Returning to the UK - don't
May 14th 2009, 2:40 pm
#196
Account Closed
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 12
Re: Returning to the UK - don't
Cricket 1 - I assure you I don't take it personally. I am merely frustrated that unlike other forums, people are not getting the answers to their questions because of all the junk comments in between.
We all have examples of individual excellent within the education and health systems. You can't base your judgement on that. The NHS has very poor records according to its own statistics.
The NHS is not mostly free. It is not a 'free' system at all. People pay in massive sums of money during their working life in order that when they are ill or in need of care they will get it. This does not make it free. It isn't even 'free at the point of service' because we pay a lot for prescriptions.
Yes I get the point about Portugal. But this is supposed to be a forum for returning ex-pats and their comparative experiences. Visiting Portugal a few times does not hack it. In fact visiting the Algarve gives you no real impression of Portugal at all.
The food I refer to as junk is the pre-packaged everything you get in supermarkets. yes - there's an aisle with 50 varieties of sauces, cereals etc you name it. however, the vegetables and fruit is unripe and poor quality and imported from 1000s of miles away.
Anyway there is a good site. Useful UK links, which will provide the serious enquirers with a lot of useful information.
I will reiterate there is also a Portugal site with very useful information.
I did not come on this site because (a) I am short of things to do (b) need to get rid of angst (c) want to be insulted (d) want to insult anyone else.
We all have examples of individual excellent within the education and health systems. You can't base your judgement on that. The NHS has very poor records according to its own statistics.
The NHS is not mostly free. It is not a 'free' system at all. People pay in massive sums of money during their working life in order that when they are ill or in need of care they will get it. This does not make it free. It isn't even 'free at the point of service' because we pay a lot for prescriptions.
Yes I get the point about Portugal. But this is supposed to be a forum for returning ex-pats and their comparative experiences. Visiting Portugal a few times does not hack it. In fact visiting the Algarve gives you no real impression of Portugal at all.
The food I refer to as junk is the pre-packaged everything you get in supermarkets. yes - there's an aisle with 50 varieties of sauces, cereals etc you name it. however, the vegetables and fruit is unripe and poor quality and imported from 1000s of miles away.
Anyway there is a good site. Useful UK links, which will provide the serious enquirers with a lot of useful information.
I will reiterate there is also a Portugal site with very useful information.
I did not come on this site because (a) I am short of things to do (b) need to get rid of angst (c) want to be insulted (d) want to insult anyone else.
May 14th 2009, 2:41 pm
#197
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,014
Re: Returning to the UK - don't
As I said before, quite clearly I thought, I am replying to people who have contacted me and who I have been able to reply to owing to a problem with the site email system.
I hope the moderator will take this into account. There are people wishing for genuine assistance who feel they cannot reply or post a question on this site because of the abuse they will be subject to if they don't agree with the bullies operating here.
There are many people on this site who have obviously left the UK because
they were dissatisfied with conditions here. They clearly have not in your parlance "hacked it" in the country they have gone to and now see the UK through rose-tinted spectacles.
On the other hand there are people who really need to know how it has changed here in the time they have been absent so that they can make an informed choice about their futures. This is particularly relevant with regard to cost of health care, personal care for elderly relatives and education costs.
For the latter, may I suggest a new thread has started which is for giving useful information about the UK for those trying to decide whether or not to return. If anyone wishes to ask me further questions about National Health issues; benefits or 'housing' and care issues, I or someone else will answer on site.
One last answer to the person who asked about property inheritance:
If your parent has received long-time care in a care home under Council subsidised systems, the authorities are entitled to claim the cost of that care back from the proceeds of any sale of the property irrespective of who the property is willed to. I am now told that there is a way to guard against this called a Property Trust. I am not familiar with it as it does not apply in Scotland - most of you will know that Scottish Law is different from English.
A friend and her husband were left a property by an uncle. The authorities insisted that the house be sold to pay back council care. Their lawyer won on the grounds that as they lived in tied accommodation - therefore had no property of their own - the will could be respected and they were allowed to move in.
I hope the moderator will take this into account. There are people wishing for genuine assistance who feel they cannot reply or post a question on this site because of the abuse they will be subject to if they don't agree with the bullies operating here.
There are many people on this site who have obviously left the UK because
they were dissatisfied with conditions here. They clearly have not in your parlance "hacked it" in the country they have gone to and now see the UK through rose-tinted spectacles.
On the other hand there are people who really need to know how it has changed here in the time they have been absent so that they can make an informed choice about their futures. This is particularly relevant with regard to cost of health care, personal care for elderly relatives and education costs.
For the latter, may I suggest a new thread has started which is for giving useful information about the UK for those trying to decide whether or not to return. If anyone wishes to ask me further questions about National Health issues; benefits or 'housing' and care issues, I or someone else will answer on site.
One last answer to the person who asked about property inheritance:
If your parent has received long-time care in a care home under Council subsidised systems, the authorities are entitled to claim the cost of that care back from the proceeds of any sale of the property irrespective of who the property is willed to. I am now told that there is a way to guard against this called a Property Trust. I am not familiar with it as it does not apply in Scotland - most of you will know that Scottish Law is different from English.
A friend and her husband were left a property by an uncle. The authorities insisted that the house be sold to pay back council care. Their lawyer won on the grounds that as they lived in tied accommodation - therefore had no property of their own - the will could be respected and they were allowed to move in.
Last edited by Jerseygirl; May 14th 2009 at 2:49 pm.
May 14th 2009, 2:44 pm
#198
Bitter and twisted
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: Upmarket
Posts: 17,503
Re: Returning to the UK - don't
Have I missed something?
....and who is Brian?
May 14th 2009, 2:50 pm
#199
Weirdo Latin Dude
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Hotter than hell
Posts: 2,545
May 14th 2009, 2:56 pm
#201
Weirdo Latin Dude
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Hotter than hell
Posts: 2,545
Re: Returning to the UK - don't
Northern europe does not have the climate to grow this produce and so therefore it has to be imported from warmer climates, which means its not going to be fresh.
May 14th 2009, 2:59 pm
#202
A lion in your lap
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Sparta NJ
Posts: 7,605
Re: Returning to the UK - don't
The NHS is not mostly free. It is not a 'free' system at all. People pay in massive sums of money during their working life in order that when they are ill or in need of care they will get it. This does not make it free. It isn't even 'free at the point of service' because we pay a lot for prescriptions
And the NHS essentially is "free at the point of service", because what else do you pay for apart from (bargain) prescriptions? It is "free" if you're not forking out "co-pays" and deductibles every time you see a doctor or visit the ER, and $400 or so in medical insurance premiums (on top of all taxes and NI equivalent) from your wages every month.
May 14th 2009, 3:01 pm
#203
Weirdo Latin Dude
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Hotter than hell
Posts: 2,545
Re: Returning to the UK - don't
[QUOTE=Gaeller;7571853]
In fact visiting the Algarve gives you no real impression of Portugal at all.
QUOTE]
But it certainly gives you the best impression.
In fact visiting the Algarve gives you no real impression of Portugal at all.
QUOTE]
But it certainly gives you the best impression.
May 14th 2009, 3:31 pm
#204
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,803
Re: Returning to the UK - don't
As I said before, quite clearly I thought, I am replying to people who have contacted me and who I have been able to reply to owing to a problem with the site email system.
I hope the moderator will take this into account. There are people wishing for genuine assistance who feel they cannot reply or post a question on this site because of the abuse they will be subject to if they don't agree with the bullies operating here.
There are many people on this site who have obviously left the UK because
they were dissatisfied with conditions here. They clearly have not in your parlance "hacked it" in the country they have gone to and now see the UK through rose-tinted spectacles.
I hope the moderator will take this into account. There are people wishing for genuine assistance who feel they cannot reply or post a question on this site because of the abuse they will be subject to if they don't agree with the bullies operating here.
There are many people on this site who have obviously left the UK because
they were dissatisfied with conditions here. They clearly have not in your parlance "hacked it" in the country they have gone to and now see the UK through rose-tinted spectacles.
Thread closed.
May 14th 2009, 8:48 pm
#205
BE Co-Founder
Joined: Feb 2000
Location: Florida
Posts: 25,928
Re: Returning to the UK - don't
I know that Pollyana has closed this thread, but I just wanted to add my two pence worth, (well it used to be 10 pence but what with the downturn in the economy and everything my 10p is now only worth 2p 
)
A new member wanted to share her view on moving back to the UK, and whilst you may not agree with her view on things her first post was done in a respectful polite manner, and its a shame that some of you didn't feel that you could respond in the same vein. We are all entitled to our opinions, and we all have different life experiences, but let's share those opinions respectfully and give some thought to how we can learn from each other. After all that is what BE is here for, and you are all such a terrific bunch of people who have helped each other through good and bad times and I hate to see threads go belly up like this.
Thanks for reading.
Sue
)A new member wanted to share her view on moving back to the UK, and whilst you may not agree with her view on things her first post was done in a respectful polite manner, and its a shame that some of you didn't feel that you could respond in the same vein. We are all entitled to our opinions, and we all have different life experiences, but let's share those opinions respectfully and give some thought to how we can learn from each other. After all that is what BE is here for, and you are all such a terrific bunch of people who have helped each other through good and bad times and I hate to see threads go belly up like this.
Thanks for reading.
Sue
