Hi from The Giraffes
Jul 16th 2008 | 9:37 pm
#1
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 37
From: Up North (England)
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
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
Jul 16th 2008 | 10:17 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 267
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!
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!
Jul 17th 2008 | 3:48 am
#3
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,842
From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Re: Hi from The Giraffes
Hello and welcome to BE
Jul 17th 2008 | 5:35 pm
#4
little snowy owl
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,921
Re: Hi from The Giraffes
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!
Jul 17th 2008 | 6:13 pm
#5
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,457
Re: 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
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
So far I have found everything so family friendly here
Best of luck to you
Terese
Jul 17th 2008 | 8:24 pm
#6
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 308
From: Calgary
Re: 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
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
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!
Jul 17th 2008 | 11:50 pm
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,935
From: Amherst Nova Scotia
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
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
Jul 18th 2008 | 1:09 am
#8
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 37
From: Up North (England)
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!
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!
Jul 19th 2008 | 6:58 pm
#9
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 2,484
Re: Hi from The Giraffes
Hi and welcome to BE
Some of us are really friendly in the north
Some of us are really friendly in the north
Jul 19th 2008 | 11:33 pm
#10
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8
From: Ramsgate Kent
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
Jul 21st 2008 | 2:32 am
#11
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 903
From: Kelowna, BC
Re: Hi from The Giraffes
Best of luck with your research.... hope you don't experience too much info overload!
Welcome to BE
Oggy
Welcome to BE
Oggy
