Major Edmund Lockyer

The policeman would be a policeman, too much beauracracy, social breakdown and lack of general respecc that has been getting worse year on year , over the last 20 years, its all paperwork and KPI,s. traditional policing, giving a crim a right good kicking for his mister meaners has been lost, the cops are powerless, and the average chav and shithead knows it.


NHS, i find it ok, BTW, but as a senior grade nurse,, hospitals are overmanaged, ie more managers than actual medical staff, and oversaturated with health tourists, lack of funding and poor pay, in essence no british people are moving into nursing and no nurse want to work here, to gain experience, nurses cant recognise death or discomfort anymore as they are not experienced enough due to lack of experience around them

so we import from philipines and india.

nothings perfect, but in my trade, i know of no apprentices in the last 15 years of any great scale, the whole direction of this country is very uncomfortable, as we are overcome with consumer demand and greed, beleive me, you will notice how mad this country is on your return.

bluejohn

I am really sorry if you have been through this kind of hell. Many years ago I lived in Campbelltown it is a suburb of Sydney , your post could have been me
20 years ago. We didn't stay there long and to my knowledge this area as got worse. We moved, not everywhere in the Sydney area is like this. I suppose what I am trying to say not everywhere in the UK is like that either.

Re the murders it is terrible but having read the Australian newspapers over the New Year period it appears to have been pretty bad on the murder front too. I have only been here 2 months (UK) and remember well my tirade of abuse about Australia and low Aussies etc. we moved and saw a different side.

Elvira

And what makes you think it is different elsewhere?

I live in the US and here it is much, much worse...

Major Edmund Lockyer

do you think, alot of americans cant believe what us brits have to pay for here, and what kickbacks we get.

I dont see the influx of yanks and aussie to britain do you, even tho a few have visited,....wonder why that is.

Elvira

You evidently have no idea of what Americans have to pay for...

Healthcare is only the beginning.

Does 'right to work' mean anything to you at all?

NB: Last time I checked, London was full of Americans and Aussies who live and work there.

Major Edmund Lockyer

I have no idea, true.

But when i was in Texas this year working with all the septic tanks comparing notes, couldnt say they were impressed with my outgoings.

and what we had to pay for.......and what we got,

uk+kiwi

A very powerful and insightful observation. Utterly brilliant.

I think this is true for many people, which maybe helps explain the ping pong-ing. Daily life is much more laid back outside of the UK, but the pull back to friends, family & exciting activities remains.

To the op, I doubt any one country will tick all your boxes of which country is best for you. I suspect it's about finding out which aspects of life are most important to your family now (which may very well be different from 5 years ago and 5 years into the future) and making a decision based on those needs and desires.

I live in the UK. And can honestly say I have never seen evidence about the concerns you mentioned. But I am very aware it comes down to location. My children are 7 (nearly 8 - where does time go?) and 6 and play outside ALL the time, without adult supervision.

Reflecting on comments made about the weather in the UK restricting outdoor family activity, I personally feel this ceases to be the case once children are of school age. It can be a deterrent when dealing with babies & toddlers. My girls were out riding bikes in t-shirts yesterday at close to zero () and don't seem to notice drizzle at all. It honestly doesn't stop us doing anything, except camping year round. There is usually shelter somewhere if the weather threatens to ruin the planned fun!

Good luck.

Elvira

free health care (never having to worry about insurance, co-pays, deductibles, pre-existing conditions, non-covered bits etc - can you even begin to imagine what this means?)
minimum 4 weeks holidays a year (+ time off for Christmas and public holidays)
paid maternity + paternity leave
child benefit
sick pay
subsidised public transport
subsidised theatres/orchestras etc
free museums and art galleries

just off the top of my head - I'm sure there's more...

Just remembered a biggy: no employment protection........ you clearly do not now what 'right ot work' means...

uk+kiwi

Wow, it's usually the other way round with kids finding they are about 2 years behind, so that could be a good sign. Also, I suspect the teachers would have been careful not to give them work that was too hard, so you may want to consider asking whether this was the case which might remove your concerns. There is a huge variation in ability with things like Maths, English & Science especially, so they will have several streams of ability which would translate to at least a 2 year spread. I'm sure the academic side would be fine. Their ages and friendships in Aus are more likely to be a potential issue.

And depending on your husband's line of work, his age may work against him too. Whilst things have changed enormously in this area, I can still recall my father struggling to find a job as an (Qualified) Accountant when we moved back to the UK when he was 34! Thus he is putting pressure on hubbie (now 36) to make some big changes over the next couple of years before it's too late! I mean honestly.

Good luck.

Major Edmund Lockyer

that is a load of shit what you have written as it exists in uk, and there isnt any difference.

please be careful what you write.

also heatlhcare NHS - where does the National Insurance payments go???????????? that come out of wage

Elvira

NI pays for the pension you will both get when you retire.

I have no idea why your wife does not get benefits - this doesn't seem right. British law mandates 28 days vacation as a minimum for all workers.

Anyway, there are NO BENEFITS AT ALL in the US, and health care is becoming a HUGE burden for most people.

Major Edmund Lockyer

when you contract you sign away all these rights as its in your rate. which isnt that high.

not everyone has a silver spoon in this country , there is a working class

as for the pension, MR BROWN has screwed that up for generations to come, cant wait to see my pennies at 65, or will it be 165 by then.

lolly

NI contributions also go towards the NHS and other benefits

robclaridge

Straight from the horses mouth.... I'm a teacher as previously mentioned. I will reitereate that I'm not going to 'bash' the UK. Because we had a great time there, yes we were burgled, yes we had cars stolen and usual shit at sometime. But on the whole I had 44 good years there. Although I spent 7 of those travelling the world granted. BUT. My eldest daughter now 17 has to go to school to get her OP so that she can go to Queensland Uni. Having already finished school and sat her GCSE's in the UK. As a proud father she came away with 5 A* 3 A's 1 B and 1 C (Maths was always a weak subject lol). From being top in all groups at school in the UK with relative ease (except maths) Shes now languishing in the middle groups and having to work REALLY hard in private school here in Queensland Australia. Yes its a change of curriculum. But its the depth they go into thats tougher.... especially the maths. PS. Your nuts to believe if there is going to be pension funds in the UK when those in there 40's now retire! Thank you MR Brown. PSS. The NHS is not free in the UK. My dentist was private, my 'specs' were private and where did all my NI contributons go.... Wa that not a form of helath insurance?????? PS when emigrating I had to pay for private xrays and medicals....

Major Edmund Lockyer

AMEN.

oh and the roads, the M6 toll road is now £4.50 one way for a car.

Like the other poster I dont want to bash the UK too much, but im after an easy relaxing life, with at least some kick back, whether it be sun or sea.