Reasons For Returning
#106
Re: Reasons For Returning
My reasons for returning :
I brought my children to Spain thinking that it would be a better way of life for them...but in reality what they will miss out on is having friends who they can talk to in their first language...and family.
As I get older, I realise that I and my children are missing out on seeing nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters and new babies being born...
I miss speaking English......and having a joke and a laugh.
I brought my children to Spain thinking that it would be a better way of life for them...but in reality what they will miss out on is having friends who they can talk to in their first language...and family.
As I get older, I realise that I and my children are missing out on seeing nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters and new babies being born...
I miss speaking English......and having a joke and a laugh.
#107
Re: Reasons For Returning
Things me and my partner appreciate more about the UK since living in OZ and NZ:
- Shopping (more choice & better quality)
- Weather (it aint as bad as you think, id rather stand in rain than go through a 40-45c degree heat wave for 2-weeks, although NZ weather is better).
- Banter!
- Pub availability is so much better but we don't like the yob scene that's present way too often.
- Cafe's - strange one I know but not nearly enough decent cafe's in OZ or NZ compared to the UK.
- non-isolation
- We aren't 10-years behind everything!
- Better standard of living (i.e. less expensive when you work things out). NZ was very expensive to live. Free health care in UK (although its rank).
- Architecture
Things me and my partner don't like about the UK since living in OZ and NZ:
- Waiting list to see a doctor (ridiculous!)
- Weather (haha NZ weather was nice, not so nice in OZ when it gets too hot)
- Lack of competence by work forces / no one can do their job properly. It really annoys me and is making me move away again.
- Drink culture - too many yobs in the UK.
- Youth! arrogant twats!
- Shopping (more choice & better quality)
- Weather (it aint as bad as you think, id rather stand in rain than go through a 40-45c degree heat wave for 2-weeks, although NZ weather is better).
- Banter!
- Pub availability is so much better but we don't like the yob scene that's present way too often.
- Cafe's - strange one I know but not nearly enough decent cafe's in OZ or NZ compared to the UK.
- non-isolation
- We aren't 10-years behind everything!
- Better standard of living (i.e. less expensive when you work things out). NZ was very expensive to live. Free health care in UK (although its rank).
- Architecture
Things me and my partner don't like about the UK since living in OZ and NZ:
- Waiting list to see a doctor (ridiculous!)
- Weather (haha NZ weather was nice, not so nice in OZ when it gets too hot)
- Lack of competence by work forces / no one can do their job properly. It really annoys me and is making me move away again.
- Drink culture - too many yobs in the UK.
- Youth! arrogant twats!
In the States, even with health insurance coverage, it would take 2 weeks to see a doctor (I mean a GP, not a specialist), and every prescription cost $15 to $100+ (i.e., on top of what the insurance covered).
Also, emergency treatment in the UK is amazing (oh yes, and also free). In other countries (again, I have most experience of the States), you're less afraid of dying than you are of being charged $3,000 for the ambulance, $40 for the ibuprofen, etc., etc. = total bill of $250,000 for emergency treatment for car crash injuries. Rehab treatment is extra on top of that!
No, the NHS isn't perfect, but it's free at point of service (and completely free for non tax-payers) and better than a lot of countries.
#108
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 38
Re: Reasons For Returning
We may have to return to the UK, but it might only be temporarily. I have mixed feelings about it. Because although I love immersing myself in other cultures, I only like to do it temporarily. Maybe it's because I haven't found the right culture to live in yet or it's the fact that I like change. The things that I've missed have depended on where I've emigrated to.
We live in a small developing Latin American country at the moment. Here I miss the free NHS services that comprise of good doctors plus the free and good education services. I miss being able to walk our dog in the park, cycling and roller blading with my son in the cool weather. I miss the public swimming pools and strolling down the markets. I miss boots and asda that have a variety of different healthy and quality foods. I miss being able to take my son to the saturday morning pictures. I miss the quality of goods and services and solid infrastructure that this country doesn't offer.
I came here because of my husband
We live in a small developing Latin American country at the moment. Here I miss the free NHS services that comprise of good doctors plus the free and good education services. I miss being able to walk our dog in the park, cycling and roller blading with my son in the cool weather. I miss the public swimming pools and strolling down the markets. I miss boots and asda that have a variety of different healthy and quality foods. I miss being able to take my son to the saturday morning pictures. I miss the quality of goods and services and solid infrastructure that this country doesn't offer.
I came here because of my husband
Last edited by mishmash; Feb 1st 2010 at 1:47 pm.
#109
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 296
Re: Reasons For Returning
Re: Health care, NHS can take ages to see a specialist, but you can't complain about free prescriptions - a tablet is a tablet, whatever country you are in. Both places I've lived in in the UK, I could see a GP same day if needed, or within a couple of days if not urgent.
In the States, even with health insurance coverage, it would take 2 weeks to see a doctor (I mean a GP, not a specialist), and every prescription cost $15 to $100+ (i.e., on top of what the insurance covered).
Also, emergency treatment in the UK is amazing (oh yes, and also free). In other countries (again, I have most experience of the States), you're less afraid of dying than you are of being charged $3,000 for the ambulance, $40 for the ibuprofen, etc., etc. = total bill of $250,000 for emergency treatment for car crash injuries. Rehab treatment is extra on top of that!
No, the NHS isn't perfect, but it's free at point of service (and completely free for non tax-payers) and better than a lot of countries.
In the States, even with health insurance coverage, it would take 2 weeks to see a doctor (I mean a GP, not a specialist), and every prescription cost $15 to $100+ (i.e., on top of what the insurance covered).
Also, emergency treatment in the UK is amazing (oh yes, and also free). In other countries (again, I have most experience of the States), you're less afraid of dying than you are of being charged $3,000 for the ambulance, $40 for the ibuprofen, etc., etc. = total bill of $250,000 for emergency treatment for car crash injuries. Rehab treatment is extra on top of that!
No, the NHS isn't perfect, but it's free at point of service (and completely free for non tax-payers) and better than a lot of countries.
We here in the us payes almost $500 a month Family cover and last year the usc wife had a car wreck she went to A&E few x rays few min with doc, and the a few days later had a whopping bill of $4500 ...we had to pay 10% out of pocket for this but still goes to show what sort of $$$ we are talking about..
Not sure in the us you was staying at tho...as i never had to wait 2 wks to see a doc, anything from 1 to 5 maybe....but once you get there even tho we pay for health insurance every month ...everytime we see a doc we pay $10 co-pay and we cant claim that back....
Our docs got a thing going here which the mrs clocked onto where say you had blood test for whatever, they the docs will call you up and say your test results are in and they try and get you to make another appointment with the doc...of course cas its another $10 co-pay....so now we just let the doc know in the future we would like to pick up our results at the front or hear them over the blower....
Yep...something to be said about the NHS there in the Uk, and i feel very humble that my country can offer such service to there citizens...
Im well aware that over the yrs it's been under funded, but myself would have no problem in paying extra taxes to get the NHS up to better service..
I also feel the doc/ nurses do a great job and i for one have the upmost respect for such workers....
So if i hear people getting on about the NHS then maybe they should try living somewhere else and see if thats any better...yes it might be, but make sure you got a large wallet/pocket book...
Last edited by jaxslad; Feb 1st 2010 at 6:34 pm.
#110
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 38
Re: Reasons For Returning
Yep dunroving...spot on..
We here in the us payes almost $500 a month Family cover and last year the usc wife had a car wreck she went to A&E few x rays few min with doc, and the a few days later had a whopping bill of $4500 ...we had to pay 10% out of pocket for this but still goes to show what sort of $$$ we are talking about..
Not sure in the us you was staying at tho...as i never had to wait 2 wks to see a doc, anything from 1 to 5 maybe....but once you get there even tho we pay for health insurance every month ...everytime we see a doc we pay $10 co-pay and we cant claim that back....
Our docs got a thing going here which the mrs clocked onto where say you had blood test for whatever, they the docs will call you up and say your test results are in and they try and get you to make another appointment with the doc...of course cas its another $10 co-pay....so now we just let the doc know in the future we would like to pick up our results at the front or hear them over the blower....
Yep...something to be said about the NHS there in the Uk, and i feel very humble that my country can offer such service to there citizens...
Im well aware that over the yrs it's been under funded, but myself would have no problem in paying extra taxes to get the NHS up to better service..
I also feel the doc/ nurses do a great job and i for one have the upmost respect for such workers....
So if i hear people getting on about the NHS then maybe they should try living somewhere else and see if thats any better...yes it might be, but make sure you got a large wallet/pocket book...
We here in the us payes almost $500 a month Family cover and last year the usc wife had a car wreck she went to A&E few x rays few min with doc, and the a few days later had a whopping bill of $4500 ...we had to pay 10% out of pocket for this but still goes to show what sort of $$$ we are talking about..
Not sure in the us you was staying at tho...as i never had to wait 2 wks to see a doc, anything from 1 to 5 maybe....but once you get there even tho we pay for health insurance every month ...everytime we see a doc we pay $10 co-pay and we cant claim that back....
Our docs got a thing going here which the mrs clocked onto where say you had blood test for whatever, they the docs will call you up and say your test results are in and they try and get you to make another appointment with the doc...of course cas its another $10 co-pay....so now we just let the doc know in the future we would like to pick up our results at the front or hear them over the blower....
Yep...something to be said about the NHS there in the Uk, and i feel very humble that my country can offer such service to there citizens...
Im well aware that over the yrs it's been under funded, but myself would have no problem in paying extra taxes to get the NHS up to better service..
I also feel the doc/ nurses do a great job and i for one have the upmost respect for such workers....
So if i hear people getting on about the NHS then maybe they should try living somewhere else and see if thats any better...yes it might be, but make sure you got a large wallet/pocket book...
#111
Re: Reasons For Returning
Yep dunroving...spot on..
We here in the us payes almost $500 a month Family cover and last year the usc wife had a car wreck she went to A&E few x rays few min with doc, and the a few days later had a whopping bill of $4500 ...we had to pay 10% out of pocket for this but still goes to show what sort of $$$ we are talking about..
Not sure in the us you was staying at tho...as i never had to wait 2 wks to see a doc, anything from 1 to 5 maybe....but once you get there even tho we pay for health insurance every month ...everytime we see a doc we pay $10 co-pay and we cant claim that back....
Our docs got a thing going here which the mrs clocked onto where say you had blood test for whatever, they the docs will call you up and say your test results are in and they try and get you to make another appointment with the doc...of course cas its another $10 co-pay....so now we just let the doc know in the future we would like to pick up our results at the front or hear them over the blower....
Yep...something to be said about the NHS there in the Uk, and i feel very humble that my country can offer such service to there citizens...
Im well aware that over the yrs it's been under funded, but myself would have no problem in paying extra taxes to get the NHS up to better service..
I also feel the doc/ nurses do a great job and i for one have the upmost respect for such workers....
So if i hear people getting on about the NHS then maybe they should try living somewhere else and see if thats any better...yes it might be, but make sure you got a large wallet/pocket book...
We here in the us payes almost $500 a month Family cover and last year the usc wife had a car wreck she went to A&E few x rays few min with doc, and the a few days later had a whopping bill of $4500 ...we had to pay 10% out of pocket for this but still goes to show what sort of $$$ we are talking about..
Not sure in the us you was staying at tho...as i never had to wait 2 wks to see a doc, anything from 1 to 5 maybe....but once you get there even tho we pay for health insurance every month ...everytime we see a doc we pay $10 co-pay and we cant claim that back....
Our docs got a thing going here which the mrs clocked onto where say you had blood test for whatever, they the docs will call you up and say your test results are in and they try and get you to make another appointment with the doc...of course cas its another $10 co-pay....so now we just let the doc know in the future we would like to pick up our results at the front or hear them over the blower....
Yep...something to be said about the NHS there in the Uk, and i feel very humble that my country can offer such service to there citizens...
Im well aware that over the yrs it's been under funded, but myself would have no problem in paying extra taxes to get the NHS up to better service..
I also feel the doc/ nurses do a great job and i for one have the upmost respect for such workers....
So if i hear people getting on about the NHS then maybe they should try living somewhere else and see if thats any better...yes it might be, but make sure you got a large wallet/pocket book...
It makes saving/budgeting on a pretty low wages near impossible, you never know what your bill will be or if you are going to wipe out the savings.
Just about every time I get us comfy and saving and making the bills easily each month, someone gets sick or needs minor surgery and blows my plans for the year.
I tried to get everyone seen to and operated on or whatever was needed before the end of Dec, we had spent a lot this year and finally the whole family was 100% cover with no co pays, I think everyone saw the doctor in Dec to get our monies worth for once.
#112
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: oakville ON
Posts: 350
Re: Reasons For Returning
We are still considering moving back (change our minds daily!). I miss the beautiful countryside i had on my doorstep (ilkley moor and the dales). I totally took it for granted even though a 5 min drive gave me stunning views across the valley! Here we are surrounded by houses, houses, houses, supermarkets - (did i mention houses!!)
Anway, will give it more time, to see whether we can settle, but i have a feeling it will never feel like home regardless if we buy a house,dog etc etc!!
I also miss community, seeing people everyday that you have a wave and a hi to, bit of crack with etc!
Time will tell!!
Anway, will give it more time, to see whether we can settle, but i have a feeling it will never feel like home regardless if we buy a house,dog etc etc!!
I also miss community, seeing people everyday that you have a wave and a hi to, bit of crack with etc!
Time will tell!!
#113
Lost in Space
Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK
Posts: 804
Re: Reasons For Returning
We are still considering moving back (change our minds daily!). I miss the beautiful countryside i had on my doorstep (ilkley moor and the dales). I totally took it for granted even though a 5 min drive gave me stunning views across the valley! Here we are surrounded by houses, houses, houses, supermarkets - (did i mention houses!!)
Anway, will give it more time, to see whether we can settle, but i have a feeling it will never feel like home regardless if we buy a house,dog etc etc!!
I also miss community, seeing people everyday that you have a wave and a hi to, bit of crack with etc!
Time will tell!!
Anway, will give it more time, to see whether we can settle, but i have a feeling it will never feel like home regardless if we buy a house,dog etc etc!!
I also miss community, seeing people everyday that you have a wave and a hi to, bit of crack with etc!
Time will tell!!
#114
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: oakville ON
Posts: 350
Re: Reasons For Returning
..........yeah i'm still waiting - i'm no Ricky Gervais but even a slightly of the cuff coment gets you a strange look and a very sincere 'missing it completely' comment back - i was KIDDING people!!!!
#115
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: My happy place
Posts: 3,043
Re: Reasons For Returning
#116
Lost in Space
Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Stockport, Cheshire, UK
Posts: 804
Re: Reasons For Returning
#117
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Formerly Montreal now Oxfordshire, UK
Posts: 545
Re: Reasons For Returning
Yep dunroving...spot on..
We here in the us payes almost $500 a month Family cover and last year the usc wife had a car wreck she went to A&E few x rays few min with doc, and the a few days later had a whopping bill of $4500 ...we had to pay 10% out of pocket for this but still goes to show what sort of $$$ we are talking about..
Not sure in the us you was staying at tho...as i never had to wait 2 wks to see a doc, anything from 1 to 5 maybe....but once you get there even tho we pay for health insurance every month ...everytime we see a doc we pay $10 co-pay and we cant claim that back....
Our docs got a thing going here which the mrs clocked onto where say you had blood test for whatever, they the docs will call you up and say your test results are in and they try and get you to make another appointment with the doc...of course cas its another $10 co-pay....so now we just let the doc know in the future we would like to pick up our results at the front or hear them over the blower....
Yep...something to be said about the NHS there in the Uk, and i feel very humble that my country can offer such service to there citizens...
Im well aware that over the yrs it's been under funded, but myself would have no problem in paying extra taxes to get the NHS up to better service..
I also feel the doc/ nurses do a great job and i for one have the upmost respect for such workers....
So if i hear people getting on about the NHS then maybe they should try living somewhere else and see if thats any better...yes it might be, but make sure you got a large wallet/pocket book...
We here in the us payes almost $500 a month Family cover and last year the usc wife had a car wreck she went to A&E few x rays few min with doc, and the a few days later had a whopping bill of $4500 ...we had to pay 10% out of pocket for this but still goes to show what sort of $$$ we are talking about..
Not sure in the us you was staying at tho...as i never had to wait 2 wks to see a doc, anything from 1 to 5 maybe....but once you get there even tho we pay for health insurance every month ...everytime we see a doc we pay $10 co-pay and we cant claim that back....
Our docs got a thing going here which the mrs clocked onto where say you had blood test for whatever, they the docs will call you up and say your test results are in and they try and get you to make another appointment with the doc...of course cas its another $10 co-pay....so now we just let the doc know in the future we would like to pick up our results at the front or hear them over the blower....
Yep...something to be said about the NHS there in the Uk, and i feel very humble that my country can offer such service to there citizens...
Im well aware that over the yrs it's been under funded, but myself would have no problem in paying extra taxes to get the NHS up to better service..
I also feel the doc/ nurses do a great job and i for one have the upmost respect for such workers....
So if i hear people getting on about the NHS then maybe they should try living somewhere else and see if thats any better...yes it might be, but make sure you got a large wallet/pocket book...
Unlike in Canada we also only have to pay £104 per year for unlimited prescriptions, as opposed to $150 per month for crappy insurance and around $50 per month for meds.
#118
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 296
Re: Reasons For Returning
Glad your wife is on the up & up
Don't it make you proud to be British
Don't it make you proud to be British
#119
Banned
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: the GTA
Posts: 3,824
Re: Reasons For Returning
Hugely expensive treatment that in Canada they would have hummed and hahhed about giving was administered.
What evidence do you have to support this claim? Treatments conducted in Canadian hospitals are not referred to any upper level authority before being administered, regardless of the cost.
What evidence do you have to support this claim? Treatments conducted in Canadian hospitals are not referred to any upper level authority before being administered, regardless of the cost.
#120
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 305
Re: Reasons For Returning
Why is everyone comparing my experiences with countries I've never been to or lived?
I made one comment about the waiting list to see a doctor in the UK. In Wales you have to wait at least 2-weeks. If I phone up and need to see a doctor they say phone back on this day to make an appointment for two weeks later on that day. So if I want to see someone on Tuesday they will say call on Tuesday and you will get booked in for two on Tuesday - id either be dead or well by then.
In OZ and NZ I got to see someone the same day.
Ive made no comparison to other countries or mentioned about going to hospital. I know you have to pay health care in Canada and USA - I'm not even going to compare them against the UK.
I made one comment about the waiting list to see a doctor in the UK. In Wales you have to wait at least 2-weeks. If I phone up and need to see a doctor they say phone back on this day to make an appointment for two weeks later on that day. So if I want to see someone on Tuesday they will say call on Tuesday and you will get booked in for two on Tuesday - id either be dead or well by then.
In OZ and NZ I got to see someone the same day.
Ive made no comparison to other countries or mentioned about going to hospital. I know you have to pay health care in Canada and USA - I'm not even going to compare them against the UK.
Last edited by Jay-Producer; Feb 3rd 2010 at 6:54 am.