Finally going home
Apr 4th 2018, 4:58 pm
#31
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,529
Re: Finally going home
Thank you for all replies to my posts.
Im finally here!!!!
Well, it's been just over 24 hours since I stepped off the plane home and it's been a whirlwind of activity. I got the keys to my flat, had the carpet people in to measure up, give me a quote and scheduled the fitting; had the electricity account changed to my name; registered with the council to pay the tax on my flat, had a bacon bap, a cuppa and a long, lovely chat with my best mate at a cafe in Hythe; she and I took boxes of kitchen supplies to the flat and now back to her house for Lincolnshire sausages, mash and Brussels for dinner!!
I can't tell you how GOOD it feels to be home!
Im finally here!!!!
Well, it's been just over 24 hours since I stepped off the plane home and it's been a whirlwind of activity. I got the keys to my flat, had the carpet people in to measure up, give me a quote and scheduled the fitting; had the electricity account changed to my name; registered with the council to pay the tax on my flat, had a bacon bap, a cuppa and a long, lovely chat with my best mate at a cafe in Hythe; she and I took boxes of kitchen supplies to the flat and now back to her house for Lincolnshire sausages, mash and Brussels for dinner!!
I can't tell you how GOOD it feels to be home!
I think you've missed the worst of the late winter weather? I'm returning to England two weeks from today, and I'm planning on walking on the beach, barefoot, on my second day there - whatever the weather!
Apr 4th 2018, 5:28 pm
#32
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2013
Location: Canada BC
Posts: 32
Re: Finally going home
So happy for you!
Apr 4th 2018, 5:34 pm
#33
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2016
Location: Scotland
Posts: 200
Re: Finally going home
Congratulations - you did it - you are home - enjoy it all!!
Apr 5th 2018, 6:04 am
#36
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 10,005
Re: Finally going home
Skyrocketing costs (and cheaply made goods) and stagnating wages seems to be a North American problem overall, then. Socially, things seem to be more sensible in Canada (husband’s brother and his wife have lived there for nearly 30 years), but housing costs are tremendous! I asked my sister in law last year whether Canadians had that much more to invest in houses, and she replied, “No: they just take on more debt.” What a burden.
Here in the US, the divide between the rich and the poor has grown so much that it’s impossible to imagine how anyone but the very wealthy might achieve “the American Dream.” At the very most, most people grow up, go to college, are shackled with tremendous debt and spend the rest of their lives chained to modern indentured servitude in jobs that don’t pay enough and don’t provide adequate benefits while they pay off student debt and pay through the nose for health insurance (and costs that aren’t covered by health insurance). Far too few people get proper paid holiday and even fewer take that paid holiday when they can. Oh, and when folk get seriously ill or have to enter a care home, a list of peripheral entities suck any savings they’ve managed to accumulate entirely dry (and then place them on a “generous” subsidized program when those savings run out). What a life.
Sorry to vent and weave such a tale of woe, but my goodness, America has really become such a machine; people are cogs and are replaced when they wear out. It’s madness. I’ve been here for the better part of 15 years and it’s undoubtedly worse now than when I arrived.
OP, I’m so glad you’re taking this leap! I hope you find peace in your heart in Folkestone and spend lots of wonderful time with your friends and family! 😊
Here in the US, the divide between the rich and the poor has grown so much that it’s impossible to imagine how anyone but the very wealthy might achieve “the American Dream.” At the very most, most people grow up, go to college, are shackled with tremendous debt and spend the rest of their lives chained to modern indentured servitude in jobs that don’t pay enough and don’t provide adequate benefits while they pay off student debt and pay through the nose for health insurance (and costs that aren’t covered by health insurance). Far too few people get proper paid holiday and even fewer take that paid holiday when they can. Oh, and when folk get seriously ill or have to enter a care home, a list of peripheral entities suck any savings they’ve managed to accumulate entirely dry (and then place them on a “generous” subsidized program when those savings run out). What a life.
Sorry to vent and weave such a tale of woe, but my goodness, America has really become such a machine; people are cogs and are replaced when they wear out. It’s madness. I’ve been here for the better part of 15 years and it’s undoubtedly worse now than when I arrived.
OP, I’m so glad you’re taking this leap! I hope you find peace in your heart in Folkestone and spend lots of wonderful time with your friends and family! 😊
Apr 5th 2018, 6:53 am
#37
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: Finally going home
"the decline in quality of life has been going on for at least the last two decades." The poster is writing about the USA.
For many of us in Scotland and in the UK as a whole this is also true. A small minority have prospered. For many life has become much more difficult.
For many of us in Scotland and in the UK as a whole this is also true. A small minority have prospered. For many life has become much more difficult.
Apr 5th 2018, 12:37 pm
#38
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 10,005
Re: Finally going home
"the decline in quality of life has been going on for at least the last two decades." The poster is writing about the USA.
For many of us in Scotland and in the UK as a whole this is also true. A small minority have prospered. For many life has become much more difficult.
For many of us in Scotland and in the UK as a whole this is also true. A small minority have prospered. For many life has become much more difficult.
Sep 25th 2018, 7:58 pm
#39
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Windsor, Berks now Santa Barbara, California USA
Posts: 92
Re: Finally going home
Another post that is making me look at Folkestone! It is definitely worth looking into.
Sep 25th 2018, 8:10 pm
#40
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Norwich, Vermont
Posts: 163
Re: Finally going home
Folkestone is a bargain! High speed rail to London yet Folkestone hasn't really been rediscovered yet. Not like Deal where the rich and famous are moving and are sending the prices skyrocketing. I love it!
Sep 26th 2018, 10:45 pm
#41
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Looe, Cornwall
Posts: 671
Re: Finally going home
My user name doesn't bother me - it was what we felt at the time. We left the UK just before the last crash. We enjoyed our first 7 years in Canada then moved to Vancouver Island. We had a fantastic life in Surrey and made lots of friends, it wasn't until we moved to Victoria we realized most of our Canadian friends were European or of International decent. My wife and I have very good public sector jobs and have no money issues on the contrary we have made a lot of money here but have been disgusted what we have witnessed by politically and in the work place. We could both write a book on the subject! We like Canada as a place but hate the culture and the self entitlement. I won't go into details on a public forum but what we have seen and witnessed has horrified us. All I would advise people is do their research and not through rose tinted spectacles. There are some very nasty people here in BC and some of them are at the top of politics in BC government. These people are bullies and very corrupt. The good people of BC don't deserve these people to govern this place. When we researched Canada it ticked nearly all of our boxes but one thing stood out and we should have realized they have very poor leaders which makes a huge difference.
Sep 27th 2018, 10:08 pm
#42
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2012
Location: Nebraska by the Sea
Posts: 987
Re: Finally going home
My user name doesn't bother me - it was what we felt at the time. We left the UK just before the last crash. We enjoyed our first 7 years in Canada then moved to Vancouver Island. We had a fantastic life in Surrey and made lots of friends, it wasn't until we moved to Victoria we realized most of our Canadian friends were European or of International decent. My wife and I have very good public sector jobs and have no money issues on the contrary we have made a lot of money here but have been disgusted what we have witnessed by politically and in the work place. We could both write a book on the subject! We like Canada as a place but hate the culture and the self entitlement. I won't go into details on a public forum but what we have seen and witnessed has horrified us. All I would advise people is do their research and not through rose tinted spectacles. There are some very nasty people here in BC and some of them are at the top of politics in BC government. These people are bullies and very corrupt. The good people of BC don't deserve these people to govern this place. When we researched Canada it ticked nearly all of our boxes but one thing stood out and we should have realized they have very poor leaders which makes a huge difference.
