Originally Posted by 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.

Originally Posted by alicecat

It was meant to be expensive to discourage people from using it! Therefore creating a virtually traffic free alternative for those willing to pay for it.

Originally Posted by northernbird

I used it all the time to travel to visit the in laws. I would pay 10 quid to avoid the birmingham section of the M6.

Originally Posted by 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.

Originally Posted by 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....

Originally Posted by ezzie

Rob...what's an 'OP'?
So do I take it that our experience fits with yours that Aussie ed is actually pretty damn good?

Originally Posted by rabsody

OP is the score students come away with at the end of year 12, I suppose it's a bit like O/A levels, but rather than individual scores, it's a combined score, with OP1 being the highest. These scores determine which university course you can apply for, for instance, Communications might require an OP13 min. entry, but Medicine would probably be about an OP3.

I believe it means Overall Position but I may be wrong!

Originally Posted by zerohero

As others have said it really depends where exactly you live in the UK.My 3 children have never had any problems here in Hertfordshire-good schools,low crime,clean streets - even the teenage kids on friday nights are rowdy but well behaved.Underage drinking does take place but there seem few serious problems.However,just 3 miles away is another town which is completely different-even peoples behavior.Its not terrible but crime and teen pregnancies etc are far higher.So really it depends what sort of place you choose to live.

Originally Posted by zerohero

As others have said it really depends where exactly you live in the UK.My 3 children have never had any problems here in Hertfordshire-good schools,low crime,clean streets - even the teenage kids on friday nights are rowdy but well behaved.Underage drinking does take place but there seem few serious problems.However,just 3 miles away is another town which is completely different-even peoples behavior.Its not terrible but crime and teen pregnancies etc are far higher.So really it depends what sort of place you choose to live.

Originally Posted by zerohero

As others have said it really depends where exactly you live in the UK.My 3 children have never had any problems here in Hertfordshire-good schools,low crime,clean streets - even the teenage kids on friday nights are rowdy but well behaved.Underage drinking does take place but there seem few serious problems.However,just 3 miles away is another town which is completely different-even peoples behavior.Its not terrible but crime and teen pregnancies etc are far higher.So really it depends what sort of place you choose to live.

Originally Posted by St.Georges Girl

Hello there, I'm from Hertfordshire. Where abouts are you?

Originally Posted by Nu-Shooz

Hertfordshire is just lovely. We visited friends in Ware, great village. I would love to live there, but the pennies won't allow

Originally Posted by zerohero

Hitchin

Originally Posted by alicecat

It was meant to be expensive to discourage people from using it! Therefore creating a virtually traffic free alternative for those willing to pay for it.