Is Everyone Leaving?

[Kayser Soze]

Friend of mine and his wife sold up in UK and moved to NZ. Got 'bored' of it and are now in Perth although talking the usual talk i.e. miss family, friends, familiarity of things in the UK. Friends of my parents with kids did the same, emmigrated to NZ but were back within the year. They were sold after holidaying in NZ but ther reality of living there wasn't the same.

The dream of emmigrating isn't always matched by the reality.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well in my humble experience folk seem to fall into 4 camps.

Don't want to leave UK ever.

Wanted to go but never made it because (fill in your reason here - eg family, mates, beer, Manchester Utd, leafy lanes, contrast of the seasons, etc etc.)

Went - didn't work out or tired of it and came back but at least we've done it.

Went - love it and staying.

Am happy to be in Cat 3 so at least I don't have to sit around wondering what it would have been like if we had made the effort - we know both from Spain and NZ!

K.S.

[TW11]

Those expat forums make me laugh.

These people have the whole of Europe on their doorsteps yet their ultimate dream is to live on the other side of the planet in a cultureless dustbowl...

[Gtr London FTB]

Those expat forums make me laugh.

These people have the whole of Europe on their doorsteps yet their ultimate dream is to live on the other side of the planet in a cultureless dustbowl...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm from that dustbowl and I agree with you!

[FredFrench]

Yes you know the answer. Most are only really Brits in exile anyway even if you have to go back a couple of generations to find the last one who lived in the UK. They don't expect to pay the asking price and it is assumed that you will drop a few thou even if the market is good as at the mo.

To give you an idea we live in town of about 7,000 and it has 8 EAs.

They buy and sell much more quickly than UK I suppose because it is a relatively painless experience with the binding sales agreement. Why England does not adopt this I don't know instead of faffing around with 'sellers packs'.

Pehaps someone could ask Tone and Gordon?

K.S.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Reading these posts, Sour grapes spring to mind. It's obvious most of you would not have a hope in hell of moving to the Southern hemisphere. They have rather strict rules: police checks and skills tests wonder which rules most of you out

[oracle]

Freddie got fingered,

a good number of us are expats,or have worked in these countries already,for which you also need the requisite checks.

it's nice to see you are as blinkered in your perception of the contributors to this forum as you are to the concept of house price corrections!

[Maynard]

Reading these posts, Sour grapes spring to mind. It's obvious most of you would not have a hope in hell of moving to the Southern hemisphere. They have rather strict rules:  police checks and skills tests wonder which rules most of you out

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you ever lived lived in the southern hemisphere?

Having tried Perth myself, i can honestly appreciate what the UK and Europe has to offer. Granted, it is warm, but it's full of braindead people who haven't a clue of what is outside WA!

[laurejon]

I have recently returned from Peth myself and it does not do much for me.

However Sydney and Queensland thats a different story altogether. To compare Sydney with Europe is unfair they are both fantastic places to live but equally different.

Vive la Oz.

[George]

Reading these posts, Sour grapes spring to mind. It's obvious most of you would not have a hope in hell of moving to the Southern hemisphere. They have rather strict rules:  police checks and skills tests wonder which rules most of you out

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

shame it doesnt apply to people that live there.

[George]

Those expat forums make me laugh.

These people have the whole of Europe on their doorsteps yet their ultimate dream is to live on the other side of the planet in a cultureless dustbowl...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Intrinsic human nature though; searching for paradise. + if no one moved around at all just think what the world would be like:

"Wow whats that?" Hmm: " "Its furry legged white and fluffy and makes baa noises."

[George]

Friend of mine and his wife sold up in UK and moved to NZ. Got 'bored' of it and are now in Perth although talking the usual talk i.e. miss family, friends, familiarity of things in the UK. Friends of my parents with kids did the same, emmigrated to NZ but were back within the year. They were sold after holidaying in NZ but ther reality of living there wasn't the same.

The dream of emmigrating isn't always matched by the reality.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A lot of people go without prior knowledge, so when they get there and see some dirty streets and some scruffy people reality hits. Better to do some field trip first.

[George]

I've heard so many good things about NZ, sure does sound nice and the wife doesn't stop going on about one day moving there......

But take a look where it is on the map 

"World", "the", "of", "End" - are all that springs to mind  :angry:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Knew someone who lived there and told me you can drive for hours without seeing a soul. Also in more popular areas, he has to flash his headlights at everyone - due to him "knowing everyone". Also has a large gang population.

[George]

I'm afraid this is a problem with most UK properties: they are far, far too small. The value-for-money compared with what you get in other countries is just shocking.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That is sooo true man. Even furnishings are pretty poor, a la Barrat etc. I had a look at a condo in Montreal and you had:

1030 sqft 2 bedrooms + 1 bath (large)

air con in each condo

terrace

Communal roof top pool

24 hr Gym

24 hr Security

bio metric (thumb print readers as keys) -- good for when pissed

In the Kitchen you have the choice of four colours of porcelain floor tiles, countertop materials and glass backsplash (4â€x4â€) tiles. In the bathroom you have the same four choices of porcelain tiles for the floor and bathtub/shower surround. Throughout the other rooms (bedroom, living and dining room areas) you have the choice of four different types of wood, from exotic and domestic, from very dark brown (sucupira) to light (maple).

cost £101,000.

Now this in the City center.

Compare that to that shit vie redrow thing in Manchester Center:

guide price is £140,000 for a 1 bedroom

and £170,000 for a 2 bedroom:

Now they nice furnishings but no pool or gym and laminate flooring not HARDWOOD and the average sq ft for a 2 bed in that is just over 600 sq ft.

Now ive been in 600sqft appartments are they are shoe boxes.

The condo i detailed was the smallest, some costing £160,000 are over 2000 sq ft with city views.

[laurejon]

The problem is that Canada is sitting on a vast reserve of Oil.

And we all know what happens to the poor souls who have Oil dont we.

:angry: :angry: :angry:

[Michael]

I have recently returned from Peth myself and it does not do much for me.

However Sydney and Queensland thats a different story altogether. To compare Sydney with Europe is unfair they are both fantastic places to live but equally different.

Vive la Oz.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

there is still something lacking in Aus!...i lived there for 2 years and couldn't put my finger on it.......Blandness perhaps?.....cultural desert?......the people who are not ockers seem to have a chip on their shoulder about being Aussies....hence having to ham their Australianess up when they go overseas ........

[Kayser Soze]

Intrinsic human nature though;  searching for paradise.  + if no one moved around at all just think what the world would be like:

"Wow whats that?"  Hmm: " "Its furry legged white and fluffy and makes baa noises."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've read alot of tosh on the Britishextpats.com about why to go and why to come back (some even said Twiglets and Marmite ).

To keep it simple I would say go if you want to and because you can (if you can) - come back for the same reason. Don't analyse it too much - just do it.

K.S.

[laurejon]

I think the difference is that Australia is a young nation and as yet unexplored by the majority of Ozzies.

I found it amazing that teenagers living on the North Shore had never ventured into the City in their lifetime, many had never been outside of Sydney and a vast majority had never been on a plane.

With holidays in Bali being like a holiday in Majorca to Ozzies that is also strange, they see a couple of weeks in Paris as the holiday of a lifetime.

I think like most things one mans food is another mans poison. I love Sydney however fully understand why others may detest it as it is far from home and it is hard to fit in with the Cafe, Dress Circle Culture.

What I like most about Oz is the people its a true multi cultural experience without the PC that we have back here. And the bid difference is the fact that only 20 million people thats less than the population of London live across a contintent that is just massive. The whole of Europe fits inside WA alone.

Flights are dirt cheap as well at around 500 quid return if you can put up with bedsores in economy class.

[Gtr London FTB]

there is still something lacking in Aus!...i lived there for 2 years and couldn't put my finger on it.......Blandness perhaps?.....cultural desert?......the people who are not ockers seem to have a chip on their shoulder about being Aussies....hence having to ham their Australianess up when they go overseas ........

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The thing that irritates me most of all about Australia is the way we expats are regarded when we stay away for more than the 2 year working-holiday. After this time we are traiters and no longer real Aussies, most of them couldn't possibly imagine why anyone would want to leave the gods-lucky-clever country for anything more than a holiday.

A returning Aussie expat I knew even felt he was discriminated against when he retrurned to the employment market there and is seriously considering coming back to Europe now.

[TWOPEY]

Its furry legged white and fluffy and makes baa noises

Kirsty ? ......

[munimula]

A lot of people go without prior knowledge, so when they get there and see some dirty streets and some scruffy people reality hits.  Better to do some field trip first.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Parents friends went out to NZ on a long holiday, found everyone very friendly and welcoming so sold up with two young kids and moved out there. They were back within the year. The NZers weren't so accomodating when they actually moved there!

[jpjh]

Its furry legged white and fluffy and makes baa noises

Kirsty ? ......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[GCS15]

Wow - A lot of malice towards Australia and New Zealand. Immigrants to any country are often disapointed because they have a romantisized(sp.) view of a country / people or they bought the propaganda. Whose fault is that? Why get angry at the locals because they are who they are? When I was in the UK I certainly didn't get upset because the Scot's were Scots the English were well you get the point.

My missus is a kiwi and she read through these posts. Her advice regarding towns with a gang problem is to stay away. She suggests that you don't move to south Auckland. Also check out the population. Small isn't it? Expect this to reflect in their attitudes and behaviour (small town mantality)

Perth - Never been there. It is far far away. There was talk a number of years ago about WA leaving the commonwealth of Australia as they get ignored frequently by Canberra. Apparently they have a chip on their shoulder regarding Victoria and NSW and that anyone from those states has an extremely hard time getting work. That is only anectdotal evidence. As for being hot - buy an airconditioner

Overall I am disapointed with many of these posts. I see them as quite mean spirited. A place is what you make of it. There are opportunities everywhere. There is no need to slate New Zealand or Australia because some ex-pats are having trouble selling their properties.

RANT over

[Gtr London FTB]

Overall I am disapointed with many of these posts. I see them as quite mean spirited. A place is what you make of it. There are opportunities everywhere. There is no need to slate New Zealand or Australia because some ex-pats are having trouble selling their properties.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I slate Australia for many other reasons than this. I guess it just winds me up to hear Brits often think so highly of countries such as Oz/NZ and yet they slate the hell out of their own country.

Hang on a minute...I'm doing the same thing in reverse...I'll shut up now.

[van hoogstraten]

Good and and bad about the UK - lifes what you make of it - Australia is not a cultural highspot with its baseball capped ute driving Cougar swilling morons but then again neither is the UK, the home of the cult of the d list celebrity, reality TV, political correctness & ubiquitous drunken hooligans.

Probable reasons for expats finding it hard to get jobs is that they expect to walk into a comparable salary on a currency conversion basis & that Aussie employers fear they will be off on their travels again as soon as theyve educated the prodigal sons & daughters out of the bad habits picked up working in london.

[laurejon]

GCS15 is right.

Like anything in life its what you make of it.

I have travelled and lived all over the world, I have never ever been treated with anything other than respect by Ozzies.

When an Ozzie first meets a Brit they expect to see that Architypal whinging pom and who can blame them thats exactly what they get to see in most cases.

The waters warm, the sands too hot, the water is full of blue bottles, the buses are not red, the taxis are not black, I cant get dole money as I have not been here for two years, the beer is not holsten, the houses are not the same as in england, where is the grass.

I have heard it all and so have they.

If you want to get on in this life then its important to fit in, if you dont make the effort and go out of your way to do so then you may as well just set up another years subscription to sky and stay indoors.

[Kayser Soze]

GCS15 is right.

Like anything in life its what you make of it.

I have travelled and lived all over the world, I have never ever been treated with anything other than respect by Ozzies.

When an Ozzie first meets a Brit they expect to see that Architypal whinging pom and who can blame them thats exactly what they get to see in most cases.

The waters warm, the sands too hot, the water is full of blue bottles, the buses are not red, the taxis are not black, I cant get dole money as I have not been here for two years, the beer is not holsten, the houses are not the same as in england, where is the grass.

I  have heard it all and so have they.

If you want to get on in this life then its important to fit in, if you dont make the effort and go out of your way to do so then you may as well just set up another years subscription to sky and stay indoors.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Couldn't agree more.

When I first came to NZ in the 80's was given the advice that the worst thing I could do was to start a sentence ' we don't do it like that back home' as I would quickly get the reply 'well if you want it like back home **** off back there then'.