Grass is always greener...

[MarkCDodd]

Took my Uncle Colin and Aunty Marg from Oldbury on a trip to one of the local forests in Kallista.

They got to feed Cockatoos, Rosella, Galahs and other assorted parrots and go for a walk in some Aussie rain forest.

They were telling me how lucky we are to live in Australia and how beautiful it is.

Yes, we are lucky, but I am dying to visit Shropshire and Staffordshire which to me have a beauty and richness of history we do not have in Australia.

I think any country has its own beauty and anybody showing you around is going to pick the best and try to avoid the ugliness that also exists in every country.

If they had emmigrated to Australia at the same time as my parents then life would have been different for them, not neccesarily better.

[Northern Lass]

Well I will swop houses with you for a hols Mark!
You can do Sunny Shrops and I will do barbys on the beach!

[grangers14]

I have two friends who emmigrated, one to New Zealand and the other Whyalla, Australia, both love the life they have now. My friends son who went to New Zealand really didnt want to go. He spent Christmas with his Dad in Scotland and here for Christmas and when he came to see us he said he wished they had moved years ago, loving his life.
My best friend went to America, her husbands job was moved there. She loved it but he didnt, so they are back here.
I'd love to see Australia and New Zealand, I can keep on dreaming!
Jo

[dianel]

Mark! You were just around the corner from me and didn't visit. And you a relative, too!!!

Jo, come on down. I'll put the kettle on.

[MarkCDodd]

Took them to Healsville Santuary and they had the most rain in one day for the last 5 years

The animals stayed under shelter, the Birds Of Prey exhibitions was cancelled and we got soaking wet.

But we had a good time anyway....

Speaking to Dad about his decision to move to Australia and he said it was an easy one.

No matter how hard his parents and his family worked, they were never "well off".

He hated the "class system" in England and could see that merit counted far less than breeding.

He like the idea of the Australian "fair go" and so moved over with the option of being able to go back if it didn't work out.

None of us are stinking rich but my wages would put me in the top 5% of "workers" in Australia so I can't complain.

Comparing what my 1st cousins in England have achieved, everybody is on par so there was no great economic benifit.

[dianel]

I had one very embarrassing experience in London in encountering the "class system". We are just not taught to 'know our place' in Australia it seems.

[MarkCDodd]

The concept of somebody expecting respect rather than earning it is so obnoxious to me that I will gladly tell people what I think of their snobbery.

That is why the concept of Royalty irritates me beyond words.

[Jimmy]

I totally agree with the Australian "fair go" system, when I was over there in the 1980's every one was so friendly and inviting, I had a Sunday roast dinner in Penrith, at a brother of an eldery lady from Kidderminster, and his was JOSEPH WOODHOUSE

[dianel]

Cousin Joe!

[Jimmy]

I thought the name Woodhouse would prompt a reply.

[dianel]