The thing that always makes me laugh is that people are scared of the legal migrants, but what is being done to try to control the inflow of illegal ones? I.e. those that come into the EU via Italy/Malta etc and then (somehow) make their way over...

Wouldn't it be a better use of resources to try to stem the flow of these illegals instead of making it so hard for Brits to bring back partners and making other EU member state citizens feel so alienated?

I think what's happening is that people are scared of the rate of immigration, regardless of whether it is legal / illegal. It's when whole towns or boroughs start speaking different languages and have little interest in assimilation that people get a bid edgy. Especially when health and education services are impacted, as in some places they are.

he he.
I have been linked here from the other forum.

Very funny.

My opinion is that the shite that makes part of the UK crap are also crap in many other countries.
The secret is to find the parts that are tolerable (or great) for you as an individual. It's easy to pick on some of the crowding of the SE - but that is the SE (etc). Some people find the UK weather a bind - others come to realise it's very temperate - it's to individual tastes. I prefered a more continental climate as found in France or Germany etc.

Here you go - the trail of quotes: I'm sure any reasonable person being honest could understand why a moderator was mentioned - wouldn't you agree Chris? A couple of other posters have agreed with the sentiment of that last post by bandrui I quoted (Harvester523 and (to some extent) old.sparkles).

It certainly does seem like a troll thread given the definition in the post by bandrui, and the definition in the site rules. There didn't seem to be any indication of it being a "tongue-in-cheek" thread with the title and opening post:

I love this stuff!! Reasonable person: agrees with my view.
Unreasonable person if you don't!

'A couple of other posters' doth not the Mongol Hordes maketh!

'Tongue in cheek' = trolling?
'Tongue in cheek': 'No indication of it being a':

'ee lad! Tha's got me alus confused!

Its a bit pathetic but it seems to make him happy He has a history of jumping into my threads for no good reason, it's no big deal but does make him look a tad silly

Such a wide definition of trolling. Basically, forums know a troll when they see one (and they are rare on here). You have to determine "intent" whether the person is making comments to undermine other posters or the thread as a whole. Heated debate, criticism or even manufactured controversy is not trolling in my opinion. Those who are over-sensitive about trolling ought not to participate in the first place. Only an internet forum, not a serious public meeting.

It was abundantly clear to absolutely anyone seeing this thread it was extremely tongue in cheek but sometimes you need to actually hit someone over the head with it

We decided on Lichfield due to it still feeling like a quaint old English town.
When I took my wife to London she expected something very different.
It didn't feel like she was in England. She asked 'where are all the British?'
So overwhelmed by citizens from other EU member states.
Ok its good to have a cosmopolitan city but sometimes it gets out of hand.

Good jobs for me in London but there is more to life than just work.
My parents also live in Lichfield so it offers a better start for us there.

Have you been back in Lichfield for long? It is one of the places I have been looking at, in order to be close to Birmingham but with a little bit of open space for biking (Cannock Chase). It seems nicer than Cannock itself, though I have read some good things about Hednesford and Rugeley. Any insights and recommendations gratefully received!

[I'd apologise for being off-topic but this thread has hardly been on-topic]

Lichfield for us is the best by far. Not back yet. Hopefully by the end of the year once we get the 62500!!
I was there again in Oct 2013 visiting my family. Love it!
Big new housing developments going on with new supermarkets etc. a very nice new Waitrose where they offer a free newspaper and coffee/tea while you shop!

I used to mountain bike at cannock chase!!

Boley Park is the nicest area of Lichfield albeit a bit pricey. Burntwood is close and bit cheaper. Down the road you have the country lanes where I used to cycle!
My step brother managed to get a nice 3 bed house in Streethay (part of Lichfield) for about 170K I believe.
For 200K you can find a decent 3 bed house.
We'll rent first. looking at about 650 GBP a month.
Good luck.

2 stations in Lichfield also. Trent Valley (express trains to London) and city which will take you to New street and all towns in between.
Maybe open a new thread and I can give you more details if you wish.

Grand, thank you. I won't be moving until after retirement (so, probably in about 5 years), but it's important to plan ahead, especially as I want to move relatively quickly once I am done here.

I plan to take various trips before retirement, taking a look at various potential retirement destinations. I am very unsure about being in the middle of a city after so many years in semi-rural and small-town settings.

I found some very helpful info on MumsNet - they seem to have a lot of threads asking about what different places are like.

I have dropped a couple of posts in other threads about Lichfield, Derby, Peak District and surrounding areas before but maybe as you suggest, I need to start a new thread.

I can never see any post about Staffordshire without putting in my recommendation. Lichfield is a lovely little town. For retirement, I'd also look at Leek. Cannock and Stone are also nice, but more for commuters and families than retirement, in my opinion (nearer B'rum, further from the Peak District).

Thanks, Editha, I remember you responded to one of my previous posts about the area.

I have developed my little list of must-haves, definitely nots, etc., for what I want from my home and location.

I would love to live close to good, regular public transport and find that some really promising places are many miles from the nearest train station. It can be harder to figure out bus service links to the train stations. It would be great to be able to do without a car.

Actually I don't. I've previously asked you a number of times on various threads to clarify a point you're making but you always avoid these direct questions - and call foul as well.

Apparently questioning or challenging an opinion or post of yours is "pathetic" or somehow picking on you, even though I have not made a personal attack on you in these forums. I'm not the only person who has noticed this kind of thing - for example, earlier in this thread: