Discussion
Been away for a while:
Why is everyone under 25 called shanonkway or something?
Why are you still watching celebrity come dancing?
Why is everyone pissed all the time?
Why is every food menu the same?
Why is every politician the kid even I as the school punchbag would have kicked s
t out of?
Why have we realised that the ex-colonials were let loose at exactly the time we needed them to add to our economy?
Just Ponderings of an expat wondering where it all went wrong, and hoping this isn't too provocative for the mods.
Why is everyone under 25 called shanonkway or something?
Why are you still watching celebrity come dancing?
Why is everyone pissed all the time?
Why is every food menu the same?
Why is every politician the kid even I as the school punchbag would have kicked s
t out of?Why have we realised that the ex-colonials were let loose at exactly the time we needed them to add to our economy?
Just Ponderings of an expat wondering where it all went wrong, and hoping this isn't too provocative for the mods.
Mr Sparkle said:
Reading some of the other threads I am wondering if we can fix the UK - starting to think it can't be done now. Wonder what the best course of action would be. Learn German?
Ich habe familie auf Deutchland.Das ist mein 'backup plan'.
Dont want to come over all BNP or FOX news as to why the UK is screwed, so better shut up...
Germany probably has many of our problems afterall. I guess my family is in the posh bits (Hamburg area) so maybe thats why it seems so much better. Although ATM im in a supposedly good bit of the UK (Herts) and it still seems a dump/refugee camp. This country is screwed. Thatcherism, then Labour.
Not trying to add shine to a st here, but having come from South Africa (been here almost a decade now), I don't think you appreciate just how good you often have it by comparison.
The UK sure as hell ain't perfect, but it sure beats some of the alternatives out there. I believe there's still a chance to improve things, as difficult as that might seem.
You're only seeing the cracks, things are not yet broken.
t here, but having come from South Africa (been here almost a decade now), I don't think you appreciate just how good you often have it by comparison.The UK sure as hell ain't perfect, but it sure beats some of the alternatives out there. I believe there's still a chance to improve things, as difficult as that might seem.
You're only seeing the cracks, things are not yet broken.
Having worked outside UK now for 10 years i can see exactly what you're saying. I nip back to UK two or three times per year just to bring myself back down to earth again. I have realised that i do it to justify to myself i am doing the right thing and staying well clear of all the bks and bullst that is generated in my home country. Very sad i know but there is no turning back for me.
ks and bullst that is generated in my home country. Very sad i know but there is no turning back for me.I was back in the UK for a few weeks mid summer to organize shipping / clear out my house / visit the UK office in stevenage 
within about 3 days I was wishing I was back here in SG ....I thought I would feel I was "coming home" to the UK ...I felt happier when I arrived back overseas.
Not even sure I can be bothered to head back for Xmas : hill walking in Scotland or diving and hiking in Bali
within about 3 days I was wishing I was back here in SG ....I thought I would feel I was "coming home" to the UK ...I felt happier when I arrived back overseas.
Not even sure I can be bothered to head back for Xmas : hill walking in Scotland or diving and hiking in Bali
Mr Sparkle said:
Reading some of the other threads I am wondering if we can fix the UK - starting to think it can't be done now. Wonder what the best course of action would be. Learn German?
I would say reduce the crushing fiscal drag of EU membership and welfare, the best language to learn is UKIP...
Edited by powerstroke on Sunday 16th October 08:12
Bing o said:
Been away for a while:
Why is everyone under 25 called shanonkway or something?
Why are you still watching celebrity come dancing?
Why is everyone pissed all the time?
Why is every food menu the same?
Why is every politician the kid even I as the school punchbag would have kicked st out of?
Why have we realised that the ex-colonials were let loose at exactly the time we needed them to add to our economy?
Just Ponderings of an expat wondering where it all went wrong, and hoping this isn't too provocative for the mods.
You havnt been say that long you tard. You always post as if you have been off discovering some new hidden tribe somewhere. Did you get a little hard over calling yourself an expat? Even if not a proper one.Why is everyone under 25 called shanonkway or something?
Why are you still watching celebrity come dancing?
Why is everyone pissed all the time?
Why is every food menu the same?
Why is every politician the kid even I as the school punchbag would have kicked s
t out of?Why have we realised that the ex-colonials were let loose at exactly the time we needed them to add to our economy?
Just Ponderings of an expat wondering where it all went wrong, and hoping this isn't too provocative for the mods.
stevejh said:
Yeah, it's just that those pockets seem to be getting bigger and bigger and having more and more influence on the rest of us.
I think the problems are much more visible than they have been at others times but from a long-term historical perspective we still have it pretty good. The things the OP mentions affect most countries in the developed west to a greater or lesser degree. Post imperial economic decline and the continuing 'social experiment' that began in the 1960s are largely responsible.
Despite our economic decline, the poverty that used to keep the poor 'in their place' and then kill them off before they cost the state too much no longer exixts. While the 'social experiment' made them much more visible in the media and on the streets.
It should also be remembered that the British Isles have always been occupied by wild and savage tribes. It has been said that Britain has only ever had a thin veneer of civilisation and that traditional and elaborate British courtesy evolved to prevent social interactions becoming violent.
Could we apply a new coat of civilised veneer? Maybe but it would require a new 'social revolution' that ended the 'social experiment' that started n the 1960s. Quite how we do that - when nearly everyone involved in education and social policy is a product of and a believer in the social experiment - evades me.
Dara O'Briain makes an interesting point which is that the UK is about fifth at everything. We complain about this because we think we should be first at everything. He says if Ireland was fifth at anything there would be a national celebration.
As stated above, there are a lot of worse places to live in the world. If that wasn't so we wouldn't have the immigration that we do. But could it be improved? Oh yes. Definitely.
Despite our economic decline, the poverty that used to keep the poor 'in their place' and then kill them off before they cost the state too much no longer exixts. While the 'social experiment' made them much more visible in the media and on the streets.
It should also be remembered that the British Isles have always been occupied by wild and savage tribes. It has been said that Britain has only ever had a thin veneer of civilisation and that traditional and elaborate British courtesy evolved to prevent social interactions becoming violent.
Could we apply a new coat of civilised veneer? Maybe but it would require a new 'social revolution' that ended the 'social experiment' that started n the 1960s. Quite how we do that - when nearly everyone involved in education and social policy is a product of and a believer in the social experiment - evades me.
Dara O'Briain makes an interesting point which is that the UK is about fifth at everything. We complain about this because we think we should be first at everything. He says if Ireland was fifth at anything there would be a national celebration.
As stated above, there are a lot of worse places to live in the world. If that wasn't so we wouldn't have the immigration that we do. But could it be improved? Oh yes. Definitely.
Mr Sparkle said:
Reading some of the other threads I am wondering if we can fix the UK - starting to think it can't be done now. Wonder what the best course of action would be. Learn German?
Good idea. While they aren't known for their comedy or their food,
their engineering and beer are world class.
They are a nation of petrolheads, too.
Go to somewhere affluent like Bavaria and it's a lot better than the UK.
No nanny state, proper motorways, proper summers, hard snow covered winters
- works for me.
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