No, not me……..
And now for something completely different…….
There are always two sides to every coin, of course. One of my more controversial categories has been “Cost of Living — Australia” which has attracted several comments doubting the validity of my findings. As if!
One woman in particular, Vivienne, felt that Australia was NOT cheap and made her views clear in a comment on my post about the cost of groceries in Australia.
So I replied to her comment and then she sent me the following email, reprinted here with her kind permission…….
Hi,
NOT Vivienne
Yes I agree there is not much difference in prices between the 2 countries but so many people I meet believe Australia is so much cheaper….may have been decades ago but not so now.
I don’t think houses are much cheaper although you do get a much bigger home in Australia so it appears to be value for money or though the quality of homes in oz are rubbish can hear all outside noise….jerry built!!!
I live in a large 100 year Victorian home and I have lived in many homes in oz being all types, and have found this home to be the quietest …considering it is terraced and our neighbours have 4 kids…still cant believe the quality of it.
I find Australia compared to England like a 3rd world country doesn’t offer too much, so much desert and dead gum trees for miles and miles. Scenery is very bland compared to the UK
UK is very lush and green with lovely architecture, quaint villages, historical sites, fantastic funfairs at the sea side …… I am
totally in love with England apart from the crime and the really cold weather.
I do believe Australia has none of that to offer.
I don’t know where you are staying in oz but I grew up in Victoria living in Melbourne, Gippsland and the famous Phillip Island……..I have moved approx every 3 years of my 35 in years in oz.
I travelled all of Australia except W.A., travelled from Melbourne by car up to Alice Springs onto Darwin then onto Cairns to Sydney and back home. Didn’t think much of the trip scenery was similar all the way , being in the outback seeing aboriginal queuing up at the pub at 9 am or there squalor huts was like visiting a 3rd world county.
I was very surprised to read that you said you weren’t paying school fees, all STATE schools in Victoria you have to pay term fees which are very expensive approx $120 per term.x3.
I and my boys have only ever gone to state schools and always had these fees also stationery fees, and uniform which trust me when kids get to secondary it is much dearer.
I cant believe that school and doctors are free here it is too good to be true in fact I feel as though I am cheating the system some how….when first arrived I offered to pay both on first visits and they both looked at me like a alien.
The other thing you need to mention in your blog is ambulance fees in oz if you’re not a member it will cost you a bloody fortune, unlike here again it is free to my surprise.
I could go on forever, but overall I do love the English people and there witty characters, their honesty and friendliness I don’t know how you find the Australians but I found them to have a lot of road rage and rude will not go out of there way for most people.
Where are you living in oz??
Bye Vivienne
Nottingham.
So that’s when I emailed Vivienne and asked her if I could quote her email online in a post and she said “Yes you can post my views on your blog” – which is why I have printed the email today. Vivienne then went on to say…..
“And yes England and Europe is steeped in history and traditions, unfortunately Australia is lacking of it.
My husband spent 30 years living in Australia he is now 63 spent all of his adult life there he was trapped with his first wife wanting to return to UKalthough he is very easily pleased were he lives, but after arriving back in UK he has vowed never to return to oz.
He is still in love with the scenery and waking up to the misty cool mornings and most of all be able to work comfortably in the weather.
My eldest boy at the time 11/12 come home from school learning telling me all about Egyptians Mummies and King Tut, invasion of Vikings, generations of royal family- Henry the eighth and so on, world war 2. School bought in a old polish man telling his story how he escaped the war and the dangers of it and so much more I cant remember it all.
My boys go to a public school (edit: I think she means state school) we don’t live in a nice area-Sutton in Ashfield and there education is superb….I never got taught any of this at school.
I find when my boys are coming home I sit there fully attentive listening and learning my self from them; they think I am dumb because I don’t know the depth of this history.
I have to remind them Australia education standards are behind.
My son left school in Australia Berwick(vice)when he was in year 2(8yr) when he started school here school was cramming allot more in at first he felt very behind and seemed to overwhelmed by it but after 6 months he caught up to the educations pace.
They say life it self is an education well it has certainly opened my eyes up exploring Europe.
I lived a sheltered life in Victoria.”
Bye Vivienne
Vivienne has raised some interesting issues here and I have certainly learnt a few things. I thank her for that. She has shown us, without doubt, the other side of the coin.
I’ll give my reply tomorrow, and it might not be what you think.
Related posts:
- Australia Versus England: Drunken Violence
- 20 Reasons Why YOU Should Move to Australia
- Who’s Going to Visit When You Move to Australia?
- How to Move to Australia: A Little Look at the Process…..
- 10 Reasons to Move to Australia
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I personally think that some people like where they live and wouldnt change it for the world were as others feel (like me) that although I live here (UK) it is not for me, dont get me wrong I love it and I am proud to be british its just that most people in the UK worry too much and take life to seriously where as I just dont. And from what I have heard most of the Australians are like me…….aren’t they?! Also the food over here is just pants unless you live down south you cant get half of all oriental ingredients which is damn annoying, then theres the traffic and just like the lady above said she can go on forever about oz I can do the same about here.
Great site BTW.
Thanks
Dean Robinson (Sheffield)
Hi Dean
Glad you like my site.
Oh, for sure, there are people who love where they live and wouldn’t dream of moving anywhere. Ever! And there’s nothing wrong with that, in fact you have to admire the contentment. But for others, like me and it also sounds like you, at some point you ask yourself “I wonder what it’s like to live in……?”
Funny thing is when I said I was quitting England to come and live in Australia to whoever would listen, the replies fell into one of two categories. Most popular answer was “don’t blame you, England has gone down the pan” and the other less popular answer was “I’d never leave, I love this country”.
I can’t remember anybody saying “Hey! That’ll make a nice change”.
But I came here to Australia even though I do really love England, although I do think it has gone a little bit down the pan, because I fancied a nice change.
Oh, PS. Yes Aussies are a little more laid back, but don’t come here for the food, unless you love barbecues.
Hello Bob in OZ
I have just today found your website and have read some of the entries with great interest, especially the lady Vivienne whom states that she was born in Victoria Australia and has since relocated to Nottingham, England.
I myself was born in London, England and have lived in varius locations around Australia for the past coming up to 30 years. I loved this Country Australia, when I first came here, but now I reside in Darwin N.T. but I am not enjoying living in Australia at all anymore.
The main reasons for this are both politically and Geographical as I have recently learned that Australia does not have ANY “human rights laws” whatsoever. This learning experience as come about by increasing “over Authoritarian Police and Government legislation” within Australia. Where both State/Territory Government’s AS WELL AS Federal Governments are acting more like bandits and robbers with Police hiding behind Parked cars and bushes to catch a motorist that may only be driving a mere 3km over the speed limit to pick up the kids from school on time etc. This kind of authoritarian over the top Police/ Government fear tactics were never evident in the U.K.
(come to think about it they were not in Australia until around 10 years ago) when I lived there or even when I have been back there just recently in the past 2 years on business.
I agree with the ex-pat Vivienne that the education here in Australia is very poor. The reason why I state this, is that when I go into a Pub in the U.K. the conversation that I have with a person standing at a bar in the U.K. can be very diverse and learned and then I find out that the person that I have been speaking with is a blue collar worker or may be a factory worker.
Here in Australia when I go into a similar Pub or Coffee Lounge and I speak with that same kind of social section of society I find that the conversation does not seem to extend any further than speaking about sport and sex, very limited showing a lack of education. Of course there is a more learned view from Aussies that have traveled at least past Bali that is!
The 2nd reason that I am now most definitely making plans to leave Australia for good is that the increasing temperatures here. I presently reside in Darwin N.T. which is similar to living in a constant sauna with temperatures of minimum 25c maximum of 36c and humidity sometimes as high as 90%….lovely you may say? Try cutting the grass or doing something even walking from the air con car to the air con house/shop it feels as if you have been sprayed with watery glue all over your body……terrible climate, which could only be explained as a living hell environment!
Of course I could re-locate down south, but down South even in Sydney they are experiencing water shortages and of course increased water charges for a commodity that is essential for life!
However the Federal Government do nothing about piping the plentiful water from the tropical north of this Country to the South where water is needed for Farming and agriculture. Very short sighted indeed!
I believe you Bob, state that you believe houses are more affordable here in Australia than in U.K. may be they were but no longer Now in the U.K. the average price of a house is £165,088. Compared to the average price living in a suburb on the outer fringes of Darwin where the price is AUD$486,000 with ever increasing costs due to Air Conditioning operating 24 hours per day to just keep cool.
Oh, as well as the above the lack of choice in shopping even for groceries as there are only two grocery store that being Coles and Woolworths and the prices are now higher on most basic items with the exception of steak than Tesco and Asda to mention only 2x of the many grocery outlets in the U.K. Also the nearest town to get away from Darwin for a change and a break for the weekend is named Katherine which is 350 km (4 hour) drive away, when you get there all it consists of is drunken aboriginals littering and throwing up on the streets and outside and inside the public social meeting areas. So all in all Europe wins every time.
I hope that my comment is read as it is written which is my point of view of the state of this nation Australia at present.
Once again I very much enjoy your website.
Cheers Peter
No wonder they call us whingeing Poms! Hey, just kidding.
Hi Peter
Welcome to my website. Yes, of course your comment will be read as it is written, certainly by me. I welcome all points of view. However, I do have to take issue with you over your statement that “Australia does not have ANY “human rights laws” whatsoever” – I mean come on, police hiding in bushes with speed cameras doesn’t exactly constitute a lack of human rights.
Australia’s over Authoritarian Police? I’ve been here 2 1/2 years and I haven’t properly spoken to a policeman in all that time. That’s not very authoritarian is it? I am excluding the times I was stopped and breathalysed or in a car where the driver was stopped and breathalysed (four times in all) because frankly, I don’t mind that. Keep the drunk drivers off the roads I say!
As for the “education, England versus Australia” debate, there is no documented evidence to suggest Australia are behind the UK or any of the other major countries when it comes to education. You can read the results from my research into this in my post called Australian Education Standards Compared to the UK and USA. I called it a draw between the countries, but it would be easy to look at those results and conclude that Australia has the better education.
Funnily enough, in a way I agree with you about your “pub conversation” theory, but I don’t believe it’s a foolproof way of proving which country has the smarter people.
As for your dislike of the increasing temperatures and the isolation, well, you are in Darwin. It is quite warm and remote up there.
Bad timing on your water drought concern, Brisbane’s dams are currently at 93.8% of capacity and last time I looked, Melbourne High Street was about 3 feet deep in water.
As for house prices, you may well have a good point. When I first arrived here in November 2007, without a doubt, houses were cheaper in Australia. Today with the pound in nosedive and housing struggling in England, that probably is no longer the case. I will be doing a revision post on the subject very soon. And Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and the like probably do offer better value than Coles and Woolworths here. It depends what you want from life, cheap groceries or fantastic beaches?
But just as I said with Vivienne, there is nothing wrong with looking for a change, and I think both countries have a lot to offer. I spent nearly 50 years in England and Europe and I loved it, but I did want something different. Australia certainly is that something different and I love it here too. Perhaps in 30 years I might have had enough of it here too.
But I’ve got a long way to go yet.
If you do go back to the UK, I’d love to hear how it goes. I know of several people who have gone back and it isn’t too long before they wished they hadn’t. But perhaps after 30 years, you are ready for a change.
Good luck with whatever you choose and thanks for contributing your views here on my blog.
Cheers
Bob
Hello Bob
In reply to your comment about my previous statement about Australia not having ANY “Human Rights Laws” whatsoever. I post this comment from the “wikipedia website”:
“Human rights in Australia are generally respected and recognised. Although Australia is the only western democracy with no bill of rights[1], numerous laws have been enacted to protect human rights and the Constitution of Australia has been found to contain certain implied rights by the High Court. However, Australia has been criticised for its past treatment of its indigenous population.
The Australian Government is presently considering how to better protect human rights through a National Human Rights Consultation. The Consultation, which is being chaired by Frank Brennan[2], is expected to report back to the government on the September 30, 2009.
To date there are still ” NO BILL OF HUMAN RIGHTS LAW” within the Australian constitution. You can check this statement out for your self.
Also regarding our difference of opinion on my other statements concerning Australia and Europe, hey that is what makes the world more interesting diverse opinions and ideals, indeed Australia is very different in many ways to the U.K. and Europe, for good and bad ways dependent on your views.
Keep up the good work with the website, and I will let you know how I get on once I arrive in Europe.
All the best
Peter
According to wiki answers on December 10, 1948, 48 countries came together at the United Nations in Paris to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The following is an edited list:
Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, ….etc,etc,United Kingdom, United States of America,,,,,,etc,etc…and Venezuela. Check the full list here,
The US Dept of State’s 2008 Human Rights Report: Australia, says a lot, but in brief says…..
“The government generally respected the human rights of its citizens, and the law and judiciary provide effective means of addressing individual instances of abuse. Problems were reported in a few areas, including domestic violence against women and children, and societal discrimination against Aboriginal people” – read the full report here.
The Observers Top 100 Human Rights Offenders List says Australia is 65th, (USA is 37th, UK is out of the worst 100) – see the full list here.
So, you have a point. Australia is not squeaky clean on this. From my brief research, I’m still not sure whether they have signed up for human rights or not, some say sources say yes, some say no. Whatever, there are a lot worse places to be.
But England isn’t one of them and by and large, both of our countries enjoy freedom of speech and that’s what makes them great places to live. Enjoy your return to Europe and I’ll look forward to an update sometime in the future.
Take care.
Bob
I have just come across your website, so I apologise for the very late comment. However, I do have to comment on the type of conversations to be found in pubs. Well, from what I can understand from my UK born mother, pubs are more ingrained in the community over there, than compared to here in Australia. I have had many interesting conversations with people here, it just so happens that most of them occurred at gatherings at people’s homes, or between classes at university. Or even, while I was working as a checkout operator in woolworths when I was younger. So, in my opinion, it’s hardly an accurate way of identifying the intellectual quality of one country versus another.
Also, in response to Vivienne’s comments about what her children learn about in school in the UK, I remember learning about all of that during my years in Primary school and High school. That was on top of learning about Indigenous Australians and European Colonisation. So we’d look at everything from Australian history, to Ancient Egyptian lifestyle and culture. However, my school years spanned from 1988 – 2000, maybe that makes all the difference.
My thoughts are, people see what they want to see. My mother says she misses a few things about living in England but she does not regret moving here and would never think of moving back. I am hopefully relocating to the UK some time this year, not because I hate Australia but because I want to see where my parents grew up, and because of a man. Haha.
I am sure I will miss many things about Australia, but I plan on trying to experience it all with an open mind.
Hi Melinda
Glad you found us, better late than never
I agree, judging the intelligence of a nation by the quality of conversation you get in the pub is not great yardstick. That said, I think pubs in England have a far greater significance to the country’s culture than pubs do probably anywhere else in the world. But it’s a diminishing significance as more and more pubs close down to be replaced by what is known as a JD Wetherspoon’s. Nothing against that organisation, but they are not like the traditional pubs I grew up drinking in.
Here in Australia the barbecue in the back garden along with the gathering of friends is probably the equivalent to the British pub as an entertainment medium. A good conversation here in a friends back garden is every bit as equal as a nice chat in a British pub.
As for Vivienne’s comments about education here, there is no proof that education in either England or America is any better than it is here in Australia, as my post on education standards shows.
As you say, people often see what they want to see and perhaps I have done a fair bit of that since I’ve moved to Australia. The way I see it though, both England and Australia are great countries with lots to offer and anyone who gets the chance to have a go living in both should take it. Nothing beats making your own mind.
Hope you enjoy your adventure there, maybe you could pop back and let us know what you think of it?
Cheers
Bob
I have made the move from Perth to England in 2008, and have not regretted it. The change was good for me. I love to experience what Europe has to offer. There is so much to see and so little time. Perth is very isolated, and nothing much happens there. What I like here is: greenery, rain, the seasons, countryside, history, travel, politeness of the people, job opportunities, …
Thing i miss most is the beach
I’ve never been to Perth but I have spoken to people who have and they also tell me there’s not much to do there. And for sure, it is very isolated. So England, with its easy and cheap access to Europe must seem like Disney World!
But I’ve said it elsewhere on this blog, I don’t think it’s good for anyone to live in the same place all their lives, as you say, too much to see and not enough time. I’d lived in England for almost 50 years, and I too enjoyed all the things in your list, except for the rain. But for me, just like you, it was time for a change.
I’m loving my change and it sounds like you are too. Although I’m not sure which part of the country you’re living in to refer to “the politeness of the people”.
I live in Perth, Australia and have lived in many Australia States. I was born the UK and have since become an Australian citizen. However, I am toying with the idea of returning to the UK to live out my life. I want to live in the north of England and bring my dog over and money to buy a small(ish) house but be near some countryside for walks. The long hot summer(s) here in Perth are tiring me, plus electricity charges for air conditioning are rising, plus carbon tax coming in next year.
My UK part pension is shrinking due to the strength of the Aussie dollar, as is a USA pension. I’ve visited UK to see an elderly relative and found Tesco stores far superior to Oz main chain supermarkets.
I wonder if I should sell the contents of my house here and start afresh in UK or get some possessions freighted over? I own this house but want to downsize but be near available places to walk with my dog who I would fly over with me. Any comments would be helpful.
Mary
Hi Mary , I think you need to do some costings over a 12 month period first just to establish where you are ACTUALLY better off in terms of affordability , food , transport , recurring housing costs ( rates etc. ) and energy . You mention cost of air-conditioning in Perth , what are the costs of heating in North of England ? Carbon costs are likely to apply to that too.
Other than the costings , there are a couple of other important considerations , i.e. family and health services , the desire to be near family is very subjective and only you know your circumstances and how much of a factor that is .
On the health side , a cousin of mine recently dealt with having to try and arrange carers for his Mum on the I.O.W. after she had a major stroke , big hassle to find carers and then 40,000 pounds per year for 2 of them ( 24 hour ) plus food etc. live in .
NHS care was basically non existent after the initial period in hospital.
I gather from your post above that you may be a retiree and those things do have to be considered when making a major decision for the future as you are .
How recently were you back in England and did you winter there ? Do you remember it as being cool and refreshing or bitterly cold and rainy , in other words , are your expectations of England realistic for year ’round ?
How old is your dog ( I love dogs ) is he/she young enough to get through quarantine easily and a breed that likes indoors through winter , short hair / long hair ?
The questions I have asked are not questions for you to answer to me , just questions you might need to answer to yourself , weigh everything up honestly in your own mind and then base your decision on that . If possible , go back again for a couple or a few weeks or so in the worst time of year there or at least look into some webcams and weather sites and blog sites in the area to refresh your view .
Join in some local discussion groups there over the internet , that’s what I’d do as a starting point .
I wish you well
whatever you decide .
Thank you Gordon for taking the trouble to point out a view factors to be considered when thinking about living, once again, in the UK from Australia.
I’ve checked up on the PETS scheme for my dog to enter UK — subject to the Rabies blood test, etc 6 months before travel from a Rabies free country as Australia is. He is an indoors fellow — a cross German Shepherd — a real ‘sook’! But I wouldn’t return to UK unless he came too.
Friends in the UK but being somewhat of a ‘loner’ I’m not looking for lots of ‘buddies’ just the chance to meet up with old friends sometimes. I’ve my eye on Morpeth for a semi-detached house/bungalow. Pleased to walk in the wind and rain with appropriate clothes. Was in UK late last November and the previous December for an aged sister (now departed). Public Library and the setup of a the internet etc is sufficient for my entertainment (plus dvds etc.) Is the UK ‘digital’ as will be introduced for tv in Australia at the end of this year I wonder.
I studied at ANU and UWA (nineteenth century UK topic in the later thesis) so the opportunity to refer to documents in the UK would be a bonus for me.
My continuing dilemma is to dispose of my present furniture and travel very light until I reach UK and manage to furnish a house/bungalow pretty quickly to avoid unnecessary expense renting. On the other hand I don’t want to rush a sale and make a big mistake. I aim to take into account Rates, Solicitor’s fees, Estate Agent’s charges, Surveyor’s report etc. Problem — to rent or buy in my chosen area?
No relatives close-by in WA, none would be close by in the UK. I am used to being independent and have to be strong. I feel back in the UK I would not be so far from many cities/or occasional interest venues. My dog and I are ‘buddies’.
Hi Mary
I’ve written a post about this very subject, you can read it here….
Moving to Australia: What to Bring With You.
I think the advice I give in that article holds good no matter which direction you are moving in. So for you, moving to England, I would advise the same.
Please do read the article if you have time, but the conclusion is that I feel it’s best to take your stuff with you. You’d be surprised how expensive it gets replacing everything, whereas removal costs aren’t as bad as all that, even if you do have to store your furniture for a while before you find where to live.
But of course, everybody’s situation is different depending on how much stuff they have and the condition it’s in. In the end, only you can decide.
The digital TV switchover is due in the UK to be completed by 2012.
What ever you do, I hope it all works out well for you.
Cheers
Bob
Hi again Mary , I’ll throw an idea at you , have you considered New Zealand as an option ?
I spent a year there in 1998 , mostly around South Island , cool climate , relatively cheap housing , you’d get about $1.30 NZD for each AUD , Dunedin is a university city and Invercargill is very scenic , the smaller cities of Timaru and Oamaru on the Canterbury coast are nice too .
I looked up http://www.inorthumberland.co.uk/weather/ the other day , not very pleasant considering it’s summer !
Anyway , might be worth a thought ?
Regards , Gordon
This comment is from Mary, who replied to the email notification instead of posting online. I have copied it here with her permission…….
Hi Gordon,
Again, many thanks for taking the time to even think up and suggest an alternative to Morpeth for me.
I really want to go to the UK again, even though in past times here in Oz I would not have considered it. However, I know quite a few women in the UK and we are all Susan Boyle Fans. We met Susan, and I 15 other fans when we stayed at the same hotel in Tokyo a year ago. I also met up with the same fans in New York last November which cemented our friendships further. I want to be able to join in the Meet and Greets that go on in the UK as well as be released from Perth and the lifestyle I now lead which is a very isolated one in very quiet, 50 ft/?metre frontages etc. My dog is my constant companion here, and I want to splash through anything that comes down in the north of England.
Bearing in mind that I’ve tasted Yorkshire, and East Lothian as a youngster. I certainly do not have ‘oodles of noodles’ living here, so I do not expect great wealth anywhere now. I think twice before spending on petrol these days, but I am taking my dog for his first Rabies vaccination tomorrow so that he qualifies to enter, eventually, to the UK with quarantine for six months.
I do have ‘half’ relatives in the south of England but once a year to see and wish my, one year older than me, nephew and his wife would be on my diary.
The local library’s dvd and music discs are enough to satisfy my interests, plus walking in the fresh air when the weather is cool enough. It has always been too muggy in the south of England when I’ve visited my half-sister (who has since passed on at 100 yrs of age. My mother lived to be 100, too.)
Again, thank you for suggesting New Zealand; perhaps in another life!
Mary
Hi,
I moved to Perth WA in january of this year. I am 26 years old and have to say i do agree with some of Vivenne’s points. The 1st thing is the rudeness of people here. I just couldn’t believe it. For example an old lady tripped on uneven pavement in front of me in Fremantle and other than myself lunging to help her, everyone else held back sheepishly standing around. I’ve had checkout girls stare at me blatantly (makes me dread to think how they’d treat someone with a physical ‘abnormality’ ), people shamelessly pushing in when waiting to be served, idiots blocking my way when i have right of way whilst driving. So yeah Rudeness really got me down over the last 6 months.
I always saw Aussies as friendly welcoming folk as they are portrayed to us in the UK. However I’ve found it hard to befriend any. The nicest folk who’ve really made me feel welcome are either from NZ, Europe, or Asia!!!
I don’t mean to sound so hard on Oz, it is a beautiful place from what I’ve seen so far, I just felt a bit let down by the unfriendliness.
ps- whats with reporting EVERY crime on the news out here? Channel 7 and 9 LOVE scaremongering people. rant over.
Hi Vicky,
I’m returning to the UK to set up home again after 47 years in Oz — not that I’m going rant on about Australia when I get to the UK — I really think there are different times in life when one should make changes and not get in a ‘rut’.
I thought the very same as you this evening as the ABC 7pm news ran its course. I hate the continual ‘doom and gloom’ of presenting the ‘bad news’ and the disagreements between States. (I know about the Federation of States back in the late 1890s and the difficulty of getting all the States to agree on the Confederation and Federal Parliament in 1901.)
The ‘aggressive’ interviews, which have grown over the past ten years or so, on all tv stations/radio, is not my idea of a good technique.
Driving — well — most drivers seem to want to be ‘in front’ of anyone obeying the speed limit, down here south of Perth anyway. My experience of driving in the UK last November (2010) was not exactly ‘relaxing’. SPEED… (WOW) across one’s ‘bows’ with great aplomb. Try getting on the M1 by mistake in the Sunbury area, and find a place to leave it and slowly find one’s way back to where you should have gone in the first place.
As an older person I have had very helpful assistance when I’ve had the misfortune to trip over a ‘Beach Closed’ sign a couple of years ago. When one can find people to chat to, Australian born or more recent Australians, are very kind and enjoy a laugh.
The world over enjoy humour, and generally responds to a smile, so don’t give up on Australia just yet. As I mentioned I’ve lived here for 47 years and just want to avoid another very warm summer — as last year was. (Tesco’s is a ‘draw-card’ too in the UK’s favour.)
All the best, Vicki.
Mary
Just an observation , I think it’s fair to say that big city dwellers ( anywhere ) tend to be less polite as drivers and are likely to be less community focused day to day .
The recent floods in Brisbane brought out a community willingness to help that would not , perhaps , been so apparent otherwise, i.e. people have become somewhat disconnected in this modern age but given a reason ( or excuse
) are more than happy to interact.
A few weeks ago I drove up to my local shop and passed an out of state ( Victorian ) car with caravan parked on the side of the road with the bonnet up , on the way back I stopped and offered assistance , very pleasant conversation ensued and they ( elderly couple ) said Six people before me had stopped to see what was wrong . They were impressed with the friendliness offered .
I would assume that attitudes in England would be similar in smaller centres like Morpeth ( waves to Mary
) and bigger cities like Liverpool may be similarly disconnected and have a more hurried lifestyle .
The recent ( current at this time ) riots and looting in the U.K. is not something that has ever been seen here , I can’t even imagine it here. Bigger issues there than less than polite drivers and shoppers methinks.
Australia is a melting pot of people , it has bad as well as good , based on my travels around the world I would not choose to live anywhere else . The good by FAR outweighs the bad in my opinion .
I’ve never been to Perth but grew up in Sydney , I know I’d never go back to a big city to live in . Brisbane maybe , because it’s more like a big country town.
Vicky, Mary and Gordon
As you all know, I live in Brisbane and I find the place to be very friendly and I seriously haven’t come across any road rage at all in nearly 4 years. Well, there was just one occasion when somebody tooted me and raised a finger, but I would hardly call that rage. Hold on, I think I bibbed first. Old habits….
I have found people to be very friendly, although I’d say if I don’t start the conversation, there won’t be one. I don’t get people coming up to ask me how I am. When I went to Adelaide I was particularly struck with how very friendly the people there were. Maybe that was because I asked for directions and advice on many occasions, not knowing the place. The conversations that followed were always pleasant and never short.
On a bus ride, my wife and I were trying to work out how to get somewhere when another passenger apologised for overhearing and then went on to give us lots of great advice about things around the city.
In Melbourne I got on board a tram because my daughter just wanted a ride on one. I explained to the driver that we didn’t want to go anywhere, just have a ride and return, and he explained that his tram went about four stops until it got to the end of the terminal and then it would come back again. He didn’t charge us.
So there are friendly people about, that’s for sure. Maybe Perth is different, I’ve never been. Maybe you should move to Queensland
As for the news, I think that happens everywhere, scaremongering that is. But other countries do not have time to report every crime, maybe we’re lucky it can happen here. I once saw a news item on seven news where they interviewed a man who had had stones thrown at his house. You could watch the news 24 seven in the UK and you would never hear a story like that. Windows weren’t even smashed, the stones hit the wall!
Gordon: a quick update on those riots in the UK. Sounds like they were started by thugs using twitter and it sounds like a cleanup campaign of volunteers is also being arranged on twitter, so the art of helping your neighbour has not completely disappeared from the UK yet.
Strange world we live in these days with this social media stuff though.