Not all Aussie animals are scary.

[MarkCDodd]

Wonderfull place to visit. Hence the huge number of English tourists. Some of them even come back and live here!

But England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland are beutifull.

The English coutryside is a wonder of nature and there isn't much wildlife that wants to kill you. (Badgers can be a bit grumpy!).

[Annie]

Annie........I can't see the attraction for people to go there from beautiful England. !

I was thinking I would enjoy all the lovely warm weather they get Mike, I agree there are some beautiful places in England and still a lot I would like to visit.

Annie

[snoopysue]

Annie........I can't see the attraction for people to go there from beautiful England. !

Horses for courses Mike, just think how much more crowded the UK would be if no-one had ever left!!

[mikleed]

A good point there Sue ...........Theres still a load we need to get rid of anyway !.........Mark ! that was an unusual reaction from you ?.

Mike.

[MarkCDodd]

Why Mike? Because I love the country of my birth and feel just as much British as Australian?

Admiration for each country does not have to be mutually exclusive.

I know for a fact that I would not have had the same oppurtunities in terms of education and employment if my parents had stayed in England.

So I thank God that they emmigrated.

But my family was Black Country for the 400 years I have been able to trace back.

The Homers, Fords and Cutlers hardly moved more than a few miles in those 400 years.

I am proud to be English born and my children, although they are yet to set foot in England, are proud to call themselves Possies. Hald Pom. Half Aussie.

My wife is Australian as a white person can be with seven convicts in her direct line including first fleeters.

But all of her ancestors 8 generations ago were British or Irish.

So the English roots are there even for a 7th generation white Australian.

[Antie Em]

Well said Mark - Nice One

I have rellies who live in Oz and they and their children have a very full and happy life - much better they say than if they had stayed here. Although they really do miss England and of course their family, they would never come back here to live.

Each to his own I say and good luck to anyone who has the guts to emigrate in search of a better life.

[mikleed]

Good on ya ! Mark.....very similar to my ancestors except it was Canada & USA......Other than Great Aunt Ann Leedham who emigrated to Broken Hill and her Daughter married into the BHP Mining.........Sorry Mark I think I have said this before.!!

[snoopysue]

Just because we chose to live in another country doesn't mean that we don't like "the old country". I agree with what Mark's saying, it's impossible to seperate and compartmentalise the country's that you've lived in, they're both part of our history.
My husband always says I'm the biggest national patriot he knows. There are things I love and hate about Britain, and there are things I love and hate about Denmark. A mixture of the two would suit me down to the ground!!