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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Where would you flee to if war came to us ?

632 replies

wheretogoif · 26/02/2022 20:37

Sorry really not wanting to sound alarmist. But just pondering on the thought of which country we could seek refuge in, should the worst happen?

Our European neighbours would be out, as they'll have their own issues.

So where could we go ? Interesting to think about with all that's going on and how the general public view refugees...

OP posts:
lightand · 27/02/2022 13:06

There is another thread on mumsnet listing where people would go to.

If Russia manages to get half way across from Ukraine to the UK, it may be time to flee. [dont go by me necessarily].

An orderly flight takes some time to prepare for. See other threads on mumsnet. Some are seriously starting to think about it all.

lightand · 27/02/2022 13:07

Actually it is this thread! Pages of people saying.

chairbumg · 27/02/2022 13:09

So people on this thread have already left?

lightand · 27/02/2022 13:10

Not that I know of. But read what I actually said a little more carefully. That is all I am going to say.

chairbumg · 27/02/2022 13:11

I've not read all the thread but everything looks hypothetical. Back in the real world its not easy for the average person to just flee to another country or claim asylum.

Libraryghost · 27/02/2022 13:11

What a ridiculous thread. You won't be going anywhere if Britain is at war! You seriously think you are going to be able to go to a travel agent and book flights - have a word with yourselves. Would you want to be on aeroplane anyway if there were enemy fighter jets likely to shoot you down? The only way you could get out is if you saw it coming and you are willing to leave everything you own behind. Think about that- locking your front door door and walking away from everything you own and everyone you know. We are island which makes us safer than mainland Europe, this is part of why we have never been defeated. Those who are most vulnerable would be evacuated ( like the kids in WW2). The rest of us us would have to show some balls and defend our country like the brave Ukrainians are. You won't be sunning it on a beach in Jamaica regardless whether your granny lives there or not. Silly sods... Hmm

MrsLargeEmbodied · 27/02/2022 13:12

i would worry that my dd would like to fight tbh,

your country needs you sort of thing

MrsLargeEmbodied · 27/02/2022 13:12

i was planning to travel by megabus

LabraDabraDoo · 27/02/2022 13:22

It's easy to say, when you aren't in that situation isn't it? It's easy to assume you'd go somewhere safe. But when it comes to it, I imagine people leave it too late, or there is simply nowhere preferable to go to.

As the granddaughter of a refugee (who had no choice, it was leave via the border or via the one-way train), I doubt I'd be going anywhere. The trauma that comes with fleeing lasts for generations.

I'd get my kids safe with their grandparents, and then I'd resist. I'm not sure I'd be of much use, but I'd do what I could.

Libraryghost · 27/02/2022 13:22

@Juno22

What an utterly disgraceful thread.
Absolutely agree. It's ignorant and naive. 'I would be going here or there etc. I bet the Ukrainians wish they could get on a plane and fuck off to New Zealand. Show some backbone and stop whinging and thank God we are on a wealthy well defended island.
Hobbesmanc · 27/02/2022 13:22

Gosh if it got so bad we needed to flee suburban Cheshire, I imagine the world would be pretty fucked up. Post nuclear Holocaust or total collapse of civilisation I don't think there's going to be many safe havens. And the biggest risk would be former neighbours (from the neighbourhood not literally next door hopefully) fighting for limited supplies

I don't fancy scrapping over tins of beans and eating moss. Plus I couldn't abandon the pets. Or eat them

I've a secret stash of recreational from the late nineties hidden away. I'd hope they're enough to overdose us to oblivion

LeahLana · 27/02/2022 13:22

Come on, get real...most of us wouldn't be going anywhere other than Scotland, Wales or England - we are an island - just how would we all travel. Look at the queues out of Ukraine using their own transport and by walking.

We have also just left the EU so less rights to be anywhere local to us. Can't see the EU providing us with transport or rights to stay, because we voted not to have those rights.

Men are conscripted in Ukraine - all men aged 18-60. As the mother of all boys ( over 18) and a DH under the age of 60, I would be staying. Not much point fleeing on my own.

dworky · 27/02/2022 13:31

Ha ha!! The world is our oyster.

JulesRimetStillGleaming · 27/02/2022 13:54

Well there has been a woman on the news just now who made it on foot and by hitchhiking to Hungary, flew to Paris, met her UK based daughter there and the UK won't let her in because she doesn't have a visa. They've said she can apply to be admitted under the points based system, no right to claim asylum where her daughter has leave to remain.

So the UK cares more about immigration than allowing families to reunite and sensible decisions about where people should flee to.

OhLordyWhatNow · 27/02/2022 13:54

Well now Putin has mentioned the nuclear option so no one is going to be safe anywhere.

He's truly gone mad.

Original poster
wheretogoif · 27/02/2022 14:07

@OhLordyWhatNow

Well now Putin has mentioned the nuclear option so no one is going to be safe anywhere.

He's truly gone mad.

The moment to just go somewhere as a tourist for a couple of weeks/ or several weeks, is probably now or quite soon. Just to see what happens from a 'safer ' place. So where would that be ?
OP posts:
OhLordyWhatNow · 27/02/2022 14:22

@wheretogoif

I'm staying where I am. I live in the countryside close to an extensive disused underground Cold War bunker system.

Pretty sure if people are evacuated from cities they'll need a friendly face and a warm bed; I have spare room and would happily accommodate if required.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 27/02/2022 14:25

I won't be fleeing anywhere. I'm not leaving this country.

lightand · 27/02/2022 14:36

@dworky

Ha ha!! The world is our oyster.
Even in WW11 there were countries not involved. I couldnt tell you which ones though, I would have to look that up!
lightand · 27/02/2022 14:37

@wheretogoif
Actually i will dm you

alwayswrighty · 27/02/2022 14:42

I wouldn't. I would stay put. Whether that looks like me fighting or helping in some other way then sobeit.

Don't know if being around the military my whole life skews my attitude to risk, but I could die in a whole manner of different ways at different times so 🤷‍♀️

AlwaysLatte · 27/02/2022 14:45

We have family in Canada, but then again they're a NATO country. I think I'd probably go to the outer Hebrides!

Abhannmor · 27/02/2022 15:22

@WaterBottle123

We've haven't been invaded since 1066. We are lucky as fuck to live on a rich island.
We have. Just our luck to live next to a rich island.
Abhannmor · 27/02/2022 16:06

@Whadda

Seriously, most of you saying Ireland can fuck right off.

You’d escape an invasion by seeking refuge in a country that you invaded?

That's a bit steep. You can't blame people for the crimes of the ruling class. You must try living in the Now.
Theoldcuriosityshop · 27/02/2022 16:44

If it turns nuclear it wouldn't matter where you went and you wouldn't have time anyway if someone hits that button.

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