Home after 11 years.
Nov 9th 2012, 3:20 pm
#46
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Home after 11 years.
That is exactly what I have always said, it is often said that Brits arent patriotic but it seems clear that as you say they dont feel the need to be constantly telling everyone including themselves how awesome the UK is. That does not mean they arent proud of their country, they just dont care if others dont think so. It is the insecurity we see in Australia that is so grating.
Nov 9th 2012, 4:04 pm
#48
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Location: The REAL Utopia.
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Re: Home after 11 years.
I just dont get the need to be constantly slapping yourself on the back and telling other Aussies how great you are. I love Australia for many reasons, the problem is I hate for just as many or more.
Nov 9th 2012, 4:58 pm
#49
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Home after 11 years.
How about when you were in Oz previously (for 25 years) were you in the self back slapping brigade? I think it does happen in other places too. The USA in particular and some parts of Canada. I think short histories (a few hundred years as opposed to a few thousand) have something to do with it too.
Nov 9th 2012, 5:54 pm
#50
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,754
Re: Home after 11 years.
How about when you were in Oz previously (for 25 years) were you in the self back slapping brigade? I think it does happen in other places too. The USA in particular and some parts of Canada. I think short histories (a few hundred years as opposed to a few thousand) have something to do with it too.
Nov 9th 2012, 9:08 pm
#51
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Joined: May 2012
Location: Nebraska by the Sea
Posts: 987
Re: Home after 11 years.
Well the self congratulating back slapping types anyway - I always cringe when I hear that what apparently has become commonplace chant: USA USA USa usa....... awful whoever thought that one up.
Nov 9th 2012, 11:21 pm
#52
Not actually a squirrel
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: England
Posts: 3,446
Re: Home after 11 years.
Thanks, yes very much the right decision for us, we are absolutely loving it. We all took the dog out for walk through the village and even our kids who are born and bred in sub tropical Brisbane still dont complain about the cold, it was about 9 degrees when we went out. They are very disappointed that we arent getting the snow our friends in the SW are getting 
I have found the UK has predictably changed just like everywhere else, nothing has changed noticeably for the worse. We are in a very rural setting and to be honest we dont notice the population of the country overall anymore than we did where we used to live.
No reverse culture shock at all, it takes a little time to get used to a few things but nothing major.
I have to be careful not to be too positive as some arent in the same position as us which is weird as we are all different. Cant really say too much negative as almost all our experiences have been positive.
Good luck with your move, all I can say is FOR US it is proving to be a wonderful move.
I have found the UK has predictably changed just like everywhere else, nothing has changed noticeably for the worse. We are in a very rural setting and to be honest we dont notice the population of the country overall anymore than we did where we used to live.
No reverse culture shock at all, it takes a little time to get used to a few things but nothing major.
I have to be careful not to be too positive as some arent in the same position as us which is weird as we are all different. Cant really say too much negative as almost all our experiences have been positive.
Good luck with your move, all I can say is FOR US it is proving to be a wonderful move.
Nov 10th 2012, 5:31 pm
#53
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Re: Home after 11 years.
How about when you were in Oz previously (for 25 years) were you in the self back slapping brigade? I think it does happen in other places too. The USA in particular and some parts of Canada. I think short histories (a few hundred years as opposed to a few thousand) have something to do with it too.
It does come down to immaturity I feel.
Nov 10th 2012, 6:28 pm
#54
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Re: Home after 11 years.
I'll be retiring to the UK in a few years....but I'm a bit worried at the "Daily Mail" attitudes towards immigrants that seem to be gaining ground and the witch hunt atmosphere that the "politically correct" promote that IMHO impinge on free speech....however distasteful that might be.
Nov 10th 2012, 7:28 pm
#55
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Re: Home after 11 years.
I'll be retiring to the UK in a few years....but I'm a bit worried at the "Daily Mail" attitudes towards immigrants that seem to be gaining ground and the witch hunt atmosphere that the "politically correct" promote that IMHO impinge on free speech....however distasteful that might be.
Nov 10th 2012, 7:34 pm
#56
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Re: Home after 11 years.
We haven't seen anything change for the worse to be fair, just the usual changes that happen over the years and not restricted to the UK. The stuff we have had to adjust to is just the normal mundane stuff, even things like the different money, getting used to the different notes and coins, miles instead of kilometres, different shops, smaller roads, Cod in chip shops instead of who-knows-what fish
Silly things but nothing big for us.Good luck, you'll love it
Nov 10th 2012, 7:43 pm
#57
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: Home after 11 years.
I'll be retiring to the UK in a few years....but I'm a bit worried at the "Daily Mail" attitudes towards immigrants that seem to be gaining ground and the witch hunt atmosphere that the "politically correct" promote that IMHO impinge on free speech....however distasteful that might be.
I've stopped reading the DM (rarely bought it per-Internet but started reading it more online). It so steeped in sensationalism designed to make one's blood boil that it simply is not worth the aggro. There has been a tremendous amount of immigration, and there are now some serious ethnic "neighbourhoods" but if you seek traditional England most of it is still there. For better or worse!
Nov 11th 2012, 7:57 am
#58
Finally Home!
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Used to be New York, now North Yorkshire
Posts: 3,610
Re: Home after 11 years.
Nun, when you write things like that, I wonder what country you're talking about and I live here!
There are racists here as there are anywhere - but not as many as where I came from (America), and for the most part people are great.
I do agree with you about free speech - shocks me how easily people can be arrested here just for saying something distasteful - but unless you plan to say similar things (and based on your posts I know you don't) I don't see why that would stop you moving here.
I say move here and then become part of the positive change that you seek.
There are racists here as there are anywhere - but not as many as where I came from (America), and for the most part people are great.
I do agree with you about free speech - shocks me how easily people can be arrested here just for saying something distasteful - but unless you plan to say similar things (and based on your posts I know you don't) I don't see why that would stop you moving here.
I say move here and then become part of the positive change that you seek.
Nov 11th 2012, 12:01 pm
#59
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: The REAL Utopia.
Posts: 9,910
Re: Home after 11 years.
Nun, when you write things like that, I wonder what country you're talking about and I live here!
There are racists here as there are anywhere - but not as many as where I came from (America), and for the most part people are great.
I do agree with you about free speech - shocks me how easily people can be arrested here just for saying something distasteful - but unless you plan to say similar things (and based on your posts I know you don't) I don't see why that would stop you moving here.
I say move here and then become part of the positive change that you seek.
There are racists here as there are anywhere - but not as many as where I came from (America), and for the most part people are great.
I do agree with you about free speech - shocks me how easily people can be arrested here just for saying something distasteful - but unless you plan to say similar things (and based on your posts I know you don't) I don't see why that would stop you moving here.
I say move here and then become part of the positive change that you seek.
Nov 11th 2012, 1:25 pm
#60
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,754
Re: Home after 11 years.
I've been in the US so long that I take a very liberal attitude towards speech. So unless you are encouraging people to commit crimes or shouting fire in a theatre when there is no fire I feel that all speech should be allowed. As an example IMHO John Terry should never have been charged with anything. His case came out right in the end...no crime, but the FA and his club punished him. But that the police were even involved worries me. This is an area where I've become far more American than European.