I end up wanting to live in the UK!
I just Netflix binge-watched Derek and Broadchurch. Especially with Broadchurch (well done, by the way) I fell in love with that area. So beautiful. When I see places like that I always say to myself, or my wife "somebody gets to live there." Sigh...
I suppose the grass is always greener, but where I live is in a 10 year drought, dry, ugly and although I have a happy life, I just wish I lived somewhere beautiful.
I left England when I was eight and still get very homesick. We now live in a beautiful country with an uncertain future.
I would love to go back to the UK but my husband doesn't think he could put up with the weather.
I return to England every year to visit my daughter who lives in London and get my railway and culture 'fix'.
You are probably right about the grass being greener, if I went back to England I would probably miss Africa.
Well if you want lots of space I think the pair of you are better off where you are, but I love England but hate whats happening to it, oops no politics, I do live in a beatiful green country and I have what I need to keep me happy, as for the weather it is what it is and having 4 beutiful seasons makes life here so much better, then you have the railways and its not cheap to travel, and now not forgetting all the good work that the good people of our country do to keep steam engines on the tracks has to be applaudable I only wish I lived near a place that I could give my time and I doubt I would have a model railway.
As for where the both of you live is you must have something special where you live.
I was back there last May on an unplanned visit, and it was great (documented on the forum), but I really can't think about going back to live now. My home town in particular was extremely depressing. I really don't know how people get by there.
UK members please don't read this post the wrong way... I am a permanent resident of Australia, and not a citizen. I still hold a British EU passport, and have to update my reentry visa every time I update me passport.
However, after all these years and a wife and 3 daughters who are Australian to the extent of being fanatical cricket and tennis fans, I think I'm outnumbered!
Like Silly Moo I am an ex-pat living in South Africa.
Her description (uncertain future) is wrong in my view. It is certain that the political corruption and the destruction of the legal system (to let the connected off for their crimes) is certain to ruin this place sooner rather than later.
But is the UK the best alternative destination. Yes, it has many beautiful parts to live in and it seems hard work and expertise is still valued but is the UK still British for those living there ? I read all the immigration battles, acknowledge that the Kippers are making in-roads but since I have a foreign (non-European) wife I don't think the country wants me back.
Having looked at the requirements I actually wonder if the Queen (God bless her) wanted to bring her husband back into the country now, her wealth would allow it but as a normal person, she would probably have to come back without him.
I think the British sense of fair play has become very distorted just lately.
Just my opinion of course.
Quote from: BobB on February 02, 2015, 11:06:44 AMsince I have a foreign (non-European) wife I don't think the country wants me back.
Without wanting to broaden the debate beyond our personal situations, same here - IIRC it'd cost a couple of thousand quid and a whole bunch of intrusive hassle to get a visa for my wife, and though it's unlikely I wouldn't want to be in the situation where my income/savings fell below an arbitrary level then it could be "
well you can't support your wife, so back to Japan she goes", if recent media stories are anything to go by. Just to get a British birth certificate for my new-born spawn will cost somewhere between 100 and 200 quid. To be honest, if I had to leave Japan, I'd go to Germany, where I used to live and know the system, and where my wife (who BTW speaks some German so it's a reasonable destination) would have an automatic right to a visa (issued at no cost) as the spouse of an EU citizen.
Anyway the scenery sure is nice in the UK, I'm particularly fond of bracken-and-sheep-infested moors (grew up in Cumbria and my parents now live in a similar-looking part of Wales so I enjoy trips back).
Without going into the nitty gritty I would have thought that if your wife
is from Japan the same entry requirements for non EC people would apply
in Germany and UK.
Quote from: Agrippa on February 02, 2015, 12:48:06 PM
Without going into the nitty gritty I would have thought that if your wife
is from Japan the same entry requirements for non EC people would apply
in Germany and UK.
Nope - I have actual experience with this - as an EU citizen in another EU country, your freedom of abode etc. automatically extends to your dependents
regardless of their nationality.
Interesting discussion! In America we're having our own immigration struggles, and it's interesting to find out how many other countries are going through their own version of that struggle.
Quote from: scottmitchell74 on February 02, 2015, 04:03:09 AM
Especially with Broadchurch (well done, by the way) I fell in love with that area. So beautiful. When I see places like that I always say to myself, or my wife "somebody gets to live there." Sigh...
As is their wont when making these things, the external scenes in Broadchurch are an amalgam of two different places - the harbour and beach/cliff shots are of West Bay, Bridport, Dorset and the 'high street' and residence shots are of Clevedon, North Somerset. I live in the latter and have visited the former and found it agreeable so I can see where you are coming from...
Without wishing to get into the (rather unpleasant) politics of the matter - the media portrayal of the immigration problem only makes matters worse. It is so much more complex than the media often makes out - in some areas there have been huge benefits from immigration (how many of our public services would be unviable without immigrants (from several waves/places)), yet at the same time there is no doubt that in some areas there are genuine problems either from the inability of councils to cope with sudden changes in demand or because of the way the unscrupulous try to exploit tensions (on both sides).
Of course calming tensions doesn't sell copy so we get some ridiculous storis about how awful things are (they're not).
The reality is that things are pretty much as they ever were - there are large differences in wealth/class etc across the country. If people want to get on, work hard and integrate (rather than segregate) to our society then we can be a pretty welcoming bunch (except for London :D ).
Cheers, Mike
Slightly off topic, every time I watch a BBC series, I have to get my ears syringed. Can hardly make out a word they mumble.
Quote from: railsquid on February 02, 2015, 12:14:34 PM
Without wanting to broaden the debate
,
I wouldn't want to be in the situation where my income/savings fell below an arbitrary level then it could be "well you can't support your wife, so back to Japan she goes", if recent media stories are anything to go by.
I doubt if the media is anything to go by !!!!
Just for curiosity ( and not wishing to grind any axes !)
I thought the 'income to support a spouse' was an initial requirement ( of one of the ill-conceived anti-'marriage of convenience' measures) and not a continuing one (/obligation) ?
But considering that half the world seems to want to come to the UK ( probably to England actually, but lets not get into a Sturgeon debate) and the other three halves want to go to America, is it any wonder that a wee small island needs to take measures ?
So dont blame us, (including me that had the good sense to come back to Blighty in good time, before the hoards were at our door ( <-- ummmm !? ) )
But I agree, it is sad that natural born Englishmen have to jump through these hoops.
Who needs an identity card, done y'know I'm English ! - - lol!
(removes tongue from cheek ! )
Quote from: MalcolmAL on February 03, 2015, 12:42:15 AM
Quote from: railsquid on February 02, 2015, 12:14:34 PM
Without wanting to broaden the debate
,
I wouldn't want to be in the situation where my income/savings fell below an arbitrary level then it could be "well you can't support your wife, so back to Japan she goes", if recent media stories are anything to go by.
I doubt if the media is anything to go by !!!!
I was thinking about articles like this (http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-22806941).
Quote from: MalcolmAL on February 03, 2015, 12:42:15 AM
Just for curiosity ( and not wishing to grind any axes !)
I thought the 'income to support a spouse' was an initial requirement ( of one of the ill-conceived anti-'marriage of convenience' measures) and not a continuing one (/obligation) ?
I don't think it's continuous, but you never know when it might be changed as a knee-jerk reaction to some focus group. Realistically I probably wouldn't have any problems, apart from having to throw substantial wads of (non-refundable) cash and time at the issue.
For the record, when applying for my spouse visa in Japan, I downloaded the form, filled it in, supplied copies of the relevant documents, handed it in to the local immigration centre, waited a few weeks, went back and paid about 25 quid fee (payable on success of the application only) and that was it.
Quote from: MalcolmAL on February 03, 2015, 12:42:15 AMBut considering that half the world seems to want to come to the UK ( probably to England actually, but lets not get into a Sturgeon debate) and the other three halves want to go to America, is it any wonder that a wee small island needs to take measures ?
So dont blame us, (including me that had the good sense to come back to Blighty in good time, before the hoards were at our door ( <-- ummmm !? ) )
But I agree, it is sad that natural born Englishmen have to jump through these hoops.
Hey, I might be non-English you know :veryangry: Anyway not blaming anyone, the immigration policies are certainly working in my case, I'm happy where I am and will help keep the island less crowded and certainly won't trouble it with my income (which is currently contributing to the trade deficit).
PS for added fun, try going through the non-EU citizens line at Heathrow (went through with the wife, as it was going to take some time)... first time I've ever been interrogated as to the purpose of my stay in
my own country.
Quote from: railsquid on February 03, 2015, 02:33:48 AM
Hey, I might be non-English you know :veryangry:
Hey, very good point !
Thank you :)
QuoteAnyway not blaming anyone,
I agree, it is very difficult in this modern world, but I dont see hords of peeps wanting to emigrate to Kosovo or Sierra Leone,
or have you seen the reqirements of Australia these days ?
I was thinking of sending the Queen and Prince C there (post paid but , you know , , , )
I'll leave you to de-italiase :) >
my own country.
Last time I went through the only Q. was should I declare or not ;)
EDIT
Or, not to beat about the bush, if we really want to be serious,
mods please strike if needed
how many Afgans, Sudanese, middle eastern, sub saharn, Indian sub cont., want to emigrate to Japan (an equally small island( (is it possible to ask that sort of question in this sort of context without oprobrium ? ) )
?
Quote from: MalcolmAL on February 03, 2015, 02:56:36 AM
Quote from: railsquid on February 03, 2015, 02:33:48 AM
Hey, I might be non-English you know :veryangry:
Hey, very good point !
Thank you :)
As it happens I am English at least as far back as the records go (though apparently genetically I'm descended from an ancient king of Ireland, but if you go far enough back we're all related anyway).
Going back to the original post, I bet there are inhabitants of Little Downton-on-the-Wold or Nether Broadchurch or wherever who dream of living somewhere with lots of open space and dependable warm weather like they show on TV. Grass is always greener (or sand is always yellower) on the other side kind of phenomenon. Personally, from watching Breaking Bad, New Mexico looks like kind of a nice place to live (if you can keep away from the meth scene) but I bet the reality on the ground is different.
Yep, everything on TV ain't necessarily so (I used to love that record as a kid! Was it Al Robeson?)
Quote from: railsquid on February 03, 2015, 03:31:26 AM
As it happens I am English at least
That's ok then lol!
Quote
as far back as the records go (though apparently genetically I'm descended from an ancient king of Ireland, but if you go far enough back we're all related anyway).
even unto the Kings of Dalriada ?
Dunno about genetics but we (her an' me ) have ancestors !
Quote
Going back to the original post,
Need we ! I thort we had morphed into - need the UK take all comers - !!
We don't need to take all comers, apart from those from EC countries, if someone
wants to better themselves they could always go to Cuba,China, North Korea, Belarus,
Syria,or Burma , all workers' paradises....
If I were to move back to the UK there are certain places I think I would avoid:-
Broadchurch, Midsummer county and that place that Father Brown lives.
All very picturesque but there are a bunch of residents with an evil streak in them...
I hear Dibley and Trumpington are reputable places with nice communities.
Midsomer has a higher murder rate than Mexico, if they get round to
murdering Barnaby and his sidekick there won't be anyone left
to investigate....
Quote from: Agrippa on February 03, 2015, 09:22:05 AM
Midsomer has a higher murder rate than Mexico, if they get round to
murdering Barnaby and his sidekick there won't be anyone left
to investigate....
:offtopicsign: :-X
Midsomer Murders (2 hours of adverts interrupted by snippets of a detective story) is on ITV :P
Took me twenty one and one half hours to watch and see the result of the Australian Open men's tennis final. ;)
Quote from: newportnobby on February 03, 2015, 10:18:50 AM
Midsomer Murders (2 hours of adverts interrupted by snippets of a detective story) is on ITV :P
I don't bother about channels too much, mind you I wondered why there
were no ads on Eastenders............
Quote
PS for added fun, try going through the non-EU citizens line at Heathrow (went through with the wife, as it was going to take some time)... first time I've ever been interrogated as to the purpose of my stay in my own country.
That's one of the top 2-3 reasons my wife became a US Citizen...having to go through the non-US Citizen line at the airport. Now we joke that if something happens she can stomp her feet and say things like "Don't you know I'm an American!" :) :D
Quote from: scottmitchell74 on February 03, 2015, 01:48:01 PM
Quote
PS for added fun, try going through the non-EU citizens line at Heathrow (went through with the wife, as it was going to take some time)... first time I've ever been interrogated as to the purpose of my stay in my own country.
That's one of the top 2-3 reasons my wife became a US Citizen...having to go through the non-US Citizen line at the airport. Now we joke that if something happens she can stomp her feet and say things like "Don't you know I'm an American!" :) :D
I used to make my wife go through the (loooong) "riff-raff" line at Heathrow while I would pass through the "returning citizens" line. No problem until one of the immigration people asked her why she was coming to England and, on being told she was helping her husband clear out her late mother-in-law's home, said why wasn't she going through with her husband in his line. She was NOT happy. Next time we came through together with everybody in the UK citizens line staring at the pair of passports (one EU-mulberry and one US-blue) and shaking their heads and smirking. Presented both to the immigration lady who didn't even blink, stamped SWMBO's passport and said "Welcome back". I still haven't lived that one down! :-[
Quote from: Jon898 on February 03, 2015, 02:24:53 PM
Quote from: scottmitchell74 on February 03, 2015, 01:48:01 PM
Quote
PS for added fun, try going through the non-EU citizens line at Heathrow (went through with the wife, as it was going to take some time)... first time I've ever been interrogated as to the purpose of my stay in my own country.
That's one of the top 2-3 reasons my wife became a US Citizen...having to go through the non-US Citizen line at the airport. Now we joke that if something happens she can stomp her feet and say things like "Don't you know I'm an American!" :) :D
I used to make my wife go through the (loooong) "riff-raff" line at Heathrow while I would pass through the "returning citizens" line. No problem until one of the immigration people asked her why she was coming to England and, on being told she was helping her husband clear out her late mother-in-law's home, said why wasn't she going through with her husband in his line. She was NOT happy. Next time we came through together with everybody in the UK citizens line staring at the pair of passports (one EU-mulberry and one US-blue) and shaking their heads and smirking. Presented both to the immigration lady who didn't even blink, stamped SWMBO's passport and said "Welcome back". I still haven't lived that one down! :-[
Oooh, never even occurred to me to try that. I'll see if it works next time we pass through a UK airport, which hopefully won't be Heathrow.
Hopefully it still works. I'll find out in May when we go through Thiefrow on the way to Ireland.
Yeah, it should work. When we went to the UK in 2013, the same thing happened. Australian Mrs Bealman waited in the massive "other passports" line only to be told she could have gone through with me.
Quote from: Greybeema on February 03, 2015, 09:14:58 AM
If I were to move back to the UK there are certain places I think I would avoid:-
Broadchurch,
Wouldn't be difficult as it's been filmed in places miles apart from each other and then edited together.
However there are some who want to live there as they do searches in Google for houses for sale in Broadchurch :doh: