before you come here

[nobbie 105]

It's funny how so many of us see it in so many different ways. From my own perspective, I've been back in England for three weeks - and I can't ###### wait to get back to Uncle Sam. I only came home in the first place to try and save my marriage *FAIL* and now, when I've no reason to stick around anymore, I see the UK for what it is, certainly compared to the U.S - a tired, sick old man "on the bones of its @rse" as my old Mum would say.

Wages here (for an ordinary working guy) are little more than slave labour, and as for having any chance of getting on the property ladder?? Forget it!!!!!!! My Mum's very modest semi in Southampton (not London, not the beautiful West Country, SOUTHAMPTON) is worth 250,000 GBP - it's farcical. Conversely, an ordinary working man Stateside can find affordable areas in which buy a house, which, by UK standards, is a dream home. Perhaps it's different if you're an educated professional, but from an ordinary blue-collar guy's perspective? The US wins out hands down. And just as soon as I've sorted my train-wreck of a life out, I'm headed back out there - and I'm NEVER coming back.

Sorry to hear it did not work out for you.

Yes everyones view is different, I love going back to the UK. As for house prices, I sold my house in the UK and got one here for roughly the same price but it's smaller, no garage and has horrendous property taxes. got to drive pretty much everywhere. I'm not short of cash but I just resent paying through the nose for everything, for instance a cauliflower cost $3.50 in the supermarket, that's ridiculous, I could not bring myself to buy one. Cost of living here is 37% higher than the average in the US.

Anyhow, I don't like it and there is nothing anyone can say that will change my mind.