Returning from Where?
 

Hello all,

Is there a place where the majority of expats return from?

Is there a particular common reason why expats return to the UK?

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Australia (more expats go there).

Family, Tesco's, and fish and chips. (only one of these is a serious answer).

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Hy
Wife and me are going back to the UK on December 1st after almost 3 years in Canada. The last 6 months will be spent in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan which has to be the most boring - uninviting - dead and crappiest place on earth. After being laid off 5 times in 2½ years, a major confrontation with a company owner and having to wait 4 months between lay offs so Service Canada can process paperwork and renew our work permits, we have just had enough.

There was a web site called Not Canada.com which was pulled recently due to the overwhelming complaints about Canada and the people and attitudes. Literally thousands of people from Europe were returning home from Canada saying the same thing. I though it was just me, but reading the blogs and threads from different sites saying the same thing proved otherwise.

Ah well, Britain - here we come :thumbup:

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Tescos!? :blink:

That would be my reason ;)

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Tesco's
There's a name I havent heard in nearly three years! Must make a point of visiting the real ale section! :p

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Morrison's has the best selection and best deals on real ale, IMHO.

Re: Returning from Where?
 

I didn't say the one serious reason applies to everyone. For you, Tesco's is the one (sounds like the catch phrase for a commercial). ;)

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Cant remember the last time I went to a Morrisons store. Maybe they got good deals but do they have a mega large range of ales like Tesco?

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Oh yeah, baby. :thumbup:

In fact I'd say the local Morrison's has about double the selection of ales (I mean the interesting stuff, not mass-marketed stuff) that they have at the local Tesco's (both full-size stores). They have all kinds. Better deals on wine, too, IMO.

Off-hand, I'd say M's has about 30-40 different "ales", whereas Tesco's has maybe 15 ...

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Any idea what kind of Christmas ales they might have? Fiddlers Elbow for sure, Rosey Nosey, and you must try Youngs Christmas Pudding Ale!!!! :beer:

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Thanks to the wonders of google maps I just had a look at Lloydminster SK, and yes - that has to be a contender for crappiest place on earth. You can almost taste the boredom.

Re: Returning from Where?
 

The boredom thing is fekkin right mate - imagine, NO Indian restaurents, No Chinese restaurents, plenty of A&W, Arbies, Tony Romas, and McDonalds, (eeeww) and the cinema, (goodness, they actually have one of these), looks like it came out of the 1960s, and thats just the outside! :ohmy:

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Don't recall seeing any of those - you might be able to check online ... http://www.morrisons.co.uk/Drink/Beer/A-world-of-beer/

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Thanks for that piece of info: You might want to have a look at Beers of Europe. They are near Kings Lynn. A massive warehouse full of beer and wine and its a bloody big warehouse! Check out the web site, Beersofeurope.com (Not sure if thats correct)

Last time we visited, we spent 315 pounds on ale. That lasted us about 4 months. The car was not the same after that!:rofl:

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Now, if the films they show in said picture palace all came from the 1960s it might be an interesting cinema...

But, it doesn't look all boring; isn't it right on the Alta border? It must be interesting spotting the subtle cultural differences between Saskatchewan & Alberta.

Re: Returning from Where?
 

There are a lot of differences here, Lloydminster is not as crowded like Calgary for one thing - there are only about 22,000 people here and they are mostly Filipinos! Apparently another 110,000 Filipinos are set to invade Canada within the next two years. Yet Calgary has the most Chinese population I have ever seen, along with Indians, Vietnamese, Portugese and Africans and Utopians. (Did I mention Canadians)?:unsure:

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Nope sorry have to disagree Yorkton, SK is the worst:rofl:

Yep same thing, 5 lay offs in two years. No work, nothing to do. Have been trying to relocate to somewhere else in Canada but what with the economy jobs are hard to come by (well the ones that pay enough to just scrape by)

Kids have no prospects here, we would never have the funds to pay for higher education here, so what does that leave them to do minimum pay jobs for rest of their lives.

I just think it's bad luck on our side we moved 4 years ago and had the economy been better I think our lives would of been a lot different. I know people that have done very well here, so it has been a few mistakes on our part.

Rather be at home with family support than here. Just got to sell the property:unsure: Also taken 4 years to realise that I hate snow :lol:

Re: Returning from Where?
 

returning from Australia.
Out of all the family that were living out here we are the last 2 here, all the family have gradually moved back to the UK over the last couple of years.....Children, parents, siblings....and they are all so glad they made the move home.
can't believe I only have to suffer one more oppressive hot summer here.
Roll on March we will be outta here :thumbsup:

Re: Returning from Where?
 

:confused:

What is the reason you comment on these nationalities? :confused:

Re: Returning from Where?
 

My comment was not aimed at nationals in particular, but one of surprise at the vast number of people from different countries. Where I used to live, (small town) we probably never saw more than a few Filipinos. Coming to Calgary was an eye opener for us to see so many cultures. Yet here in Lloydminster. we see very few Chinese, and maybe a handful of Indians. Filipinos on the other hand seem to be the majority here. Having worked with 5 Filipinos for a short period of time, I can say they were the most friendliest and helpfull of people, its just a shame their was a language barrier between us.:confused:

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Ah - I see - that's why you've not got any decent curry houses or chinese restaurants in Lloydminster then ;)

Re: Returning from Where?
 

I can tell you with hand on heart, there are no Indian take -aways at all or restaurents, (not so much as a Filipino restaurent), there is something called the Wok Box and I did hear of a Chinese buffet hidden away somewhere in a hotel. Get on Mcleod in Calgary at the bottom of 57th, and you will be blessed with restaurents and good pubs. In particular the Dog and Duck on 1st, and go downtown to the Palomino and you have to try their ass ripper wings, they are superior!:thumbup:

We tried the Unicorn on St Stephen's Avenue, but only if you are brave enough you have to try their ultra red hot wings. Holy crap, straight out of a volcano. :eek:

Re: Returning from Where?
 

I am moving back to the UK from Australia, I have a bank account with the NAB. Is there a bank affiliated with the NAB that I can transfer my fund easily and set up a bank account from here
:)

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Hy Wilson
Best way is to use the net like we are are doing, plenty of info available and contact details online.

I have never heard of NAB, you could try the HSBC though, they may be able to help with your transfer ;)

Re: Returning from Where?
 

I feel for you. I once went to Regina on business and we asked 'where are the good restaurants.' The guy told us to go to the Italian down the road because he loved it there. He was very enthusiastic and so off we went, stepping over the drunks in the street as we went.

Man, that place was hideous! Wood chip wallpaper and the only wall decorations were baby's bibs with "I <3 Italy" on them. The food tasted like it came out of a tin - and this was the place he had raved about. Worst meal out EVAH!

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Hy Sally
Lloydminster is a strange place altogether. There is no public transport system at all :confused:

If you dont have a car, you either get a cab, (which isnt cheap!), or you walk. And if you do have a car, where do you go? Calgary has so much going for it, a superb LRT which I understand is being upgraded to four carriages, and it runs every 10 minutes plus a bus service that is unbelievable and so reliable. Moving up from Calgary was the worst thing we did, but only because I got a job here, which I might add I got laid off from 7½ weeks later. :frown:

GGGRRRRRRR:curse:

Re: Returning from Where?
 

Try HSBC...they are in most Main High Streets in the UK....you can open the account very easily from Australia...they will also send your cards to you as well.....also when transferring money to that account from Aus (should you open an account with HSBC) try Oxforex...you get excellent rates and first two transfers are free (and go direct into your UK account usually within 2 days) and anything over $10,000 after the first two transfers are also free....good look...