On Tue, 10 Jun 2003, at around 00:59:57 local time,
Guyots3@wmconnect.com wrote:
>Michael Hargreave Mawson <OC@46thFoot.com>
>Wrote
>Is there anywhere in the world
>where the ordinary pleasures of life - driving a car, smoking a
>cigarette, drinking the odd glass of wine, or eating a packet of crisps
>- are not seen as viciously anti-social behaviour, and are not subject
>to ridiculous legislation or swingeing taxation?
>
>Mike, You have just listed most of the reasons that I chose to leave!
But, but, but... You went to a country that has even more intrusive
legislation than we do!
>South Africa has a lot to offer, but the political and personal security
>situation continues to deteriorate, (I was there in 94, 95, 98 & 99
>and witnessed the changes)...
Being white and British, I don't think moving to South Africa is the
best choice for me at the moment. I might just as well relocate to
Baghdad.
>Australia is OK, (the lucky country), but only around the edges, too hot, dry
>and dusty mostly. Many of the Australians are not noted for their
>culture and sophistication either, and their beer is VERY strong.
Ours is stronger. :-) I'm a real ale fan, and I don't think I could
survive on XXXX and Fosters. Are there any decent real ale breweries
in Australia? I know that America (the home of flavourless, weak,
fizzy, chemical beer) is full of excellent micro-breweries, producing
some very fine ales. Is Australia the same?
> New Zealand is certainly a long way from almost everywhere else. Great if you
>like sheep and want to be cut-off, it is beautiful on South
>Island, but then again there is the hole in the Ozone layer.
Did I mention that I'm white? In fact I'm very white, and I get
appalling sunburn even when it is heavily overcast. I don't go out
without Factor 50 and a hat anyway, so the Ozone hole isn't going to
make things any worse. I've nothing against sheep, particularly.
>
>Canada, famous for being north of the USA. Nuff said, anyhow it is way too
>cold in the winter with way too much snow.
<g> I have spent very little time in Canada, and that only in Ontario,
but what I saw appalled me. It seemed to have merged most of the worst
elements of American culture with most of the worst elements of British
culture. Nightmarish.
>
>The USA is in many ways 50 seperate nations of many different cultures.
>You must be really careful about exactly where you want to go in this country.
>Avoid Earthquake zones, Tornado Zones, Hurricane Zones,
>Tarntula and Snake infested areas, Places where the summer is 120 degrees and
>the winter 10 degrees Fahrenheit, massive conurbations, and there
>is not much left!
Hawaii? New England? Oregon? Washington State? However, in all
cases, there is still that Federal government hanging overhead. And I
don't like what I hear about it, whichever party is in power.
>
>That is why the Mormons settled in Salt Lake City and we settled in Southern
>Oregon...the only problem here seems to be lack of employment.
>Dang it is hard to get work here, but otherwise it is pretty much OK.
As a self-employed writer, this isn't going to be a major problem for
me. My wife is a bureaucrat, and there seems to be a growing number of
opportunities in that field... :-(
>
>As for big brother, personally I am not too worried as long as you are one of
>the good guys then no problem!
Really? And who gets to define "good guy"? If the answer is Tony
Blair, or George W. Bush, I'm nervous...
On the other hand, there is a thriving Triumph community in the US,
which is a major plus. But wouldn't I have to learn to spell
carburettor and aluminium differently, and call a prop shaft a drive
shaft?
ATB
--
Mike
Ellie - 1963 White Herald 1200 Convertible GA125624 CV
Connie - 1968 Conifer Herald 1200 Saloon GA237511 DL
Carly - 1977 Inca Yellow Spitfire 1500 FH105671
/// triumphs@autox.team.net mailing list
/// or try http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/majorcool
/// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive
|