To think we’re lucky to be in Britain?

[BooomShakeTheRoom]

• Temperate climate with distinct seasons, all the more important and enjoyable as we see other areas of the world suffer with annual fires, floods, hurricanes etc.
• Basic protection of human rights and freedom. Yes, politically we’re in a strange place globally and nationally (yes, looking at you Reform and Trump voters 😑) but - generally - you can be who you are with minimal risks. That really isn’t the case in many parts of the world still.
• NHS - again, yes it’s stretched and not perfect but it’s still far better provision than most other people have in the world. I have friends and neighbours who have moved back to the UK just for the healthcare.
• Fantastic school system. We have it VERY good compared to many countries. Again, some of my friends have moved back to the UK to access our free school system. I feel very lucky to be able to send my kids.
• Pretty decent benefits and state support system. A LOT of people are housed and fed by the system who would otherwise be destitute.
• World class maternity rights.
• Good life/work balance for most. 35-40hrs per week is a lot less than many other countries expect.
• Beautiful coastlines, national parks, vibrant cities, shops, parks, kids entertainment. Again, lots of communities around the world don’t have all of that accessible.

We hear a lot of doom and gloom, but for me at least, I feel very blessed to have won the postcode lottery to have been born here. Could things be better? Of course, certainly. And life can throw us problems regardless. But it could also be a whole lot worse and I’m really thankful for everything I have access to.

Just wanted to post this as media plays a big role in depressing people and I hope this post prompts people to think about what they do have, rather than what they don’t.

(I appreciate people feel differently, just wanted to see a positive post!)

Agree with this. NHS is killing people off

What are you paying, if you don’t mind me asking?

I just think I will pay out of pocket, and take the risk, the premiums were so high, I cancelled as everything we had was never covered as under the excess amount.

I would love to agree with you but ..
I left the UK several years ago my adoptive country while not perfect has
Superior state healthcare , genuinely fantastic
A really lovely all year climate yet still seasonal
Real protection of human rights
I was a teacher in the UK it was bloody awful. Hopefully this new government will make the necessary changes

Amazing benefits system , higher pensions longer maternity leave

Protected work life balance
Beautiful towns, cities and landscape

I don't mean to run the UK down but it's only when you're outside if it you see it more clearly.

There are much worse places to live

Our neighbour had a suspected heart attack and the ambulance said they'd be there in 6 hours, despite being told over the phone by a passer-by that the guy was no longer breathing. He died within minutes, so not feeling particularly in love with the NHS lately. He was 52 years old.

DH, myself, adult child, 3 under 18s, just under 200£ per month.
expect it to increase significantly every year but still worth it.

France has provision. I'm waiting to hear what European country has no special schools at all,.as previously asserted.

UK provision is not impressive and it's getting worse.

YANBU. I spend all day every day with people who have experienced the absolute worst of humanity.

Here you can disagree with the government and not get locked up indefinitely.

You can protest and not get your arms broken by the police.

You can be gay and not get thrown off a high building.

You can have an extramarital affair and the local police won't look the other way while the aggrieved partner and their family beat you to death.

You can have a religion that is not the state religion, and you won't have your place of worship set on fire by government goons.

You can lock your door at night and be fairly confident that a rebel group won't kick your door in and force you to watch while they rape your children.

If we go to war, you can be sure that your primary age children won't be forcibly recruited and if you are a conscientious objector you will have the right to alternative service even in the event of conscription.

If you are disabled, you won't be accused of witchcraft.

If you have severe mental health problems you will not be chained to a wall or subjected to exorcisms.

If you are accused of a crime you won't be tortured in detention, and if you are the victim of a crime you won't have to pay the police to get them to investigate.

If you have children you won't need to take them out of school and get them into work to support the family.

If you own your own home it won't be taken over by a hostile militia.

If you're living in the UK in 2025 as a British citizen you're doing pretty well.

@ImmigrationLawyer sure if you compare the UK to the absolute poorest and corrupt countries in the world you will feel lucky to live there but I think the comparison can only be made if you compare UK to countries with similar wealth and belief systems.

Fantastic school system. We have it VERY good compared to many countries. Again, some of my friends have moved back to the UK to access our free school system. I feel very lucky to be able to send my kids.

tell that to the thousands of children with SEN who cannot access an education as there aren't enough specialist school places. There is access for 'typical' kids to schools. However, this is absolutely not the case for many with disabilities. Why pretend this doesn't happen?

Agree. I have taken out the highest level of health insurance for myself and my grown up children - higher priority than other expenditure.

What saddens me is that we could be so much better.
We could have better public transport, cheaper housing, better access to healthcare and care. It needs considerable thought, long term planning and money no doubt.
Not much we can do about the weather and no the seasons don't really exist properly anymore.

I've been very impressed with the NHS this year. First I called 111 as my son had a tooth ache on boxing day. The phone was answered in less than one minute and was given an appointment for 30 minutes later!

Then DH thought he was having pains in his arms and chest and worried he was having a heart attack. Went to A& E and was immediately taken in and all scans and bloods done etc. He was back home 4 hours later with his results.

Took my teen DD to the pharmacist with a throat infection, again no queue, pharmacist looked her over and prescribed antibiotics. No appointment required.
I had doubts about the labour party but I'm happy with the NHS reforms in my part of London.

I think for me it just feels comfortable and home. I’ve travelled to some very lovely places and which I’d be happy to move to but when I fly home it feels ‘right’.

We are lucky to be living in such a safe country, both the culture and our climate and wildlife etc.

This is so true.
All our own choices by who we vote for.

There are many great and amazing things about the UK, you mention some. Some things are good or ticking along, but could be better, they could be a lot worse. Some are pretty crap, but I don't see many options for change or many countries doing it better .

However, come on, in no way do we have distinct seasons.

I don't feel this way. My family have suffered a couple of antisemitic attacks over the past year, including someone coming to our house.

Much I love about the UK but I agree we don't have distinct seasons. Too much cool, grey, wet weather, no matter what the season!
I have a couple of Canadian friends who live here and they complain that the seasons are not distinct here. In Canada they really do have distinct seasons - very cold and crisp winters, very hot summers and Spring and Autumn are distinct too. They said here the seasons kind of blur into one with winter being colder but much of the weather is similar - cloudy and cool.

London - says it all!

I agree. Don't holiday abroad as there's still so much of the UK to explore.

And I keep finding more nice places, I visited Presteigne recently, stayed at the Radnor Arms - lovely staff. I'm sure I've never been before (or not stopped to walk around) what a lovely place, such a pretty area !!.

I get the same service in Yorkshire.

I think this all the time, OP. In another time or place, my children and I would be dead. But we aren’t, thanks to the NHS and the medical treatments available in this day and age. Blows my mind to think about how slim our chances were of being born British at this time in history, of all the many billions of humans who have ever existed. What luck!
This country is a long way from perfect and it’s sadly slipping backwards in many ways (have also experienced the inept shambles face of the NHS) no doubt about that, but overall I do feel we have a lot to be thankful for here and it doesn’t take more than a few seconds glance over global headlines on any given day to see that.

Very

Something that often gets criticised - school system - it's imperfect but is actually amazing and our results are some of the top ones in the world rankings. It is actually top for countries that value childhood and mental health and dont aim to produce fully compliant robotic citizens E.g comparing it to high pressure, extremely long hours, over-tutored robotic learning culture countries. It does extremely well for a hands off, relaxed learning culture.

My husband and I have been fortunate to have travelled the world, my husband more so, and I always miss home when away and wouldn't want to leave the uk.
I love our little island, my home and where I live (rural nr Bath).

We have both had life threatening issues and NHS been brilliant.

Not if you need emergency care. My 80 year old MIL has heart problems and FIL was advised that there was a 4 hour wait for an ambulance last week. He took her in a taxi, she waited 24 hours for a bed in A and E and having spent several days in hospital they discharged her in no better way than when she went in.