Safe Speed Forums

so this pops up quite a lot, both here and in daily life, it's quite often the note conversations end on. I'm a 29 year old experienced & qualified electrician, so my options look pretty good if I decide to do so. But I'm quite settled here... I live in london where most bands tour, which is quite important to me, I've built up my own, recently sucessfull, business which has a taken a few years so I'm loathed to throw it all away. But I really am sick of the way this counties going.

It's easy to yak on with the "grass is always greener" bit but thats not always the case, and I hear how much better other countries are a whole load from people with no intention at all of leaving the UK...

So, still not fully decided, where should I consider? I've got opinions on a few places but not been to any of them, english speaking would be preferable but not the be all end all. Of everywhere canada probably tops the list...

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Fear is a weapon of mass distraction

It's hard to find somewhere with better transport than London but at least it'll be cheaper.

Australia might be your best bet - you are on the list of "in demand" occupations. Canada tends to place more emphasis on education / managerial positions.

Once you've decided where to go, how do you actually go about emigrating?

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Andrew.

yeah oz one of the obvious ones, but I'm not so sure... from what i've seen they seem to be buying into the whole fear culture thing big time, speed guns, war on terror (nooffence but like anyone'd bother bombing australia )

Perceptions on canada is that it's just more relaxed, more focused on daily real life stuff. but these are only perceptions from afar i could be very wrong.



max out all you credit cards and make a run for it

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Fear is a weapon of mass distraction

You obviously haven't been to Germany.


Good idea, it certainly worked for my father in law.

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What makes you think I'm drunk officer, have I got a fat bird with me?

you turn up to the appropriate embassy and apply. Once you've got a visa then there are lots of companies around that will pack up all your possessions and stick them on a boat for you. Cost to eastern Oz is about £5000 for half a container with insurance (not that I'm looking or anything).

Does that involve going to london? Do you make an apointment or just turn up?


I'm thinking of Perth. Is that cheaper?

I guess they will advise you on the types of visa available and what you can do and stuff.

I think my main problems are finding somewhere to live (probably not too hard but I've never done it), finding something to do (possibly university at first, then interesting work) and sorting out all the piles of c**p I have here. What do I want to bring? What to leave?

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Andrew.

probably. Cheaper still if you don't want to take a house full of crap with you.


Take a look HERE to get you started.


easy enough. When I came here I stayed in a short-term flat share place (booked online) for a month or so until I had got myself a job and worked out where I wanted to live.


that's the first thing you need to work out.

If you think about it too much you'll probably never do it, just get in there!

Well, if you're still watching this, try America bud. I'm afraid I'm going to come across as a rambling nut but here goes...

I think people mix politics with people, at least that has been my experience. Because Bush does something, America or Americans are 'at it again'. Not so! I wouldn't want outsiders to judge me by Blair's actions or policies.

The newspapers always talk about shootings and crime in America. As I've said somewhere else, good news doesn't sell newspapers. I saw no crime over there which was much different to here and in fact I actually noticed a lot less petty crime, like vandalism to my car just out of spite.

America is 10 times bigger and so are their problems, that's all. If you're in the wrong place in England you can get killed too.

I'm not looking through rose tinted specs, as people often do when they go abroad for a week or a month. I've spent over two years there, and maybe a lot more soon, and I can honestly say you could not wish to be amongst nicer people, especially towards English folk! To this day, it feels more like home to me than my mother land.

Everything you want is there somewhere. Whether it's climate, culture and of course opportunity. In California alone, where I was based, you have it all. If you like our climate, go to Seattle. If you want to drink in an English or Irish bar you will find it and watch Cori too if you miss it.

One of my biggest criticisms of England is that you can work your butt off and after all the outgoings have gone-out you are only marginally better off than being unemployed.

In America, even if you are just flipping hamburgers for a living, as they say, you are not just a little better off but VERY much better off. It’s an incentive to work.

As an example, I have a friend over here who is a qualified chef. He's not at the top of the business, so he used to work long hours just to take home about £180. Because he was in employment, he didn't get benefits and he 'copped' for everything - the poll tax, dentist treament etc. everything. So by the time he's worked his heart out and after all the deductions including travel expenses etc, at the time he was about £30-£40 better off. That is not an insentive to get up and work for 37 hours or more a week and THAT is one of the big things which I personally don't like about England anymore.

Go for dude or at least consider it. I don't think you'd regret it...

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

I agree.......

You're just at the right age HairyBen. Don't forget that many Countries have a points system and the longer that you leave it, the harder it becomes...


God, I wish I was younger..........my only hope now is the Lottery.........at 14Million : 1.

America is nigh on impossible to enter as a citizen from Northern/Western EU countries nowadays, unless you're a) very rich or b) very famous (which are usually mutually inclusive). The process takes years, costs a fortune, and they are likley to turn round at the very end and say "no" and give no reason.

dunno about america... my little sis recently married a marine and ran into all kinds of hassle just getting her green card. You think they'd show preference concerning the matters of one of their soldiers back from fighting their holy wars, but no, she's had some real grief, and if she wants american citizenship instead of reapplying for temp status every two years she has to relinquish british citizenship. which strikes me as kinda facist.

And thats an attitude that wont get me very far with US immigration.

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Fear is a weapon of mass distraction

I agree it's difficult but as I understand it's no more difficult than Australia or New Zealand, with the points problem that is. A lot of our Speech & Language Therapists and OT's go there. Oddly enough, the majority come back after a few years - home sick.

Another thing about America is there is no ageism and it's not uncommon for someone to change their career two or three times throughout their life at any age. My boss over there said he's not alowed to ask someone's age at an interview.

I had an horrendous time here in England trying to get out of electronics engineering. It's like I had it tattooed on my forehead and they would look at me like "why are you applying for this, go be an electronics engineer". I used it now to help severely disabled, often terminally ill, people in the NHS but it wasn't easy to make the move I can tell you

So I would say if you have the right skill or perhaps know the right people you have as much chance of getting into America as any in the antipodes. My advice would be to seek what the shortages are first. I was told that Australia were crying out for plumbers for example. (I think that's what I heard). In my case, I came from electronics in RF engineering, when everyone was gravitating towards computers and IT, so there was a dearth of expertise in this field.

Good luck Hairyben Wherever you go, I don't think you'll regret it because if you never do it you'll forever ask yourself what could have been???

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

Opps, I posted mine before I saw your last one bud.

I'm sorry to hear of your sister's hassle. I've been back here in England working in the NHS for eight years now, so maybe things have changed since then or maybe she hasn't been talking to the kind of people I know - nudge nudge.

I came back from the States for personal reasons; my dear brother had a long term illness which eventually took his life.

I'm lucky that I can go back any time. In fact, when I was there last December he had the contract ready and waiting for me but I have things to consider which are weighing on my mind. (nuff said)

I know I certainly had hurdles to jump but it was worth jumping. For myself, I would turn my back on this country because of what it has done to me and my family in the past, (won't go into detail).

I feel like a second-class citizen in my own country. Also, the way it's continuing with cameras etc. this country is becoming a police state, if it isn't already. The reason America has written into its constitution that you have the right to bare arms is so that if the state becomes too powerful, 'we, the people' can take the country back! I know America is not perfect in many ways but then, what country has it completely right?

Clinton put it best; "there is nothing wrong with America that can't be put right with what's right about America".

I would say there is nothing wrong with England that CAN be put right with what's right about England

I have often thought that a democracy is the best of a bad lot. I'm not even sure England is a true democracy anymore.

Anyway, I didn't mean to use this as a soapbox moment or bang-on about me and America. Take care.

God bless America, land of the free!

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

It's when you read articles like this that give you the urge to move on.

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Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

been saying for a while i wonder if when a reported rape comes into the police station the seargent sends 2 uniforms out for appearance sake and 8 out to catch 100 motorists to readajust the crimes solved ratio....

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Fear is a weapon of mass distraction

Thanks Dixie. It's compelling reading and, although it wasn't mentioned in that article, the speeding issue is all part of this middle England persecution. They are not catching bad guys, they are catching everyone, oh accept for the police of course but we know why that is - don't we?

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

It's a big world and a short life,
Go and see as much as you can,

Other options for english speaking are 'british territories' Gibraltar, Cayman Islands etc.

Do you speak any langauges, AIUI all French territories are considered as the French Mainland, so as an EU member free movement of labour to French Polynesia etc.

I spent 3yrs in Hongkong (and China) around the handover,
that was a police state with compulsory ID,
but personal freedom and safety from crime, and a live and let live attitude, with minimal Gov't intrusion in day to day life, made it a great place to live.

Go for it.

fatboytim

"personal freedom and safety from crime, and a live and let live attitude, with minimal Gov't intrusion in day to day life, made it a great place to live."

Sounds good and I want that, but I still have a problem with the thought that somebody or some 'body' can have all the power. Who's going to police the police if there's an uprising? Could happen - has happened...

I've often thought a country may well do better with a benevolent dictator but as we know, ultimate power corrupts ultimately so I guess we are stuck with a democracy in some form or other. I like that absolutely no-one is above the law in America; anyone can be taken to task. We're struggling to get an a-hole called Blundstrom out of power.

With reference to the language, I found that when you are totally submerged in a country you'd be amazed how quickly you learn the language and pick up enough to get by. (Hope that didn't sound patronising? I don't know you or where you've been etc.)

I learnt more French in a week of being in France than I did in a month of reading books and listening to tapes. That said, every country I have been to tend to have people who know English as a second language. It makes me feel pretty thick and humble when I have been served in a cake shop abroad by some young girl working for a pitance who knows four languages.

_________________
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.