Going Against The Grain
Sep 24th 2009, 2:26 am
#46
poole ,dorset . love it
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,281
Re: Going Against The Grain
[QUOTE=kporte;7961295]
i honestly dont think independance these days makes a differnce ,we are all in the EU . im not an advocate of independance as britains strength in the world has been because of the union of the crowns and long may it continue ,after all we wouldnt want the border reiver raiding partys starting up again would we ,poor old berwick doesnt know wether its artha or martha .
Last edited by king kong; Sep 24th 2009 at 2:27 am. Reason: typo
Sep 24th 2009, 2:29 am
#47
Account Closed
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,784
Re: Going Against The Grain
[QUOTE=king kong;7961334]
i honestly dont think independance these days makes a differnce ,we are all in the EU . im not an advocate of independance as britains strength in the world has been because of the union of the crowns and long may it continue ,after all we wouldnt want the border reiver raiding partys starting up again would we ,poor old berwick doesnt know wether its artha or martha .
I blame bloody Braveheart. Not kidding either.
i honestly dont think independance these days makes a differnce ,we are all in the EU . im not an advocate of independance as britains strength in the world has been because of the union of the crowns and long may it continue ,after all we wouldnt want the border reiver raiding partys starting up again would we ,poor old berwick doesnt know wether its artha or martha .
Sep 24th 2009, 2:35 am
#48
poole ,dorset . love it
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,281
Re: Going Against The Grain
[QUOTE=kporte;7961352]
lol ,well he did wear blue war paint apparently .I must admit i find the history between scotland and england fascinating and coming from a mongrel mixture of ulster-scots english background it really pulls on the heart strings .i feel just as much at home in scotland as i do in ulster as i do in england . A story many here could tell i guess .
At the end of the day there is nothing wrong with the scots ,ulsterman ,welsh or english for that matter but the history and how its carried by each nation these days by the normal folk is indeed an interesting subject .
At the end of the day there is nothing wrong with the scots ,ulsterman ,welsh or english for that matter but the history and how its carried by each nation these days by the normal folk is indeed an interesting subject .
Sep 24th 2009, 2:41 am
#49
Account Closed
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,784
Re: Going Against The Grain
[QUOTE=king kong;7961381]
lol ,well he did wear blue war paint apparently .I must admit i find the history between scotland and england fascinating and coming from a mongrel mixture of ulster-scots english background it really pulls on the heart strings .i feel just as much at home in scotland as i do in ulster as i do in england . A story many here could tell i guess .
At the end of the day there is nothing wrong with the scots ,ulsterman ,welsh or english for that matter but the history and how its carried by each nation these days by the normal folk is indeed an interesting subject .
I have shitloads of ideas but not one answer.
lol ,well he did wear blue war paint apparently .I must admit i find the history between scotland and england fascinating and coming from a mongrel mixture of ulster-scots english background it really pulls on the heart strings .i feel just as much at home in scotland as i do in ulster as i do in england . A story many here could tell i guess .
At the end of the day there is nothing wrong with the scots ,ulsterman ,welsh or english for that matter but the history and how its carried by each nation these days by the normal folk is indeed an interesting subject .
Sep 24th 2009, 3:12 am
#52
poole ,dorset . love it
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,281
Re: Going Against The Grain
[QUOTE=kporte;7961428]
rangers/chelsea is one of the few time you will see scots and english side by side in the same stadium ,but thats a whole differnt story and sure would be one that will upset some ,nevertheless interesting how politics etc and allegiances can brush aside ones of individual nations .I guess its way way off the original subjct but in a way connected due to the fact the human mind and perceived history etc shapes us and makes us generalise about people when i guess we should judge each book by its cover .
Sep 24th 2009, 3:52 am
#53
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Cotswolds, UK
Posts: 205
Re: Going Against The Grain
Does anyone feel sometimes that by wanting to return to the UK they are ''going against the grain'', so to speak?
I mean, other Brits who have left the UK (and are happy with their move) will often quite happily tell you that you are virtually insane/stupid and hardcore Aussies (of whom there seems to be a fair number) will often do the same. Plus of course there are Brits back at home who say ''oooh, you don't wanna come back here, mate, you're best off there in Australia'' etc etc etc, despite the fact that they have never been to Australia anyway!
I definitely feel that contemplating returning to the UK is much tougher than contemplating the move to Australia in the first place, and that's saying something!!
Anyone else felt the same about this issue?
I mean, other Brits who have left the UK (and are happy with their move) will often quite happily tell you that you are virtually insane/stupid and hardcore Aussies (of whom there seems to be a fair number) will often do the same. Plus of course there are Brits back at home who say ''oooh, you don't wanna come back here, mate, you're best off there in Australia'' etc etc etc, despite the fact that they have never been to Australia anyway!
I definitely feel that contemplating returning to the UK is much tougher than contemplating the move to Australia in the first place, and that's saying something!!
Anyone else felt the same about this issue?
I think the hardest part of the decision to return to the UK is realising the fact that you haven't failed by going back, in fact you've achieved something that most people are too frightened to try and you now realise all the good things the UK does have to offer. It does make you wonder about expats who do criticise you for going back- deep down maybe they're wanting to return as well but haven't had the light bulb go on yet maybe?
I'm not sure anyone living in England who hasn't emmigrated abroad for an extended period of time would have a realistic perspective on why you shouldn't come back. England does have it's faults as do all other countries but the "faults" you're willing to accept are one of the many factors that influence your decision on where home is.
Comments- both positive and negative- all go towards helping you make a decision but at the end of the day only you know what's best for you.
Sep 24th 2009, 5:45 am
#54
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,872
Re: Going Against The Grain
I saw countless signs saying the exact same thing when I was over there!!!
Sep 24th 2009, 10:36 am
#55
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 593
Re: Going Against The Grain
Why should going back to the UK be in any way wrong? It's an awesome country. I think some people that contemplate moving back are concerned that it may be viewed as failure. The failure would be staying somewhere you felt wasn't right. I have moved to Aus and have had no regrets whatsoever. Many on here knew straight away it was wrong for them. All good.
The people who feel undecided are the tough ones, not an easy scenario!
I agree with what you say regarding people back home. I never understand why people have such a negative view of Britain. Do you think other countries take this view, or is it a British trait?
The people who feel undecided are the tough ones, not an easy scenario!
I agree with what you say regarding people back home. I never understand why people have such a negative view of Britain. Do you think other countries take this view, or is it a British trait?
Those that stay for a realistic, grown-up amount of time and give their new countries a chance to work out, but then decide to go back for whatever reason are still successes because they had the courage to do what so many others just tal about - become an immigrant and live overseas.
Sep 24th 2009, 11:04 am
#56
poole ,dorset . love it
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,281
Re: Going Against The Grain
Going back to the UK should absolutely not be viewed as failure, unless I suppose those going back gave their new country a matter of weeks, etc., which I have read on here. I think I read someone once who went back in days, which is of course totally absurd and says much more about the immigrant than the country.
Those that stay for a realistic, grown-up amount of time and give their new countries a chance to work out, but then decide to go back for whatever reason are still successes because they had the courage to do what so many others just tal about - become an immigrant and live overseas.
Those that stay for a realistic, grown-up amount of time and give their new countries a chance to work out, but then decide to go back for whatever reason are still successes because they had the courage to do what so many others just tal about - become an immigrant and live overseas.
Sep 24th 2009, 4:15 pm
#57
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Western burbs, Melbourne
Posts: 2,260
Re: Going Against The Grain
Strange but my (half) Vietnamese husband feels he fits in more here...and he lived in Singapore from birth, then secondary school and uni in UK. He experienced loads of bigotry there. I guess it depends where you live, but he hated his experience in UK, and he is half Brit. However when he moved to London, life was a lot easier.
Sep 24th 2009, 4:48 pm
#58
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: My happy place
Posts: 3,043
Re: Going Against The Grain
Haven't read the whole thread and I'm about to go into a 'death by powerpoint presentation' (yay ). But I've written before about this and I think Australia's inability to see anything negative about itself is only balanced by Britain's inabilty to see anything positive about itself.
I blame the parents.
). But I've written before about this and I think Australia's inability to see anything negative about itself is only balanced by Britain's inabilty to see anything positive about itself.I blame the parents.
Sep 24th 2009, 4:53 pm
#59
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Somewhere dull. That'll be Australia then.
Posts: 648
Re: Going Against The Grain
Haven't read the whole thread and I'm about to go into a 'death by powerpoint presentation' (yay ). But I've written before about this and I think Australia's inability to see anything negative about itself is only balanced by Britain's inabilty to see anything positive about itself.
I blame the parents.
). But I've written before about this and I think Australia's inability to see anything negative about itself is only balanced by Britain's inabilty to see anything positive about itself.I blame the parents.
Sep 25th 2009, 1:06 am
#60
poole ,dorset . love it
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,281
Re: Going Against The Grain
Haven't read the whole thread and I'm about to go into a 'death by powerpoint presentation' (yay ). But I've written before about this and I think Australia's inability to see anything negative about itself is only balanced by Britain's inabilty to see anything positive about itself.
I blame the parents.
). But I've written before about this and I think Australia's inability to see anything negative about itself is only balanced by Britain's inabilty to see anything positive about itself.I blame the parents.
