An American view.
Sep 17th 2014 | 4:14 am
#136
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,516
From: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Sep 17th 2014 | 4:14 am
#137
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 13,212
From: San Francisco
Sep 17th 2014 | 4:18 am
#138
seenbeendonenocriesnowhys
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 747
From: Woellstein, Germany
Re: An American view.
Thank you dunroving and others on here who have been able to show some compassion for Mrs & Mrs London1947
Heaven forbid any of the rest of you should ever find yourselves, elderly, far from family and friends, on limited income with limited choices, depressed and feeling you have made a wrong decision and that you may not be able to reverse it.
Good grief, so an unhappy, homesick American expat living in the UK vents on an expats message board a rather sweeping statement about what she does not like about living in the UK. If you can't see that its coming from a person who is depressed and in pain then you are clearly lacking in imagination and empathy. By all means give a different view and point out factual errors but that can be done kindly without suggesting she and her husband have no right to express what they are feeling or to even be on this message board.
Maybe instead of bashing and suggesting the OP is trolling you should just thank your lucky stars that you aren't in such a dark place (emotionally) yourselves.
It is hard to see the bright side or give a balanced view when you are deeply unhappy and feeling trapped, those of us who read this forum regularly have been able to see London1947's increasing unhappiness and depression from his posts, please just be gentle to someone who is already clearly hurting. I have seen so much kindness, compassion and patience from strangers to strangers on BE, this thread could do with some more of that right now.
Heaven forbid any of the rest of you should ever find yourselves, elderly, far from family and friends, on limited income with limited choices, depressed and feeling you have made a wrong decision and that you may not be able to reverse it.
Good grief, so an unhappy, homesick American expat living in the UK vents on an expats message board a rather sweeping statement about what she does not like about living in the UK. If you can't see that its coming from a person who is depressed and in pain then you are clearly lacking in imagination and empathy. By all means give a different view and point out factual errors but that can be done kindly without suggesting she and her husband have no right to express what they are feeling or to even be on this message board.
Maybe instead of bashing and suggesting the OP is trolling you should just thank your lucky stars that you aren't in such a dark place (emotionally) yourselves.
It is hard to see the bright side or give a balanced view when you are deeply unhappy and feeling trapped, those of us who read this forum regularly have been able to see London1947's increasing unhappiness and depression from his posts, please just be gentle to someone who is already clearly hurting. I have seen so much kindness, compassion and patience from strangers to strangers on BE, this thread could do with some more of that right now.
platform where people, wring out their laundry, and various opinions, and has mentioned by other posters, its the inaccuracies in those comparisons, and to be fair,
posters took it at face value, so even Brits and the expats who decided to head back
to the UK know we aint perfect, but it was the inaccuracies that negated the sympathy.
Plus we are not all psychoanalyst, or social workers interested in pros and cons.
Sometimes a bit of dry wit, and good old British/European sarcasm, can help shake off those depressive swings and blue clouds.
I do know, I have been there.From a fit and able man who has walked every major city, and trekked most areas on this planet, reduced to max 2km streches,with crutches, Electric-bikes that help me to still enjoy the country side,but only 20-30km before the painkillers wear off.My life is with permanent pain.They are my woes.
The posters opening gambet was taken at face value, nothing more nothing less.
The Britexpats threads and posts can be caustic, often full of unsympathetic wry humour, but the same members who dish it out ,show the same level of care and support when suggestions or advice is requested or asked for.
Sometimes our halo slips, thats all.
Sep 17th 2014 | 4:19 am
#139
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,516
From: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Re: An American view.
Can be a good place to start out, because of cheap winter rents, and favorable supply/demand situation for the person looking for a rental or a place to buy...
Sep 17th 2014 | 4:22 am
#140
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 13,212
From: San Francisco
Re: An American view.
Most of mine is a San Francisco fee. I also pay a small amount to California for 911 services. I have no idea why I have to pay twice. I don't have a landline so I have no idea what the comparative charges for that would be.
Last edited by Giantaxe; Sep 17th 2014 at 4:25 am.
Sep 17th 2014 | 4:24 am
#141
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 13,212
From: San Francisco
Re: An American view.
A good point about out of season rentals for the short term. But I am not sure about a place to buy. Don't seaside resorts tend to have higher property values?
Sep 17th 2014 | 5:02 am
#142
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 92,276
From: MA, USA
Sep 17th 2014 | 5:13 am
#143
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 92,276
From: MA, USA
Re: An American view.
Anyways, personally I disagree with a lot of what MrsLondon1947 thinks of the UK (I think my TV licence is possibly the best value for money I get every year, for example). I just don't feel the need to correct inaccuracies when I can see they are just the exaggerated perceptions of someone who has been replanted into a totally alien environment and appears to be thoroughly miserable. Been there, done that and just grateful I no longer have to eat the pies...
Who cares if a kid is done with school at 15 or 18. Who cares if your neighbour is on benefits. Who cares that someone has a metered water/electric meter or not.
None of those things affect you in your day to day life.
Sep 17th 2014 | 5:17 am
#144
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 12,090
From: Yam Yam land
Re: An American view.
End of the day, those inaccuracies or not, they have no real baring on one's day to day life do they.
Who cares if a kid is done with school at 15 or 18. Who cares if your neighbour is on benefits. Who cares that someone has a metered water/electric meter or not.
None of those things affect you in your day to day life.
Who cares if a kid is done with school at 15 or 18. Who cares if your neighbour is on benefits. Who cares that someone has a metered water/electric meter or not.
None of those things affect you in your day to day life.
Last edited by dunroving; Sep 17th 2014 at 5:45 am.
Sep 17th 2014 | 5:36 am
#145
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,516
From: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Re: An American view.
Some seaside places are expensive, like Salcombe in Devon, which caters to the jet setting and yachting crowd. But the great majority seem to be very good value. I looked in Norwich, Aylsham and Cromer, for instance. All within 25 miles, one a big city, one a modest, mixed market town, one a seaside resort. Cromer is maybe 20% cheaper. Norwich seems overheated, despite being too far from London for commuters; more demand than supply (all those highly paid city professionals, bureaucrats and execs.) Aylsham is expensive, just not enough properties in a small town. Cromer has everything from small flats for 60,000 pounds to nice houses for 600,000. Like many seaside resorts, it was chronically overbuilt over the last 150 years.
Sep 17th 2014 | 5:56 am
#146
Was in Canada, now home.
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,388
From: Devon
Re: An American view.
I don't know Dawlish. I'm living on the other side of the county. The nearest town I'm familiar with is Exeter but I'm puzzled by the OP's experience. From his complaints, he seems to be experiencing the worst of British urban life:-- crime, anti-social behaviour, urban decay, littering and drunkenness on the streets.
I would not have expected a town like Dawlish to be experiencing these problems, and indeed the Devon County Council site gives statistics that show that although Dawlish is a poor area, with above average child poverty for example, it not only has below average crime rates compared with the rest of Britain, they are also lower than average in Devon.
I'd like to know whether the OP has actually experienced these things, or whether he and his wife are basing their opinions on what they see and read in the media.
I would not have expected a town like Dawlish to be experiencing these problems, and indeed the Devon County Council site gives statistics that show that although Dawlish is a poor area, with above average child poverty for example, it not only has below average crime rates compared with the rest of Britain, they are also lower than average in Devon.
I'd like to know whether the OP has actually experienced these things, or whether he and his wife are basing their opinions on what they see and read in the media.
Sep 17th 2014 | 6:18 am
#147
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,517
Re: An American view.
Thank you dunroving and others on here who have been able to show some compassion for Mrs & Mrs London1947
Heaven forbid any of the rest of you should ever find yourselves, elderly, far from family and friends, on limited income with limited choices, depressed and feeling you have made a wrong decision and that you may not be able to reverse it.
Good grief, so an unhappy, homesick American expat living in the UK vents on an expats message board a rather sweeping statement about what she does not like about living in the UK. If you can't see that its coming from a person who is depressed and in pain then you are clearly lacking in imagination and empathy. By all means give a different view and point out factual errors but that can be done kindly without suggesting she and her husband have no right to express what they are feeling or to even be on this message board.
Maybe instead of bashing and suggesting the OP is trolling you should just thank your lucky stars that you aren't in such a dark place (emotionally) yourselves.
It is hard to see the bright side or give a balanced view when you are deeply unhappy and feeling trapped, those of us who read this forum regularly have been able to see London1947's increasing unhappiness and depression from his posts, please just be gentle to someone who is already clearly hurting. I have seen so much kindness, compassion and patience from strangers to strangers on BE, this thread could do with some more of that right now.
Heaven forbid any of the rest of you should ever find yourselves, elderly, far from family and friends, on limited income with limited choices, depressed and feeling you have made a wrong decision and that you may not be able to reverse it.
Good grief, so an unhappy, homesick American expat living in the UK vents on an expats message board a rather sweeping statement about what she does not like about living in the UK. If you can't see that its coming from a person who is depressed and in pain then you are clearly lacking in imagination and empathy. By all means give a different view and point out factual errors but that can be done kindly without suggesting she and her husband have no right to express what they are feeling or to even be on this message board.
Maybe instead of bashing and suggesting the OP is trolling you should just thank your lucky stars that you aren't in such a dark place (emotionally) yourselves.
It is hard to see the bright side or give a balanced view when you are deeply unhappy and feeling trapped, those of us who read this forum regularly have been able to see London1947's increasing unhappiness and depression from his posts, please just be gentle to someone who is already clearly hurting. I have seen so much kindness, compassion and patience from strangers to strangers on BE, this thread could do with some more of that right now.
Last edited by Sally Redux; Sep 17th 2014 at 6:22 am.
Sep 17th 2014 | 7:23 am
#148
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 175
From: Devon
Re: An American view.
Just to clear up confusion I was born and bred in Northampton UK. I am a duel US/UK citizen. My wife is a US citizen. I asked her for her views on living in the UK now for two years. It was not a rant as some put it just her views and observations.
I had joined BE originally because it seemed to be a great place to get information and to air one's opinions and hopefully make some friends and contacts. Some on here have been very helpful, some have been downright rude and think they stand above anyone else that may have fallen on bad times. I for one have enjoyed talking to some of you. So from this point on I will not be part of BE and no doubt some would say good riddance. Thanks. SO AS CHRIS955 HAS STATED I WILL NOW BUG OF. THANKS CHRIS. I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ALWAYS COME TO YOU FOR YOUR BIASED VIEWS.
Regards
John
I had joined BE originally because it seemed to be a great place to get information and to air one's opinions and hopefully make some friends and contacts. Some on here have been very helpful, some have been downright rude and think they stand above anyone else that may have fallen on bad times. I for one have enjoyed talking to some of you. So from this point on I will not be part of BE and no doubt some would say good riddance. Thanks. SO AS CHRIS955 HAS STATED I WILL NOW BUG OF. THANKS CHRIS. I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ALWAYS COME TO YOU FOR YOUR BIASED VIEWS.
Regards
John
Sep 17th 2014 | 9:48 am
#149
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 94,306
From: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Re: An American view.
Just to clear up confusion I was born and bred in Northampton UK. I am a duel US/UK citizen. My wife is a US citizen. I asked her for her views on living in the UK now for two years. It was not a rant as some put it just her views and observations.
I had joined BE originally because it seemed to be a great place to get information and to air one's opinions and hopefully make some friends and contacts. Some on here have been very helpful, some have been downright rude and think they stand above anyone else that may have fallen on bad times. I for one have enjoyed talking to some of you. So from this point on I will not be part of BE and no doubt some would say good riddance. Thanks. SO AS CHRIS955 HAS STATED I WILL NOW BUG OF. THANKS CHRIS. I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ALWAYS COME TO YOU FOR YOUR BIASED VIEWS.
Regards
John
I had joined BE originally because it seemed to be a great place to get information and to air one's opinions and hopefully make some friends and contacts. Some on here have been very helpful, some have been downright rude and think they stand above anyone else that may have fallen on bad times. I for one have enjoyed talking to some of you. So from this point on I will not be part of BE and no doubt some would say good riddance. Thanks. SO AS CHRIS955 HAS STATED I WILL NOW BUG OF. THANKS CHRIS. I'M SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ALWAYS COME TO YOU FOR YOUR BIASED VIEWS.
Regards
John
Sep 17th 2014 | 9:56 am
#150
Thread Starter
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 175
From: Devon
Re: An American view.
