AIBU to have concerns about returning to UK

[madchocolatemum48]

We are in the process of moving back to the Uk. Dh's job mainly, but I would like the kids to 'know their roots' too.
The more I read about the UK at the moment I am beginning to wonder if it is really such a good idea after all.
We have a nice house in a quiet village. Kids are at a good school. Life is a little hum-drum but nothing major to complain about.
I'm concerned about schools, areas to move too, crime, politics. Practically everything really.
Is it as bad as the newspapers make out????

I'm thinking of moving back to UK after 15 years in France. So far have mentionned it to my mum and two good friends (who all live in different parts of the UK, north, midlands and yorkshire) and all have seemed a bit perplexed that I want to come back!
Superficially, where I live is beautiful and has a lot to love but it's not "home" and I'll always feel like a foreigner.

OP do you never visit? It doesn't seemed to have changed so much to me when I spend time back "home."

Honestly? I'd stay in Scandinavia.

Sorry 'that sort'. I don't know if you are that sort or not. We don't need any more people who are scared of immigrants and benefit claimants.

If you were to believe the Mail and its commentators, then you would know that the UK is awash with gangs, crime, violence, amoral feral teenagers, danger, immigrants taking jobs and people who want to basically screw you over.

If you ignored the hysteria, move back and live in a quiet humdrum village here, you'd realise again that most people are actually pretty nice.

Ignore the rude people - they don't realise it is not about not wanting to be back in England, but about a fear it has changed since last time you lived there. I get it - we have lived in America for 8 years and may have to return soon... I am dreading it. I love a lot of things about England, but I remember a lot of bullying in schools and the way people a kid eye contact and don't compliment each other or smile as much as they do here... I know I will miss so many things and resettling in a country, even one you know, is tough.

Actually I'm not concerned about the people I miss being around brits and our unique sense of humor.
I was thinking along the lines of my kids growing up in an environment where crime is rife and unemployment is the norm.
I have nothing against immigrants (I am one here)
I'm not bashing the UK, just some common sense opinions from it's inhabitants.

Hey. I just left Scandinavia. Very happy with that decision. Not to the UK admittedly but hell, I would absolutely move back to the UK from there. It is very stunted. Fresh air and access to snow. Not much else to recommend it. IMHO.

who told you that "crime was rife and unemployment the norm"?
there are places that I would not want to live now ....

Crime isn't rife. Unemployment isn't the norm. Underemployment seems quite common and erosion of worker's rights. Don't know how it compares to Sweden.

You can look up official stats to show that Crime is lower in the UK now than it has been in decades, by every measure except the perception of crime.

So people perceive that crime is up, when the official measures even those that include unreported crimes, all seem to say crime is down. I blame the Mail & similar media groups.

Unemployment: really just a significant problem in pockets, and affecting the least skilled communities. Under-employment is more of a widespread issue, and living costs in London are very high which is a separate kind of problem.

it's a pretty dynamic economy.

it seems to me to be too much reading of the Daily Mule

I live in a place with low crime rate, great transport links, good schools - with effective bullying policies, oh and great transport links.

The disadvantages - high house prices, and a bit of stress around school allocation (even though almost every school is okay). Its in the South East of England.

I can totally understand someone wanting to move back from France, just the "you must be mad to move back" seems to be some British people's default comment.

Yes, I believe the Daily Mail is the root of my problems. I will banish it immediately.

I was all , but coming from Scandinavia will be challenging. I've lived overseas and often desperately miss my old life.
I'd concentrate on getting what you don't have there. Can you move near family? I live in a place all my now dead grandparents loved, within walking distance of where my grandmother was born and see kids in the uniform of the school my mum went to.
You can always pilgrimage to Ikea

Mmmmm Marinated herring and Meatballs. Maybe I'll stay after all.

If you have a good life there I seriously wouldnt rush back, the DM fuels the fear for many people but it is by and large total rubbish. I dont feel theres much crime where I live and the schools are on the whole very good. Unfortunately people are very friendly here and want to stop and chat a lot, which is a probem for me being a misery

But I`d jump at the chance to live abroad but possibly somewhere a bit warmer, thats my only gripe living here.

I suppose it is unrealistic to compare.
It is really quiet here. One of the things that I can't get used too,
but then the population of Norway is still only half the size of London
Population and size alone make it impossible to do a realistic comparison.
I have been away a long time, and the things I didn't like before I will still not like. As some one said the twats will still be twats
You can never find a truly unbiased view on things though.

Fancy a house swap Onestepcloser ?

It really depends on what you like to do.

If your dh loves the mountain, biking and fishing, he may find it hard to adjust, especially if you end up in London. And especially if he likes the clean crisp fresh air.

Im of the opinion that as bad as the UK may seem to those who have moved on to pasture new - it would be the fist place they run to if it all goes tits up in their adopted land.

Kind of like its a dump blah blah blah but when I need it it will be the best place on earth.

There's an awful lot to be said for the UK.

I grew up elsewhere, have lived in the UK for nearly 30 years. Once you've lived in more than one country, nowhere will be perfect, there are always things that are better in the other country.

I was shocked how cold, wet and grey it was.

Agree with that, the UK climate is a depressing aspect of life here. On the other hand, the amount of rain means the countryside here is beautiful, compared to sunnier/dryer countries, unfortunately I seldom leave London, so I don't get to enjoy that.

it was so dirty compared to where we are now

One of the things that struck me about London, when I first arrived, was to see magnificent terraces, properties that are worth (tens of?) millions today, and they'd have peeling paint and dirt on the outside surfaces. I assumed at the time it was down to higher labour costs, but I also think Londoners, just don't "see" dirt and decay, it's an old city with lots of old buildings, they are accustomed to it. (Having said that, I revisited some of my childhood locations recently, and they were much shabbier than my memory. I think they have actually deteriorated, but memory and perception failures are probably also an issue here.)

I'm happy to be here, there are lots of things that are better here, but there are lots of things about the old country that were better, and many still are.

Coming from Norway I think Scotland would be best. I did Stockholm- London and had a massive culture shock; at least it was city-city.