Article about unhappy Britain
Oct 16th 2011 | 10:20 am
#287
BE Co-Founder
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 25,930
From: Florida
Re: Article about unhappy Britain
Returnee,
I may have missed it, but you've been asked twice in this thread if you are planning on returning to the UK and I've yet to see your response to that question.
Are you returning or planning to return? If so I can totally understand that you want to figure out the positives and the negatives, but the MBTTUK forum is more about members sharing "constructive" (good or bad) experiences and tips about moving back, rather than the constant sharing of doom and gloom news from newspapers.
If you are moving back, or planning too, perhaps you should start a new thread and ask people's experiences of what it's like in the areas you are moving to, thereby enabling you to make a better informed decision than just relying on said newspapers
I may have missed it, but you've been asked twice in this thread if you are planning on returning to the UK and I've yet to see your response to that question.
Are you returning or planning to return? If so I can totally understand that you want to figure out the positives and the negatives, but the MBTTUK forum is more about members sharing "constructive" (good or bad) experiences and tips about moving back, rather than the constant sharing of doom and gloom news from newspapers.
If you are moving back, or planning too, perhaps you should start a new thread and ask people's experiences of what it's like in the areas you are moving to, thereby enabling you to make a better informed decision than just relying on said newspapers
Oct 16th 2011 | 10:58 am
#288
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 116
Re: Article about unhappy Britain
To me these surveys can serve only one purpose and that is to ensure that when we consider our return we do it with both eyes open and not because of cheer-leading into it. Those of us who thought that we wanted to return willy-nilly might reconsider when we have honestly thought through our reactions to the changes in the UK we have seen and witnessed first-hand since we left all those decades ago. We also need to consider what we are leaving behind. Facing this reality is painful, particularly if what we currently have doesn't look that great at first or even second glance.
For some, particularly those who miss family and friends, the motives for the return can be obvious but for others who might have alternatives such as moving closer or moving part-time, those alternatives might make better sense IF thorough research suggests it be so.
I know I'm personally very concerned about the UK's broken society and cost of living but then I was when I left for other than economic reasons in 1976 and much is much worse than it was then.
It's important to also remember that neither the UK or the US feature in the big-league of quality of life countries on this planet. BUT most of the big league are leaning towards the centre or left of centre. Let me explain that the previous LABOUR government was actually for the most part practising Thatcherism.
For some, particularly those who miss family and friends, the motives for the return can be obvious but for others who might have alternatives such as moving closer or moving part-time, those alternatives might make better sense IF thorough research suggests it be so.
I know I'm personally very concerned about the UK's broken society and cost of living but then I was when I left for other than economic reasons in 1976 and much is much worse than it was then.
It's important to also remember that neither the UK or the US feature in the big-league of quality of life countries on this planet. BUT most of the big league are leaning towards the centre or left of centre. Let me explain that the previous LABOUR government was actually for the most part practising Thatcherism.
Oct 20th 2011 | 12:44 am
#292
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 55,309
From: Moncton, NB, CANADA
High street 'alive and well'
High street 'alive and well', says Debenhams
The new boss of department store chain Debenhams insisted the UK high street was "alive and well" on Thursday as he announced plans to modernise a further 25 stores and open nine new outlets over the next four years.
The expansion drive, which will create 4,050 new jobs, builds on the 20 store refurbishments the retailer announced in June.
The expansion drive, which will create 4,050 new jobs, builds on the 20 store refurbishments the retailer announced in June.
Oct 20th 2011 | 7:04 am
#293
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,060
From: Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada
Re: High street 'alive and well'
Oct 20th 2011 | 9:20 am
#294
Banned
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 9,910
From: The REAL Utopia.
Re: Article about unhappy Britain
Sorry that story must be wrong, we all know that the UK is on the bones of it's arse and no one has any money so they can't possibly be planning more stores, in fact they will probably turn them all into £ shops.
Oct 20th 2011 | 9:23 am
#295
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,348
Re: Article about unhappy Britain
Well, when they rate the happiness of a country partly based on the cost of cigarettes, nobody there can afford Debenhams anyway once they've bought 20 a day...
Oct 22nd 2011 | 7:23 am
#296
Home Sweet Home
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,128
From: Surrey, England
Re: High street 'alive and well'
and I never even got stabbed once!!!I was in Debenham's at about 6.30pm and the shop was very busy, as was TK Maxx and BHS and Marks and Sparks, there might be a recession on but everybody was buying.
It seems the shops in big cities are open to about 7pm or 8pm which I really like.
Oct 22nd 2011 | 10:18 am
#298
Banned
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 9,910
From: The REAL Utopia.
Re: High street 'alive and well'
Well you were extremely lucky not to have been stabbed at least once. As I have said before it hasn't stopped our friends in the UK living life as they always have.
I just got back from Manchester, I was walking the streets in the dark and I never even got stabbed once!!!
I was in Debenham's at about 6.30pm and the shop was very busy, as was TK Maxx and BHS and Marks and Sparks, there might be a recession on but everybody was buying.
It seems the shops in big cities are open to about 7pm or 8pm which I really like.
and I never even got stabbed once!!!I was in Debenham's at about 6.30pm and the shop was very busy, as was TK Maxx and BHS and Marks and Sparks, there might be a recession on but everybody was buying.
It seems the shops in big cities are open to about 7pm or 8pm which I really like.
Oct 22nd 2011 | 4:52 pm
#299
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3
Re: Article about unhappy Britain
Considered it. Found it not one bit painful. The only painful thing for me is waiting 18 months to leave.
I don't think those who see the UK in a more positive light than you are 'cheerleading.' I think we just have a different perspective on 'broken.'
Here in 'the greatest country in the world' there are vast tent cities filled with hardworking people who lost their homes through no fault of their own. Gangs in many cities make UK gangs look like rank amateurs. The meth problem makes binge drinking look quaint by comparison. Our government has been rendered completely dysfunctional by massive amounts of corporate money distorting the system. Less than 50% of the people even bother to vote and that's in a good year. There are almost 50 million people without any access to health care. On a regular basis, random people shoot complete strangers en masse. And all of this is totally ignored by the media. By contrast, every one of England's social problems is magnified ten-fold by their media despite their being in general much less serious.
I think today's Britain is far better than the one I left in 1985 - or maybe I've just seen enough of one alternative to gain a different view. Either way, I am going back with my eyes wide open, but truly thrilled at the chance to appreciate the good things this time.
Perhaps if you currently reside in a place with less social problems, and less poverty than the UK, and perhaps if sunshine is important to you, you should look at the countries that rate more highly on that highly selective survey. Each of us must do what makes us happy - but just because I want something different from you, that doesn't make me an unthinking cheerleader.
I don't think those who see the UK in a more positive light than you are 'cheerleading.' I think we just have a different perspective on 'broken.'
Here in 'the greatest country in the world' there are vast tent cities filled with hardworking people who lost their homes through no fault of their own. Gangs in many cities make UK gangs look like rank amateurs. The meth problem makes binge drinking look quaint by comparison. Our government has been rendered completely dysfunctional by massive amounts of corporate money distorting the system. Less than 50% of the people even bother to vote and that's in a good year. There are almost 50 million people without any access to health care. On a regular basis, random people shoot complete strangers en masse. And all of this is totally ignored by the media. By contrast, every one of England's social problems is magnified ten-fold by their media despite their being in general much less serious.
I think today's Britain is far better than the one I left in 1985 - or maybe I've just seen enough of one alternative to gain a different view. Either way, I am going back with my eyes wide open, but truly thrilled at the chance to appreciate the good things this time.
Perhaps if you currently reside in a place with less social problems, and less poverty than the UK, and perhaps if sunshine is important to you, you should look at the countries that rate more highly on that highly selective survey. Each of us must do what makes us happy - but just because I want something different from you, that doesn't make me an unthinking cheerleader.
. Wish I could bottle it and take it back but i'll get used to our rolling 3 weeks of summer(anytime from may thru September) again quickly i'm sure and appreciate it when it comes.I miss going to gigs back in the uk so bad it hurts. Don't need Tropicana or shades for those
