Yeah I know - but we clearly have summer before 21st June so they should move it - so there.

Hah. The 21st was punctuated by high winds and sudden downpours over here. Ironic that your first day of winter was better than our first day of summer!

Remind me again why you emigrated...

stevo wrote:

---

Reasons for Emigration as follows:-

-better lifestyle
-better weather
-better prospects
-better pay
-less crowded
-less crime

I still love england and everything we used to stand for though..truth is modern britain is rubbish..

---

Sorry mate - not standing for that. Modern Britain is not 'rubbish' - I love my country and do what I can to keep improving it. I support a political party and vote in elections - I even (occasionally) volunteer. Some people bail out looking for sunshine - but thats up to them. Just as a quick comparison though -

UK ranks 5th in the world for GDP
Australia is 14th or 15th (depending on whether you believe IMF or World bank) behind Brazil - which is a third world country by the way

London is probably the financial capital of the world (though New York is right up there) - I dont see Canberra even on that list

Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world - so yeah, its a better lifestyle and has better prospects, as long as you dont go outside.

Australia has the top 10 venoumous snakes in the world in it - nice.

Better pay? The average salary in Australia is $39,000 (about £19,500) the average UK salary is £31,000

I accept Australia is less crowded - but its also less habitable - not a lot of desert in the UK

If you wanted a change, fair enoughski I wish you well - but please dont suggest my country is rubbish - its not nice, but anyway you guys are British - you got the Queen on your money, you're British - we own you.

stevo wrote:

---

Mate, I was born in Bristol and lived there for 30 years so I think I know what I'm talking about..and so do the millions of people from the uk who have emigrated here from the uk..the lifestyle is far superior..

I'm not talking about statistical averages  - I'm talking from a personal perspective...I had a terraced house in the uk, here I have a detatched house  with a swimming pool..In the uk I earnt 20+grand, here I earn 50+. If you're a tradie (carpenter,plumber,sparky) you'll earn 50-100k in Perth..Later this year I'm buying a boat..in Bristol none of this would have been available to me..

By the way I'm a supporter of Australia staying 'british'..I love Britain..its just the fact that petrol is twice as expensive,the roads are more congested, cars are 40% dearer and houses are so expensive and small compared to aus, respect for law and order is shocking,theres no dicipline in schools and the availablility of drugs is widespread makes me less of a fan of 'modern britain' I'm sure you can look on wikipedia and dispute what you like- anybody can do that, but I've experienced both sides.

If you ever make it over here, I'll be happy to point out all this out to you..

---

Ah, sorry I didnt realise your perspective was so narrow, you're comparing Bristol to Australia - thats different. I've lived and worked all over the UK and I simply dont recognise your view of my country.

I dont dispute that you get more bang for your buck in AUS - you do in America as well; bigger houses, bigger cars, cheaper fuel etc - (within the UK we're trying to curb consumption of fuel with taxes to help protect the environment, short sighted of us I know, but you guys feel free to carry on)- but that in itself isnt enough to make me want to move to the US either. And plenty of people come back to the UK every year as well you know.

I'm not getting into a pissing contest with you Steve but I pull in more than you, in the UK - it's more than possible as born out by the facts I quoted earlier - which I happen to know, rather than Wiki'd.

You should also know, in London £100k isnt that much for a plumber to earn these days so AUS isnt some kind of promised land for the blue collar worker.

I know you like Australia - and I'm sure there is plenty about it I would like too. I'm simply disagreeing with your assertion that Britain is rubbish. It isnt and frankly if your solution to not liking the UK was to bugger off to another country rather than try to 'improve' things (if you felt they needed improving) then that's your choice.

Personally given the choice of standing and staring out over rolling green hills, lakes and valleys or desolation, I'll take the UK anytime.

Easy boys! There might be a bit too much testosterone about this morning (evening if you're downunder!)!

For what it's worth, I've really enjoyed my visits down under, but have never considered emigration there an option. I like my green and pleasant land too much.

I'd agree that the UK has it's problems at the moment (mostly going by the name of Gordon), but I think we're starting to swing back the right way. It's a slow process, but that's evolution for you!

Actually, It would probably be French - Stevo's extraordinary grasp of history should be able to confirm that!

That's probably worse though, to be fair.

I was going to reply to this ... and then I got confused about what I was typing ... so didn't.

This isn't here.

I saw nuffink.

There's at least 3 that I know of.

Stylish! 

We need a "hiding behind a chair" emoticon.

Is it bollocks! Our governments have been steadily increasing fuel duty since long before anyone other than the odd scientist & a couple of hippies thought about global warming! It's just a PR stunt! (Which, frankly, I'm surprised you fall for) Before global warming became the cause du jour it was because oil would run out in 50 years (see http://www.opec.org/home/PowerPoint/Reserves/Conventional.htm - OPEC obviously have a vested interest, but do tend to be taken as an authority). In shocking contrast to other taxes its purpose is to raise money for the government. Obviously the government need money, but it would be nice if they could be a little more honest about it.



-- Edited by sha76jam at 21:35, 2008-06-23

You cave that easily? Well, you're no fun!