraffes
 

Hi and welcome to BE :thumbsup:

Some of us are really friendly in the north ;)

:wub:

Re: Hi from The Giraffes
 

Hi Ms Giraffe - good luck with your research - there are some friendly people here and lots of useful links/blogs/galleries ;)

Re: Hi from The Giraffes
 

Best of luck with your research.... hope you don't experience too much info overload! ;)

Welcome to BE :)


Oggy