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Is it REALLY much better????

Is it REALLY much better????

Old Jun 18th 2012, 10:45 am
  #211  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

Originally Posted by MillieF
Yes, I'm presently looking for an NGO post in Greece. I always try to keep two months salary in hand for a problem, and when the shit really hit our family fan, we did live for a year on a sixth of our normal income. Not easy, but it actually made me realise how much we had wasted on a regular basis. It was a hell of a wake up call and has continued to make us aware of what we spend, which is no bad thing.
Ah, so it wasn't no income, it was saved income/savings.

I was thinking you went all "Good Life" which in itself produces income.

I was confused when you said no income, which wasn't the case.
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 2:12 pm
  #212  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

Originally Posted by Jingsamichty
Well done! OK, so you're good with simple folksy platitudes - with a bit more work we might get you all the way up to some easy adult debate by Christmas.

And maybe we can lead you towards objectivity and away from generalizations by xmas. Although i,m not holding out much hope.
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 2:44 pm
  #213  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

Originally Posted by Hawk13
Those would be called "happy pills" if you were happy every minute of every day. You don't have to be unhappy with where you are - it's called adventure, change of scenery.
I call that a Vacation. I usually do it a couple of times a year


Originally Posted by Hawk13
So true and that describes a lot of people but not everyone.
I didn't say everyone

Originally Posted by Hawk13
Interesting. How about this - if you made $100K in Canada but were offered a job in the UK for £50K would you move back? (you get to pick the cities)
No because i'm happy with EVERYTHING in my life right now and wouldn't want to change a thing. My next vacation will no doubt be around the time i'm looking to change my routine a little
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 2:52 pm
  #214  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

Originally Posted by el_richo
No because i'm happy with EVERYTHING in my life right now and wouldn't want to change a thing. My next vacation will no doubt be around the time i'm looking to change my routine a little
Are you going to share your happy pills?
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 2:55 pm
  #215  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

Originally Posted by Hawk13
Are you going to share your happy pills?
Impending fatherhood. Its an expensive cure

I'd say Im happy with my lot in life too. Its a state of mind, thats all. No pills required.
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 3:00 pm
  #216  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

Originally Posted by iaink
Impending fatherhood. Its an expensive cure

I'd say Im happy with my lot in life too. Its a state of mind, thats all. No pills required.
Fatherhood, eh. Congrats and welcome to the world of the sleep deprived - know if I could develop a pill for that, I could retire to...
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 3:06 pm
  #217  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

Originally Posted by Hawk13
Fatherhood, eh. Congrats and welcome to the world of the sleep deprived - know if I could develop a pill for that, I could retire to...
I believe he was referring to someone else about to become a father. I have my doubts about him not being on pills though as his avatar has the Welcome to Anfailed and that Liver Bird thingy
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 3:45 pm
  #218  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

Originally Posted by Hawk13
Are you going to share your happy pills?
I've learned to appreciate everything i have in life. Today is always the best day in the world
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 4:57 pm
  #219  
 
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian
I believe he was referring to someone else about to become a father. I have my doubts about him not being on pills though as his avatar has the Welcome to Anfailed and that Liver Bird thingy
Aw I got it wrong too I though he was announcing a new wee Iaink en-route.
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 5:01 pm
  #220  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

Originally Posted by iaink
Impending fatherhood. Its an expensive cure
True.

I love my kids but I'm happy and loving life as I know I wont' be having any more
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 5:09 pm
  #221  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

Originally Posted by Animal
True.

I love my kids but I'm happy and loving life as I know I wont' be having any more
Me too...

Originally Posted by dollface
Aw I got it wrong too I though he was announcing a new wee Iaink en-route.
Sorry, misunderstanding, but thanks anyway. Richo is the one whose routine is about to be turned upside down
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 5:38 pm
  #222  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

All depends what you are comparing with ie council estate in mosside to a part of Canada or a part of Canada against a nice little town in the lake district
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 5:43 pm
  #223  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

Originally Posted by Hawk13
True but isn't that true no matter where you go? Is kinda bullshit the hoops you have to jump through and it's only going to get worse.
No it definitely is worse in Canada, that example of the law being changed to allow people to sell wine inter-provincially - simply not an issue in most other jurisdictions in the world.

There was a thread in the maple leaf someone started about all the regs they had to plough through to do their garden and I quoted some other laws I've had issues with, either because they're too vague or make no sense.

And I know I've had problems with professional associations here that I never dreamt of, sometimes you have to be a member of more than one or whatever.

It's all designed to create a closed shop, imo. Canadians are resistant to change to a greater degree than Europeans. They want everything to be settled but it's not possible.

Bureaucracy is universal but in the UK for example during the Thatcher years there was a determined attempt to cut through it, but that never happened in Canada.

Here's another example that just popped into my head - if you engage in stock market transactions, each province has their own securities regulator, whereas in the US it is the SEC nationally and every other developed country has just one nationally as well whether they have a federal system of govt. or not. This creates significant issues for access to capital and also means in smaller jurisdictions the brokers have a captive market.

I've read speeches Jason Kenney (minister of immigration) has given where he clearly is extremely frustrated with unions and associations being resistant to allowing immigrants to get the qualifications they need in order to work.

Here is yet another example: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/a...cope-for-broom

However, Mitra Arjang of the Association of International Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario said those international graduates are mostly made up of Canadian-born graduates from medical schools overseas.

“Residency program directors prefer residents to be young, to be familiar with the Canadian culture as much as possible. Immigrant doctors are real doctors and not just graduates with no experience. They are just too qualified,” said Arjang, adding that only a small number of those selected for residency are actual immigrant doctors.
In other words, they want everything to carry on as normal, no immigrants to rock the boat.

Last edited by Steve_; Jun 18th 2012 at 5:46 pm.
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 5:48 pm
  #224  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

Is it REALLY much better????
It all depends on where you live. If you are coming from a city in the UK where your weekly routine is driving in traffic, working for 8hrs, driving home in traffic, eat, sleep, repeat, then it would make no sense to do the same thing in Canada.

That was my life in the UK, so we moved to a less populous city in BC and now I have a 10 minute drive to work, 7.5 hr working day, and much more free time to do other things.

People go on about moving to Canada to go skiing or hiking up the sides of mountains but to be honest, we rarely do either and nor do any of our CDN friends. We did for the 1st year but then the novelty wears off and our time is usually spent dropping kids off at their activities that you could just as easily do in the UK - Soccer, gymnastics, piano lessons etc.

I guess what I am trying to say is, if you are leaving the UK to get out of the rat race, don't move to another big city in Canada. likewise, if you are moving from a rural location in the UK to experience city life, don't move anywhere except Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, or Vancouver as there is bugger all to do in the other cities.
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Old Jun 18th 2012, 5:53 pm
  #225  
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Default Re: Is it REALLY much better????

But is it really necessary to move as far as Canada to escape the UK ratrace? Surely there are closer places? Its mostly a state of mind anyway I suspect.
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