With the awful mess that our present government is making of the economy (amongst other things) there is an unprecedented rush for 'professionals' to quit the UK for a better life elsewhere.
When I left the UK back in 1972, it wasn't for any reasons of dissatisfaction, it was that I wanted to raise my children (I had 2 at the time) in a warm bucolic area, where I could afford the luxury of a large old farmhouse and a decent amount of land.
The photo below shows my sister and I on board the liner taking her off to live in New Zealand. At the time she had been working in Knightsbridge, and I was in The City.
Moving abroad must run in our family veins. My own daughter lives in Australia, and my youngest son lives in Thailand. My lovely cousin Stephen moved to Canada, and even my own father considered moving to either S Africa or Canada (but didn't).
There is no question that the UK of a few decades ago has now gone for ever, and it now seems like a totally different country. When you hear that 25% of our NHS doctors are thinking of leaving the UK, you know something's very wrong.
I am sure I have seen that photo somewhere recently.
ReplyDeleteIt's a nice photo; I actually remember it being taken!
DeleteRecent UK governments seem to have been hell bent on a massive population replacement programme, bring in the dress from everywhere and sicken the most productive of the indigenous population into leaving. At my time of life leaving isn't really an option, but were I to be fifty years younger I would be gone, there is little of the country that I grew up in left, and no prospect of any return to a more sane life.
ReplyDeleteI think my oldest son would probably like to leave as well, but his work is too important to him.
Delete25% of NHS doctors probably came from outside UK in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI think they are the only one's who would stay. It's the home-grown ones who are fed-up.
DeleteAs you know, I do live abroad [in England]. HA! And have done so for most my adult life.
ReplyDeleteI don't have your negative view of England.
Though do remember the morning after the "advisory vote" (not legally binding) when I woke up. Brexshite. I had to go into town. I don't know, Cro, I found myself shedding tears (involuntarily running down my face) as I was walking, completely bewildered; in disbelief; feeling betrayed by a country I really like. As I kept my original citizenship and have settled status in the UK and my son has dual nationality we are not directly affected. The world is our oyster. And yet, and yet, and yet. That was the moment the country shot itself in the foot (or is it the knee? I never know).
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For some, that day was a hope to get something of our country back from the bureaucratic cess-pit the the EEC/EU had become, only to see any prospect of taking advantage of our renewed freedoms to be willfully scuppered by a third rate bunch of incompetent nonenities pretending to be politicians, and hopelessly inadequate for the task, and in thrall to a uncivil service hell-bent on feathering it's own nest in defiance of the public vote.
DeleteIt is well known that we both voted to stay in the EU, even though we (like most people) had our reservations.
DeleteI still love England, but I do watch in horror at what is going on. It doesn't surprise me at all that so many are thinking of going elsewhere. The only problem is WHERE!
Sadly its not just one government to blame, underfunding has been the theme for decades, lower the taxes and this is what you get. Almost every department needs a shake up, but I fear its far too late for anything meaningful to happen. The biggest crime was when interest rates were rock bottom, if taxes had been raised, when most could afford to pay for them, it would have made a difference and as the interest rates rose the taxes could have been lowered.
ReplyDeleteThere have been so many faults made over the past few decades, and now we're paying the price. Goodness knows how we'll ever recover.
DeleteA few years ago, my brother, who lives in the L'Ariege region asked why Shirley and I had not sold up and moved to France. I said (a) because I love England (b) because in France you are surrounded by French people & (c) they speak French.
ReplyDeleteThe population of Great Britain is larger than it has ever been - around 69.23 million. We can afford to lose a few disgruntled non-patriots.
I do speak French, the climate is far better than in the UK, and the Frenchmen/women with whom I associate are totally charming. I think you're better off staying where you are.
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