Waste of a chunk of your life
Jul 3rd 2009, 9:56 am
#46
'In limboland'
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 13,880
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
Jul 3rd 2009, 2:26 pm
#47
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
Dont mind at all. Firstly Canada is somewhere we have lived/visited many times, Van and Calg.. 2 of my closest friends live there, one of those familes would be closer to us than many members of real family. Were into it eyes wide open, I am the sort of person who wants to know whats wrong with it
, more than how many snow capped scenic mountains its got.
Its also (after australia) very much in the centre of the planet, UK eight hours, USA couple hours, that to us is a massive advantage. I would also be proud to have my kids as Canadians, something they think would be cool, they have never shown much interst in wanting to be called Australian
, others may disagree but we find many australians brash and rude and full of so much ignorant self importance.
My partners work has always been in construction, he was a carpenter working up to site manager and own projects, I know this is a bad time in construction however it wont stay like that forever, construction is always boom/bust. We feel we can do well there.
If I wanted to try another lifestyle it would be the Canadian one, quite the opposite from here, the north american lifestlyle fitted me like a glove before and I want to do it again, the kids really want to do it too. Climate is a bonus for us, believe me heat is not all its cracked up to be.
Canada will allow us to improve relationship with family in UK. My bros etc feel canada is a reasonable distance to holiday, australia is not.
A cool climate with seasons also appeals to me no end
Fall, Christmas, seasons, I want that again too. When I was in Calgary last year I cant explain what walking round on a cool morning with crispy leaves did for me, it was like I feel 'right', I can honestly say I have never got off a plane in australia and felt anything but dread to be back again.
, more than how many snow capped scenic mountains its got. Its also (after australia) very much in the centre of the planet, UK eight hours, USA couple hours, that to us is a massive advantage. I would also be proud to have my kids as Canadians, something they think would be cool, they have never shown much interst in wanting to be called Australian
, others may disagree but we find many australians brash and rude and full of so much ignorant self importance.My partners work has always been in construction, he was a carpenter working up to site manager and own projects, I know this is a bad time in construction however it wont stay like that forever, construction is always boom/bust. We feel we can do well there.
If I wanted to try another lifestyle it would be the Canadian one, quite the opposite from here, the north american lifestlyle fitted me like a glove before and I want to do it again, the kids really want to do it too. Climate is a bonus for us, believe me heat is not all its cracked up to be.
Canada will allow us to improve relationship with family in UK. My bros etc feel canada is a reasonable distance to holiday, australia is not.
A cool climate with seasons also appeals to me no end
Fall, Christmas, seasons, I want that again too. When I was in Calgary last year I cant explain what walking round on a cool morning with crispy leaves did for me, it was like I feel 'right', I can honestly say I have never got off a plane in australia and felt anything but dread to be back again.I love Vancouver and the spring/summer has been outstanding. My only real criticism is home ownership relative to earnings and the winter rain.
I have no desire to go back to the UK, although I find I miss family more the older that I get. I find my self contemplating retiring back there (although not manchester). I'm 14 years away from police pension so who knows.
Hope all goes well. Good luck
Jul 3rd 2009, 8:14 pm
#48
Just hanging around
Joined: May 2008
Location: Back in England
Posts: 1,447
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
Sure, the States is there, but that doesn't rack up against Europe next door to me. The 8 hours time difference is a big dislocation. I feel really cut off from the wider world out here on the Pacific rim.
Just me, of course. Like I say, it's interesting how differently we all see the same thing.
Bev
Jul 3rd 2009, 11:46 pm
#49
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
It's interesting, isn't it? I've never lived in Australia, but I can imagine that it feels a long way from anywhere. But to me, BC seems a long way from anywhere, too!
Sure, the States is there, but that doesn't rack up against Europe next door to me. The 8 hours time difference is a big dislocation. I feel really cut off from the wider world out here on the Pacific rim.
Just me, of course. Like I say, it's interesting how differently we all see the same thing.
Bev
Sure, the States is there, but that doesn't rack up against Europe next door to me. The 8 hours time difference is a big dislocation. I feel really cut off from the wider world out here on the Pacific rim.
Just me, of course. Like I say, it's interesting how differently we all see the same thing.
Bev
Jul 4th 2009, 1:19 am
#50
Cynically amused.
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: BC
Posts: 3,648
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
You are joking I take it? Neither of these places is central to anywhere, except perhaps a few American states, and the rest of the world couldn't care less about Canada... I thought the non-status Canada enjoys was part of its charm....?
Jul 4th 2009, 1:39 am
#51
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 60
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
I know of some people who can't seem to find 'contentment' and have come to the sad conclusion that the reason they (the ones that I know) can't find it is simply because they have forgotten some important life ground rules:
1) Joy comes from the simplest things
2) Don't waste time or energy on things you cannot change
3) Money brings you security, people bring you happiness
I look at many of my parent's generation who say they would not trade places with my children's and probably not mine, I pondered this seriously as they are the only ones who have seen the positives and negatives of all 3 generations. Why were they so content when their lives were so much harder, the answer to that one can be found in the points above and maybe the key is 'choice', it's great to have but too much can divert us on to lengthy crusades to experience more/achieve more/earn more but there is almost always sacrifices to be made and we end up with the constant questioning, what's next / was it worth it / which is best..........STOP......go back to 1,2, 3 and uncomplicate your life
1) Joy comes from the simplest things
2) Don't waste time or energy on things you cannot change
3) Money brings you security, people bring you happiness
I look at many of my parent's generation who say they would not trade places with my children's and probably not mine, I pondered this seriously as they are the only ones who have seen the positives and negatives of all 3 generations. Why were they so content when their lives were so much harder, the answer to that one can be found in the points above and maybe the key is 'choice', it's great to have but too much can divert us on to lengthy crusades to experience more/achieve more/earn more but there is almost always sacrifices to be made and we end up with the constant questioning, what's next / was it worth it / which is best..........STOP......go back to 1,2, 3 and uncomplicate your life
mainly going home for family as we have 2 young children and want to share their growing up.......2days ago some guy knocked on our door and offered OH a job (he heard he was out of work!?). After all the months trying to get a decent job and then one falls on our lap THAT PAYS BETTER:curse: is someone trying to keep us here? i wonder if someone up 'there' is giving us the choice: MONEY or FAMILY 
will keep this quote i mind, rather have grandparents than a swimming pool though.
Jul 4th 2009, 2:37 am
#52
slanderer of the innocent
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,695
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
But yeah, I hear you.
=
Jul 4th 2009, 4:52 am
#53
Cynically amused.
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: BC
Posts: 3,648
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
I must go to Oz one day. It is one place I never been, and I am starting to get curious....
Jul 4th 2009, 8:37 am
#54
I don't give a damn
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: In the arms of my family. Heaven...
Posts: 4,980
Jul 4th 2009, 8:57 am
#55
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 7
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
Just a bit strong but know what you mean.
Jul 4th 2009, 2:03 pm
#56
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
I respectfully disagree with your comment
Jul 4th 2009, 2:11 pm
#57
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,013
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
I have never really felt any desire to even visit Oz, and after several years of reading posts on here, have even less desire to visit. It just seems like an awful long way to go, so it would have to be really special to justify such a long, expensive trip. There's nothing dreadful about the place, from what I can tell, but nothing super special either.
Jul 4th 2009, 2:31 pm
#58
Home.
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 831
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
I worked beside a guy from Bosnia in Melbourne. We were chatting about something unrelated to Europe/Oz and then there was a silence. He broke it with the statement "You feel more ALIVE in Europe, don't you?"
And with it's warts and all, I had to agree with him.
Jul 4th 2009, 6:50 pm
#59
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Rozelle, Sydney
Posts: 136
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
Hi, I'm normally in the NZ forum, but thought I'd pitch in.
The UK Media play a really large part in giving people the wrong ideas about NZ/Aus, specially Aus. Programmes like "Wanted down under" etc. make Aus sound like a utopia, the land of milk and honey, and if you can just get in there your life will be transformed. I hear Australia is expensive now, well NZ has always been expensive. I'm from NZ and trust me, most people live hand-to-mouth, week-by-week, unless you're from old money ... so I imagine similar is true of Australia. The English soooo dont realise this, in fact often they're under the illusion that its cheaper out there!!!, my god, if only that were true. Because you're isolated EVERYTHING has to be imported, and you just don't have the consumer choices. For example, silly things like furniture - 90% of the population will have the same sideboards/wardrobes/tables and chairs as you. The same carpet. Everyone who built a house in the late nineties for example in NZ has blue carpet (more-or-less, okay there are exceptions, but I'm talking by-and-large), because thats what was shipped out there, and therefore what people could afford. The Australian males are quite macho as well, even to NZers. They have a bad attitude towards the english ... countless references to "winging poms", and "prisoners of mother england" etc. etc. The Australians really are a piece of work.
The UK Media play a really large part in giving people the wrong ideas about NZ/Aus, specially Aus. Programmes like "Wanted down under" etc. make Aus sound like a utopia, the land of milk and honey, and if you can just get in there your life will be transformed. I hear Australia is expensive now, well NZ has always been expensive. I'm from NZ and trust me, most people live hand-to-mouth, week-by-week, unless you're from old money ... so I imagine similar is true of Australia. The English soooo dont realise this, in fact often they're under the illusion that its cheaper out there!!!, my god, if only that were true. Because you're isolated EVERYTHING has to be imported, and you just don't have the consumer choices. For example, silly things like furniture - 90% of the population will have the same sideboards/wardrobes/tables and chairs as you. The same carpet. Everyone who built a house in the late nineties for example in NZ has blue carpet (more-or-less, okay there are exceptions, but I'm talking by-and-large), because thats what was shipped out there, and therefore what people could afford. The Australian males are quite macho as well, even to NZers. They have a bad attitude towards the english ... countless references to "winging poms", and "prisoners of mother england" etc. etc. The Australians really are a piece of work.
Jul 4th 2009, 7:51 pm
#60
Cynically amused.
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: BC
Posts: 3,648
Re: Waste of a chunk of your life
I have never really felt any desire to even visit Oz, and after several years of reading posts on here, have even less desire to visit. It just seems like an awful long way to go, so it would have to be really special to justify such a long, expensive trip. There's nothing dreadful about the place, from what I can tell, but nothing super special either.
I know I could never live there, as I feel isolated enough in Canada. Dboy I see your point, yes of course it is all a matter of perspective, as I have travelled all over the world too, but of course we can agree to disagree.