Originally Posted by Bevm (Post 7279153)

I vaguely remember that there was an hours thing. Up to a certain number of hours a week at the younger age. Back in the early '70s school leaving was 15, and because it went to September, some of them were 14 when they started full time work.

I used to be a Youth Employment Officer long, long ago.

Bev :)

Originally Posted by cricket1 (Post 7275948)

It's funny how many people want to leave Britain because they perceive that's such a bad place to be. It's almost as if they think that it's just the UK that's struggling and that elsewhere is getting it much easier. I know the press are creating such a miserable reality and the weather at the moment is probably making it feel more bleak but the weather here is awful and oppressive plus the news is absolutely miserable.

Despite what anyone else thinks (getting tired of people asking me and telling me now), I am going home because I feel loyal to Britain and I want to help prop it up and help it recover. I have a solid business, self funded, which will create work opportunities and it will be just one of the green shoots of new growth thet help the UK get back on it's feet. I want to be back in England at the worst time so that I can be part of the solution.
The UK does NOT have a problem any worse than anywhere else. The only problem it does have is an attitude that things are so bad that they will never get better and therefore Britain will go to the dogs.
Over my dead body!

Originally Posted by sans (Post 7279210)

Why are you laughing :confused: Thats aweful, so rude:cry_smile:
:p:p:D

Originally Posted by dunroving (Post 7279261)

I agree that the British press are full of doom and gloom, but I think it's an inferential leap that so many people are leaving the UK because of the newspapers and TV. Some Daily Mail readers may be, but there are lots of other reasons people become expats than because they think the UK is crap ... this has come up loads of times before on BE.

People leave the UK because they marry a non-UKC, because their job takes them elsewhere, because the money is better elsewhere, or just because they want an adventure. Suggesting that so many people leave because they get taken in by the media is a bit patronising. I appreciate you are all fired up about going home, but by painting such people as being wrong in some way is the same as your Ozzie mates telling you you're crazy to leave Australia, don't you think?

Originally Posted by dunroving (Post 7279261)

I agree that the British press are full of doom and gloom, but I think it's an inferential leap that so many people are leaving the UK because of the newspapers and TV. Some Daily Mail readers may be, but there are lots of other reasons people become expats than because they think the UK is crap ... this has come up loads of times before on BE.

People leave the UK because they marry a non-UKC, because their job takes them elsewhere, because the money is better elsewhere, or just because they want an adventure. Suggesting that so many people leave because they get taken in by the media is a bit patronising. I appreciate you are all fired up about going home, but by painting such people as being wrong in some way is the same as your Ozzie mates telling you you're crazy to leave Australia, don't you think?

Originally Posted by Tricia (Post 7278528)

A positive attitude is great but my personal feeling is that this is a very bad time compared to any other recession in my lifetime. I know so many people that are now struggling and even our business has taken a huge knock in the last 6 months, so much so that we are now genuinely concerned, although not quite at panic mode :unsure:

Do you know what I think is so different, it's people's circumstances, I'll try and explain. During my childhood and younger adulthood days I remember Mum's going out to work during difficult times, you know, dinner lady, cleaning, evening work etc etc, I'm sure many of us remember. However, for the last 10 years or so pressure on women to 'work' and not stay at home thas had dubious consequences....i.e increased earnings, more spending power fuelling higher house prices so that now 2 adults incomes are needed in most cases to keep that roof over their heads. So instead of man losing job, woman goes out to help survive the rough times it is now man loses job...oh sh*t...no leeway at all.

Oh yes and it's all very well Asda and the like creating so many jobs but they don't pay enough to replace a skilled man's/woman's wage. Not saying it's right or wrong, just an observation that sometimes we ought to maybe be careful what we wish for ? women's lib is great (I think) but I'm not so sure that we as a society have benefited from it. God that makes me sound like I think all women should be at home in sackcloth and ashes but this traditional role of family/home maker has been severely underated and it's a role that women are so naturally good at damn it and is important to socity's values and morals.

Originally Posted by Supremegermalene (Post 7279444)

I agree with Tricia.

It is harder to get a few hours work here and there like you used to be able to. And, when people were working 3 or 4 jobs where were the kids? Probably looked after by other family members, or out playing in the streets with their mates. Family members these days are usually spread well out and you can't leave your kids to play out anymore.

I've not been able to work as I have 2 young children and it would cost way more than I could earn to have them in child care, and my husband is now out of work for medical reasons (he had an op). When he was working I scoured for evening work and there is nothing in my area, no-one is recruiting. Now he's out of work he can't look after the kids as he's unable to pick them up so I still can't go out and work. My mum is disabled my dad works full time to support his family. We are up sh*t creek.

I do think people who think that there isn't really a problem in the uk think that because they are not the ones that are affected. Of course, if your company is still doing well it's easy to be a bit blinkered to what's happening around you. All I can say is I've never known so many high street shops all shut down in my life and everyone I know is struggling, especially those that were relying on bank interest to live.

G

Originally Posted by Supremegermalene (Post 7279477)

Sorry but that's not justified, surely if they had teenage kids and were able to go to work they would have done?

I've done both things, been a working Mum and a SAHM, the second because I've had no choice in the matter and believe me being a working Mum is far easier and less stressful! If you'd like to borrow my two toddlers for the day you are more than welcome.

G

Originally Posted by cricket1 (Post 7279456)

I agree with you Tricia. About 10 years ago, when I lived in the UK, I used to get so annoyed at some of the mothers that I came across at various meetings involving our husbands through their work. The mothers didn't go out to work because they had young families whereas I had a business and young teenagers. All they would do was compare notes on how they had used their housekeeping money to spend in Next, go to the gym, hairdresser and nail salon then they would buy the cheapest food in Aldi on which to feed their kids.
I used to come away feeling furious at my own breed and in all honestly if that's where it's hurting people now, I'm glad.

Originally Posted by Tricia (Post 7279554)

Errrm, I must be having a senior moment (too old to say 'blonde' moment) are you sure you agree with me Cricket :unsure: I'm talking about lovely Mummies who stay at home and you seem to be talking about Yummy Mummies :rofl: