littlejimmy

When I was back in the UK a few weeks ago I was astonished how green and lush the place is. It always astonishes me after a month or more of sand punctuated by one or two palm trees and a strip of manicured grass here and there.

Daz968

So very true...although I will be happy to leave for all the reasons previously stated. The British countryside takes an awful lot to beat and I always miss it when I am not here...

shakh your bootie

This time-a year, f'sure - but i'm dreading the misery of winter....

Daz968

...another reason.

We are all lucky that we have a choice of where we live, what we do and say , even what we want to eat or drink - and I never forget that.

Some people aren't so lucky in many respects...

Sam FTQ

I have always loved the beginnings of winter (Michaelmas term), there's always so much to look forward to - Harvest Festival, Bonfire Night, Christmas, New Year's Eve.... everybody is happy and festive and in party mood.

However, January to March (Epiphany term) I have always found very depressing. Nothing to look forward to, just months and months of dark, cold nights with Easter ages away.

Eeyore

If being looked after by the government is important to you, why are you apparently considering moving to the Middle East?

Care for hardworking workers is the last thing on any government's mind here. They'll welcome you with open arms if you have money, but as soon as you're in need of some help, they'll tell you to f**k off and die.

Or rather, throw you in jail for a while, and then throw you out of the country.

littlejimmy

Spot on again, Eeyore. Just look at how spugsy has been treated. His case is not unique. An unfortunate part of the working culture out here is that you can be knifed in the back without a second thought.

Daz968

It's important to me when I expect it and it is my own country / government. Which I pay taxes for / play a part in the democracy etc etc.

When I live in any other country, I go there in the full knowledge that I am a visitor and I have to accept its rules - warts and all.

I had the choice of staying in the UK, going to Saudi, Dubai, South Africa or Oman.

I looked at all options and the benefits / dangers / issues with all of the politics and lifestyle I wish to enjoy / endure.

South Africa is my 1st choice - but I chose Oman. It's not my Utopia, but of the choice that I have in front of me, it is the best for me and I am looking forward to it.

I will enjoy all the country has to offer and stay as long as long as I can / am able to and one day I may be able to afford my idea of Utopia - wherever that may be.

Who knows, Beardy Chap may convert me and it will all become irrelevant

I am lucky (?) and not working for a local company, I shall be working for a European company on contract in the region, so I hope not to be subject to the challenges that Spugsy has obviously had.

littlejimmy

Very, very wise move, Daz.

the bat

private or NHS it makes no difference, you could walk into an NHS hospital on monday get reffered to a private clinic for the op, and hey presto it's the same doctor who will do the op. i know, i have just been through it.....

MrsHaps

it still doesnt make it any better, i know someone who needed an op, and was told 3-6 months waiting, the time came and the day before the op it got cancelled.. he was then made to wait another 4 months.... again 3 days before it was cancelled, after a year of waiting was told 2 months max and he would have the op! Now unable to walk, he wanted to go private and did, he had the op within 4 days! And yes that was with the exact same dr! (oh and just so we are clear, he was not rich, he didnt have the private health care, he spent his life savings)

Madness

littlejimmy

That's that then, folks. One anecdotal tale means the NHS is utter shite.

Eeyore

Yes, the NHS would work so much better if only people didn't insist on getting ill...



Here's another anecdotal tale:

The wife of a guy I know who lives in Orkney went into labour about 13 weeks early. The NHS did an emergency evacuation by helicopter to Aberdeen, where the baby son was delivered. He was obviously very poorly and in need of a specialist 24/7 care, which he received, no questions asked. After nearly three months in the NICU hooked up to all kinds of machines, and after two full blood transfusions and several situations where the doctors held out very little hope for him, little baby Andrew is now at home in Orkney. He's still on oxygen, and could be so for up to a year, but of course the cost of that will be met by the NHS.

And there's the rub... if it hadn't have been for the NHS, baby Andrew would have died. It's as simple as that. There is no way on Earth that his parents could have afforded to pay for three months of 24/7 NICU care, never mind the helicopter evacuation and everything else.

Our own daughter was in the NICU at the American Hospital for five days after she was born (she had an infection). It wasn't covered by our corporate medical insurance, so we just had to pay a *lot* of money. And I mean a *lot* of money.

It's at times like that - when it really matters - that you realise what a wonderful institution the NHS is and how lucky the UK is to have it.

Of course, it's not just the UK; all the countries listed in the top 10 highest standard of living in the world have universal healthcare.

Grace O Malley

and another

My brother and his wife had a son last year born with downs and a major problem with his heart and all was touch and go.

He received the most fantastic care both medically and emotionally and he really couldn't praise the hospital and staff enough.

He and his wife were given a room owned by the hospital in a building next to the hospital which is for the families so they can be near to the patient

How great is that.

My nephew is doing great now and has had no problems!

Daz968

100% - I have the greatest regard for everything that Britain tries to offer it's community (irrespective of their tax burden on the state or their nationality).

It worked (most of the time) when the demands placed on the resources (health, social services, transport, housing etc) were at the correct ratio.

So many things are just under-resourced now - for lots of reasons; and I have the upmost sympathy for those people on the wrong end of a badly managed / under-resourced commodity. It's not that it is bad everywhere, quite the contrary - it just seems to affect more people adversely and that is what the press report.

There are many great things about the UK - and for those reasons I am sad to leave. but I will continue paying my stamp and the UK will always be my home and I will return (at least for holidays)