Somewhere recently I saw Canadians defined as the people who say "may I, please?" to the glory hole.

I'd forgotten that phrase

Well it would be rude not to. Using excessive force could take one's eye out.

Rich.

No, the east europeans I know are too busy out performing their U.K. counterparts

the ones who work, they do work hard with out moaning

I have only met hard working ones, I don't know where these criminal east europeans you are talking about are. In London the only problem has been with begging as far as I know.

Without wishing to go into familiar territory about the decline in morals and the problems the UK has with Hoodies etc, there is an element of gun crime but it seems to be mainly to do with young kids getting hold of guns at the moment.

Other then that, I have noticed so many different cultures moving into the UK, but almost without exception they have come to make a life for themselves and they work immensely hard for a pittance.

I think that the UK is going through a transitional period when the ethnic makeup of the uk will change forever. To some extent it is not dissimilar to the US melting pot analogy, given time I think that the Uk will be the richer and more stronger for it. The old UK of the prewar years is gone forever, but I think that it was inevitable.

I agree, I also think things go in cycles. When I was a child we left the door open without worrying about getting burgled and knew our neighbours. Now I think that is slowly coming back in some ways. Many of the the new Eastern European immigrants largely have a good work ethic and family values, an quite an old fashioned way of knowing the difference between right and wrong, something many young people in this country don't have.

...and these foreign peeps get such a warm friendly welcome:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/h...re/6395099.stm

Incidents like this, with their sick brute animal ultraviolence, make me absolutely sick (Y)UK will always be (Y)UK. Losers, inhuman savages, scum, filth, nothing is low enough to describe these 'things'. They're not human IMHO.



BTW before anyone adds that "things like this do happen in Canada", such brutality is far less common, acts of violence as intense as this, much rarer, and the gang/mob factor far less. I don't wear the rose tinted shades.

Rich.

The POlish people have such a love and respect for the UK, My friends mother was Polish who married a British Squaddy after the war, and spoke so warmly about the British.

I have overheard conversations from native brits who speak so contemptiously about any immigrant yet raise their kids with little of the old values.

Yet there are social problems which are endemic and arise in an increasing percentage of the population in this country irrespective of their country of origin

Discipline and the 'Youf' trendy culture where adults act like children and their children are treated like adults with full access to violent imagery and where the TV/computer screen is used as a full time babysitting facility.

Old fashioned manners, courtesy politeness and respect for authority are gone and treated with scorn and ridicule to the extent that the Police, Doctors, nurses, teachers, and even firemen and ambulancemen are attacked.

Yet there are so many honest and integral people who have raised their children with the love and attention and yes, discipline, who have been so badly let down by the politicians over the last few decades. sadly without them, this country has no stable and secure future.

Every large city? So where in London/UK or Birmingham, Manchester etc. do you find the equivalent of say the East Hastings Street, or district shall I call it?
You could have difficulty finding it in Europe.

I used to have my "favourite" tramp on the 6th Av in Calgary.Always waiting near the doors of a sandwitch bar.Would give him some money if I had any spare because he was only 1, and had to endure the bitter cold hanging round outdoors in Alberta!

Europe - Amsterdam. Brussels. The Parisian slums. Marseille. Glasgow. Edinburgh's slum housing. Even in Swiss Cities. Supposedly so clean but they had a park full of crack/smackheads and no-go zones.

London has different issues but compare just as equally gruesome. What about social issues in Burnley, Preston, other grim northern towns. Birmingham, Alum Rock. Wanna go live there ? Different mess, same causal effect. Ever seen the homless beggars in Bath.....oh so posh, tourist-friendly, and upstanding. Torquay has homeless alcoholics, smack heads. Plymouth, a summer influx of flocking homeless nae-do-wells.

Open your eyes, take off the rose tinted shades. Take a look around you.

East Hastings is a highly concentrated microcosm, that's why it appears so shocking. Take half of Londons population, condense them, put the worst of the very worst into one hood, let them feed of off each other. Let the tourists come and watch for fun.

Rich.

Grah,

I see your in Winnipeg, could you give an honest reply and tell me what Winnipeg is really like seeing as this thread is called "Home Truths"

i.e. Crime / Drugs / Homeless / Violence.....and also the cost of living etc

and all the good bits of the place.

It could be a big possibility that I may be offered employment there,

Are there any BAD areas to avoid when looking for housing.

Cheers & Many Thanks Dave

Honest truth Winnipeg is a good family town - If your family lives here Biiiink will tell you about flights to UK.

You can find every cross section of life here good and bad but you'll find a damm site more decent people willing to go the extra mile to help than hinder.


Winters are cold if you stay outdoors without dressing for it, my wife refuses to wear socks as she is only going from the car to the shop. ( I have an emergency bag in the car just incase) 8 years here now, Boy graduated 2 years early and in Uni, Daughter in Army cadets and in college, 2 other girls still in school. Boy travelled all over Canada playing soccer for club and province. Youngest daughter is now following in his shoes althought not as competitive. Receration is all organised out of community clubs and they have Thousands of kids involved in the programs. for instance if you kids are interested in soccer check out http://www.winnipegyouthsoccer.com/ look at the standings and you'll see how many teams in the 3rd most popular winter sport. Hockey ringette basketball volleyball ( huge here) and curling to mention just some of the team sports. avoid the core ( downtown) and you'll probably looking at a good neighbourhood. Just figure cheap prices lower incomes and you'll figure it out happy hunting.

And as always check www.mls.ca for housing

I really don't know as I never frequented each place to get to know the names. but every European city I went to I saw the drunks drugs and prostitutes. If your lucky the all hang out together. I you trying to say Europe is a wonder pace full of happy, clean living contented people?

but this site seems to say otherwise http://catholicgauze.blogspot.com/20...d-rest-of.html