The South East of England, especially London, can be very overcrowded and the housing costs are astronomical. I do not see how it is possible to have a high quality of life in London unless you have a very high income or are independently wealthy.
The North of England and Scotland are much better, however, in this respect. There are a few expensive and crowded pockets but generally it's less populated, the cost of housing is less, and the people are more friendly and welcoming for the most part.
Those are the reasons I plan to move back to the North eventually, although my job ties me to the South for the time being - the main problem with the North is lack of decent jobs.
I don't know enough about Northern Ireland or Wales to comment on those UK countries.
The UK isn't the hell hole some people seem to think it is, but it's worth pricking the bubble of people who imagine a world of Miss Marple, beaming coppers and tea with the Queen in England; or dining on haggis, supping Scotch and listening to bagpipes in Scotland, with castles dotted here there and everywhere. That's the "tourist experience" and life for most people isn't remotely like that.
FWIW I think the next couple of years are going to be VERY interesting politically and economically as we approach the next election. There are hints that interest rates are going to start creeping up which will help me as a saver, but it's going to put a big squeeze on a lot of people who have taken out mortgages they can't really afford. Wait and see.
I am British and the government has turned the UK into a class divided dump. Almost on the verge of a class war.
The rich Old Etonians and their foreign sponsors that are selling the country off to fill their own personal coffers versus the under-educated, under-priveleged and under-paid slave class.
I am in Malaysia at the moment, you cannot believe the difference, none of us ex-pats ever want to go back now. This Tory `Friends of the Foreigners` government has killed the UK.
Read 1984 ...
@ Steve ... Absolutely. If you spend time abroad you start wondering `why can`t Britain be like this?` and the reason is that the greedy over-class have instilled a culture of disrespect and disregard throughout the population that permeates every part of British life to the detriment of those that have been created `have-nots` and this lot we have ruling over us now will make it even worse.
One of my friends here has just returned from his annual leave and he says he cannot ever go back now `2 weeks was quite enough` he said despairingly.
I myself am trying to get my family away, my youngest looks to have found a position in Canada. I have another daughter that works for the NHS and she, I hope, will start actively looking for work abroad, the UK Gov. has let her down dreadfully.
Even my 85 year old mother says `why can`t it be like this at home?` when she visits.
That is sad isn`t it?
The UK is NOT a poor nation, but it has developed this policy of gross unfairness and ridicule. I do not know how we will ever get our country back, it has been stolen from us while we were sleeping.
@ Jotacar ... There was NO global recession, there was a WESTERN recession, countries that work outside of the western system were barely affected by it.
You should see how many Asian countries are growing, take a look at the vast sums that they are spending on infrastructure for example.
Here we have massive new bridges, major highways and fabulous new buildings are sprouting out of the ground at such a rate that you hardly recognise the skyline from one month to the next.
Take a look at who owns all the western banks, financial institutions, take a look at who controls foreign policy etc. etc. etc. and it doesn`t take a genius to see where all of the west`s money went does it?
Who got poor and who got rich?
Wake up you lot!
Edit: 10,600 British sick and disabled people died last year within 6 weeks of having their benefits stopped.
http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/2012/10...
Not exactly First World is it?
Did my forefathers fight so bloody hard for that to happen?
Sounds a bit like a cull doesn`t it?
Does it bring back any memories of anyone in particular?
That nice Mr.Hitler for example?
Wait `till it happens to you or someone that you love.
The reality is
The NHS might be in the middle of a melt down but most still have a health care system.
Housing maybe under strain, it's out of reach or there's not enough to go around, others struggling to pay their way but many still have a roof over their heads.
Education, transport & public services are squashed from all sides BUT we still have them.
Things could settle within the next year or so.
And some of us have no choice but stay & tough it out.
Things are bad, they haven't been - this - bad for many years (The last bad era was the decade of the 80's)
It will always be a series of ups and downs with the reliance we have on this 'system' we live under. Things will - only - improve when we have the courage and unity to 'evolve'
WE are proud of the country we were born into. Every country has it's problems and we listen to a lot of junk about the USA. This is something to consider: Why are people wanting to come here?
Why are people immigrating here? If we are so bad then why are people fighting to get in?
If you live in a country were everyone wants to leave then you have a problem.
That is how you judge a country.
Britain's a mess compared to some other places.
And America's in a similar state of disarray.
That's why there's headlines like these:
'Why Canada is top destination for British expats'
'British expats have voted Canada the best place to live in'
'Why Thousands Of Brits Move To Canada Every Year'
'The Big Question: Should we all be thinking about making a move to Canada?'
'Americans are the latest economic refugees, and they’re heading to Canada'
'U.S. Unemployment: Canada Sees "Dramatic Growth" In American Job-Seekers'
'Americans moving to Canada in record numbers: report'
Can't blame them, not really.
They're just looking for a safe place to wait things out till Britain and the US get back on their feet.
And if someone's going to do that, they can't do much better than waiting it out in Canada:
'Canada: Richer than America and more economically powerful than Europe'
'The most prosperous nation in the Americas, Canada ranks first in personal freedom'
Canada first and only G7 country to recover all jobs lost during recession'
'Canada to lead G7 nations in average growth for next 50 years: OECD'
'Canada's crime rate drops, with homicides at 46-year low'
'Canada Named The World's Most Educated Country'
'Canada lands in Top 10 of best places to be born in 2013'
'Canada is best G20 country for females'
'Best Country For Kids: Canada Best Place In The World To Raise Children'
'Your Kids Will Have A Better Life If You Move To Canada'
'10 Most Reputable Countries and Canada Takes Top Spot'
'Canada can fairly claim to be the best-governed country in the world'
ye its so bad here, its almost unbearable. hundreds of supermarkets and well paying jobs, electricity, clean running water and warm dry houses. it angers me to think we could all be living the high life in a warm country like Syria. BLOODY THATCHERS BRITAIN
Steve,i'm 1954 too & i agree 100%,
to see the true sorry state of the UK
one has to be outside looking in !.
I cannot think of ONE thing that's
good here,just think for a moment,
anything come to mind ?, thought not.
If the UK is that bad why are people still fighting to get in?? Why have more native Brits not exercised their right to live and work in Europe? It can't be our weather, so we must have something we like about the UK which keeps us all here.
The Bush/Cheney recession badly damaged the entire world economy. They
did such a thorough job of messing things up that it is taking far longer than was
at first expected to turn things around.
Every recession in history has turned into good times though.
It may not be until 2020 or later, but eventually the destruction that Bush
/Cheney wreaked upon the economy of the entire world will be corrected.
This time it's going to take a lot of patience *no matter who is in the White
House*.
i just saw this answer to a question from somebody who wanted to immigrate to britain
''The UK is heading down the toilet at a huge rate of knots, taking the quality of life for its citizens with it.. It's overcrowded, underpaid, and the cost of living, especially housing, is insane.
If you have connections in Denmark, I'd think about moving there instead. ''
this really painted a bleak picture for me, as im english, live here......i know we have big problems in this time era but i wouldnt want to think things were that terrible ?
someone else in that question called the uk a dump, that really upset and offended me....im proud of this country and its heritage, and for people to just say throw away remarks like that..
i know theres a lot of problems now, especially with the economy and mass immigration...the modern news media really plays on those stories.....but is my country going to be ok ? things arent getting that severe as some people say is it ?
7.8% unemployment is actually pretty good by international standards. And although the recovery is painfully slow, things aren't getting any worse either.
In some places it is.....too many immigrants who won't assimilate into society......too many chavs with no respect for society........too many freeloaders who only cheat society.........mainly in the towns and cities.......
The good news is there are some very nice places and people....often in the suburbs, but mainly in the country.........and it's not too late to do something about the crappy parts either..........
We just need to control our borders better, apply existing laws, and make it beneficial to work for a living....
We can be great again.....!
Yes.
Were gonna be fine, people have been saying that for ages. Some people just like to be unhappy. Britain will endure as it has for the last thousand years
detroit
stockton
San Bernardino
Jefferson County
Central Falls
how many more cities will declare bankruptcy
I don't think it's that bad, lots of us just like moaning :P
