[Closed] How many ex-pats do we have on here?

Just because you used to wallow in some hole of a crap town doesn't mean the whole country's bad.

Intelligent forward looking tolerant culture - maybe, but I'm not sure it's so far ahead of anywhere else
Accessibility of mountains, seaside - I miss the seaside (live in a landlocked country). Accessibility of mountains depends where you live. Besides, UK hills hardly count as mountains by north american/mainland European standards.
Outstanding natural and man-made beauty - true, but hardly unique
Some of the world's best museums, art galleries etc etc etc etc - and how often do you visit them? Besides, many exhibitions seem to tour, and will turn up in most capital cities.
One of the world's biggest and greatest cities - if you're wealthy...
Countryside access - again, hardly unique
Good career prospects - debateable, subjective
Great cultural output (tv, film, music, literature etc) - all available worldwide, thanks to interwebs etc.

Sure, a lot to recommend UK, but not much you can't find elsewhere, without having to put up with rubbish transport, chavs, hype, expensive beer, replica football shirts, Rupert Murdoch, The Daily Mail, acres and acres of bleak retail estates full of near identical shops selling near identical junk...Gah!

...and breathe. Place is going to the dogs. Britain feels to me like somewhere with far more past than future nowadays.

@Kitz_Chris

Currently sitting in my office in Golden, live in Arvada so not that far at all from you.
I'm not a racer but I will be doing the 18 hours of Fruita this year.
Do you work for CU?

How come? Are those thoughts sector specific? or just the economy in general?

I was under the impression that a lot of the Australian resilience was commodities driven...

That's exactly the problem. The whole country is dependent on commodites exports to China - there is significant inflation caused by high labour costs and a tidal wave of credit.

This will eventually end but the country is really poorly placed to cope with an adjustment. The government (state and federal) is half inept and half corrupt, and they control a huge chunk of the economy and they're really bad at it! I am not a Thatcherite but this is like stepping back into the 1970s in Scotland - the unions' influence over local politics is immense (and negative) and practically every job has a wage fixed by tripartite agreement. Developers, tobacco and alcohol firms also shovel money into the pockets of both main parties - and they distort the markets. There is huge protectionism for farmers, booksellers, supermarkets, car manufacturers etc.

There are large subsidies that are thrown about all over the place for no reason e.g. Ford just got $42m (I think) from the Green Adjustment fund to...fit a diesel engine to the locally-made SUV and a 4 cylinder petrol engine in a sedan. WTF is the Commonwealth funding a massive global company to do what is obvious?

There's a massive amount of credit-driven spending; there are many flashy cars and they are far overpriced compared to world markets, so they're all financed. The media and the property analysis houses are integrated so there is no "voice" for people who don't think that property will always go up.

There is no desire to compete or co-operate with regional economies. There is a real lack of enthusiasm for Asian co-operation and there is little takeup of Asian languages. They just don't get it that Singapore is a far easier, cheaper and more efficient place to do anything that anyone in Sydney can do in professional services. Even in tourism after 30 years of Japanese package tourists coming in, it's impossible to hire Australian Japanese speakers to show them around - let along Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese. We're a few hours away from millions of emerging middle class people who want to take a foreign holiday and we've done nothing about it. If there's any hope, it's in the second generation kids who speak their parents' languages and who'll be able to take up that business. Generic Australian parents (like my family members) are mostly more interested in how their kids are doing in fifteen sports rather than worrying about they're doing in school.

The Australian economy is doing great but it's a crystal vase and will shatter on the slightest tap imo.

But having said all that, it's a really nice place to live, the people are mostly friendly, public services are (so far) pretty good, the climate is often pretty comfortable (it's a really big deal to have weather that you can comfortably stroll around in for most months of the year! wouldn't live in Darwin or the desert, though). I'm not down on Australia - I just think we're all dooooooomed and it'll be good to have a hobby.

Fish & chips and orange squash isn't really an argument for staying somewhere.

er... no, but you try living without them for the rest of your life. And seriously, Canadians (like Americans) do not know curry.

Sure, a lot to recommend UK, but not much you can't find elsewhere, without having to put up with rubbish transport, chavs, hype, expensive beer, replica football shirts, Rupert Murdoch, The Daily Mail, acres and acres of bleak retail estates full of near identical shops selling near identical junk...Gah!

Yeah, but Spain (for example) has Pedro J, Cope and Intereconomia (catholic right wing politics), Real Madrid (more of the same, but with a bit more racism chucked in), crappy run down estates etc. Hardly Sunny Spain when it comes down to it.

What I'm trying to say is that the grass is always greener on the other side: get over the initial honeymoon period and you'll find you still have a mortgage, kids, you still need to buy food etc. I like living in Spain, but I don't for one second think this is a paradise - I'm sure I'd be equally as happy in most other countries.

@Clockwork667 That means you're just down the road from me!

Yep, I work at CU... and enjoy the fact that everyone has the same mindset when it comes to powder days and long weekends in the mountains!

I wont be racing 18 hours of fruita, but will be at almost all the other events in CO. Send me an email if you want any bike related stuff, I have a few good hook ups in the area.

Clockwork667 & Kitz_Chris in Breck now till summer then probably making a move to the front range. Definitely looking for rides when the snow melts if you're about then.

@clockwork, Kitz_Chris and 10. I'm also in Colorado. Used to live in Fort Collins, now in Denver, been here almost five years and love it. Originally from NI.

I'm a Registered Nurse working in Auckland, for nearly 5 years now. Young family (6+10) great life for kids out here so no plans to return to the UK.

I'm off to Kandahar in Afghanistan for three years - hopefully leaving in the next ten days or so. Not much chance of getting any mountain biking in though!

I'm an expat.
I live in Andalucía, near Gibraltar and Morocco, Tarifa, that sort of way.
I am very happy here too, nice small very friendly town, old crappy but unique house and lots of mountains, forests and beaches. Some amazing spiders and bugs and one of the best bird migrations paths in the world 🙂

I also like the UK too. We did think about moving back but have decided to stay. We like Spain and Andalucía too much and find the UK quite foreign now.

Squidlord:

I'm not trying to proclaim that the UK is the best place on Earth of course - what I am trying to say is that it's far from the worst and life needn't be bad if you have a job and money etc. If you don't, well nowhere's good, is it?

Re countryside and beauty - I really feel that the UK really does well in this area. I've been to a few countries and lived in a few, and often they are very samey. Here in Germany for instance I am cycling through the countryside and villages near a major city and it's D U L L. Every village looks the same, all the countryside is either flat fields of crops or stands of pine trees. Very samey - not unpleasant, but still. Even in the city of Munich I find the buildings bland, they all seem to have been rendered and re-rendered in the same beige so I can't tell how old anything is or see anything beyond the outline of the building.

Compare that to cycling through Hampshire and Surrey on those back roads, which I was doing at my previous job: Every corner revealed such beauty that I could hardly get on with my ride, I just wanted to stop and take it all in!

Yes there is beauty everywhere but I love that aspect of the UK. As well as the Alps, Rockies, bleak praries etc etc 🙂 It's what I am saying about looking for things to love rather than things to hate.

We have chavs in the UK and Murdoch, yes. However every country has the same kind of thing. Bavaria is conservative, and I'm already sick to death of being tut-tutted at in public and openly scolded for doing something unusual 🙁

acres and acres of bleak retail estates full of near identical shops selling near identical junk

*looks out of window* same here!

Anyway I agree with Mogrim. Different places are great, but the UK is a good country too.

I agree with you molgrips except this
".. and life needn't be bad if you have a job and money etc. If you don't, well nowhere's good, is it?"

If you are going to be skint, it's best to be skint somewhere hot 🙂

France here near Spanish border on the Med side - well actually as I've been here over 2 years, been told I am Catalan.

It's great if you can "put up" with a simple life.
Was speaking to a friend at the weekend who has a french partner and their priority I've been told, above everything, even working is to enjoy themselves. Whether that is long lunches, chilling at the beach or more eating (which isn't unusual). Seem to have lost that in UK where everyone seems to run off to buy stuff they don't need.

If you are going to be skint, it's best to be skint somewhere hot

Well I conceed, that is a very good point 🙂

Seem to have lost that in UK where everyone seems to run off to buy stuff they don't need

Easy generalisation but not entirely accurate.

Adelaide in South Australia here for 9 months so far, and again, no intentions of returning any time soon...

Sure, Snowdonia, the lakes etc are pretty, and the beer is better at home, but...

Some scenery here is breathtaking, not just 'nice'
The wine almost makes up for the beer
The pay makes up for the cost of the wine
The work hours give me time to enjoy the wine
The squash is better
I've found the best fish and chips I've ever had
The weather is much better
But if I get bored of that, I can move to Tassie
The beaches are pretty good
And so is the riding
The internet solves any TV / radio / film issues

And that's just a start. Sure, I enjoyed the UK, and miss it often enough, but there is much more job security for both me and my wife here. And yes, the Aussie economy is based upon selling most of the middle of the country to China. Trouble is, when China stops buying it, it stops using it to make things, and most probably the whole world, not just Australia, is up the creek....

Some scenery here is breathtaking, not just 'nice'

Lots of the UK is breathtaking when you're not used to it...

UK has some very good plus points. For example, most villages have a pub. It came as a shock that the centre of many villages/ towns i've visited in Fin is simply a supermarket, Alko and a takeaway. Getting a mid-ride pint outside of HKI or the ski-resorts can be tricky. But in the peak district.... so damn easy!!!!

This is an important thing to consider for stw, right? 😉

Hans are you in Helsinki? Where are you riding?

@ molgrips: fair enough. Agree that no-where's perfect. Czech Republic has corruption, graft, some apallingly parochial attitudes and hundreds of ugly villages full of dead cars. But I'm tired of the UK... back to visit family at the weekend, then a few business meets in London. Not looking forward to it at all.

Ah yes, that's one thing - despite the stereotype that there's a bar on every corner, Oz is very lacking in decent pubs!

Lots of the UK is breathtaking when you're not used to it...

Nice:

[img] [/img]

Breathtaking:

[img] [/img]

I dunno, but I work with many people who are neither British nor Aussie, and having been oth the best bits of both countries, that's their opinion. Don't underestimate 'nice' though - the great compactness of the UK is it's biggest asset for natural beauty.

I dunno Zokes, I like both those just as much.

The UK's strength is diversity in terms of scenery but also landscape detail like buildings, trees, flowers etc etc. Love it 🙂

Another vote for Finland here (Helsinki, for 3 years now). Very much agree with HansRey about the lack of 'village' feel, even in towns and suburbs around Helsinki. It's all so relatively new compared to the UK, which means lots of concrete shopping centres and no real town or village centre feel. That's probably the worst thing over here to be honest - my Finnish wife didn't know different until she lived in Bristol for 5 years, and now missed that side of things very much.

Anyway, where are all you guys in Finland, and would anyone be interested in organising a Helsinki or surrounding area expats ride (or XC ski if we don't leave it a month or two given the ace winter we're having!)?

Ian

Bonty, you are teasing me 🙁

[i]Seem to have lost that in UK where everyone seems to run off to buy stuff they don't need[/i]

Easy generalisation and very accurate.

I see myself as an immigrant rather than an expat and on rare trips to the UK it's the thing that strikes me. There are exceptions of course who resist work, gadget and debt filled lives, but for most of the people I spoke with those topics dominated conversation. Keeping up with the Joneses is the norm. British MTB forums reflect this attitude. It's easier to name the regular contributors that don't own a Yeti on one forum.

Ha ha sorry Molgrips, were you over here at some point then? Just getting things ready for a weekend of cycling to, and camping in, Nuuksio National Park, might be a little cold though...

Keeping up with the Joneses is the norm

This is SUCH a massively stupid thing to say.

I don't give a flying crap what my neighbours/peers own, and neither do most people I know.

I buy stuff cos it's cool, not because my peers have it.

Ridiculous.

Anyway it's pretty small fry to argue about.

Bonty yes I used to live in Helsinki, rode Nuuksio a lot. Skiied it a couple of times but it's hard to get to without a car. I went to Paloheina more.

This is SUCH a massively stupid thing to say.

Ok, sorry for being a bit antagonistic there, but it really annoys me that people think I buy what I buy just because I know someone else who has it 🙁

Only you know why you buy stuff Molgrips, I'm stereotyping and whilst stereotypes often reflect reality there are of course exceptions. There's soemthing of a keeping down with the Joneses in the area I live. People with bank accounts brimming with cash run cars over 10 years old and walk to work, but are happy to spend 30 000e insulating the walls of their house which once done is invisible.

Conspicuous wealth is treated with suspicion and even derission. "Bling bling" is an insult. It's still conforming to a socially acceptable norm but a norm that includes being socially responsible.

@Kitz_Chris, 10, crankinirish,

As you are all probably seeing the same thing I am as you look out of the window, i.e. Freezing temperatures, visibility measured in yards, snow and ice. I thought I would post a few pics to remind you what things will be like in a month or so. 😀

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

These two are from Buffalo Creek, and if you haven't ridden there it's a gem. I'll be on these trails a lot early season before it gets too hot, there is an open invitation to any of you who want to join me.

Landed in Glasgow half an hour ago. Dang the weather is rubbish! It's been 35c in Brazil! 😯

molgrips, no car here either, haven't skiied Nuukiso but after a fresh snowfall I've got a 1.5 hour roundabout route door to door from home (Oulunkyla, just south of Paloheina) to work (Viiki) 🙂 Though am looking into whether skiing the Reitti 2000 to Nuuksio from home is possible...

Nick I was nearly in Innsbruck yesterday. Glad to hear there are bike parks nearby, will be visiting them in the summer.

what type of riding you into??

i was up at nordkette today and conditions are fantastic. Had "fasching" today so had me donut and half days work then hit the uplift 😉

let me no if your ever about although i sent my trail bike back so only got my dh now here.

so if u fancy a meet up in leogang or so..

Ah yes.. Reitti 2000.. that brings back memories 🙂 I had long planned to cycle into town from Lauttasaari, cycle the entire thing then back home again, but I never did it. I did do the whole thing in bits though.

what type of riding you into??

Well just general MTBing really. I do like to ride up hills, never done an uplift although it does appeal to me in some ways. I've only got a road bike with me currently but we are going back for Easter and I'm bringing back the Patriot 🙂

I'll happily sample what you have but I don't want to die... Will let you know when I have my bike 🙂

hahaha, dying also isnt on the cards for me....

we can do something simple like the hang man or something.

either run your bike or hire one. it was 30 euro a day. can hire armour/helmets etc if you wanted.

look forward to it

Mmm, could hire a DH bike. Never ridden one, always wondered what it was like 🙂

Is it all snow free now?

Lots of the UK is breathtaking when you're not used to it...

Sunshine is good, yes.

On the other hand, in the UK it's never cripplingly hot or cripplingly cold; drought is rare; no volcanoes or earthquakes; spring comes early.

Like I say, you don't know what you've got til you see it through someone else's eyes.

On the other hand, in the UK it's never [s]cripplingly[/s] hot or cripplingly cold;

Fixed. 😆

On the other hand, in the UK it's never [s]cripplingly[/s] hot [s]or[/s] but can be cripplingly cold;

Further fixed....

And even if it's not cripplingly cold, a flake of snow still seemingly cripples the place...

Any tips on moving abroad?

I would like to move to Canada (BC) but I'm too old to qualify for any of the work programmes (36), and therefore have to be offered a job first, before I can apply for a work permit.

molgrips - wow you were in the posh part! Yeah, have done the Reitti 2000 lots of times, full thing, parts, camping over a few days with the wife, adding all the singletrack running close to the track which makes it really long, difficult, and great fun etc... When were you here?

Snow - hah we've struggled at times with too much snow this year, even over here in Finland! Still over 60cms in the back yard and a metre deep a few km north of here, the city has run out of places to dump ploughed snow, and the sea is freezing over too quickly to just stick it in there! Last years snow pile just round the corner was still there in August, I suspect this year it won't melt before the snow comes again. Skiied past it last month, it was impressively tall even then!

As of next monday I`ll be joining Zedsdead in the madness of India, Pune to be exact....its going to be....er....different!! 😯

Clockwork667 - Member
@Kitz_Chris, 10, crankinirish,

"As you are all probably seeing the same thing I am as you look out of the window, i.e. Freezing temperatures, visibility measured in yards, snow and ice. I thought I would post a few pics to remind you what things will be like in a month or so."

I plan on riding Buffalo Creek a lot in the spring too. I work Mon-Fri so usually out on the weekends. Pm me next time you head out. I'm also going to try and get out once or twice a week after work when the clocks change. Probably Apex, White Ranch, Hall etc.

@crankinirish,
what are the trail options in Denver for right now? Much snow coverage?

"what are the trail options in Denver for right now? Much snow coverage? "

Green Mountain and Dakota Ridge are probably the only things dry now. I'm guessing everything else will still have snow on the northern aspects and a lot of mud everywhere else. Its supposed to be in the high 50s for the next week so maybe more stuff will be rideable by next weekend.

Any tips on moving abroad?

I would like to move to Canada (BC) but I'm too old to qualify for any of the work programmes (36), and therefore have to be offered a job first, before I can apply for a work permit

Just start applying for jobs, what do you do? I was 30 when I moved but my company had a sister company over here which made it easier.

Everything in Boulder at the moment is unrideable; either icy or muddy. Hopefully two weeks time things will get better.

Buffalo creek is one of my favourites too - if you're into it, you guys should sign up for the Baily 100; the most fun race in CO, and based entirely around the Buff creek singletrack.

I'm heading down to Utah this weekend to get my fix of Singletrack... hopefully Fruita will be dry soon too.

in the UK it's never cripplingly hot or cripplingly cold; drought is rare; no volcanoes or earthquakes; spring comes early.

SS Bonty what job do you do in Suomi?

SSBonty and Molgrips- I've ridden in Nuuksio and around Veikkola when visiting. Sadly, today is my last day here for a while before relocating permanently in August.

Hopefully moving to Ruoholahti, Leppavara (sp?) or Toolo and should have a PhD with VTT.

If there isn't too much snow, what about a DH trip up in Lapland? Rent some bikes too? I'll send you a msg nearer the time!

Also, I'm looking at buying a bike from Canyon in Germany. Besides Ridefree.fi, what other alternatives are there?

(apologies for the hijack OP)

Been in Denmark for over a year and love it. Been in Holland and France before that, and I can't imagine moving back to UK. The scenery is nice in places but the towns feel too dirty and claustrophobic now.

On the other hand, in the UK it's never cripplingly hot or but can be cripplingly cold;

Lol

Cold experiencing FAIL 🙂

You know when they say don't drive unless absolutely necessary in the UK sometimes? In real cold countries they say don't GO OUTSIDE unless absolutely necessary. They sometimes cancel school so you don't have to expose your kids to the air. Sometimes they even declare a state of emergency just because of the temperature.

When were you here?

I was in Finland 2003-4. I loved Nuuksio riding but I did miss a decent long climb, and big views. I remember there was one spot I could ride up a hill then climb onto some rocks to see above the trees. The view was nothing but trees to the horizon apart from a bit of sea and some tall buildings in Helsinki. Ace 🙂

Cold experiencing FAIL

I know places can be colder, but it was as near as dammit -20 a couple of early mornings Jan 2010 when I used to live on the moors in Belmont. Scotland gets that cold more often in places.

Askim, Norway about 50k from Oslo. Not the best mountain biking area, so have just bought a road bike. I'm from Matlock, Derbyshire and miss the biking in the Dales big time 🙁

Pigface - postdoc at University of Helsinki Institute of Biotechnology. Are you in Helsinki or elsewhere?

Hans - sounds interesting, know any good places in Lapland? I'm hoping to head to Levi ski resort for a 24 hour race in June (www.levi24.fi), there's a bike park there so I might either take my 'medium' bike (5" travel Nicolai) along with the XC race one, or hire something, if I can get away for more than the weekend. Not done too much downhill, might be fun though! Toolo should be a great location, central, near beaches and the city, very close to the start of 'Central Park' (I had an article in singletrack mag a few years back on riding there, some shore stuff in the woods v close to the heart of the city!) etc... Don't know much about buying bikes in Finland I'm afraid, a lot of my stuff is from the UK as even with postage it can be cheaper, and larger orders are often post free. Quick shout out for my mate Eppu's bike shop in Tikkurila ( http://www.tikkurilanajomies.fi/), he sold me his Nicolai when my frame snapped 2 weeks after arriving!

molgrips, agree the lack of big hills is a pain, but like you say the few places you can get up and into the open it makes the city look like Endor from Star wars, green trees as far as you can see apart from lakes, the sea, and the odd building or water tower, love it!

I know places can be colder, but it was as near as dammit -20 a couple of early mornings Jan 2010 when I used to live on the moors in Belmont.

-20 is well within the realms of manageable cold. -40 or below starts to get fun. Not experienced it personally mind.

I would really love a 24hr race in 24 hour sun! I'd come up for it but I don't think I can make it this year.

Unless Mrs Grips fancies a trip too 🙂

lived in bavaria, germany for almost three years. lots of mountains, lots of trails, lots of paperwork and arrogant people compared to the UK.

now doing a season on a Spanish island. not ridng much due to injury (pulled the tendons/ligament in my wrist after a fall (or two)). nice atmosphere. couldn't stay here forever.

prob go back to germany, switzerland or austria come the summer. might well go further afield... canada, new zealand or elsewhere.

if i do return to the UK it'll be somewhere other than the south east of england.

sunny greetings.....

J

mikey74 - Member

Any tips on moving abroad?

I would like to move to Canada (BC) but I'm too old to qualify for any of the work programmes (36), and therefore have to be offered a job first, before I can apply for a work permit.

Mikey, as someone else pointed out, it'll depend on what you do, but basically start looking for jobs or a Canadian OH. Best bet for jobs appears to be to go with international companies; domestic firms don't always seem to 'get' the idea of sponsoring someone for a visa...
You'll be applying for a Temporary Work Permit in all probability; there are various expat forums that cover this kinda thing, too.

Sorry, should have mentioned that I'm an architectural technician.

I have found a few jobs and joined a few job mailing lists. Plus in the town where a mate of mine moved to there is several architects practices, although couldn't find anyones that were advertising jobs.

I was toying with the idea of just sending them my cv, with a covering e-mail, to gauge their reaction.

SS Bonty did a year in Joensuu, my missus lives in central Sweden. Just fell in love with Suomi.

Finland.. islands of towns in an ocean of forest.

mikey74 - I'm a Architectural Technician and have been over in BC/Vancouver on a working visa for the past 9 months. It is very difficult to find work in this field as many, if not all practises, have an unspoken preference for Canadian workers with 'BC experience' and in the current climate very few companies are hiring anyway. Also, and I’ve been told this is a ‘Canadian thing’, do not expect any acknowledgement if you send out your cv/resume to prospective employers. I’ve sent mine off probably a hundred times without any word back which can get a little disheartening at times. Before moving over here I had worked in a few different countries 'plying my trade' and I’ve never come across a more difficult situation than I’ve found over here. On the plus side, the biking over on the north shore and around the city is great it’s just a shame about the work side of things.

Driving in Finland goes something like this trees trees trees lake trees trees trees lake trees trees trees lake town trees trees trees trees lake.

Been in China for 8 years, of which 5 years have been in Beijing

Thanks for the information Glacier. Doesn't sound good. Perhaps I'll have to find a new profession hahaha.

I have been to BC the last three years in a row so am fully versed in the quality of riding there

twentyniners,
Live in Bangsar, Kiara is my local ride with SMS and others, do you know it well. E-mail me and will give you my number as your profile is blank..cheers
shiny

Dr J. Where are you in Denmark? I live in Ringsted FWIW

Adelaide, Oz.

Hated the first few months. Made some friends, found a job, been here nearly 5 years and have Dual Citizenship, live 7mins from beach and work 12hrs a week as "stay at home dad". Riding is pretty good - ridiculously accessible; Train shuttles anyone?

Before that, was split between Colorado and London.

Can see a return to the UK for a few years so my daughter can experience it, get citizenship of her own accord, time with my parents, get to Europe easily.

But I reckon Aus is home now.

+1 for Germany: Country lanes seem to be all well surfaced, smooth and fast - excellent.

-1 for Germany: Riding past veal crates 🙁

Can see a return to the UK for a few years so my daughter can ...get citizenship of her own accord

If you have UK citizenship by birth and other than by descent, iirc your daughter would be able to get it without returning to the UK. (I may be wrong). You might as well do it now at your leisure instead of being rushed for some odd reason in the future.

Squamish, BC
Well, Garibaldi Highlands for those that understand the significant difference 😉

Big city <1hr
Whistler <1hr

Ocean, Mountains and world class riding right on my doorstep.

Couldn't afford to own in Whistler but now thankful we couldn't!

mikey74 - as others have said, its hard to get a BC employer to sponsor foreigners for a temporary work permit (TWP) these days. The prospect of paperwork, time & money puts most employers off the idea, even if you're the perfect candidate for the job.

So the best advice I've heard of, is to investigate the TWP process yourself from an employers perspective and demonstrate to them that its actually a manageable process with little cost. There are still requirements to be met, but it might help your application. Good luck, its worth it!

Based in Basel, CH. Quite like it really, as do kids and missus.

Although do miss random banter with West of Scotland folk (I'm from Gourock), tattie scones, black pudding, cheap Walls sausages, my best UK mates, Irn Bru and pickled onion monster munch.

Oh yeah, and decent radio. Really, you don't realise how good UK radio is, even your least favourite Radio 1 DJ, compared to swiss or German radio.

Really, you have no idea how inconceivably bad it is. It is almost impossible to describe how awful. Katie Mulua (sp?) is, like, the best they play, and then with no hint of irony play Bananarama "Venus" and Chesney *($&^#%$ing Hawkes "I am the one and only" at least three times on 1 day. not kidding. it. never. stops.

(*&(*@&$^#*(&%!!!!! 😈

Phil Collins a big hit also, but nothing beyond mid eighties.

Unbelievably wonderful to go home, pop the car radio on and be entertained.

🙂

Kev

Another Canuck runaway here although probably considerably younger than the rest of you - 3 of the past 4 years have been in Canada.

Based in Hamilton, ON (terrible reputation, but frankly after living in Leeds for 3 years, it's tame by comparison), spend 5 months a year in Northern AB researching wildfires.

Grew up on the Suffolk/Cambridgeshire border.

While I miss being able to walk out my back door and go for a walk across the fields, I can do that here, they're just snowier fields. I don't think Canada is 'better' than the UK, it has plenty of problems of its own, but for what I do, and for the incredible friends I've made here, I wouldn't have done anything differently.

Much to my siblings/parents dismay, I can't see myself coming back.

([i]Said with a tinge of sadness all that to be honest, I love the UK, but [u]I want to work[/u], [b]and[/b] be fiscally stable and safe, perhaps even be able to buy a house [u]one day[/u], sadly, despite the best of intentions, that just isn't a possibility in the UK any time soon, nor does it seem to bother any of the political parties that I'm not alone amongst literate and numerate graduates thinking the same thing so taking themselves elsewhere.
[/i]

[i]Before anyone chirps about being workshy, I've done multiple 100+ hour weeks with the payslips to prove it, in borderline dangerous conditions to fund my way though my undergraduate, but I'll be damned if I'll do that for the rest of my life just to be able to relax when I'm dead! [/i]

mikey74: your best bet will be to find a multinational employer - they have more experience of sorting visas and suchlike. A friend of mine got as far as being offered a job by one of the domestic investment banks before they realised that he'd need a TFWP and stopped the process. And certainly I found that the job applications I did for multinationals got a lot further than those for domestic companies.

mrgibbons: so you're now one of those people who envies us in the big city round the lake and secretly wants to live here but is too pikey? 😉 😉 I might be seeing more of Hamilton this year as we have some friends moving to Burlington for work at McMaster.