Okay.. I've been having thoughts along these lines for years now, but I want some input as I'm thinking about putting something more concrete together.

The salient points that keep coming up for me are:

1: As brits (mostly) posting on a site afterall with the url britishexpats, we know our history, and whether you think an imperial past is shameful or 'we brought civilisation to the savages' is irrelevant. We have a pretty good track record of leaving the islands for greener (yellower,depending, whatever) pastures.

2: We're doing similar now in record numbers. Ignore the fact our incompetent government can't count people leaving at airports, the evidence shows people of British descent are getting the hell out of dodge to various places. One of the many reasons why people are flooding into (mainly) England. There really is a skills sink being created. Canada is currently no.2 destination of choice apparently. We're not willfully or otherwise I don't think, exporting our culture, or language, or values or religious ideals anymore for the benefit of 'The Empire' or Vicky or to rape the natural resources of the target nation anymore. Our reasoning is different.

3: It remains interesting that those who leave the UK beause of its problems, which most of those who've already arrived acknowledge are prevalent in similar situations wherever we end up (big cities, overcrowded areas etc) are treated as pariahs on this forum, which I don't think people will disagree with me calling the foremost site of its nature on the web. So we all agree we're (or we should be) doing this for the benefit of ourselves and our families, the positive impacts of the destination on our lives are more important than leaving behind negatives. The benefit, or otherwise, to the nation we're making our new lives in isn't that important to us.

4: Canada, unlike the UK, is rich in natural resources which are in massive demand the world over - see copper, oil, wood, and uniquely in human history now and in the future, water (!). It is (reasonably) socialist, so abandoning the NHS and similar programs for the less well-off in England isn't an issue despite the fact we are legally bound in most cases for the first period after arrival not to use those available in Canada.

5: Looking at the above, we don't seem to have changed much, as a people, from the days of the Raj, when brits were in small numbers, essentially spread across the entire planet. The difference now being that maybe we're still proud of our country, but few of us are fastidiously jingoistic about 'The Sceptered Isle' and the culture and history which to a lot of other peoples, remains something that we should be proud of.

I'm searching for a point (which is why I'm asking!) but I'm curious about your thoughts. I wonder whether we're approaching some kind of 2nd diaspora of the British people. I wonder if we'll be able (or even if we would want to) retain some semblance of what it is to be British in our host nations; maybe it's a result of not knowing what being British/Scottish/English/Welsh/Irish is anymore. I want to know if any of the above has any bearing whatsoever on your move, completed or intended. Do we care that Canada is land-rich and full of freshwater because we expect the worst the doomsayers predict about global warming and global overpopulation? Do we crave its comparative neutrality on the political world stage? Do we feel we are bringing something valuable to Canada at all (whether you are or not) or is the fact it can give something/s valuable to us all encompassing?

With a British passport an ex-pat could go to any one of dozens of countries much closer to home and our extended families without any of the immigration/visa/permission to work concerns we have with Canada thanks to the E.U. A worldly Canadian is likely just as keen on our passports as we are theirs. But so few people choose to. Let's face it, learning another language is a trifle when you compare it to a 5 year wait and the necessary fees/distance involved with a move to North America.

Forgive a late night post, and most of the above may be BS but I really am curious.

I agree with this bit.

..

Some people are interested in the big picture you know

I liked this bit best. And I suggest putting the concrete to the best possible use, to fill the gap between your ears.

YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE BRITISH.

<sorry for shouting and excuse my own (relatively) late night post. biiiink; cue for horlicks line I think>

you take your Horlicks in lines? Man, that's hard-core. I still prefer mine in a mug with hot milk...

Get with the program(me), honky.

Could anyone provide a synopsis? Maybe pointing out the salient features??

Or to out it another way, WTF

Yes you can get m*rmite here!

You wanna get some Imodium for that mate.

Sorry to burst your bubble nothing about the country, the wait, the language barriers in other eu countries etc etc - the opportunity just arose so we took it - you're dead a long time: we travelled most of the southern hemisphere but had never had the chance to LIVE in another country Canada came up so here we are. It could have been Australia for all we cared, but I must say we have fallen in love with the country and intend see a lot more of it or at least I do (OH is a truck driver and says that at the moment the weather in Canada looks like a Christmas card and on a bloody Christmas card it should be). Just being in the here and now!

I think Bazzz summarised it pretty well above at post #2...

Wow! That'll teach 'em to have original thoughts.

Moral of the story Windward: Don't post your ideas on here. Stick to Marmite related threads and the vagaries of Bushels v's Tonnes.

One of my thoughts: I think it's very difficult to have a sense of diaspora when moving from one postmodern society to another. We all smile Nike swooches and eat Blackberries. In postmodernity, the notion of diaspora is just that, a notion.

OK, maybe not all of it is BS, but

• I don't know (or know of) anybody who decided to move to Canada because there's loads of fresh water here.
• I don't think Canada is perceived as comparatively neutral on the political world stage (at least not with Harper in office)
• the relative merits of the NHS and the various provincial healthcare systems over other countries' provision had no bearing on my decision
• I don't think there's a sensible comparison to be drawn between empire-building colonisation in the 19th and early 20th centuries and the largely opportunity-driven economic migration of today
• people who leave the UK because of their perception of its problems are likely to find the same problems - or different problems that piss them off just as much - wherever they go. People who move abroad for positive rather than negative reasons are much more likely to enjoy life when they reach their destination.

There - my considered views for you, Windward!

Interesting view. The idea that a diaspora is 'all in the head' is one I've often held to be true. I mean, socially Canada and the physical aspects of daily life here aren't very different to back home. Any feelings of distance and separation I have are really just my own fabrication. If I really want a bag of maltesers, a bottle of Irn Bru or a live view of home then I can easily get it.