This country and why people live here..NB

A propos of the country going to the dogs, I have just discovered that HM consul for Venice is no longer in the pleasant house next to the Academia bridge (if I'm not wrong GIVEN to HMG years ago), but is now in Mestre (rather like moving from Bloomsbury to the North Circular...) and not even in Venice proper any more. And what's more (in a nice touch of schadenfreude), the back-street address is "Blood donors' street".
What's happening over there, guys?! Britain seems to be suffering from a bad case of lack of self-confidence (not the same as jingoism or nationalism) and mediocrity.

<hr width=100% size=1>Adriatic links here: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html>http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html</A>
 
I visited Krakow, Nova Huta and Czestochowa in 1983, and thought the places and the time [Solidarity just repressed and the Police just about confident enough to wear their uniforms home] and the people wonderful.

The wonderful stone architecture of Krakow and to a lesser extent Czestochowa was literally melting off the front of the buildings due to acid rain from among other things the steel mill at Nova Huta - I hope things have changed?

My vivid and lasting memories - the Black Madonna - just wonderful.

Also a big mural of the Polish troops assaulting Monte Cassino - can't remember where that was Krakow castle rings a bell but unlikely, as I know that the Polish troops fighting with Britain were politically an embarrassment to the communist government, so it must have been on Church property somehwere I think.

One of these days, I'll find the time to revisit!

<hr width=100% size=1>Nickel

Being paranoid simply means - having all the facts.
 
Can someone please tell me why I am sat at home asking this question and why I am not arranging to let my flat out and spend a season working in the Carribean? What makes me slightly apprehensive about doing this?

<hr width=100% size=1>Its 11.59am - lets open the beers...
 
All sorts of bizarre things happening with HMG's properties. In the UK, I believe that the Inland Revenue have sold (at a pittance) and leased back most of their offices, including those dealing with tax-dodging, to erm an offshore company based in a tax haven /forums/images/icons/crazy.gif

Pure Kafka.............

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho
 
Because you have spent too long in the stultified atmosphere of Britain surrounded by people too scared to look out of the cage they are in, or too brainwashed by advertisers to realise they are in a cage. Go for it !

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People are always aprehensive of change and leaviing familiar surroundings, once you have done it once or twice, it gets easier. Just like sex!

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Travellers are born not made - I think -

Let your flat (6 month short hold tenancy argeement) and go find work in the West Indies - Moorings sometimes need hostess type people. BUT if it worries you adn you have to think about it too much then maybe travel and adventure is not for you and don't do it -

it all sounds romantic and mainly is but I think you need to like not knowing whats around the next corner, wanting a challange, prefering to take a different route to the known one simply because its different and all that is not for everyone - who dares wins - but not always and loosing can be both dangerous and or painful...

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing>http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing</A>
 
I did the ARC last year and sailed in the Carribean for a month after that, spent Christmas there and came back in Jan. I went to Antigua Week and apart from that I am pretty well travelled anyway so its not that stopping me. Perhaps its not knowing what I will come back to in 6 months time? Perhaps it wont be as good as I hope.....all I know is I am having a stupid argument with myself over this and in the meantime agreeing to race the Winter Series in Hamble on a boat....???..

<hr width=100% size=1>Its 11.59am - lets open the beers...
 
Sorry if I sound a bit rabid, but the chronic low-level bigotry and tiny aspirations mostly centering on a flash car and a wide-screen TV, really began to get to me.

It is of course true that plenty of other countries are as bad or worse (viz USA!) when you get in to small town local environents. But the cosmopolitan environment created by people who have the nerve to jump is so refreshing.

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Something I can never understand

The urge to insult and denigrate people because they have made different choices from those that you have made. One of the nastier aspects of internet forums and says more about the author than the subject.

Each to their own.






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<Britain seems to be suffering from a bad case of lack of self-confidence (not the same as jingoism or nationalism) and mediocrity.>

No its far worse than that, I forget who said it but "there is a limit to how long you open doors for each other before the money runs out" and "you cannot export window cleaning" references to structuring the economy on service industries.

The vast waste of central and local governments, the money squandered on hi tech systems that have NEVER delivered is just one example - the toothless national audit office. The whole system of government is worse than any banana republic; BUT thankfully we still have a few human rights! - but then Blunket is waiting in the wings - look behind you!

For me the UK now is not the place I grew up in, saddly its not a place I am proud to be near or proud to be associated with - abroad Brits are seen as war mongering thugs, Thanks for that Tony.

Now add to that the fact that China is waking up flooding the world with cheap but often well made "things" and buying all the oil and we will have a lot to whinge about.

A simpler lifestyle is called for - but I wont find it in micro managed Britain.



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Re: Something I can never understand

Yes, I realise I sound a bit berserk and opinionated on this subject. Its hard to explain why it troubles me so much. I think I am actually more tolerant than the average bloke. Apologies if I have caused any offence.

Off for a cold beer

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Well I had the same questions a year or so ago but I'm now writing this from Atlantic Shores, Barbados. I've been here 9 months, it's almost 30c, I've got two surf breaks just a few hundred yards from my door and my sailing is messing about in dinghy's every Saturday morning in Carlisle Bay whilst waiting for the local yacht racing season to pick up in November The hardest thing is giving it all up in the UK but you've already done that once with the ARC so just do it again for 6 months. You'll probably spend longer.

I love England and miss aspects of it but when when I weigh up the pros and cons life is much sweeter here. Mind you I'm heading back to London/Brighton next week. Although it's pretty much non-stop partying here the culture side is not quite my cup of tea.

My feeling is that I'll be based here for a long time with frequent trips back to the UK. It's no trouble getting mates out to visit and email /MSN Chat keeps everyone close. The forum is a cracking laugh too, apologies to all for not joing in sooner, I started coming here fairly frequently in early 2002 and I've only managed to make three posts....

So just do it! Winter season racing on the Hamble! It will be freezing - the only place ice should be is in a rum and coke.

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I'd go tomorrow if I didn't have a second boat keeping me here, and a rabbit that needs regular cleaning which requires 4 hands not 2. But if boats sells and the nice spare pair of hands that I know in Mallorca wants me there, I'll be gone like a shot, rabbits and all ..... just not via a French ferry! Had enough of it here for now!!

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I dident know there were still British people left in the UK?I thought west France and parts of Spain not occupied by the Germans were the Britain of today? In fact i read several articals about England being used as a dummping gro wnd for "economic refugees"Not to mention that Tony blair autherised another 12000 from a certain contry to fill unskilled jobs and vote "labour"when 17000 of the last intake were on the dole--and voting labour? all very odd
Mild and Bitters ok but really who has seen a real pub in the UK?? there all theam parks pizza parks or plastic rubbish "pubs" with rotten bier The only place to find a real English pubs in MALTA thought they exist in France Italy Holland Belgium (for the MEPS)
In Malta you can still buy a pint and a packet of crisps,or at lunch time masted pea pie or steak and kidney pie (from frey bentos) and even fish and chips which British vinigar (banned by the EEC and tony blair)
On top of that the Labour party forcast Britain as becoming a totaly black contry by 2020 while an NGO Un body forcast the change by 2030

Where is England ?? Its a pity and when your new house cant cost more than £500,000 becouse labour dont think thats how the masses should live then its really time to move ,thought remember Britain ddosent have high corperation taxes, and just wait untill you want to incorperate---But long live Britain and thank god for the union

<hr width=100% size=1>liveaboard
 
Yes indeed Crete is lovely in spring and few tourists!! I suppose you dont return to the UK very often Imagin Once the UK was not such a bad place to live --but that was a very long time ago--very long-- pre blair period a sort middle ages

<hr width=100% size=1>liveaboard
 
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