Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

Please dont http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/k...ilies/Yawn.gif

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

I didn't see it but I guess they fell for the "live your dream" hype and weren't very good at planning ahead! And if you're going to lose your fortune at internet poker sites, you can do that anywhere ...

Were they admitting they'd made bad decisions, or was there any indication that they somehow blamed the places they'd moved to for their misfortune?

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

I suppose most of us go for "live your dream" thing as you put it, otherwise why would many of us do it? But I suppose your dream has to be realistic, manageable and affordable, of course given what has happened financially some of that can change. However I don't think the singer and his wife thought about much of this until the money had ran out and they realised they were up a smelly creak without a paddle. You could not really say anyone could gave predicted what has happened but you surely must do some form of what if's as I call it before leaping. Hence why I bought a small village house which it was a bit more of a struggle than I though (bought 07!) having done my what if's I could achieve our aim own a little place in the sun sufficient for our needs and should all go wrong still own a property in the UK sufficient for our needs. Neither I may add grand by any stretch of the imagination but paid for and I sleep at nights.

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

Only thickos and losers can make an assumption on something they have not seen by comparing it to other programmes.
And for the record, I have never watched any of the other programmes you mention by the same producer, only this one as it was do do with expats like all of us here.
Are you sure you are not overweight, bad singer with a terrible ponytail or one of those trapped expats that has fallen on bad times and this programme hits a nerve?

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

Interesting how there is not one sympathetic thread among the replies.

I am alright Jack (Juan), I didn't fall on hard times, make an error of judgement etc. I hope you sleep well being so smug.

I am glad I don't have you as neighbours.

When we watched it we couldn't help but think that the full story wasn't being presented. e.g. the women in France. maintenance from absent fathers? Value of the BMW? Nothing if a Uk car without a UK MOT.

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

When we watched it we couldn't help but think that the full story wasn't being presented

Yes I think you are bang on there i.e. there is only one side of the story so far being given, speculation as to what is the true situation and sympathy to be honest don't help people. I think on the other hand there will be quite a large amount on here that will be able to empathise with some of the situations as they will have had to struggle to achieve their dream as we have re our little dream.

However no one can just risk everything on the luck of the draw. The main bit I saw was about the singer and as I have said his wife saw and understood the problems coming because they had lived too much of the good life without preparing for the inevitable getting older. As far as I could make out the ones in Florida took far too many shortcuts maybe as a means off getting things cheaper, common sense says for such a venture you need legal advice, any one contemplating any type of property knows, yes you can ignore at your peril, which they seemed to have done. As for her partner I am unable to offer any comment as I didn't really see that bit. Maybe he is a spineless Kreting more than likely who knows. The 2 woman in France well we only have their account re why there partners did what they did and there is usually 2 sides to every story again didn't see much of that bit. To be truly sympathetic one needs to have the full facts and the programmers obviously for what ever reason thought the program would be better by not doing that.

By the way please read my contributions and you will see I have not criticised anyone other than pointing out what the singers wife already knew but her husband chose to ignore.

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

I've certainly made some errors of judgement in my life, including ones that proved to be expensive. I worked through them on my own and got past it, without help from the taxpayer, family or anybody. I wouldn't dream of going on TV and bleating about it. Actions have consequences and the world would be a better place today if people were encouraged to face up to that fact instead of expecting other people to pick up the pieces after they do stupid things. I have every sympathy for people who do things right and have terrible things happen to them, like all those in Spain who are without work at the moment through no fault of their own, many of them losing their homes.

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

We are on the same Hymn sheet Lynn

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

Mind I love how the TV takes the win win point of view. Couple of years ago you couldn't put the TV on without Place in the Sun type programmes, telling us what a great and profitable life lay in the buying abroad scheme. Now they can't wait to tell us how crap and dodgy it all is! I wonder when Australia will get the latter treatment as it seems at the moment to have taken the place in the sun spot!

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

I thought much the same, I bet some of these posters regularly write to the Daily Mail. ;) It also happens when the subject of illegal homes comes up, despite having done their homework, employed an abogado etc, the people that end up with illegal properties are quickly slated by the sabelotodos. Without knowing the full story, there's no shortage of posters leaping in to slag off the people in the programme. It's hard for instance to programme a stroke into your plans, sh1t happens. Your husband turns out to be a secret online gambler, I feel sorry for the lady, not much she could have done to have prevented that. The one couple I did think were a bit foolish were the one's that invested all their life savings in a single project, not the greatest idea. These things happen, friends of ours are stuck in Portugal, she hates it, but they can't sell and their money is fast dwindling away.

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

An aspect not yet mentioned is why on earth do these people choose to hang their washing out for public or even worldwide viewing ?
I imagine there will be some sort of fee involved from the production company, but is that the sole reason and what sort of reaction do they themselves actually expect ?
Are they looking for sympathy ?
Are they being public spirited as a warning to others?
If my life went completely off the rails or else I made some gigantic cock-up, I doubt if I'd want the whole world and his wife to see it and spend long hours picking over the bones, though I'd likely chew it over with those closest in whom I had a reasonable degree of trust.


Also as previously mentioned there may welll be aspects of their problems which haven't come to light, but at the same time it must be mentioned that the production company is basically only showing the side of things that they themselves wish to be known.

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

The woman whose husband was an online gambler actually said that she'd discovered he was playing online poker "again" which indicates that she knew he'd had a problem and (a) had stayed with him instead of divorcing and safeguarding her share of their assets to protect herself and their children in the future, or (b) had taken no steps such as having funds transferred to a bank account of her own which he could not access.

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

I guess the singer guy just loves the limelight, no matter how he gets it! :D His performing days are over, and didn't he say something like he was a bit of a show off? With the lady who's hubby was a millionaire, after going from that to queuing in a food bank, she's probably not got a great deal of esteem left, doesn't worry what anyone thinks any more. Plus for all of them the money will come in handy. Like you, I'd be keeping mum, saying nought.
I was reading about people committing suicide after losing their job, their house etc, and people were saying there are people that have suffered the same fate and not committed suicide, but we're all different, some are stronger than others, handle the situation better. I don't think we could say with any certainty how we would react if we lost everything, hopefully we'll never find out.

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

I must wholeheartedly agree with these sentiments.

I remember sitting down with a few (dozens) of tinnies one quiet evening with some shipmates and one of the guys said there was no way he would consider diving onto a grenade to save the rest of us.
The consensus in theory was none of us would - until the time came.

You will never, ever, know until you are put into the situation what your reaction will be.


`

Re: "Trouble Abroad"
 

So has the jury reached it's verdict on tonights sad tales of misfortune ? :cool: