I'm not sure if the Mods will allow this topic but since quite a few of the TV-members are from Europe, I thought it could be of interest:

Britons 'are getting unhappier'

Britons are getting unhappier, with falling trust in institutions, such as the police and government, to blame, a Europe-wide study has suggested.

Happiness Top Five

1.Denmark

2.Finland

3.Ireland

4.Sweden

5.Netherlands

Unhappiness Top Five:

1.Italy

2.Portugal

3.Greece

4.Germany

5. France

"The UK was ranked only the ninth happiest country out of 15 EU nations and finished tenth in a parallel survey of life satisfaction levels.

Denmark, Finland and the Irish were the happiest people while Italy finished bottom just behind Portugal and Greece.

The 2004 University of Cambridge study analysed 20,000 responses.

While Britain finished lower down the league, it still managed to beat France and Germany in both tables. "

From:

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6562463.stm

Curious about your comments!

LaoPo

Mmmmm... I don't know. Denmark, Finland and Sweden usually share the honours for highest suicide rate and I'm in Sweden now and they aint all that happy about their lives I can tell you.

And people in Italy, Portugal, Greece, Germany and france are more p1ssed off than the British?, I think not!, when it comes to being p1ssed off the British are world leaders, that's just my opinion, better of asking Guesthouse maybe.

when it comes to being p1ssed off the British are world leaders, that's just my opinion, better of asking Guesthouse maybe.

Nah, I've come to accept that, despite all the huge advantages the UK offers people who are fortunate enough to be born there, some people still manage to make a mess of their life; then spend their remaining years griping on about the UK in the hope that we none of us spot what becomes increasingly obvious with each bitter whinge.

But don't give up hope Robby, the UK will always have you back if you get desperate, there is no need to totter up to the top floor of some crappy condo if things go wrong for you in Thailand. Just make sure you always have the airfare home.

For my part I have never ending gratitude for having been born in the UK and the fantastic opportunities the UK has given me and my family.

I’m proud to be British and proud to be able to say good things about the place.

A few others like to be sad @sses – well that’s up to them - So long as they don't go thinking we all believe the UK is the cause of their own failings.

when it comes to being p1ssed off the British are world leaders

there's a difference between being pissed off and being pissed...

when it comes to being p1ssed off the British are world leaders

there's a difference between being pissed off and being pissed...

I think there are a lot of Brits who'd be world champs at either/and.

Well I'm as happy as Larry (who was Larry anyways)

Well I'm as happy as Larry (who was Larry anyways)

Wasn't he the guy who kept getting his hair torn out by Moe?

I am just happy I don't live there anymore

CB

I'm heading back to the UK in just over 2 weeks now and I can't wait!!!

I think this month in Dan Sai has done something to me!

I'm heading back to the UK in just over 2 weeks now and I can't wait!!!

Whereabouts in the UK, DSK?

We are having a p1ssup in Manchester next month, be good if you can make it

australia is full of poms and they love it here.

but thats not hard to work out, after everything that ive learnt from you guys telling me how bad it is over in the old blighty.

i mean, for every one of you guys that love the motherland there's 10 that say its bollicks.

now im not passing any judgements as i aint been there, but most of the english i know ( and thats a lot ) tell me to stay far away, and after reading your posts on here i think i'll take there advice.

besides that, its too bloody cold, to far away and to bleeding expensive.

besides that i cant stand looking at the punters wearing there sandles with there long socks as it terrify's me.

australia is full of poms and they love it here.

but thats not hard to work out, after everything that ive learnt from you guys telling me how bad it is over in the old blighty.

i mean, for every one of you guys that love the motherland there's 10 that say its bollicks.

now im not passing any judgements as i aint been there, but most of the english i know ( and thats a lot ) tell me to stay far away, and after reading your posts on here i think i'll take there advice.

besides that, its too bloody cold, to far away and to bleeding expensive.

besides that i cant stand looking at the punters wearing there sandles with there long socks as it terrify's me. :D

And the best thing is that most of them landed in Western Australia and stayed in Freemantle so as to minimise the damage done to the rest of the country

CB

I'm heading back to the UK in just over 2 weeks now and I can't wait!!!

Whereabouts in the UK, DSK?

We are having a p1ssup in Manchester next month, be good if you can make it

I will be in Aberdeen, I am going back to uni in autumn - so that coupled with a pregnant wife I don't think we will have much cash for sojourns in Manchester just yet...

Give us a shout if you are in Aberdeen - you can crash in our bathroom!!

australia is full of poms and they love it here.

but thats not hard to work out, after everything that ive learnt from you guys telling me how bad it is over in the old blighty.

i mean, for every one of you guys that love the motherland there's 10 that say its bollicks.

For your information Terry, the UK is full of Aussies as well as many other countries too. Do you remember last year or the year before, the Aussie gov't sending out a plea for Aussies to come home as too many had left that wonderful land of yours.

The fact of the matter is, people from everywhere in the world are always searching for the "greener grass"

Give us a shout if you are in Aberdeen - you can crash in our bathroom!!

Why thank you very much sir

australia is full of poms and they love it here.

but thats not hard to work out, after everything that ive learnt from you guys telling me how bad it is over in the old blighty.

i mean, for every one of you guys that love the motherland there's 10 that say its bollicks.

now im not passing any judgements as i aint been there, but most of the english i know ( and thats a lot ) tell me to stay far away, and after reading your posts on here i think i'll take there advice.

besides that, its too bloody cold, to far away and to bleeding expensive.

besides that i cant stand looking at the punters wearing there sandles with there long socks as it terrify's me.

And the best thing is that most of them landed in Western Australia and stayed in Freemantle so as to minimise the damage done to the rest of the country

CB

actually you are very close,

and lucky for us freo people the english have formed there own enclave at a place called rockingham, 20 miles away from fremantle.

true story, and one must near on be a englishman to set foot in that place.

jeez, the white hairy leg, socks and sandles are truly horrific .

anyway,

they sell a <deleted> load of fish and chips down there and i quite enjoy it, as the only seafood i eat is chips. :D

thank you very much.

See, Guesthouse loves the place, so much so that he lives in Italy.

Got to hand it to him though he sticks to his guns, still has trouble spotting sarcasm though, or is that me?

Nothing wrong with the UK,

but I've got the choice not to be there and I take it.

Anyway on topic; Guesthouse, in the poll it says that Italy is the unhappiest country, is that right? how so?

Anyway on topic; Guesthouse, in the poll it says that Italy is the unhappiest country, is that right? how so?

What's the difference between an elephant and an Italian mother-in-law?

About 20 kilos and a black dress.

I'll get my coat

An unhappy Brit? Nah, I don't belive it.

Then again, I never met a Brit in the U.K.

australia is full of poms and they love it here.

but thats not hard to work out, after everything that ive learnt from you guys telling me how bad it is over in the old blighty.

i mean, for every one of you guys that love the motherland there's 10 that say its bollicks. :

For your information Terry, the UK is full of Aussies as well as many other countries too. Do you remember last year or the year before, the Aussie gov't sending out a plea for Aussies to come home as too many had left that wonderful land of yours.

The fact of the matter is, people from everywhere in the world are always searching for the "greener grass"

Give us a shout if you are in Aberdeen - you can crash in our bathroom!!

Why thank you very much sir

there is a difference mr jangles,

they head off to the old blighty for there working holiday ( young backpackers) use it as a base to see the rest of europe and party in kings cross having a cracking time.

after they have rampaged there way across europe they always come home to the mighty australia as its the best place on earth, besides los that is.

there are a few that stay in the blighty but not many.

one real good one that springs to mind is " germaine greer ", and you can have her.

another one is " dame edna everage " and she likes it there, but she's a bit confused, as she dont know whether she is " arther or marther ".

maybe she thinks she's in melbourne as the weather is the same.

anyway jangles,

have a nice day and thank you very much.

I'd like to know when they did the survey.

If it was Monday morning and they were bounding around asking folk "Are you happy " of course the answers are likely to be "No I',m nucking fot ". Especially if it was raining and the 07:15 West Byfleet to Waterloo service had been cancelled.

But if it was Friday evening in the pub the answer would likely be "Happy" you 'kin bet , I'm over the bluddy moon ".

But then if it were the early hours of Saturday morning it would be " <deleted> off you #*^@! ".

Anyway I'm a Brit (pommy b@st@rd) and happy. I love the UK, think it's a great place but would the last person to leave please turn out the lights and leave a note for the milkman.

There is no more beautiful country in the world if you have money. If you have none, inner city UK, with It's crap schools, medical services and chavs on every corner can be a living hel_l, especially for the elderly who often appear to be like prey in the midst of some very nasty animals indeed.

See, Guesthouse loves the place, so much so that he lives in Italy.

Wrong.

I'm in Italy because I get paid a lot of money to be here.

Nothing at all to do with my thoughts on the UK.

australia is full of poms and they love it here.

but thats not hard to work out, after everything that ive learnt from you guys telling me how bad it is over in the old blighty.

i mean, for every one of you guys that love the motherland there's 10 that say its bollicks. :

For your information Terry, the UK is full of Aussies as well as many other countries too. Do you remember last year or the year before, the Aussie gov't sending out a plea for Aussies to come home as too many had left that wonderful land of yours.

The fact of the matter is, people from everywhere in the world are always searching for the "greener grass"

Give us a shout if you are in Aberdeen - you can crash in our bathroom!!

Why thank you very much sir

there is a difference mr jangles,

they head off to the old blighty for there working holiday ( young backpackers) use it as a base to see the rest of europe and party in kings cross having a cracking time.

after they have rampaged there way across europe they always come home to the mighty australia as its the best place on earth, besides los that is.

there are a few that stay in the blighty but not many.

one real good one that springs to mind is " germaine greer ", and you can have her.

another one is " dame edna everage " and she likes it there, but she's a bit confused, as she dont know whether she is " arther or marther ".

maybe she thinks she's in melbourne as the weather is the same.

anyway jangles,

have a nice day and thank you very much.

Read it and weep Terry old friend, http://www.acci.asn.au/text_files/issues_p...ber%202004_.pdf on long term departures from Aus, latest figures 2002/3. Your'e mighty country isn't as good as you think.

Now, i haven't slagged off Australia anywhere, but you seem to love slagging us Brits off about how <deleted> our country is, compared to yours. So let's get some facts. Oh, by the way you forgot Rolf Harris above

1 million Aussies (5% of population) left Australia on long term.

Of those, 21% came to the UK.

Of the Australians that come to the UK, for every 81 men that come, 100 women come here. So, almost 20% more women come, obviously looking for us UK men, as your men seem to spend too much time thinking about how good you are and not noticing that the women are fleeing from you as fast as they can.

Here is another read as well. http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/05-10/au...ed-kingdom.html

Maybe you want to come over before you slag us off too much.

See, Guesthouse loves the place, so much so that he lives in Italy.

Wrong.

I'm in Italy because I get paid a lot of money to be here.

Nothing at all to do with my thoughts on the UK.

He's saving up to be able to afford to go back there.

australia is full of poms and they love it here.

but thats not hard to work out, after everything that ive learnt from you guys telling me how bad it is over in the old blighty.

i mean, for every one of you guys that love the motherland there's 10 that say its bollicks.

now im not passing any judgements as i aint been there, but most of the english i know ( and thats a lot ) tell me to stay far away, and after reading your posts on here i think i'll take there advice.

besides that, its too bloody cold, to far away and to bleeding expensive.

besides that i cant stand looking at the punters wearing there sandles with there long socks as it terrify's me.

And the best thing is that most of them landed in Western Australia and stayed in Freemantle so as to minimise the damage done to the rest of the country

CB

More likely that there are less flies at that end

WA's defo the bees knees in Oz land but the whole place could do with growing up a tad... always felt good getting the flock out of there.

As for the UK, can't be beat on its day.

australia is full of poms and they love it here.

but thats not hard to work out, after everything that ive learnt from you guys telling me how bad it is over in the old blighty.

i mean, for every one of you guys that love the motherland there's 10 that say its bollicks. :

For your information Terry, the UK is full of Aussies as well as many other countries too. Do you remember last year or the year before, the Aussie gov't sending out a plea for Aussies to come home as too many had left that wonderful land of yours.

The fact of the matter is, people from everywhere in the world are always searching for the "greener grass"

Give us a shout if you are in Aberdeen - you can crash in our bathroom!!

Why thank you very much sir

there is a difference mr jangles,

they head off to the old blighty for there working holiday ( young backpackers) use it as a base to see the rest of europe and party in kings cross having a cracking time.

after they have rampaged there way across europe they always come home to the mighty australia as its the best place on earth, besides los that is.

there are a few that stay in the blighty but not many.

one real good one that springs to mind is " germaine greer ", and you can have her.

another one is " dame edna everage " and she likes it there, but she's a bit confused, as she dont know whether she is " arther or marther ".

maybe she thinks she's in melbourne as the weather is the same.

anyway jangles,

have a nice day and thank you very much.

Read it and weep Terry old friend, http://www.acci.asn.au/text_files/issues_p...ber%202004_.pdf on long term departures from Aus, latest figures 2002/3. Your'e mighty country isn't as good as you think.

Now, i haven't slagged off Australia anywhere, but you seem to love slagging us Brits off about how <deleted> our country is, compared to yours. So let's get some facts. Oh, by the way you forgot Rolf Harris above

1 million Aussies (5% of population) left Australia on long term.

Of those, 21% came to the UK.

Of the Australians that come to the UK, for every 81 men that come, 100 women come here. So, almost 20% more women come, obviously looking for us UK men, as your men seem to spend too much time thinking about how good you are and not noticing that the women are fleeing from you as fast as they can.

Here is another read as well. http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/05-10/au...ed-kingdom.html

Maybe you want to come over before you slag us off too much.

only joking jangles,

but i slag you guys off in a very nice way. but its a bit of a game between the aussie's and the poms, as we are you guy's arn't we.

after all, its you guys that started it all at good old sydney town and tassie.

but you have to admit that your own compatriots give the old blighty a good kicking as well. and its not just me having a crack.

they tend to get my creative juices flowing.

the only one that really talks it up is guesthouse, and its ok for him because he has a bank book full of money and 35 houses in the bleeding joint to fall back on.

im sorry jangles, but i cant come over there, as id much rather spend my time in the mighty los and lovely australia.

thank you very much.

only joking jangles,

but i slag you guys off in a very nice way. but its a bit of a game between the aussie's and the poms, as we are you guy's arn't we.

I know terry, no worries, i'm only joking too

Why are Italians the unhappiest though?

Great food, good wine, lovely climate, fantastic cars, beautiful women, whatsa da blardy problem wiv em?

Why are Italians the unhappiest though?

Great food, good wine, lovely climate, fantastic cars, beautiful women, whatsa da blardy problem wiv em?

Guesthouse moved there !!!!

Well I do not think that British are getting unhappier...

I think is moderm society which is getting unhappier, the things that we have are not enough we want more...and about ourselves...well never happy...

We always want more and more and by the time we get it we have lost too many beautiful sunsets....

do we really want more though?!

I think this is actually a root cause of many unhappy souls! We have too much!

Hands up who among you has left a lot if not everything behind and packed up and found happiness elsewhere.

Being back in the Uk since recently all I see is people with everything and more, and yes, indeed supposedly "wanting" more.

But I think this is misguided. A lack of fulfillment, spiritual or otherwise, creates a hole that needs to be filled.

Some people can do so productively, in any society.

Unfortunately that is not the norm.

PS> I could, and probably should elaborate more... I just can't be bothered. This issue actually upsets me a bit. My computer is not as nice to type on as the one I saw in the shop the other day, and the background music is only 2 channel stereo, not 12/directional surround, so I don't feel comfortable...