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Original poster

How do you rate the standard of living in the UK?

220 replies

Socci · 02/03/2006 19:55

Today my mum said that she would consider migration to another country if she was younger because she feels that the standard of living in this country is not good enough and is getting worse.

What is your view on this? What do you think is good compared with other places in the world? What would you change?

My uncle emigrated to Australia about 30 years ago and he and his wife have never been completely happy.

So is it a case of the grass is always greener?

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 02/03/2006 20:59

Hmm, relaxed schools sound quite nice, but I can see that they might not work for everyone.

I wonder how Norwegians do on those international maths tests?

NotQuiteCockney · 02/03/2006 21:01

Hmmm, Finland does really well. Norway, not so well.

kama · 02/03/2006 21:02

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kama · 02/03/2006 21:05

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NotQuiteCockney · 02/03/2006 21:05

Oh, sorry, \link{http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0923110.html\this} page lists results for maths, science and reading. But the UK isn't included, dunno why.

melissasmummy · 02/03/2006 21:05

Socci, I wouldn't say it was difficult, but it wasn't easy. We went for a former resident visa as DH lived there for 16 yrs. We sent our application in end Nov & had medicals in Jan. We got our visa granted begining Feb.

We had to prove to them that DH had family there, kept in contact & actually lived there for a set amount of years. Sending cards, emails, letters, airline tickets to prove we had visited etc.

Letters from DH family to say they would help us settle, support us if need be. DH had to write & say why he wanted to go home. Send in proof of money we had.

Mainly we have done as DH misees his family, but we will all have a good life there, better too as we would be able to afford a bigger house, more luxeries etc. I know these aren't the most important things in life, but they make it easier.

NotQuiteCockney · 02/03/2006 21:05

Pity their language is so freaky, then.

NotQuiteCockney · 02/03/2006 21:06

The Finnish language is weird, not the Australian, I meant.

And from what I know, getting into Australia is very easy if you are a professional in the right field (e.g. nursing).

kama · 02/03/2006 21:08

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NotQuiteCockney · 02/03/2006 21:10

The British system is also easier because there are British-style schools all over the world, I think?

One of my local friends is Norwegian, but we've only discussed knitting and breastfeeding in Norway, not education.

kama · 02/03/2006 21:10

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kama · 02/03/2006 21:11

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NotQuiteCockney · 02/03/2006 21:13

You learned to knit at school? That sounds nice.

NotQuiteCockney · 02/03/2006 21:14

I will have to corner the next Finnish person I meet, about their education system.

HRHQueenOfQuotes · 02/03/2006 21:14

I think you'll also find there are a LOT more BRITISH families who abuse the benefits system and end up relying on the NHS resources very heavily due to excessive drinking, smoking and eating general cr*p.

There was a study done (might have been last year, or perhaps the year before not sure now - and going to work in a couple of minutes) which showed that despite the 'myths' about immigrants draining our resources infact they actually contribute greatly to it. With only a tiny fraction doing what lots of Brits doing and abusing it.

NotQuiteCockney · 02/03/2006 21:15

QoQ, that matches with what I know.

Generally, people who can be bothered to move countries are fairly energetic people, who are more likely to work than claim benefits.

HRHQueenOfQuotes · 02/03/2006 21:18

it's funny isn't it. You get the

"They come and take all our jobs"

from one lots of immigration complainers, while the other lot are saying

"They don't work and scrounge off the state"........

Can't win can they LOL. Wink

And on that note I'm off to get changed and go and spend a wonderful night wiping pensioners bottoms Grin

Original poster
Socci · 02/03/2006 21:52

To those of you who are considering emigrating from your home country or have done so - do you feel that being separated from your friends and family will be something you find difficult?

My aunt and uncle were desperate to emigrate to Australia but my aunt told us years later that she cried every day for the first 6 months before things felt any better.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 02/03/2006 21:53

'To those of you who are considering emigrating from your home country or have done so - do you feel that being separated from your friends and family will be something you find difficult? '

Depends on how far away you move. If you've moved to France and your family is in London, it's not really any farther than if you moved to, say, Shetland.

twinsetandpearls · 02/03/2006 22:02

I would miss friends but a bit of distance from my family would do me good!

NotQuiteCockney · 02/03/2006 22:08

I miss my friends, but not my family, that much.

But then, I moved cities, away from my family, before I moved to the UK.

What's harder, I think, is feeling foreign all the time. It's part of why I can't live outside London, as I'd be really foreign out there.

Personally, I don't really mind being foreign, as I was somewhat foreign before I left Canada anyway (moved from an English-speaking bit to a French-speaking bit). But I bet it bugs other expats.

Original poster
Socci · 03/03/2006 00:05

I guess you have to be the sort of person who can happily settle, not feel home sick, etc.

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 03/03/2006 00:14

Brilliant. I'm very happy to be British and to live in the UK.

Sorry - is that not cool?

Original poster
Socci · 03/03/2006 00:24

I think there are things that I would miss about the UK that I would not realise until I had left. I guess it's easier to see what's wrong with a place. I like the change in seasons here. My main worries are to do with health care and education.

OP posts:
suzywong · 03/03/2006 01:57

oh mosschops are you doing hte move afterall, do let me know how it's going you've still got my email I think

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