Why Are So Many Britons Emigrating?

[phutoie2]

in uk now we have the teenage single mother who lives on a council estate with her eldest son Jason who wears a baseball cap and drives a souped up ford,he gets in trouble with the police.His grandmother was a teenage single mother who lived on a council estate with her eldest son Jason who whore a baseball cap and drove a souped up ford,he has been in trouble with the police.....etc. etc.....

And for this, who do you intend to blame?

ok in no particular order politicians,rap music,single mothers,Corperate breweries,bad teachers,bad parenting,contraception advisors,the voting system,television,bob monkhouse,road planners,immigration rules,the zurich treaty,westlife,and Thatcher the milk snatcher

A bit harsh on Bob -'Bernie the bolt' Monkhouse, he passed away in 2003.

[dee123]

yeah but he almost invented the "gameshow"

[Rinrada]

All down to money...moola ..dosh...lucre...wot ever you want to call it.

Britains vibrant successfull economy allows almost anyone ..even the prolls who are prepared to get off their erse,do a bit of graft which benefits and enables them (if they so wish) to live their dreams and push off to the colonies or any other 2nd-3rd world country and live like they think that they should....wanna be an expat....etc

Quite simply the days of 'Auf ViderZein' pet are now reversed and the immis are the re -incarnation of our 80s buildings site workers who went off to Germany...for the culteral experience...er .....No...the Dosh....

called... Freedom...innit

[dee123]

All down to money...moola ..dosh...lucre...wot ever you want to call it.

Britains vibrant successfull economy allows almost anyone ..even the prolls who are prepared to get off their erse,do a bit of graft which benefits and enables them (if they so wish) to live their dreams and push off to the colonies or any other 2nd-3rd world country and live like they think that they should....wanna be an expat....etc

Quite simply the days of 'Auf ViderZein' pet are now reversed and the immis are the re -incarnation of our 80s buildings site workers who went off to Germany...for the culteral experience...er .....No...the Dosh....

called... Freedom...innit

agree with you, my wife says how come polish like to work but british only sign on? I say if I were them and offered 10 times my usual salary then I,d be reliable and work me nuts off too! ....knowing I'd be back in my own country before long....!! it does make a difference.

[soihok]

I eventually moved away from the UK in 1995.

I actually saw the light in 1990,,but it took a while to leave the mothership.

Saying that ,,I still hold a Brit passport and I think that it is the best in the world,,,so why would I want give to it up?

I left the UK cos I thought that it was boring and cold most of the time.

I have lived in countries such as Chile,Taiwan,India.

My home now is Thailand,,,the thought of having to go back to England and start again fills me with dread and horror.

We are all from this island called the world and I think that where ever you find a place that you feel is comfortable,,,well thats where you should be.

Enjoy it !!!!!

Cheers

Edited November 18, 2007 by soihok

[Dupont]

So why is there such a skilled labour problem in Australia!!! On BBC world service, another report of a huge recruitment campaign for Anglo Saxon/Celt skilled workers who are pi**ed off with life in UK. Why cannot Oz produce enough plumbers/Nurses/hair dressers even carpet fitters.

Possibly, that all ours are having to compete with Poles/Latvians/Lithuanians etc.

Cheer up a bit.

We have enough skills, mentally, manually and socially to be able to leave and take up this life.

Its all about spirit of adventure as well, some people are just happy with their lot and some of us are always pursuing something. I still don't know what I am pursuing, but have been merrily going about it since i left school and home at age 16.

Inevitably a society has its dregs, its scroungers, it layabouts etc. All out cities have this dross and well done to the Eastern Europeans for coming in and showing some character and hard work.

The biggest problem is that the generation after mine has been shown that they don't have to be responsible, they can have kids, the social pay, they also get a free house and a free lawyer if they are caught working and fiddleing and if they have working boyfriends living with them. They have learnt that there is no rule of law and no punishment for their crimes. Teachers are some of the most pathetic hand wringing liberals and are intimidated by kids that they are there to teach respect (amongst other things) to.

Good, I have always said. It leaves endless possibilities the world over the hard working types such as myself and many of the people that live and work in Thailand and the world over as expats. The vast majority of us have all had to pitch in and work in conditions that would have UK socialists appalled, conditions that would have many left-at-homes running to the lawyer for some trumped up charge to earn easy money from the poor employer. we work long long hours, often for nothing and why.... because we can, and we love it!

Pats on the back all round to those that made it out. And as for the dross that we complain about its too late for them to do anything about their sad lives. They will have to eak them out on benefits paid for by the incoming eastern europeans.

Good, good, good I say. Let the Eastern Europeans make something of their lives as we make something of ours and let the dross go down the plug hole!

[soihok]

So why is there such a skilled labour problem in Australia!!! On BBC world service, another report of a huge recruitment campaign for Anglo Saxon/Celt skilled workers who are pi**ed off with life in UK. Why cannot Oz produce enough plumbers/Nurses/hair dressers even carpet fitters.

Possibly, that all ours are having to compete with Poles/Latvians/Lithuanians etc.

Cheer up a bit.

Pats on the back all round to those that made it out. And as for the dross that we complain about its too late for them to do anything about their sad lives. They will have to eak them out on benefits paid for by the incoming eastern europeans.

Good, good, good I say. Let the Eastern Europeans make something of their lives as we make something of ours and let the dross go down the plug hole!

What a great reply,,,from some oone who has been there and recoginses that this is the way of the world.

There are far better places to be than in a social security office,.

There is no getting away with the fact that the UK is an open shop.

Its pay back time from the Raj!

Edited November 18, 2007 by soihok

[pointofview]

I eventually moved away from the UK in 1995.

I actually saw the light in 1990,,but it took a while to leave the mothership.

Saying that ,,I still hold a Brit passport and I think that it is the best in the world,,,so why would I want give to it up?

I left the UK cos I thought that it was boring and cold most of the time.

I have lived in countries such as Chile,Taiwan,India.

My home now is Thailand,,,the thought of having to go back to England and start again fills me with dread and horror.

We are all from this island called the world and I think that where ever you find a place that you feel is comfortable,,,well thats where you should be.

Enjoy it !!!!!

Cheers

A few people have mentioned how good it is to hold a british passport - they are obviously still asleep.

The british passport is no more - it is now an EU passport. Same rights are given to polish, bulgarians,etc.etc. (some places youve probably never heard of also). As i said in my previous post britain will be no more 2008 (next year).

[Tinkelbell]

Why is that? Too many Romanians?

i remember when smith or jones was the most popular name in the phone book ,now its probably patel .

...............................................................

Same here in the US.

This week it reports two Spanish names: 'Garcia' & 'Roddrigez' make it to the top ten family names for the first time in its history . But 'Smith' still maintain no: 1 spot for the most used family name for the past decade.

It' a matter of time before top ten spots all bear Spanish names.

[glasshock]

Hello all.

At this moment in time I'm sitting in my kitchen in Yorkshire with a nice hot cup of tea & catching up on some of your latest rants, muses, lectures, & altogether fantastic banter and advice.... ........

The posts on this site are of much interest to me and I must say I should really be posting here more often than I do, so please forgive my lack of input, this will soon change.

This post in particular had me reaching for the keys and wanting to answer the OPs question.

I am British.

My country is beautiful.

From the rear of my home, the kitchen window looks out onto some of the most breathtaking views you could ever imagine. We can sit and watch the weather coming in from many miles away. I don’t live in a huge palace with servants cutting down trees and shooting ramblers that spoil my view, just a small 2 bed terrace house in stinky old Huddersfield.....but this is "Yorkshire" the town is surrounded by green belt and many of the houses are lucky enough to back onto it.

Some of the properties here are built high up on the steep hills and sometimes make you feel like you are sitting in the back row of a cinema, looking down onto the heads of the houses below and all taking in the main picture..... Beautiful!

I used to look out of the kitchen window at night, watching another piss wet British day rolling in ready to drown our spirits, but feel a sense of calm. A sense that nature was running its course as it does the world over and nature knows best.... right?

Wrong....!!

Within 15 small paces you will reach my living room window, the front of my home and the playground for Mother Nature’s latest stab at evolution!

I have been living in this house for the last ten years and upon my arrival I soon got to know the locals who were fantastic! We all worked hard during the day and relaxed in the evening. My friends have now sold up and left sharpish, the new owners rent to <deleted> wits that sleep during the day and "work" at night.

Dealers and crack dependant hookers have taken the place of old chatty flat capped folk on the street corners and the stench of trouble is most foul!

This is by no means an exaggeration by a scared old man who may simply be afraid of change. I'm 38 years old and strong in mind and body!!

Within the last ten years I have backpacked around the world and landed in some places and some situations that have made a little nervous to say the least. I’ve spent months wandering in and out of countries that I know better to avoid but have never felt as continually uneasy as I do here in my own town and country. The picture from my window is changing and rapidly!!!

To cut a very long story, a little shorter I spent 2004/5 in Thailand. When I left the UK things were looking a little grim. When I arrived home with my Wife (Thai) the country seemed to be on a fast swirl down the pan!.... Yeah .... Come to Huddersfield it’s great.....oh

The plan was to move to a better area. But why? The better areas were now looking just as bad and how long before the problems overtake even the "nicest" areas?

Not long my friends.

We are as they say .....outa here!!

We leave for Thailand in 3 weeks.

Britain is no more!

Nothing stays the same, but the change in the UK is so rapid. Im not intelegent enough to look into political blame but what I can tell you is this:

People are scared to leave or stay in their homes alone.

Avoid social areas after dark.

Think twice before helping people in trouble through fear of violence or fear that they are being set up!

And on and on and on it goes.

Last year I stepped in to help a young mother who was being attacked 6 feet from Asdas front door. I had to run from one end of the store to the other as it was clear that the poor girl (with child) would be dragged and kicked accross the concrete until the strap of her bag (around her neck) had broken or removed a limb. It was also clear that the "tutting" Christmas shoppers (6 o clock Sat in Dec Busy Busy Busy!!) would rather walk in the oposite direction or even "excuse me" past the 3 bas****s trying to grab their Christmas bonus!!!!

Anyway... I can fight if I have to so ... I stoped them ............... a near fatal puncture and 28 stitches later I had managed to convince all of the shoppers and anyone that read the paper the next day that the "other direction" is even more apealing!

Never....... NEVER did I think I would be pleased to leave this country ...but I have to admit, the thought of our son growing up in "good old blighty" ... just scares the hel_l out of me!

I have no "rose coloured specs". I am fully aware of the problems in the LOS but please...... "Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of" etc, etc.

There are things I will miss here but many of these things are just not worth hanging onto!

Anyway, just thought I'd share that with you all.

Sleep well and see you soon.

Edited November 18, 2007 by glasshock

[keemapoot]

Best of luck to you glasshock.

Edited November 18, 2007 by keemapoot

[qwertz]

I first left the UK in 1990 and returned after a 5 years absence to find the same trend of deterioration.

I"m now an expat in Germany and here I'll stay.

I found a better life here and a beautiful place to live.

Not that Manchester would have been a hard act to follow.

[glasshock]

Best of luck to you glasshock.

Thank's Keemapoot ... Whenever I return to Thailand it feels like home... just have to see how it goes eh!

I have no expectations, just a desire to be allowed the opportunity of pointing my son in the right direction. This is hard work in the UK.

[Mossfinn]

Same rights are given to polish, bulgarians,etc.etc.

A look over immigration rules might be handy.

Have I logged on to, 'knock-the-UK.Com', dam pass the single malt and lets get back to TV.Com.

Moss

[glasshock]

I first left the UK in 1990 and returned after a 5 years absence to find the same trend of deterioration.

I"m now an expat in Germany and here I'll stay.

I found a better life here and a beautiful place to live.

Not that Manchester would have been a hard act to follow.

Manchester's a tough place and always has been. 20 miles from me and a fantastic city but I avoid now. We used to collect Thai ingredients from the "China Town" but now ... just not worth it, another rapid decline.

[geronimo]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...1/15/view15.xml

Been ploughing through the hundreds of contributions on the above link to this subject and there seems to be much despondency with the state of things, particularly since Labour took power.

Interested to know the opinions of fellow Brits in Thailand on what aspects of life in the UK you were so glad to leave behind and what you appreciate so much more here in Thailand. Do you find the overall quality of life here in Thailand that much better as I do?

The main aspect of life that drove me out was the increasingly worsening anti-social behaviour and all this referred to political correctness.

Good on Thailand to want to retain its identity, culture and way of life unlike Blair/Brown who are slowly destroying what I once used to recognize as my country.

I left twenty years ago because I could see the unhappiness on people's faces. The senseless violence was a factor, coupled with the ever growing friday night culture. There always seems to be an air of negativity hanging over blighty, people are afraid to talk to strangers. I've been back for short periods about 5 times in 20 years and I can definitely see how it is getting worse. This is just my opinion and of course many Brits will disagree with me but most I've met out here agree wholeheartedly.

[plachon]

Hello all.

At this moment in time I'm sitting in my kitchen in Yorkshire with a nice hot cup of tea & catching up on some of your latest rants, muses, lectures, & altogether fantastic banter and advice.... ........

The posts on this site are of much interest to me and I must say I should really be posting here more often than I do, so please forgive my lack of input, this will soon change.

This post in particular had me reaching for the keys and wanting to answer the OPs question.

I am British.

My country is beautiful.

From the rear of my home, the kitchen window looks out onto some of the most breathtaking views you could ever imagine. We can sit and watch the weather coming in from many miles away. I don’t live in a huge palace with servants cutting down trees and shooting ramblers that spoil my view, just a small 2 bed terrace house in stinky old Huddersfield.....but this is "Yorkshire" the town is surrounded by green belt and many of the houses are lucky enough to back onto it.

Some of the properties here are built high up on the steep hills and sometimes make you feel like you are sitting in the back row of a cinema, looking down onto the heads of the houses below and all taking in the main picture..... Beautiful!

I used to look out of the kitchen window at night, watching another piss wet British day rolling in ready to drown our spirits, but feel a sense of calm. A sense that nature was running its course as it does the world over and nature knows best.... right?

Wrong....!!

Within 15 small paces you will reach my living room window, the front of my home and the playground for Mother Nature’s latest stab at evolution!

I have been living in this house for the last ten years and upon my arrival I soon got to know the locals who were fantastic! We all worked hard during the day and relaxed in the evening. My friends have now sold up and left sharpish, the new owners rent to <deleted> wits that sleep during the day and "work" at night.

Dealers and crack dependant hookers have taken the place of old chatty flat capped folk on the street corners and the stench of trouble is most foul!

This is by no means an exaggeration by a scared old man who may simply be afraid of change. I'm 38 years old and strong in mind and body!!

Within the last ten years I have backpacked around the world and landed in some places and some situations that have made a little nervous to say the least. I’ve spent months wandering in and out of countries that I know better to avoid but have never felt as continually uneasy as I do here in my own town and country. The picture from my window is changing and rapidly!!!

To cut a very long story, a little shorter I spent 2004/5 in Thailand. When I left the UK things were looking a little grim. When I arrived home with my Wife (Thai) the country seemed to be on a fast swirl down the pan!.... Yeah .... Come to Huddersfield it’s great.....oh

The plan was to move to a better area. But why? The better areas were now looking just as bad and how long before the problems overtake even the "nicest" areas?

Not long my friends.

We are as they say .....outa here!!

We leave for Thailand in 3 weeks.

Britain is no more!

Nothing stays the same, but the change in the UK is so rapid. Im not intelegent enough to look into political blame but what I can tell you is this:

People are scared to leave or stay in their homes alone.

Avoid social areas after dark.

Think twice before helping people in trouble through fear of violence or fear that they are being set up!

And on and on and on it goes.

Last year I stepped in to help a young mother who was being attacked 6 feet from Asdas front door. I had to run from one end of the store to the other as it was clear that the poor girl (with child) would be dragged and kicked accross the concrete until the strap of her bag (around her neck) had broken or removed a limb. It was also clear that the "tutting" Christmas shoppers (6 o clock Sat in Dec Busy Busy Busy!!) would rather walk in the oposite direction or even "excuse me" past the 3 bas****s trying to grab their Christmas bonus!!!!

Anyway... I can fight if I have to so ... I stoped them ............... a near fatal puncture and 28 stitches later I had managed to convince all of the shoppers and anyone that read the paper the next day that the "other direction" is even more apealing!

Never....... NEVER did I think I would be pleased to leave this country ...but I have to admit, the thought of our son growing up in "good old blighty" ... just scares the hel_l out of me!

I have no "rose coloured specs". I am fully aware of the problems in the LOS but please...... "Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of" etc, etc.

There are things I will miss here but many of these things are just not worth hanging onto!

Anyway, just thought I'd share that with you all.

Sleep well and see you soon.

Great post and it has really made me think..........think twice about ever going near Huddersfield! And to think I was even considering going to Uni there. Thanks Glasshock, you've helped knock one off the list.

And for what it's worth, I've just made the move back from LOS to UK. While Thailand is a wonderful country and has much going for it, neither myself nor my Thai wife would want to subject our daughter to a Thai secondary education, no matter how much we love the country. We also decided against the International School options, part financial, part practical and various other objections about the system of education.

And having seen and experienced two months of British comprehensive education through my daughter's feedback and own eyes, we do not regret the decision one iota. UK wins hands down and not having crack addicts ruining our street helps too! So my advice would be by all means go and live in Thailand and see how it grabs you, but don't burn your bridges in UK, as one day you might be wanting to come back and give your son a decent education.

[glasshock]

Hello all.

At this moment in time I'm sitting in my kitchen in Yorkshire with a nice hot cup of tea & catching up on some of your latest rants, muses, lectures, & altogether fantastic banter and advice.... ........

The posts on this site are of much interest to me and I must say I should really be posting here more often than I do, so please forgive my lack of input, this will soon change.

This post in particular had me reaching for the keys and wanting to answer the OPs question.

I am British.

My country is beautiful.

From the rear of my home, the kitchen window looks out onto some of the most breathtaking views you could ever imagine. We can sit and watch the weather coming in from many miles away. I don’t live in a huge palace with servants cutting down trees and shooting ramblers that spoil my view, just a small 2 bed terrace house in stinky old Huddersfield.....but this is "Yorkshire" the town is surrounded by green belt and many of the houses are lucky enough to back onto it.

Some of the properties here are built high up on the steep hills and sometimes make you feel like you are sitting in the back row of a cinema, looking down onto the heads of the houses below and all taking in the main picture..... Beautiful!

I used to look out of the kitchen window at night, watching another piss wet British day rolling in ready to drown our spirits, but feel a sense of calm. A sense that nature was running its course as it does the world over and nature knows best.... right?

Wrong....!!

Within 15 small paces you will reach my living room window, the front of my home and the playground for Mother Nature’s latest stab at evolution!

I have been living in this house for the last ten years and upon my arrival I soon got to know the locals who were fantastic! We all worked hard during the day and relaxed in the evening. My friends have now sold up and left sharpish, the new owners rent to <deleted> wits that sleep during the day and "work" at night.

Dealers and crack dependant hookers have taken the place of old chatty flat capped folk on the street corners and the stench of trouble is most foul!

This is by no means an exaggeration by a scared old man who may simply be afraid of change. I'm 38 years old and strong in mind and body!!

Within the last ten years I have backpacked around the world and landed in some places and some situations that have made a little nervous to say the least. I’ve spent months wandering in and out of countries that I know better to avoid but have never felt as continually uneasy as I do here in my own town and country. The picture from my window is changing and rapidly!!!

To cut a very long story, a little shorter I spent 2004/5 in Thailand. When I left the UK things were looking a little grim. When I arrived home with my Wife (Thai) the country seemed to be on a fast swirl down the pan!.... Yeah .... Come to Huddersfield it’s great.....oh

The plan was to move to a better area. But why? The better areas were now looking just as bad and how long before the problems overtake even the "nicest" areas?

Not long my friends.

We are as they say .....outa here!!

We leave for Thailand in 3 weeks.

Britain is no more!

Nothing stays the same, but the change in the UK is so rapid. Im not intelegent enough to look into political blame but what I can tell you is this:

People are scared to leave or stay in their homes alone.

Avoid social areas after dark.

Think twice before helping people in trouble through fear of violence or fear that they are being set up!

And on and on and on it goes.

Last year I stepped in to help a young mother who was being attacked 6 feet from Asdas front door. I had to run from one end of the store to the other as it was clear that the poor girl (with child) would be dragged and kicked accross the concrete until the strap of her bag (around her neck) had broken or removed a limb. It was also clear that the "tutting" Christmas shoppers (6 o clock Sat in Dec Busy Busy Busy!!) would rather walk in the oposite direction or even "excuse me" past the 3 bas****s trying to grab their Christmas bonus!!!!

Anyway... I can fight if I have to so ... I stoped them ............... a near fatal puncture and 28 stitches later I had managed to convince all of the shoppers and anyone that read the paper the next day that the "other direction" is even more apealing!

Never....... NEVER did I think I would be pleased to leave this country ...but I have to admit, the thought of our son growing up in "good old blighty" ... just scares the hel_l out of me!

I have no "rose coloured specs". I am fully aware of the problems in the LOS but please...... "Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of" etc, etc.

There are things I will miss here but many of these things are just not worth hanging onto!

Anyway, just thought I'd share that with you all.

Sleep well and see you soon.

Great post and it has really made me think..........think twice about ever going near Huddersfield! And to think I was even considering going to Uni there. Thanks Glasshock, you've helped knock one off the list.

And for what it's worth, I've just made the move back from LOS to UK. While Thailand is a wonderful country and has much going for it, neither myself nor my Thai wife would want to subject our daughter to a Thai secondary education, no matter how much we love the country. We also decided against the International School options, part financial, part practical and various other objections about the system of education.

And having seen and experienced two months of British comprehensive education through my daughter's feedback and own eyes, we do not regret the decision one iota. UK wins hands down and not having crack addicts ruining our street helps too! So my advice would be by all means go and live in Thailand and see how it grabs you, but don't burn your bridges in UK, as one day you might be wanting to come back and give your son a decent education.

Thanks for the advice. He's 6 months old so we have plenty of time to adjust and make a more educated decision. I do feel the time is right for the move and for the right reasons. Sending him to school here just doesnt feel right. Of course I have to see the other side and check out the Thai education system. My wife is a teacher and has been teaching in Thailand for the last 10 years. I should now say that she is all for our son having a Thai education .... but alas she is sat firmly on the fence. Anyway ..... sorry to put you off Huddersfield Uni... It has a good reputation, unlike the town. 3 murders within the space of 1 week mentaly purchased our tickets!!

Thanks again.

[Scott]

I've worked in many different countries and one of the most common things in all of them was that there were a large number of people from the UK either living or working there. I've never lived in the UK, but I've been there on holiday and of course loved it--although it was expensive.

The biggest single problem I see is that most of them when they left, packed their unhappiness and bad attitude and seem to like to bring complaining to an art form.

Chill out a little!

[jubby]

Lets not forget that the vast majority of us on Thai Visa haven't actually Emigrated . Especially to Thailand.

Most of us are on a 3 month leash or a best a year extension whilst visiting 'relatives', wives etc..

I only have one passport be it british or EU, unlike my wife & Kids who actually have two and a Choice ;-)

[qwertz]

Lets not forget that the vast majority of us on Thai Visa haven't actually Emigrated . Especially to Thailand.

Most of us are on a 3 month leash or a best a year extension whilst visiting 'relatives', wives etc..

I only have one passport be it british or EU, unlike my wife & Kids who actually have two and a Choice ;-)

And Thailand doesn't seem to be making emigrating easier.

Bearing in mind that there is an increasing number of countries that are becoming more expat friendly.

[seonai]

I have also decided on secondary education for my son in Britain as opposed to Thailand. In Britain he can live somewhere where there is a huge cross section of population, like Brighton, and experience a place that can both educate him and also show that cross culture can work - there are many Thai and Luk Krung in Brighton. I agree with some of the cynics about declines in British culture but I also agree with those who say that Britain has a lot to offer. Despite all this talk about Prols and the lower parts of British society we have an absolutely thriving community of intelligent people bringing up intelligent children and managing to have decent careers and then travel the world. The most important family in Thailand subscribe to British and European education for example.

One of the things (gifts) I hope to have given my son - and believe I have - is that he is both Thai and British and he can be 'himself' anywhere he travels in the world

[naka]

oh goodie. An (Australian) moderators favourite time of month. Brits beating each other up on how fast the UK going down the gurgler.

Have fun guys, just remember, not to break forum rules.

The second largest group of people entering Britain for work are Australians.

Naka.

[soihok]

This is a great topic.

So many different angles of view.

I do worry about education and schools for our two dauhgters and this will the major test to see if we stay in Thailand for good.I suppose that a load of dosh will make things easier as far as schools go and I,m working on that now.

I really dont want to go back to live in the UK,,I would feel a kind of failure if I did . I worked very hard on getting out in the first place.

I just want to do whats right for my kids though.

Keep up the great replies

[mittheimp]

I haven't got a problem with immigration ,just as long as its fair........for instance my wife is Thai and so she can live with me in U.K. without any problem but I can't in thai or own land like she can here......we all know the Indians , Pakistani's have big mansions back home for their retirement but I am married to a Thai and cannot plan like that ,....you try setting up a big mansion/company in bulgaria/romania for e.g. the local mafia will have you out before you can say Jack Robinson! unfortuneately for us wer'e the only mugs that play by the rules!

Okay, so when the UK changes its rules and allows all Thais into the UK with an automatic 30 day visa then Thailand might change its property and ownership rule!

Obviously countries, particularly attractive develping countries have to be careful not to sell itself completely to rich powerful ones - in the same way the UK has to protect itself from illegal immigration..... to sugest equal policies is ludicrous!

Asfor the UK.... some parts are very nice places to live, others are not! Britons travel and move abroad because they have the economic muscle to choosewhere to live or they feel priced out by the housing market - so try their luck else where. Either way we are still economically advanaged when abroad!

[RHCP]

Hello all.

At this moment in time I'm sitting in my kitchen in Yorkshire with a nice hot cup of tea & catching up on some of your latest rants, muses, lectures, & altogether fantastic banter and advice.... ........

The posts on this site are of much interest to me and I must say I should really be posting here more often than I do, so please forgive my lack of input, this will soon change.

This post in particular had me reaching for the keys and wanting to answer the OPs question.

I am British.

My country is beautiful.

From the rear of my home, the kitchen window looks out onto some of the most breathtaking views you could ever imagine. We can sit and watch the weather coming in from many miles away. I don’t live in a huge palace with servants cutting down trees and shooting ramblers that spoil my view, just a small 2 bed terrace house in stinky old Huddersfield.....but this is "Yorkshire" the town is surrounded by green belt and many of the houses are lucky enough to back onto it.

Some of the properties here are built high up on the steep hills and sometimes make you feel like you are sitting in the back row of a cinema, looking down onto the heads of the houses below and all taking in the main picture..... Beautiful!

I used to look out of the kitchen window at night, watching another piss wet British day rolling in ready to drown our spirits, but feel a sense of calm. A sense that nature was running its course as it does the world over and nature knows best.... right?

Wrong....!!

Within 15 small paces you will reach my living room window, the front of my home and the playground for Mother Nature’s latest stab at evolution!

I have been living in this house for the last ten years and upon my arrival I soon got to know the locals who were fantastic! We all worked hard during the day and relaxed in the evening. My friends have now sold up and left sharpish, the new owners rent to <deleted> wits that sleep during the day and "work" at night.

Dealers and crack dependant hookers have taken the place of old chatty flat capped folk on the street corners and the stench of trouble is most foul!

This is by no means an exaggeration by a scared old man who may simply be afraid of change. I'm 38 years old and strong in mind and body!!

Within the last ten years I have backpacked around the world and landed in some places and some situations that have made a little nervous to say the least. I’ve spent months wandering in and out of countries that I know better to avoid but have never felt as continually uneasy as I do here in my own town and country. The picture from my window is changing and rapidly!!!

To cut a very long story, a little shorter I spent 2004/5 in Thailand. When I left the UK things were looking a little grim. When I arrived home with my Wife (Thai) the country seemed to be on a fast swirl down the pan!.... Yeah .... Come to Huddersfield it’s great.....oh

The plan was to move to a better area. But why? The better areas were now looking just as bad and how long before the problems overtake even the "nicest" areas?

Not long my friends.

We are as they say .....outa here!!

We leave for Thailand in 3 weeks.

Britain is no more!

Nothing stays the same, but the change in the UK is so rapid. Im not intelegent enough to look into political blame but what I can tell you is this:

People are scared to leave or stay in their homes alone.

Avoid social areas after dark.

Think twice before helping people in trouble through fear of violence or fear that they are being set up!

And on and on and on it goes.

Last year I stepped in to help a young mother who was being attacked 6 feet from Asdas front door. I had to run from one end of the store to the other as it was clear that the poor girl (with child) would be dragged and kicked accross the concrete until the strap of her bag (around her neck) had broken or removed a limb. It was also clear that the "tutting" Christmas shoppers (6 o clock Sat in Dec Busy Busy Busy!!) would rather walk in the oposite direction or even "excuse me" past the 3 bas****s trying to grab their Christmas bonus!!!!

Anyway... I can fight if I have to so ... I stoped them ............... a near fatal puncture and 28 stitches later I had managed to convince all of the shoppers and anyone that read the paper the next day that the "other direction" is even more apealing!

Never....... NEVER did I think I would be pleased to leave this country ...but I have to admit, the thought of our son growing up in "good old blighty" ... just scares the hel_l out of me!

I have no "rose coloured specs". I am fully aware of the problems in the LOS but please...... "Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of" etc, etc.

There are things I will miss here but many of these things are just not worth hanging onto!

Anyway, just thought I'd share that with you all.

Sleep well and see you soon.

Great post and it has really made me think..........think twice about ever going near Huddersfield! And to think I was even considering going to Uni there. Thanks Glasshock, you've helped knock one off the list.

And for what it's worth, I've just made the move back from LOS to UK. While Thailand is a wonderful country and has much going for it, neither myself nor my Thai wife would want to subject our daughter to a Thai secondary education, no matter how much we love the country. We also decided against the International School options, part financial, part practical and various other objections about the system of education.

And having seen and experienced two months of British comprehensive education through my daughter's feedback and own eyes, we do not regret the decision one iota. UK wins hands down and not having crack addicts ruining our street helps too! So my advice would be by all means go and live in Thailand and see how it grabs you, but don't burn your bridges in UK, as one day you might be wanting to come back and give your son a decent education.

The general standard of education in Thailand is my only main concern about what I have left behind in the UK as we are planning to start a family next year.

Having said that I wouldn’t want any future child of mine to experience disruptive and undisciplined pupils/students that show a lack of respect to authority and laws which seems to becoming the norm in the UK.

[Naam]

I haven't got a problem with immigration ,just as long as its fair........for instance my wife is Thai and so she can live with me in U.K. without any problem but I can't in thai or own land like she can here......we all know the Indians , Pakistani's have big mansions back home for their retirement but I am married to a Thai and cannot plan like that ,....you try setting up a big mansion/company in bulgaria/romania for e.g. the local mafia will have you out before you can say Jack Robinson! unfortuneately for us wer'e the only mugs that play by the rules!

why don't you build a "big mansion for retirement" in your home country?

[Naam]

I first left the UK in 1990 and returned after a 5 years absence to find the same trend of deterioration.

I"m now an expat in Germany and here I'll stay.

I found a better life here and a beautiful place to live.

Not that Manchester would have been a hard act to follow.

if i were as rich as you Quertz i'd live in Germany too. unfortunately i can't afford it.

[naka]

Britain already has negative population growth and needs younger people to fill

the many job vacancies. Yes there is some unemployment but every country

has it's drones, regardless of how many jobs go a begging. I would also suggest that

Eastern Europeans have a better chance of integrating than some.

Regarding emigration, I would suggest that many of these are already affluent, older people

who no longer need to keep their collective noses to the grindstone and are looking

for an attractive and less expensive lifestyle. Most would not be looking to work after they leave UK.

Regarding Thailand, there is no comparison, it has a large pool of young, albeit poorly educated

people but still sees no need to hand out work permits to foreginers ... many of whom may be past

their use by date and want to come here for the wrong reasons anyway.

Most of the foreigners who decry being denied work permits here probably have limited skills to offer

and I would doubt that a respected multinational company applying for a permit for one of it's engineers,

scientists or managers ever get turned down.

Naka.

[gzu88bv]

... so as to flee their really lousy climate...

and I really love Great Britain