To think that the great has gone out of Britain

[dibbleandgrub]

I am usually very patriotic. Love our green and pleasant land, the culture, the quirkiness, the British people (ahem well selectively chosen).

I woke up this morning looked out of the window at the rain and the grey sky, came downstairs to a letter from our bank about being overdrawn (we are really struggling), another letter about declaring our income in my tax return because of child benefit changes, and a ridiculous bill from Scottish power for electricity. Turned on tv to hear a load of negatives with the English defence league and anti terror stuff and just thought well bugger me, I've bloody had enough.

Is if better anywhere else? Can I pack our bags and head off for a life of sunny days, more bang for our hard earned buck and an all together better quality of life for a young family? I'm serious - I hear New Zealand is good..... ;)

Sorry, I'm proud to British but I'm not enjoying Britain that much right now!

YANBU to moan about bills and the shitty weather.. totally, totally not unreasonable. It sucks big time.

Without opinion on the 'Great' and Britain debate though, as other's say, the grass can be greener and we like Gibber lists I'm pleased about some of the other things this country has compared to others. Certainly wouldn't fancy living in Syria right now.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriotism
There you go lottieandmia if that link works hopefully that will help you understand what I mean by I'm patriotic and proud to be British. It might be 'an accident where you are born' but it doesn't mean that I have no sense of pride, loyalty or cultural attachment to my homeland. I'm just not particularly happy living in Great Britain right now, it seems a bit gloomy and damp (and not just the weather) from where I'm sitting.

The NHS is something I think a lot of us take for granted if we've never lived in a country where the system for healthcare is different. I heard that the cost of just having a baby in the USA is about £3-4K even when you already have adequate health insurance.

Yes I know what patriotism means but I think it's nonsensical, sorry I know some will disagree.

True. Syria

I know, like I said in my op, I'm usually the first to sing my allegiances to what a great place Britain is.....just don't feel like that as much lately and yes do think some of it could be to do with the Tory squeeze.

More bang for your buck?????? Hardly- higher cost of living in many countries plus additional costs of health, schooling, plus additional dangers- nature/roads/crime plus you won't know how things work...or anybody but welcome, please!

Nah, when I look at the news at see things like women in some states in America possibly being charged with murder after having a miscarriage, and the fighting that goes on almost constantly in the middle east, and the way China is run etc etc I still think I live in one of the greatest (most free) countries on the planet.

I work for the nhs, but I don't see that as a British plus point right now although it should be. It's in a mess, its being cut back so much people's lives are at risk. I'll stop there though.....can.....worms....

I know dibble, it is depressing. Hopefully the tories will not get in again next time. I sincerely hope they don't.

I thank my lucky stars that I was born where and when I was and I am by no means a fervent patriot. We are LUCKY here, despite our problems. We have a welfare and a healthcare system; I dare say it's not perfect but consider the alternative.
Bills are a fact of life and no doubt with three children things are a struggle but I don't suppose you'd have it any other way. (By that I mean you presumably chose to have them and don't regret it.)

God no, no regrets about anything. I adore my children. I know we are lucky here, but I do think life on Britain is changing under this gov and (like a dog with a bone) I DEMAND the bloody rain to piss off and for the sun to shine - just a little bit. Please.

neunandneunzig, some people say the whole area was called 'the British Isles' (or Pretanic etc) long before Britain became a country. Some ancient geographers did call Great Britain, um, 'Great Britain' and Ireland 'Small Britain'. Great Britain is an historical name, so even though Ireland (the country, not the island) is politically separate, it does not negate the origins of the name. However, the other poster may just have meant the Isle of Wight, Anglesey, the Scottish islands etc. (I am Irish, btw)

OP, the other origin for 'Great Britain' is comparison between 'Bretagne' (Brittany) and 'Grande Bretagne'. GB is still bigger than Brittany, so YABU.

Omg the suns coming out. (Drops phone and runs for the door)

If you don't like your country, get up and change it to what you think would be better.

Do you think a government change would make all that of a difference? I started a thread about this weeks ago but nobody responded. I have worked all my adult life since graduating (30 plus years) and apart from having a bit more or a bit less money here and there, a government change has had no effect on my level of happiness. They move the deck chairs around a bit but very little has had an effect on my day to day life. I still think we're lucky.
The weather is a bummer. I'd settle for a week in the sun somewhere but it's not going to happen this year.

Omg the suns coming out. (Drops phone and runs for the door)

quick soak up the rays VIT d will cheer you up

The grass can be greener but I do think the UK has a lot going for it, compared to other countries. Sometimes counting your blessings can be the best tonic. Focusing on the negatives of your life can drive you into a depression.

Things are quite tough but you are not powerless. The question is "How are you going to help yourself/change your circumstances?"
IMO feeling powerless, and being negative can be worse than the actual circumstances themselves.
Try a little positive thinking, and change the things that bother you where possible. Sometimes you just need to make small changes.
You could consult an organisation like CAP to address the debt/overdraft issue, look into changing your energy supplier or find a way to reduce costs/ improve your income. You are not powerless.

Like that tenacity! Bit of pma!