If you had the chance would you emigrate?

[BaronVonVVankel]

Am i the only one on here who loves this Country ? :eek:
Are you Rodders all California Dreamin' ? :confused:

[cabby]

Bet ya life on it! only my girls keep me here, they wouldnt go and I cant leave em ere

[surfmonkey]

give a really good reason to stay in this country at the moment

[scottie]

does a bear ____ in the woods

[Adam]

I love England but if the bloody euro came here we have both said it's Australia or New Zealand for us.

[CalumA]

Am i the only one on here who loves this Country ? :eek:
Are you Rodders all California Dreamin' ? :confused:

You just beat me to it on this one!!

My other half has decided we're for the off, at the end of the year! US is first choice, but there's a bit of a freeze on Green Cards (Retrogression it's called).

So, Canada and Oz are being considered. Has anybody any thoughts on either, as haven't been to either.

[surfmonkey]

`dont get me wrong...i`m english through and through,i love everything english i even support the england football team even though we`ll win *floop* all....BUT while we live under a regime that sees fit to let every tom dick and terrorist into my country to kill me and my family and then have the neck to tax me to the hilt to protect us...well sadly theres something a miss....cant see this thread lasting too long

[TOAD]

I`d be out this country like a shot if i could, me, wife and kids ....this country has gone down the pan and seems to be the dumping ground for every other countries cr4p.....imho........if your english your f00ked, but if your foreign then you got it made.........toad...............and yes it would be california

[58impala]

I would go back to OZ. Warm weather, loads of rods & beer. (Unfortunately I wouldn't get in now!... B*****ks!):(

[TOAD]

I would go back to OZ. Warm weather, loads of rods & beer. (Unfortunately I wouldn't get in now!... B*****ks!):(

last i heard was Oz want english to move there

and the wife has just told me that canada wants people to emigrate there........toad

[scottie]

last i heard was Oz want english to move there

and the wife has just told me that canada wants people to emigrate there........toad


at least if you get to canada you can drive to california :D

[surfmonkey]

its way easier to get into mexico...then we`ll just go thru the fence:eek::D:D:D

[mark327]

Is somewhere else better? So many people go on and on about how Sh**e it is here. Don’t know what it’s like to live somewhere else.
One thing here is the health service, it’s free, to all everybody.
While in the USA last year, because the election was going on, the TV was full of stuff about living in America, and so many people said that they wished they had a Health service like we have.
One fact the stuck with me is, in the US the diagnosis for cancers has gone up in America faster then anywhere else in the world, but the cure rate has dropped, to the point that they are behind most other countries, why? Because most health insurance will cover you for the diagnosis but not the cure! So you know you have it and are going to die, but can’t afford to do anything about it. That sounds such a good thing right.
Our biggest problem here is the media, which is mostly owned by one bloke, and aussie, that has said he wants a Tory government in and so they only go on abut the bad stuff never anything positive.
My personnel opinion is, if you think England is Cr*p then F**K **F and don’t come back.

[Model A Mick]

Australia for me is an option I might take up,been looking into it.
New job gives me points plus Ive family out there already,we will have to see how it goes....

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p53/v6pop/kangaroo-sign.jpg

[Model A Mick]

My personnel opinion is, if you think England is Cr*p then F**K **F and don’t come back.

Well"guest mark327",when did you get the job of telling people what to do with the rest of there lives.......*chug*er

[J1MMY]

My personnel opinion is, if you think England is Cr*p then F**K **F and don’t come back.

Hehe, are you willing to help us would - be defectors achieve this?:p

Joking aside, the grass does always seem greener, as they say. We're all adults and know that nowhere is problem free. I'd like to leave but in all honesty I'm not really capable of offering any potentially desirable country something that they don't have there already in their own body of inhabitants. But, the other half is halfway through her PhD, and once she has achieved this the world will be pretty much her Oyster, such is the nature of her particular field of work.

She is into the 'States, as am I. I'm also fond of British Columbia - most of my Fathers' side of the family are there - and can see us winding up over there, not because of "the state of things" over here but because it would further her career and lifelong learning. For me it would be about the cars,'bikes and travel - I'd be happy doing pretty much whatever to earn a crust. I'd never say no to anything (within reason!:D) - life is too short to narrow down your options.:)

[Dragsterbus]

I like it here, got a drag strip 2 miles from the workshop, could do with a dry lake like bonneville (that could be a couple of miles in the other direction) ,all i really need is $3 to the pound and i'll be happy, ok $4

[stevei F]

The grass is always greener on the other side they say ?? When I chase that side of the California dream that we all love for the 2 or 4 weeks a year there's nothing better! BUT it is just a vacation / play time. I love So Cal but would I live and work there ? probably not. Its just to dam big with most nice areas out of my reach. There is a big big difference when you have to work and make a living there, especially if you have kids as the education system is mostly trash !
I have friends in Cali and they all would swap places and move to the UK in an instant . aint that strange the problems they talk about are exactly the same as we do immigration, work, money and health !!! They all think the same as us its gotta be better over here !!!
If I had the chance in real terms 6 months here and six months there with a car in both ports !! the best of both worlds.
I think its called having your cake and eating it !!!

[prostreet70gto]

i moved out to the states (florida) in 93 and was back here in less than 6 weeks. in my first hour there i heard gunshots and it was way too violent. im not soft by any means, but you got to be real about wether you want to live or die. so after coming back here for a stop gap of one month i moved yet again to mallorca in the balearics. heaven

but with no car scene wat so ever i soon got bored beyond belief. i hung it out for 10 years but the sun was all it had to offer and so i came back and bought my ride. never looked back but id still go somewhere else tomorrow if i felt like leaving. This country sucks

[GasolineScream]

Its all well and good wanting to move but most folk can't. Its not that easy and all this about being able to bog off to Oz at the drop of a hat is dreaming. I heard so many folks reckon they are off somewhere and they have as much chance as me having a blown gasser.
To get the points etc is very hard , takes a hell of alot of time and costs a fortune. You have to put up alot of money and there is no promise of a visa.
I know as i was out in Oz for 9 years and been back 2 years now. I have my Ozzy residency and could go back tomorrow but to be honest i wouldnt.
Its not a barbys and beers believe me. Dont get me wrong there is alot thats great out there but as said the grass is not always greener. Most countries have exactly the same issues we have here and at least we havent got skin cancer centres on every street corner.
Into rods??? Try buying and running one in Oz. Will cost you big money (if you can find one) and very strict build laws. Think you'd get away with it. No chance , roadside ramps used by old bill will catch you!
I have to say this place has changed , much like any country though and although the weather is crap , jobs are sparce etc etc i happier here than i was out there.
Better shows , better racing and a outside of the US it has to be the next best rodding scene.

Want to go? Find out IF you can go first then take a long holiday. Over half of the Pommy's i knew out there stuck it out for a while and then came home. Makes you think.

Dan

[Redmoggy]

Had the chance and took it in November. If anyone is of the opinion that the grass is greener they are sadly mistaken. Everywhere has its own issues you just have to decide if your willing to put up with them.
Much as i was fed up with the UK i left for a change in lifestyle. I already knew i would earn less money and that despite being able to fill a skills shortage out here it would still cost a fair amount. The up side is that people in general have a different attitude to life and work that suits me,and the space is just great.
Lots of old bikes and a thriving Hot Rod community that i have yet to break into.
Life is short,eat pudding first.
Rod

[vince-305]

Id be sitting in canada right now given the chance, i was tempted to say oz but i dont do spiders lol

[mtlmanalex]

well , i had to get in on this one . i moved to california in january '95 . i'm lucky in that i had some fabrication skills and found a job . i guess you could say i fulfilled my ambition of owning my own custom / rod shop in so-cal . i had the shop for ten years , let me tell you , there are not as many people here with a million dollars for a hot rod as you might think . i've done work for steve moal , the late boyd coddington , and chip foose [ still the best in the buisness in my opinion ] like everywhere there's good and bad . to be really honest , i couldn't come back now , going to bonneville every year , ambr , all the shows , not to mention getting to drive some of the best cars ever built . how many people can say they did a burn out on rodeo drive in the pierson brothers bonneville coupe , or cruised pacific coast highway in clark gables duesenburg ? my advice to anyone is if you can do anything skillful come to america , you owe it to yourself . the american dream is still available if your'e willing to try .so there it is , not a bed of roses by any means , but it beats freezing my ass of in hillingdon , think i'll ride the harley to work tomorrow , forecast is 74 degrees ...................................

[scottie]

My personnel opinion is, if you think England is Cr*p then F**K **F and don’t come back.


will bear that in mind next time i cross the border

[Japchris]

If you want to live abroad then go for it - I loved living in Japan as there was a good hot rod and kustom, rockabilly scene, but despite all the problems in UK I am pleased to be living back here now. The car scene here is as good, if not better, than most other places in the world. All comes down to your personal circumstances - family, profession, etc.
Worst thing would be to get old and regret not having tried something when you had the chance.

[raysal]

I would be out of this country like a rocket if I could but I wouldn't be accepted now.
I notice that a lot of you seem to be guided as to what country to go to purely on the car scene, as much as I like rodding I would put what is best for my family first.
Worth mentioning to those that haven't been to the States and think that there are droves of hotrods driving about everywhere, that ain't the case. Even in California you only see one driving about on the odd occasion. You will only see loads if they are on their way to a event.

[KimLeonard]

Oh boy, I could write page after page on this subject. Here's my story from someone who has done it.

I sold up and moved to So Cal in '88 (as my wife was from there). For the first few years it was great but as time went on it didnt seem as good as I thought it was.
Work is hard with most companies only giving a few days off a year. This is based on how long you work for them, ie, your first five years you will only get 5 days a year holiday, for me this meant that each time that I wanted to go on holiday I had to take another week off unpaid.
Health insurance now is SKY high, even if your company pays some towards it it still eats into your wages. Example, guy I worked with who was married with 2 kids had to work 60 hours a week plus another 20 hours somewhere else just to cover all his bills because of the high cost he paid in health insurance for his family.
But Californians' love to work, they see it as 'live to work' where as in the UK we 'work to live'.
Personally I dont like most Californians, their views on life and how they see the rest of world is shocking. Most not even knowing WHERE the rest of world is, let alone what is happening there....they only take in news that is on their doorstep and effects them.
I met loads of people who I hung out with but none of them that you can call 'friends'....I mean REAL friends as we know the term in the UK. I had 3 times as many Xmas cards sent from the UK then from my 'friends' in So Cal. These people (not all but most) will do you a 'favor' (cause they are your 'friends') only if there is something in it for them. Oh, and if you are a single guy the women all have some sort of 'deep' problem.
The weather is great 'if' you can enjoy it but for most its a long working day and maybe in a building with no AC ,and to be honest (and this is hard to believe) you do get fed up with getting into a boiling car and coming home to hot house.
After 16 years I found that my brain was shutting down due to a lack of creative conversation and a lack any challenge in life. I guess for some that might be ok if you just want to switch off and have everything done for you, but thats not me.
Anyway, I re-married in 2005 to a non native Californian and when Bush got in for another 4 years I said enough is enough and decided to sell up and move back to the UK.
I wanted a challenge and thats what I got when I moved back as everything has changed and I felt like I was a fish outa water. It took ages to get re established here but we are finally getting there.
Would I go back ?, well my wife likes it here now (took a while) and she has a good job. From news we get from the people we know back there, things are really bad, 600,000 jobs lost in the last year and getting worse, so maybe not right now.
But what WILL drive back is that I am sick to death of this 'nanny state', I wouldnt think of leaving right now to go back but never say never.
Finally, as a couple of other people have said, the grass always looks greener but at the end of the day the bills still come in and the alarm clock still goes off.

[Battersea Boys]

I quite fancy spending the whole summer in Sweden for the car scene - it's awesome.

We spent 4-6 months a year on and of through the late eighties and nineties living in L.A. for like 4-6 weeks at a time. It was great at first but soon started to get old. I think you need to be properly minted to live the life there - I prefer to just dip in and out of it.

As someone mentioned, when you're on holiday the 'Big Country' is great but when you're working and you need to move about it does you in and the Freeways seemed to be busy the whole time now, and the neat little business's along places like Foothill Blvd have been replaced with a mini-mall on every cross street. Riverside Raceway is houses now... L.A. is nothing like it was, and its certainly not a 'free' country!

I do know the difference between Australia and a natural yoghurt is that even the yoghurt if you leave it long enough will develop its own culture...

And besides all that, I'd miss going to see The Glorious Blues play!





Stew

[KimLeonard]

Oh yeah, and the traffic in So Cal is crazy. Time it wrong and its a 2 hour drive to get into LA from central OC which is a 25 mile drive !!
And as Battersea boys says, just way toooo much concreate, pretty soon there will be no land between LA and San Diego !!

[raysal]

end of the day the bills still come in and the alarm clock still goes off

love that line

[CalumA]

Never seem to hear Canada mentioned much. Anyone any experiences? Also, is there much/any rod scene up there?

[raysal]

I am quite well travelled and in the last eight or so years decided that I want easier holidays in terms of culture, I want to go where they speak English so that I can easily converse with them, I don't want to wade through lines of beggers or have cheap junk thrust in my face to buy so I started visting the States. I Have been many times now and noticed that America is fast becoming Mexican. I did a 22 day week 3500 mile tour of California found it difficult at times to find English speaking people while out on the road. I mostly go to Florida now and have noticed the huge influx of Mexicans in just the last two years. I reckon in ten years time they will outnumber the Americans.
I am not racist, in fact where America is comparatively a new country and the blacks have evolved with it, I see Blacks as much American as the whites.
but the Mexicans have a completely different culture, it's the huge American stage set I get pleasure from in my visits.

[classic]

Never seem to hear Canada mentioned much. Anyone any experiences? Also, is there much/any rod scene up there?
8 months of Winter in some area's. But its got to be better than this down the pan country ( never thought I would feel that way)

[Paul B]

Is somewhere else better? So many people go on and on about how Sh**e it is here. Don’t know what it’s like to live somewhere else.
One thing here is the health service, it’s free, to all everybody.
While in the USA last year, because the election was going on, the TV was full of stuff about living in America, and so many people said that they wished they had a Health service like we have.
One fact the stuck with me is, in the US the diagnosis for cancers has gone up in America faster then anywhere else in the world, but the cure rate has dropped, to the point that they are behind most other countries, why? Because most health insurance will cover you for the diagnosis but not the cure! So you know you have it and are going to die, but can’t afford to do anything about it. That sounds such a good thing right.
Our biggest problem here is the media, which is mostly owned by one bloke, and aussie, that has said he wants a Tory government in and so they only go on abut the bad stuff never anything positive.
My personnel opinion is, if you think England is Cr*p then F**K **F and don’t come back.
Exactly! How many people here, who swear they'd leave given the chance, have ever been overseas, let alone lived in another country. I've been to over 40 countries, and lived in several, and while the UK is not perfect it has a lot more going for it than most every other country on the planet.

Do people honestly think any other country is perfect? I've worked in the USA for over three years now, and while everybody think it is the land of dreams, there is still a good supply of unpleasantness and bums and crazy laws there. It is nowhere near as cheap as people seem to think, the roads may be big, but many of them are in terrible condition. Speak to a local and they all have something to moan about, just like back home. Gas is cheap, as are car parts, but there is more to life than cars, or so some people say.....;)

The problem with the UK is all you ever hear is BAD news from newspapers. Do you remember the last time the headlines screamed: 60 million Brits had a great day today, living in secure luxury, nobody starved to death or died at the hands of the police? Nope, because newspapers only print bad news,. Good news doesn't sell newspapers. The UK is so good it actually encourages lowlifes and scroungers. How many of you naysayers have ever written to your MP to complain, or to ask him to try to change or influence a law, to voice your opinion, to make a difference? I bet not 1 in 10,000 Brits ever have!

You have a car crash here, bust your legs, have a heart attack, how much do you pay? Nada. Do that in most every other country in the world and you'll have a bill that'll require selling your house to pay. Health insurance in the USA for a family of six, with full cover like you get in the UK? Cost you a $grand a month.

I lived in the Philippines for nine years, and while it is dirt cheap, and hot/sunny all year round, there are so many annoying chaotic things there that the UK was a pleasant change, apart from the prices and weather,and the fact you can't buy the cops off when they bust you. Living in countries where corruption is rife is useful when you are the top dog, but wait until you are the victim of corruption or abuse.


Given the chance, I'd like to live in either the USA or Australia, but it is not because I hate or detest the UK, more that they have better weather and are cheaper to live.

[insanityvans]

Got to reply to this one. Moved to Georgia (USA) in 2001 and lived there for 2 years before coming back for mt girlfriend....we are working very hard to go back to live even if it is for only 6 months of the year. Medical insurance is the big downer, but for a limited time if you are travelling round the US, you can use travel insurance.
I wouldn't go anywhere near Florida...too many Brits....and if I wanted that, I could stay here. I don't go to spain to sit in an English pub!!!
As Raysal says, USA is fast becoming Sspanish/Mexican and spanish is now the number one language in America. On of the problems is that the Mexicans do the lower paid jobs and tend to live in the poorer 'trailer' parks and that causes the divide because middle class USa sees their way of life being eroded. It is a fact of life that the world is changing..no comment on whether that is good or not...just that it is happening.
I know a change usually means swapping one set of problems for another set.....but surely sometimes you have to go for it and give it a try??
good luck to all who do give it a go!

[CalumA]

8 months of Winter in some area's. But its got to be better than this down the pan country ( never thought I would feel that way)

Canada doesn't seem too bad, we get 12 months of winter in Glasgow!

[steveo3002]

id give it a try , i know its not all green there either but i think it suits me more than england ever will


always come sniveling back if it goes wrong lol

[B]if anyone thats done the move has any advice for getting there legaly (im a car painter ) , please pm me id appreciate it :)

[32chris]

i love ole Blighty, its just a shame it doesn't love its people anymore

am proud to be English - just not proud of England :(

i would bugger off in a heartbeat ;)

[KimLeonard]

Also want to add this.

To anyone thinking about a move, although it might be warmer or cheaper and it may give you a better standard of living it doesnt mean a better quality of life !!

[LimeyHotRodGirl]

Canada doesn't seem too bad, we get 12 months of winter in Glasgow!

British Columbia, specifically Vancouver Island!! Great weather, nice scenery, really nice people and quite a lot of hot rodding.

Ali

[Jumpin Jim]

to behold its beauty.

I've been stateside for holidays, but, as has been said on a low budget I'd be living on the wrong side of the tracks. Stuff that, just take more trips abroad.

Although, maybe moving and experiencing what it's like to be just another 'migrant worker' or like back packing thru the 3rd world we'd all be a bit happier with what we got going on.

Having said that I'd like to join me chums in Canaries, just heard that you can leverage your UK state pittance, sorry pension by qualifying in some way for 'their' pension after just 10 years. You can E*syjet to the best car events/shows.

[Paul Y]

I have lived and worked abroad for many years, probably something to do with having a foreign wife (amazing what you can buy on the Internet these days.......:rolleyes:)

I would live abroad again.

Being able to experience a different way of life should not be underestimated, it does give you a more balanced view and makes you appreciate exactly what the Nanny State does for each and everyone of us.

That is probably why I feel so stifled and helpless and voiceless here.

A point is made further up about people not contacting their MP when they have a grievance. I have contacted my MP on a number of occasions and still nothing changes. Surprised? No.

You only have to take a look at your local council to realise why we the majority are ruled by the minority. And I don't mean that in the way that some people might take it before I get Pilloried!

So, why am I still here? The NHS. I really don't care what people say about it, there is nothing else that comes close anywhere, my daughter is living proof.

the ideal situation would be to spend the winter somewhere else and the summers here, doubt if that is going to happen soon though!

In closing, it doesn't matter where you go there will always be things that you don't like the question is do the pro's outweigh the cons?

P.:D

[WB54]

i love ole Blighty, its just a shame it doesn't love its people anymore




when did it ever ? Appreciate some people feel patriotic but why ? All we have is more recorded history than most ! and the majority of it isn't something I'm proud of.

Our Royals have assumed titles with interbred European bloodlines, not exactly English ?

Look back in English history and tell me your proud to be English ? The atrosities our predeccessors did, invasions, murder, slavery, marrying for foreign alliances ?, forget Hitler, we could have all been speaking French long before he tried...

There is no Britain without the British people. The counties losing it's identity with not only immigration but a big divide in social class. The ethics of what being british was commonly thought to be are long gone IMO. Patriotism now considered to be a load of lagered up chavs putting St Georges flags on their Mondeos when the footballs on, and the Union flags now regarded as a symbol of the National Front ? WTF ?

I've always said I'd leave for California if I could, but in reality it'd never materialise, I could never leave my familly, and am fairly intolerant to change, so right now the dreams a better motivator than the potential life changing let down that it'd invariably be. The biggest attractions of why I'd want to go are all in the past and the only other benefit would be better weather.

Whilst I think this county has it's issue, it's easy to live in it and ignore them. Turn the TV off and don't buy newspapers, live in blissfull ignorance !

[kripfink]

Six years ago, almost to the day, I had a ladder go from underneath me at work. I fell two storeys, and broke my neck, severing my spine, leaving me paralysed from the neck down. The paramedics were there within five minutes to assess my situation, they in turn contacted the air ambulance which flew me to Chichester hospital, who then decided I'd be better off at Salisbury, so ANOTHER helicopter flew me there, where undoubtedly my life was saved. They kept me for ten months convalescence, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy, numerous operations etc. Meanwhile, back at home, my social worker and the council set the benefits ball rolling so that my wife and two kids could still pay the bills, and the house was converted to allow me to come home rather than languish in hospital forever. Although it was a work accident, and I eventually received compensation, the greater part of care costs and living expenses are still met by the health sytem and social security as I paid my tax and National Insurance contributions. This in effect means that, although by twist of fate, I am now permanently wheelchair bound and unemployable, I still enjoy the absolute best quality of life my situation allows, and am comfortable in the knowledge that my family will never have to worry financially again. The cost to me? Not a penny.
Yeah this country sucks, until things go wrong.Try this in California and see how far you get.
Paul

[Paul]

Is somewhere else better? So many people go on and on about how Sh**e it is here. Don’t know what it’s like to live somewhere else.
One thing here is the health service, it’s free, to all everybody.
While in the USA last year, because the election was going on, the TV was full of stuff about living in America, and so many people said that they wished they had a Health service like we have.
One fact the stuck with me is, in the US the diagnosis for cancers has gone up in America faster then anywhere else in the world, but the cure rate has dropped, to the point that they are behind most other countries, why? Because most health insurance will cover you for the diagnosis but not the cure! So you know you have it and are going to die, but can’t afford to do anything about it. That sounds such a good thing right.
Our biggest problem here is the media, which is mostly owned by one bloke, and aussie, that has said he wants a Tory government in and so they only go on abut the bad stuff never anything positive.
My personnel opinion is, if you think England is Cr*p then F**K **F and don’t come back.

Im with you on this one!!.....
the media are telling us all how **** it is here......when we have the best standard of living we have ever had......I was in California in the summer and all my relatives could talk about was how the immigrants get everything for nowt and how much the medical insurance was costing. They did nowt but tell me how **** their lives were and how difficult it was to get a job...unless you were "straight off the boat and can't speak english"....sound familiar......
I would love to live some place where it's warm all year round and I could drive what the hell I wanted without having to worry about the cost of the fuel and having some uninsured ***** crash in to me ....California, poss, Australia...nope, New Zealand....maybe, Spain..might do...South of France..could do but at the end of the day I live here and like. If I could I would have a holiday home in the US and poss one in the south of france but still live here.....If it's so **** here they why do people want to come here???
and finally.....I work for the immigration people and with current regs (points based system) it is really difficult to come here and stay legally, a fully qualified doctor from a UK uni gets 70 points....you need 75 to stay here!...the detection and capture rate for illegals and over stayers is very high (not like your told in the papers)..someone from outside the EU can't just come here, get a big house for free and get massive amounts of benefit...then bring over all his family, neighbours, the dog and some bloke he met in the pub....and nor are they allowed to work....not like you get told in the papers..from landing here legally with a work permit (and we don't give them out like sweets either) to being able to claim anything form public funds (that includes any form of benefit) on average is 5 years....at which point they will have leave to remain and will have had to prove 5 years of economic activity...ie working and earning for 5 years continuous and in the last 3 months have saved £800 per month, not £799 on month and £801 the next but over £800 each month....

[insanityvans]

Ya pays ya money, ya takes ya chance!! It is impopssible to disagree that our National Health is the very, very best helath system in the whole world. But that is just one of the things to consider before moving permamently abroad. It is the one thing..especially as I get older which would stop me living in the US for good...so hopefully, one day, perhaps, maybe, I might be able to do 6 months there and 6 months here.

[Briz]

I'd dearly love to escape the british climate and the nanny state, and the california dream is seductive.
But I've seen the reality of what often befalls the hopeful emigree.
2 old friends went to LA; one never made a bean & never escaped the trailer park. Got killed in a road accident.
The other one got divorced, and taken for every penny. Now a partially insane alky.
Dont think I could stand all that ugly religion sloshing about everywhere.

[bigbadbaldlee]

Six years ago, almost to the day, I had a ladder go from underneath me at work. I fell two storeys, and broke my neck, severing my spine, leaving me paralysed from the neck down. The paramedics were there within five minutes to assess my situation, they in turn contacted the air ambulance which flew me to Chichester hospital, who then decided I'd be better off at Salisbury, so ANOTHER helicopter flew me there, where undoubtedly my life was saved. They kept me for ten months convalescence, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy, numerous operations etc. Meanwhile, back at home, my social worker and the council set the benefits ball rolling so that my wife and two kids could still pay the bills, and the house was converted to allow me to come home rather than languish in hospital forever. Although it was a work accident, and I eventually received compensation, the greater part of care costs and living expenses are still met by the health sytem and social security as I paid my tax and National Insurance contributions. This in effect means that, although by twist of fate, I am now permanently wheelchair bound and unemployable, I still enjoy the absolute best quality of life my situation allows, and am comfortable in the knowledge that my family will never have to worry financially again. The cost to me? Not a penny.
Yeah this country sucks, until things go wrong.Try this in California and see how far you get.


Blimey, when you put it like that.
Kinda puts it all into perspective.


I'd love to go and live abroad - probably Aus.
Not because I hate the UK - I don't. Yes, the current government are incompetent, the economy is on it's @rse, everything costs too much, taxes are too high, too many people, speed cameras, blah, blah, blah. But I dare say wherever you go has its problems.
It would just be nice to go and experience a different way of life and broaden my horizons.
As for the "if you don't like it f*ck off" attitude, a bit harsh but I agree that everyone has the right to move around as they please which is why we have a large number of immigrants to the UK: just people seeking a better life for themselves and their families, and why not?
I wish I'd done it years ago before I had lots of commitments and stuff, so if you want to do it, don't talk about it, do it!

[32chris]

when did it ever ? Appreciate some people feel patriotic but why ? All we have is more recorded history than most ! and the majority of it isn't something I'm proud of.

valid point, maybe i was just being a bit misty eyed of a time when things didnt seem quite as bad,
but actually, now im thinking about it, er... erm......

passport :D

[kapri]

Like Paul, I wouldn't be here,or continue to be here , without the NHS . I couldn't afford the £1500 per month that it costs to keep me alive ( and that's on a good month)

Sure there's lots wrong with this place, just the same as any other .The biggest problem I find with Britain is the British, always moaning but never prepared to DO anything about the issues. We all have freedom of choice to leave if we wish, try that in some other countries even.

We have a democracy, USE it .

[TATFINK]

while i like most things american,..with a shop called ENGLISH ROSE and 2 ENGLAND flags flying in my garden, a trailer with ENGLISH ROSE RACING on the side...need i say more...

[vince-305]

Id be sitting in canada right now given the chance, i was tempted to say oz but i dont do spiders lol

As someone has said already im one of those that dont even own a passport so wouldnt know what another country would be like and whilst growing up i always liked the idea of the USA but as i got older and had a family i thought of canada more for them than myself

The great outdoors is a dream tho :rolleyes:

[weemark]

as its a follow on from the other thread where i said i would buy a towel and a one way ticket to somewhere else and sell up, yep i would go find somewhere warm and not worry about other things. im not married and dont have kids so no worries about taking them or finding them a decent education etc. just me, my towel and a nice beach :)

[Rossphotos]

I have a 24 year old neice, currently living and working in New Zealand. Having experienced the life for three years she and her NZ boyfriend fully intend to move to the UK permanently as soon as he has finished at College. They find NZ just too dull!
Ac close friend lived in Texas for three years, working for a British company. He found the Americans very ignorant of anything that goes on outside of the States, and on several occasions, when he mentioned that he was Scottish and had come from the UK recently, he was told that he had "picked up the language very quickly"! He greatly missed British TV, as American TV is 50 stations of rubbish, and British/European football - even when the World Cup was on in America most of them knew nothing about it and he struggled to find any TV coverage. He found the large numbers of religious fanatics difficult to accept as well. He couldn't wait to get back to the UK.
I could never consider moving to the USA as my wife has been diabetic for 35 years. We both know that as she gets older she will start to suffer from complications, but we have the NHS to help. The medical insurance costs would be astronomical in the States.
I wouldn't move abroad, but then I now live in the heart of the Highlands, with stunning scenery all around, virtually no crime, no traffic jams and great roads with hardly any speed cameras. If you can live with the fact that the winters can be a bit dreich and that its four days of driving and a huge fuel bill to attend any major hot rod events, then it's not a bad place to be.

[randrhotrodimports]

Nope!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sweet fa]

Save money move to wisbech and you will instantly transported to eastern europe!!

[WB54]

while i like most things american,..with a shop called ENGLISH ROSE and 2 ENGLAND flags flying in my garden, a trailer with ENGLISH ROSE RACING on the side...need i say more...

So what is it Carl that makes you proud to be English ? just interested in different peoples thoughts.

[57peppershaker]

I'd like to pack up & ship out asap. Problem is, with the pennys in my pocket at the mo, might only make it to Canvey Island !! & packing my 57 into boxes would take toooo long.

[highwayman]

Nope!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Russ, Say what you mean;)

[kripfink]

Save money move to wisbech and you will instantly transported to eastern europe!!

Now that's feckin' funny:D

I feel that I should add I really don't blame anyone for being disolutioned with the state of things here,my story is very much the exception not the rule thank God.But I just can't seem to see myslf as anything other than an Englishman,albeit one who pines for an ideal England that no longer exists(& maybe never did) outside of old Ealing comedies, Carry On films and TV shows like the Saint.
Paul

[raysal]

Most peoples complaint of Britain is too many immigrants allowed in to take up the resources and bad weather. I think they are both linked, we have so many more people living in this little country that the exta weight is tilting the planet thus causing climate change throughout the whole world lol

[rem]

Well, I'm British, and don't do earthquakes/tornadoes/40C temperatures/dangerous reptiles and insects/wild fires/all the other stuff.

Would I leave this country "because of all the foreigners", and become someone else's foreigner?

I like 60 - 70F weather - when it's red hot you can't do anything worthwhile other than sit around drinking. I don't like the rain or snow, but around here we don't seem to do too badly most of the time.

I'll let you make your own mind up...

[randrhotrodimports]

LOL I like the UK, :D dont see the facination in living in the USA anyway. ready to come home after week out there.
Russ, Say what you mean;)

[langysrodshop]

I've had a couple of chances to work in the states but its a different kettle of fish living there compared to a fortnights holiday.

The grass is always greener on the other side springs to mind !!!

[als57]

Very nearly moved to LA 17 years ago, bottled out in the end. If I had I wouldn't have met my wife and had our two girls so worked out for the better. I'm too sarcastic to get on with Americans and the TV would drive me nuts....and I'd miss the pub.

[TATFINK]

So what is it Carl that makes you proud to be English ? just interested

happy with my lot really,been to usa hot rod n tattoo shows ,drag racing ,fine ..but was glad to get home done the med hols ,enjoy ENGLISH hols better
sure we are taxed to much etc ,but im sure all other countrys have there own problems..if people aint happy with wot they got ,then change it ,simples

[insanityvans]

Very nearly moved to LA 17 years ago, bottled out in the end. If I had I wouldn't have met my wife and had our two girls so worked out for the better. I'm too sarcastic to get on with Americans and the TV would drive me nuts....and I'd miss the pub.
I lived out there...you can be as sarcastic as you like with Americans...they don't get it!! (And before anyone asks, I have dual nationality and speak from both camps). They also have trouble realising that they are not always right, that stuff happens outside of the US and that not all of us personally know the queen.....or at least not the royal one!!

[GasolineScream]

My experience in Oz was worth it but as mentioned when your working in a place it can lose it's glow VERY quickly.
I'm a qualified Autoglazier and out there i was working every hour to get by. W'ends , public holidays early and lates. Sydney was a really expensive place to live .I lived in Bondi for a while (until i had to move due to cost), thought it would be cool. Beach 200yds away , skate ramps by the beach , honeys wondering around everywhere.Thing is when you work out in the sun allday long and have sweated your way through 3 work shirts the last thing come the wend you want to do is go to the beach. Most Ozzy's will do anything to get out the sun and laugh at the tourists who insist on wondering around with no slap or hat on.
Having a long holiday or a few visits MAY give you an idea however when it comes actually working in paradise it a whole different matter.
Now back in UK i have thrown myself back into rodding again and am trying to make the best of things. For me it's about involvement and making the scene a better place. Thats why i'm helping out the NSRA at shows throughout the year. Meet more folks , support the NSRA and enjoy our scene as much as possible.

Folks dont give up on old Blighty. If you do, can i have your tools please!!!!

Dan:):)

[insanityvans]

My experience in Oz was worth it but as mentioned when your working in a place it can lose it's glow VERY quickly.
I'm a qualified Autoglazier and out there i was working every hour to get by. W'ends , public holidays early and lates. Sydney was a really expensive place to live .I lived in Bondi for a while (until i had to move due to cost), thought it would be cool. Beach 200yds away , skate ramps by the beach , honeys wondering around everywhere.Thing is when you work out in the sun allday long and have sweated your way through 3 work shirts the last thing come the wend you want to do is go to the beach. Most Ozzy's will do anything to get out the sun and laugh at the tourists who insist on wondering around with no slap or hat on.
Having a long holiday or a few visits MAY give you an idea however when it comes actually working in paradise it a whole different matter.
Now back in UK i have thrown myself back into rodding again and am trying to make the best of things. For me it's about involvement and making the scene a better place. Thats why i'm helping out the NSRA at shows throughout the year. Meet more folks , support the NSRA and enjoy our scene as much as possible.

Folks dont give up on old Blighty. If you do, can i have your tools please!!!!

Dan:):)
That's a good point.....most yanks would kill for the sort of paid holidays we get over here. I was offered a job when I lived there, selling Jags. 7 til 7 6 days a week and you had to work afull year before you could have a week off!! I went self employed so I could at least see some of the country.

[acorn]

Lived in Florida for 2 years been back in England for 3 years and not one day goes by when i dont wish i was still there, Problem is they dont want Brits in Florida,We pushed up the price of houses for use as holiday villas locals cant afford them anymore,so getting a visa is like w---ing into the wind At 5000 bucks each and more costs at each application we tried 4 times then gave up.

[Doug]

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