British Expats - Prefer UK or Canada ?

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)

- Canada (https://britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/)

- - Prefer UK or Canada ? (https://britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/prefer-uk-canada-790573/)

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by energysolutions (Post 10606095)

With the picture he painted I would have jumped in had I been there

A c'mon laddie, what's a wee drizzle

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by getmeintohalifax (Post 10605707)

I'd return to the UK in a heartbeat if my partner was up for it. Right now, I'm perfectly happy in Canada, I'm enjoying life here and, with our jobs and stuff, it just makes perfect sense to be here right now. However, the UK is and always will be home. I miss the architecture, the pubs, the footy, the curry, friends, family, the shops, the tv shows (which I can, of course, access over here with a little effort), the music scene, and the North East coastline.

One of the biggest things I miss is being close to everything. Growing up in Sunderland, I could be in Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields, Durham, Hartlepool or Middlesbrough within half an hour. I could be in York in an hour, Edinburgh in an hour and a half, or London in three hours. If I wanted to jump on a plane, after a 20 minute drive to the airport, I could easily reach anywhere in Europe within a couple of hours and, with budget airlines, it wouldn't necessarily cost too much.

In Halifax, once you leave HRM, you're basically out in the sticks. Yes, there's some absolutely beautiful towns and scenery, but it's not quite the same. If I want to go to another big city, it's either a monster drive or an expensive flight.

I didn't mean for this to end up sounding like a massive moan - I genuinely like it here. It's just that there's a lot to miss about the UK. A lot of people are quick to moan about the UK (and there are certainly many things wrong with it) but, once you spend a lot of time outside the country, I think you begin to appreciate what a fantastic country we were born in.

I can't speak for Sunderland but mostly that's mostly how I feel.

On the whole I am enjoying being here. I miss a good pint of real ale at the local.

There are many things I don't like and most of them have are the same for everyone. Some are just differences and I'm sure in a few years they will become irrelevant.

The biggest shock for me was Motorbike insurance. $350 (UK) Yamaha R6 Best quote here $4600! I ended up with a smaller bike but still at $1700 it was a bitter pill to swallow.

I am amazed how proud Ontario is of it's road safety. I find driving standards appalling and careless at best.

The local Firkin does a good job of being a British pub and gives me that homely feeling. I love Boston Pizza.

Other than that it's just different here. Let's see how I feel in a few years. The UK is home and I think I will always refer to it as home and will remain proud of where I am from.

Maybe my wife and I will end up there in a few years. It certainly hasn't been ruled out. She loves the UK. She likes the small towns, the history, the pubs, the country walks in the Peak District. Then probably has the typical NA fear of how do I drive a stick shift let alone how do I cope with roundabouts and the other side of the road as well.

Although I did find a few roundabouts in Ajax :thumbsup: Little things amuse!

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by getmeintohalifax (Post 10605707)

I miss the architecture, the pubs, the footy, the curry, friends, family, the shops, the tv shows and the north east coastline.

If I wanted to jump on a plane, after a 20 minute drive to the airport, I could easily reach anywhere in Europe within a couple of hours and, with budget airlines, it wouldn't necessarily cost too much.

A lot of people are quick to moan about the UK (and there are certainly many things wrong with it) but, once you spend a lot of time outside the country, I think you begin to appreciate what a fantastic country we were born in.

Basically what you said here... swap North East with South Coast, I did appreciate it very much but I also realised that living there would present certain limitations - I would be renting forever and being made redundant on a regular basis only to apply for the next job at an ever decreasing rate of pay :frown: :(

I lived near Bournemouth on the edge of the New Forest, If I won the lottery I would be back there on the next flight. Am I unhappy here? Not at all, my life here right now is great. :thumbsup: Will I live here for the rest of my life? Not a chance! :p

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonboyE (Post 10606061)

Shortly after I was married I took my wife to see the land of my birth. I remember standing at the top of a cliff overlooking Marsden Rock. It was October. The North Sea was a turgid grey. The overcast sky was even greyer. It was drizzling. Not that light drizzle that dampens the outside of your clothes but the wetting stuff that reaches parts that no drizzle should reach. To complement it all there was a biting north easterly wind that felt like it had just arrived from the Arctic.

The look in her eye told me that if I came back it would be as a single man.

Sounds like heaven to me! If there's one place I could be right now (other than next to the mrs...or maybe Barcelona now that I think of it!) it would be riding my mountain bike along the cliffs at Whitburn, Marsden, and SouthShields.

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by yzf.shaun (Post 10606126)

I am amazed how proud Ontario is of it's road safety.

What gives you that impression? Ontario roads aren't safe at all and I don't think anyone believes they are. Insurance premiums aren't astronomically high because people in Ontario generally operate vehicles competently.

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 10606592)

Nothing gives me the impression.
It's what the Ontario Government says about the roads here.

The below is an example.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2011...tudy_says.html

I think fraud has a lot to do with high premiums as well.

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Canada for the time being - the UK is bankrupt.

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

I don't know why I bother reading these threads, I don't really care anymore, I'm Canadian now, couldn't stand the UK before and certainly have no desire even slightly to move there. Whenever I have to go there for some reason I can't wait to leave.

People seem to like torturing themselves with "what ifs" for some reason. I never liked the things people claim to miss, e.g. soccer and curry. And the TV here is miles better imo. One day I'll figure out a latency based IP blocker, sell it to the BBC and force you all to watch Canadian TV. "Oh I can't get Radio 1 on Sirius XM anymore" Thank God for that. Really is CBC Radio 1 any worse than BBC Radio 4?

I suppose I would miss certain British foods if I couldn't get them in Loblaw's and various other places in Calgary. But I can get them easily, so meh. Years ago I used to say the banking system in the UK was better, but given the total disaster there and the limited damage in Canada I can't really argue that one anymore.

My only reason for posting is that I do think people look back with rose-tinted glasses.

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by getoutofbritainquick (Post 10606693)

Canada for the time being - the UK is bankrupt.

England might be a bit shit, but Australia, New Zealand and Canada combined is still shittier.

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 10606701)

England might be a bit shit, but Australia, New Zealand and Canada combined is still shittier.

....how do you define more shittier:confused: Thinking of moving to Cyprus but they are really in the shit!:thumbsup:

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by getoutofbritainquick (Post 10606704)

....how do you define more shittier:confused: Thinking of moving to Cyprus but they are really in the shit!:thumbsup:

My advice is to watch the local news on line for bit and then you'll get a flavour how parochial and dull these places are.

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 10606707)

My advice is to watch the local news on line for bit and then you'll get a flavour how parochial and dull these places are.

We spend hours just doing that. We watch Global News and it is like watching the crime channel. Cyprus is busy money laundering for the Russians and expects the EU to bail them out. Politicians act like children - but that goes with the territory. The world is running out of places to hide:eek: Anyone got any suggestions?

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by getoutofbritainquick (Post 10606712)

Edmonton. They have a really big shopping centre with a water slide inside and miniature golf.

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oink (Post 10606718)

Edmonton. They have a really big shopping centre with a water slide inside and miniature golf.

... just like Maui????

Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by yzf.shaun (Post 10606677)

I'm not seeing numbers to support their conclusion and, having driven here today, I find it quite implausible that the government is correct. I think the insurers are right, people in Ontario drive badly and are extremely litigious. How does fraud come into it?