I wish I could escape the UK...

[Itsokay2020]

Just that really! I used to love this country, but I feel really deflated today.

I read the headlines and it’s so depressing, I go for a walk and I just see overgrown hedgerows and weeds everywhere. Footpaths are becoming impossible to negotiate due to overgrowth. My energy supplier went bust, the new supplier are dragging their heals and have blocked our attempt to switch to a better rate with a new supplier. I can sense growing frustration amongst the ordinary folk in the street, it’s a melting pot. Shelves are more bare, made worse by panic headlines in the media. The cost of living is increasing, yet wages are stagnant. The government seems unable to get a grip on all that’s wrong - where is all the money going? Our local fields are being built upon - our beautiful village of 2,000 dwellings will soon increase to 3,000 plus. This is repeated across our part of East Anglia. Selfishly, I wonder where I’ll walk the dog, whilst also knowing that my DC won’t be able to live locally due to the cost of housing. Don’t get me started on GP’s and the lack of appointments.

For the first time, I feel fear about the future. Am considering escaping the South and moving North to reduce our cost of living and maybe enjoy a slower pace. Am I just having a down day or do you feel it too?

Will a new government make it better?

The slower pace further North bit - what do you mean?

How far North?
What is 'slower' up there?

I'm not sure what you want exactly.

''Moving to get a cheaper cost of living'' is what drives the prices up and drives the need for more housing and you'll be doing exactly what you're moaning about in your own area.

Who will you vote for at the next election?

More homes brings more council tax for the council’s particularly if young working people which means more money to spend on council services like hedgerow management. Think of the benefits that way. Councils with lots of retired people struggle more to meet costs as fewer full payers and more demand for services. Young people / families moving into a village helps to revitalise it in lots of different ways.

I'm in SE London and there are bare shelves, and still not every garage has fuel.

I'm not sure where your utopia is. Everywhere has its problems.

Family in us are back on toilet roll shortages. Europe has the same shortage of drivers.

And it's not 'your green space'. Space anywhere is at a premium as there are too many people.

I feel totally alienated living here now. I am not blaming the government. This has been many many years in the making. We are leaving in a couple of years. Seeing the news about gangs with machetes in Richmond Park reminds me that I do not want to live in fear. That my children deserves better.

I think what makes things worse is the feeling that those supposedly in charge do not inspire confidence that they are capable of solving any of the problems currently facing the UK.

There have been equally grim times before. I remember rubbish piling up in the streets, the army having to drive fire engines because the firefighters were on strike, bodies not being buried, the three day week and power cuts (70s). Also the miners strikes, whole communities losing their liveliehoods, fear of nuclear attacks, IRA bombs and inner city rioting (80s).

I do understand that it feels pretty grim at the moment but this is not unique to this time or generation.

I've lived in a couple of countries in Europe as well as the UK and know friends there (born and raised in those countries) who emigrated because they felt they could do better for themselves and their children somewhere else.

I think things seem a lot worse at the moment because we have constant 24 hour news pumping out gloom and doom and social media where someone always has a tale of woe. The world is an imperfect place and there is no utopia. You might find another area or country where you feel happier, you might not.

Nothing wrong with feeling miserable or moaning about it but the danger is that if you let that become your only focus you will never be able to have any satisfaction in life.

@Itsokay2020

Not suggesting that moving abroad, or north, is perfect (or a solution), but concentrated house building is having a huge impact in this area and whilst it might help those wishing to move out of London, our green space is being eaten up rapidly and the existing infrastructure can’t cope.

You are very lucky if you haven’t seen bare shelves, in recent weeks we’ve seen shortages of bread, milk, vegetables and lots more.

Perhaps at the heart of this, I have lost faith in our current government. They seem so very out of touch with reality. Their lack of effective action at the right time is staggering. There isn’t a cohesive response, one department doesn’t communicate with another. Today’s report relating to Covid confirms what I have long suspected.

As for the state of our highways, roads, hedgerows and paths, sadly this is ongoing and nothing to do with nesting birds. Local council budgets are being squeezed, priorities need to be made (of course social care is more important than hedgerow maintenance) but it’s disheartening nonetheless to see a general decline in the upkeep of our environment.

Tomorrow is a new day, but today I feel sad about living in the UK. My DC is 13, I wouldn’t move whilst they are still at secondary school. But I haven’t ruled it out for later in life!

Here in Cornwall a deliberate decision was taken to halve the number of times roadside verges were mown through the year, with the support of the majority of respondents. Wildflowers were able to establish and it has had a beneficial effect on insects. Of course it looks tatty at this time of year, but that's autumn.

Just one of your points.

What needs to happen is more balance (jobs, housing) and more and better infrastructure including public transport across the country. It's not an impossible ask.

If you're worried about the new housing, can you get together with other locals to demand a proportion is genuinely affordable (to rent as well as to buy)? It might not get you anywhere but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Also try to take a break from the news headlines. It's a tough time but watching the news makes it seem even worse. It makes us panic.

Can you get together a community group to look after the hedgerows? I know several places that set up similar volunteer schemes.

God OP, I totally agree with you. I’m rather surprised by the online backlash to your post. Lebanon was mentioned. Well Christ, 5 years ago, I don’t think the Lebanese could imagine the political corruption taking an already difficult situation to destructive levels. So yeah, I get it. Be glad you’re not in Lebanon and all that but still, if a government isn’t effectively responding to a looming crisis we’ll quickly find ourselves swimming with the sharks. Things are not looking at all good in the UK, economy-wise. And we don’t have a responsive government with the people’s interest at heart. We have a government ready to deliver the shocks. I’m very worried about the UK’s direction of travel. I could move back to the States, sure. I’m from there originally. But we have guns. 😳

I live in the "North" - not quite sure where exactly you mean. Pace of life no different to that of my friends in the "south". House prices may be a bit cheaper. Salary levels may be a bit lower. No bare shelves. No fuel shortage. Countryside and coastline is beyond beautiful. Government still the same. Nothing to stop you moving abroad if you want to.

But we have guns.

And a massive and increasing housing crisis. It's a global issue.

stop obsessing about the news - view your own life where you live as what matters, Noone is starving in the streets, garages are open mostly, life will hit you with difficult times occasionally as those of us older ones know. The trouble is - you young ones have not had a 'difficult' time until Covid hit and you are finding it hard that not everything is 'hunky-dory' at the moment in this country and most others.

Europe has the same shortage of drivers.

It has a shortage but not to the extent that the UK seems to have.

Where I am (France) it certainly isn’t manifesting itself in the shops the way it is reported to be manifesting itself in the UK by UK MSM.

That said nowhere is perfect, so consider any plans to emigrate with caution, but I am another one worried by the UKs apparent direction of travel.

The management of hedgerows along public footpaths are the responsibility of the land owner, not the council, unless it's council land. The Public Rights of Way unit of the council are however the enforcing body for the condition of rights of way so you can complain to them if certain routes are getting blocked. Or you could join your local walking group and help to maintain them.

I'd love to get off this grey little island. Currently fantasising about a citizenship swap. I'm desperate to escape, there are plenty of people who would love to take my place.

You could apply to national trust for Scotland to live on Fair Isle.
Pretty slow pace of life there, but when the shop runs out it runs out.
Until the next ferry

@MrsTerryPratchett

But we have guns.

And a massive and increasing housing crisis. It's a global issue.

Yes. UK is not the only country with a public health housing and homelessness emergency.

It's terrible in the USA. Look at the tent cities.

I don't think OP is getting backlash? People are trying to help. It's not so easy for everyone to emigrate. Visa requirements, family commitments and support networks, for a start. Even if someone does go they'll usually still have family and friends living here, who they care about.

Which means it's a good idea to try to come up with positive constructive measures to help improve things here.

I agree things seem bleak right now but the news particularly rolling 24/7 makes it even worse. It's all a bit shit but it's not impossible to make things better. We can do it, if we want to. Even little things, just something small can make a difference. It all adds up. Lots of little good things.

@notimagain

Europe has the same shortage of drivers.

It has a shortage but not to the extent that the UK seems to have.

Where I am (France) it certainly isn’t manifesting itself in the shops the way it is reported to be manifesting itself in the UK by UK MSM.

That said nowhere is perfect, so consider any plans to emigrate with caution, but I am another one worried by the UKs apparent direction of travel.

There seems to be tensions brewing in France too. Perhaps different issues but it's not utopia (although a beautiful country). Racial tensions, yellow vests still protesting.

Macron seems unpopular. Slapped, egged.

Away from France. Look at Poland. Things seem a bit tense there too.

People are stressed all over. Too much imbalance but hopefully things can improve in the near future.

www.reuters.com/world/europe/macron-egged-by-protester-shouting-vive-la-revolution-2021-09-27/

[quote Itsokay2020]@HarrietsChariot I am normally very optimistic and rarely negative, but today is different. Tomorrow is a new day, and I have a lot to be grateful for, but it doesn’t mean I have to accept what’s happening around me[/quote]
Well don’t accept it then, do something!
Move, join a political party, get out and do some weeding.
There’s always something an individual can do however small and it’s got to be better than sitting around moaning.

I don’t mind a ‘backlash’ and I really appreciate the varying views. When I referred to a slower pace of life, my perception of that is having less congested roads (and less aggressive driving) and therefore reduced travelling times as well as finding that people have more time to stop and talk - less busy shops for example, and having time to exchange pleasantries rather than a growing queue behind you huffing and puffing! For me, these little things can make a big difference.

With regards to community action, I do participate (litter picking) and support elderly neighbours (especially during Covid lockdowns) and having a dog results in making lots of additional dog walking friends! I live in a lovely place.

But, as others have already stated, government policy (or lack of) is having a greater affect on day to day living in my opinion

In Italy the far right are gaining popularity. Mussolini's granddaughter representing one of the far right parties just did very well in the polls in Rome.

Tensions and problems are not unique to the UK.

I get what you mean OP. There's sometimes too much stress and busyness around so many places nowadays.

I think better and more public transport across the UK would help a lot.

@Itsokay2020 I’d have said you’ve done well to only have 1k new houses built, and have enjoyed fields and things for as long as you have. I’m Midlands and our town is constantly having new 750/1k developments built all over it. The towns are basically connected by a massive housing estate now; they all merge into one.

Food and fuel shortages have been the case in a lot of areas, not just where you are… and property prices are high. I bought a one bed flat when I finished uni, for just under £100k. The one opposite sold last week for £205k.

But there’s problems everywhere. Overpopulation isn’t a U.K. problem, but a world problem, as is house prices. Food shortages are a mix of issues, some of which are the UKs “fault”, but no supply lines are in great shape after the global pandemic.

It’s a “struggle through” period, I think.

Oh that far greener grass overseas...

I really wish people would count their blessings occasionally.

You live in a liberal democracy where, if your fellow citizens agree with you, you'll be able to vote out the government at the next election

You can wear what you like, go where you like, leave the house without a male chaperone's say so, drive a car, get an education, have a job etc etc

Your home isn't at risk of being bombed and you are highly unlikely to be shot down on a street corner

You live in a country where extremes of weather are not a regular occurrence

Things may not be going all your way but actually we're pretty damn lucky to live where we do.

I live in the north and house prices are rocketing, every bit of green space is being built on including green belt. So don’t thinks it’s much better up here