Five years, what's changed?

[Suntan Sid]

Five years ago I packed my bags and left the UK, I have been back on one other occasion, but that was for two days to attend a funeral so I didn't really take anything in.

So between 5 Aug to the 14 Aug I was "holidaying", could I have picked a worse week?
On the way to the airport, in Cyprus, the sun was setting, I didn't see the sun again until we took off and got above the clouds the following Sunday. Nine, ferkin', days of and four nights of rioting thrown in for good measure.

In other news, you must have had a serious clampdown on litter, couldn't believe how tidy the place looked.

My round trip, visiting friends and family, was Lichfield to Dumries and Galloway to Liverpool to Lichfield.
Traffic, , where did it all that come from? Between Stoke and Liverpool, on the M6, in the fast lane, I ground to a complete stop at least half a dozen times. Same stretch, on the return journey, we didn't break 55mph, FFS!

Took in a couple of classic car and bike shows, a "Lotus" day at Donnington, (too many geeks taking pictures of auto-jumble for my liking), and spent the morning at the National Motorcycle Museum, very handy that, being right next to the airport. I wonder which poor sod has to polish that little lot?
Got in an afternoon of trout fishing, (in the rain, obviously), I can still cast a fly after a 5 year break.

Didn't see that many bikes on the roads, although I'm certain I pulled over to let "ms51ves3" past on his "Blackbird", on the M6 between Carlisle and Gretna, (how many blue ones are there?). Whoever it was they were having a hard time in the sidewinds, saw the same bike again on the A75 near Dumfries, can anyone confirm this sighting?

Got my mate, in Dumfries, on the look out for a trials bike for me, although having been to the National Motorcycle Museum I'm swaying towards giving a pre 65 British trials iron a nice retirement home in the sun.

Smokers of the UK you have my sympathy, the tax man must love you lot, class "A" substances have got to be cheaper! I brought my cigarettes with me so, sadly, I failed to drop any cash into the exchequers coffers.

I did take advantage of the many "closing down" sales and stocked up on some, severely, discounted clothes.

All in all, I enjoyed seeing friends and family, but I can't see my self returning to live, the main reason for leaving, (the weather), appears to remain.

There are certain things that I do miss: Friends & family, lots of greenery, raspberries, (strangely), cheap clothes, cheap second hand vehicles. On the down side, too many cars, too many people, too many speed cameras, too much tax and the weather's still crap!

I'll get me coat.
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[TimNorwich]

Looks like you've noticed most of the changes Where did you move to and for what reason?
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[Suntan Sid]

[Daimo]

In 5 years, its just got worse imo.

FAR more people in the country, esp down south east.

Driving standards have gone hugely downhill.

Petrol has gone through the roof, despite barrel costs coming down. (hmm I have to ask the 10%+ increase in cost, then they blame the VAT rise, but that only equalys 2.5% so wheres the rest going???).

Weather wise, have to say down the south east we get quite good weather for the UK. We do get quite a bit of sun, and seemingly not much rain. But for me the dark nights in winter are just too much.

After my wifes mum passes in many years, at that point we'll be moving aborad. Just got to spend the next 20 odd years working out where, but like you I don't want to be part of this country. The people, the cold climate (which does have its advantages also, look how lush and green the country is), the way its run, the way the white english folk are being pushed aside, the way to victim is worse than the criminial etc...

Many things to moan about, many things to be positive about, but for me, the former outweighs the latter by some way.

[TimNorwich]

Tory government is a key change! (coalition if you can really call it that)

Septembers always seem to be very nice (still a good temperature) in the past years.

EDIT: Also there is a mini Tescos on every stretch of the road in England!
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Speedshite 50cc > Honda XR125L > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 02 Honda Hornet > 05 Honda CG125 winter hack > 04 Kawasaki ER-5 > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > Kawasaki GPZ 500 S > 99 Honda Hornet 600 > 05 Honda CBR600F > 01 Honda Hornet

[angryjonny]

Basically, we're all skint now, about 50% of the country's pubs have been driven out of business by a combination of the smoking ban and the recession, we haven't really seen the sun since July 2006, petrol now costs more per litre than Chablis, Big Brother has just started up again despite being axed last year, they've grade-separated a few of the nastier junctions on the A1, you can now buy a train cheaper than you can travel from London to Newcastle on one, Bovril comes in a squeezy bottle, you can buy wind turbines in B&Q, from what I can ascertain there is a band in the charts called "Wand Erection", a CGI tram fell off a CGI bridge in Coronation Street, Amy Winehouse is dead but Jim Davidson still lives.

Oh yeah, and the Safeway in Ealing is now a Morrissons.

[Kickstart]

Hi

You noticed some changes. They are just the hangover and bill from a party.

[angryjonny]

[Kickstart]

Hi

But well down from the $2.10 to the pound from not that long ago.

And from here oil is about 50% more expensive now than it was a year ago.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Hardball]

[angryjonny]

[oldpink]

you had the right idea moving away
I'd much rather be down in Spain right now but due to the €uro to £ rate being shit its too expensive
and Spain has a big financial problem that will take years to recover from
when I first moved there I was getting €1.45 to the pound now its almost parity
so effectively everything is 1/3 more expensive
sure Ciggy's & beer are a lot cheaper than here but not enough to make it worth the other expenses

I'm finally down in London after cancelling due to the riots and yes I got soaked to the bone yesterday in
what I can only describe as a monsoon at least we had a couple of sunny days up in sunny Scotland
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I have become comfortably numb

Theory & hazard 24-may 2016, CBT 8th June 2016, MOD 1 2nd Aug 2016 Mod 2 2nd-Nov 2016 - Current bike CBR 600 RR

[Kickstart]

Hi

I was more talking long term (ie, the 3 years since the pound tanked). However the price now is about the same as it was in March (and while the pound has risen against the dollar since then the amount is negligible)

Short term prices have dropped recently locally.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[angryjonny]

[Suntan Sid]

[Kickstart]

[Frost]

So in summary: Gett he fuck out of our country, and take Hetzer with you.

[Hardball]

[0ddball]

I wonder how many people would stick around if they were offered a 'ten pound pom' deal (one that actually delivered what it promised). From speaking to people it's seems the only reason many stay is that they are trapped in this shithole due to the fact that they can barely earn enough to break even, let alone save to get out.
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ZXR750L

[G]

However, I'm not sure any of the things you've described have really changed that much. (I'll accept the rioting on that scale hasn't been seen for some time - though watching Quadrephenia the other night reminds us it's not a new concept.)

Average speeds on the motorways have come down, but been constant for a while. Congestion hasn't got massively worse - in fact I'd say the traffic-wombles have improved the flow, often.

What work do you do in Cyprus?

I do like the idea of somewhere warmer (definitely be tempted by Aus, though when I was there as a kid, Ironically it seemed cold), but then you see the skin of old ex-pats in Sunny countries and maybe having selective Sun isn't such a bad thing!

[LordShaftesbu...]

I'd like more sun but not necessarily more heat.

[WildGoose]

I'd say its a lot to disappear to a new life leaving behind all you know just because of the weather, but respect for making a decision on it and following through.

The weather here doesn't bother me that much (yes, I moan about it like everyone else, thats my job) but on balance and depending on mood I like the sunny days as much as the cold and damp. Had a pretty good 'summer' here this year I reckon.

My main motivation to move would be people, and last time I checked there were still people in Cyprus, so thats a non starter. Though granted, they did seem much friendlier, generally, than the ones here, but things often seem that way as a tourist.

There are people, and wankers, everywhere.

I could, potentionally go anywhere if I put my mind to it. At this current moment, I don't particularly want to. Is life any less pointless anywhere else? That's not an emo whinge that's a question, and the answer, is no.
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[Suntan Sid]

[CaNsA]

You came to liverpool and you didnt give me a shout?

sid, i am dissapoint.

[Suntan Sid]