TaraC

Just to clarify, gas prices in the UK are not the highest in Europe. From CNN.com,

Netherlands Amsterdam $6.48
Norway Oslo $6.27
Italy Milan $5.96
Denmark Copenhagen $5.93
Belgium Brussels $5.91
Sweden Stockholm $5.80
United Kingdom London $5.79


We have the highest fuel "taxes" in Europe, but we're not at the top of the league yet in terms of prices. Also, I think the public transport system is very good here - unlike the States where there isn't any! My OH, still back in the US, has no choice but to fill up his car every week to the tune of a couple of hundred dollars now. I haven't driven for nine months, with the exception of going back to the States for a few weeks, and haven't missed it at all. Can't wait to have us both back here with just one car, one set of tax, etc. (And by the way, the car tax here - even when it goes up - will be cheaper than we pay for our cars back in the US).

Also, some of us are actually back here now, so the rose-coloured glasses are off. I've been back nine months, however, and still find the time to take my walks and marvel at the redbreasts, blackbirds singing, etc. What irritates me more than anything is the negativity, which is why I said this is the one thing I want to change. A lot of people here whine a lot about what's going on without realising that things can be a lot worse elsewhere. I've lived with George Bush for the past umpteen years (seems like a lifetime), so if people think Gordon Brown is bad they should try this guy. What a disaster. Friends of ours have seen their house values plummet 40% in the past year thanks to his economic policies, so the 9% in the UK seems mild in comparison.

A couple of other things: fear of crime is a problem, and i admit the knife crime here is worrying, but crime is everywhere. In my neck of the woods in the US - and it is a relatively nice, affluent town, gun crime is so prevalent (and I'm talking four or five times a week) that they don't even bother reporting it on the front page of the paper. It's buried in local news and page 2 or 3 at that. Food prices are going up world wide - this is not just a British problem - and utilities are skyhigh (my OH just paid a $400 gas/electric bill - and that was for the MONTH).

I really do think, as FFF said, that people should try living somewhere else before they moan about the UK. The grass is not always greener.

sdunx

Still loads better than Australia. Take the moaning blinkers off mate and stop being so pathetically negative, it's a great place with tons of opportunities but burdened with whingers I'm afraid.

backagen

Britain is a wonderful, fantastic place, and one of the best places to live in the world!

How do I know that?

I can guarantee that, if everyone in the world was given full knowledge of what life is like in Britain (and I mean all the good and bad things), and asked if they'd rather live there or wherever they do live, then I'm willing to bet every penny I have that well over 80% would say they'd rather be in Britain.

I think the actual percentage may be much higher.

Does anyone honestly think otherwise?

northernbird

For some life isn't better in the UK. Great Britain is a beautiful country but for some people that isn't enough. For us to live in a nice part of the UK my husband has to work away from home and that equals a crap quality of life for my family.

Genesis

Make the 60 million 6 million


Be REALLY really hard on crime


And that the yob culture disappears to be replaced by youths who just want to help others.

Yeah right!! Not holding my breath on any of that lot!!!

Genesis

Yes I do. I echo northernbirds comments. Whilst the UK IS a wonderful place its way too crowded..one of the main reasons I left. Apart from the fact that my neighbourhood was crap and I could not afford in any way to live anywhere 'decent' in my opinion in the UK come 2005.

And anyway where ever you live don't you desreve a change after 45 years? I know if I had it in me I would be screaming to leave NZ after 45 years being here!!!!!!

rabsody

I agree NB. There are so many different factors at play in people's lives that make up their standard of living. Different strokes for different folks and all that!

northernbird

Absolutely. We could afford to live in a lovely Devonshire village but Paul would either be in London or overseas. We could not afford to live within a decent enough distance of London so that he could be home at the same time he is here. For us no amount of old buildings and better shops can compare with that.

rabsody

Exactly, and family time is more important (in my book anyway). And if I'm honest with myself, even if we were able to go back to UK it would probably be the same for us i.e. myself and OH having to commute to London which would mean an awful lot less family time.

It's not fair, why can't we have everything we want!

TaraC

You can breathe now. I just got home from London going through the Underground. The down escalator at Paddington wasn't working, and the woman in front of me was struggling to get her baby in pushchair down the stairs. Just as I was about to offer to help, two "youths" in jeans and hoodies grabbed hold of the front of the pushchair and carried it down the entire stairway (and it was a pretty long way). So yes, youth crime is bad, but the kids of London aren't all bad.

It isn't all perfect by a long shot, but it would be nice to give these kids a bit of a break here!

mabozar

well said mate

Carol

Lothianlad

1 The Government

2 The Immigration

3 The Climate

backagen

Good to hear something positive about British youth for a change. I do know there are many more good young people around too, all over the UK.

The bad ones are a minority. It's just that their behaviour unfortunately attracts more media attention than that of the nice ones.

This helps get things a bit more in perspective again though!

TruBrit

1...export the whingers

2...britain become more patriotic

3...bring back the stocks for public floggings

rabsody

1. Britain to be proud of itself again instead of putting itself down (though self deprecation is part of the national psyche, it's gone too far!).

2. Stop being so accommodating to every man and his dog! Try and retain a sense of national identity (even though this is somewhat fluid in every country, doesn't need to be eroded entirely). Tolerance is a real strength of Britain as a country but this has become to the detriment of the country.

3. Get rid of welfare culture, foster hope, aspirations and personal responsibility in youth (particularly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds), plus zero tolerance for gang culture which seems to be insidiously creeping into large cities.