First of all England had a great day today in the cricket... should win from this position.
Things I miss from the UK in no particular order.... Sky TV, driving, M&S meals, "seriously strong cheese" that's the brand name and it is sooooo strong.... love it.
Do you know I have sat here for the last 10 minutes trying to think of anything else that I miss... and I can't !!! Must be more !
Yes I would miss the health service that's another one !
I don't miss people as such because those that are important in my life have kept in touch with me while I have been here.
This would all indicate that maybe I should move to the Philippines permanently. I must say that over the past few days I have realised that I have LESS than 4 weeks to go before I return "home", the thought has really made me feel so nervous, you know that feeling right in the pit of your stomach.
I can say that if I could stay here in the lifestyle that I have been accustomed to.... I DEFINITELY would, in truth I would need a reasonably high income for that which is not attainable at this moment, the only other way to stay here on my present income would mean that I would have to drop down the social ladder a couple of rungs.
This would mean that I wouldn't be able to afford to live in Makati for sure, I would have to move to a smaller town/suburb or maybe even another island. I have met people here (foreigners) that live on £250 per month but that's living like a native... not the lifestyle for me. On £500 pm I could probably live reasonably well on another island or in the Manila suburbs.... again not really for me. To live here in Makati it has to be a minimum of £750 per month, that would ensure that you live at the top of the food chain and have the best of everything. So I will have to either...... (a) live in the suburbs now or (B) work a few more years before I could live in Makati. I shall take stock and decide later.
Things that I DON'T miss from the UK.
Bad behaviour in the streets... in the workplace.....or just about anywhere you go.
No respect for anyone in authority.
No respect for pensioners.... in fact they are badly abused in a lot of towns and cities.
Towns and city centres that are taken over at weekends by the 18-30 years old, lots of drunks that want to fight with anyone that gets in their way.
Young guys ( hoodies) that can at least intimidate anyone that passes them.
Down and outs drinking in the streets and in places like underpasses where people have to walk pass them, school children/OAP's feel threatened.
Road rage... whereby the least thing can make a driver want to attack another.
I could go on and on about things that I don't like but it's just my personal opinion and I think my feelings already show.
Generally I suppose it's the lack of family unity that causes indiscipline everywhere. there is a total lack of respect for anyone especially older people.
There is a constant threat of possible confrontation for the least little thing which could lead to a physical attack.
Yes this is just a generalisation, but you ask anyone over 60 that live in cities and that would be the answer that lots would give, yes it may only be their perception.... but it is true to them and personally as you can guess.. I would agree.
Yes I am sure that I would prefer to get old here in the Philippines.
I hope you all have a safe and wonderful weekend.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Hi Gerard,
Your Friday post wasnt posted when I was answering your blog.
There are not very many things ur missing in the UK. I think the most important one is the health service cos as we are all getting older some of us will use it more and more, most of us couldnt afford to be in the private sector.
I think part of the reason you dont want to return home is you will soon join the humdrum life of work, work and more work and you have to work for a lot longer than me.....
Do you not think that if you were to retire to Makati you would soon get a yearning to be back home, you would soon get fed up with doing nothing, would you not want to do some work as you are only a young man. Would you also drive, even though the driving looks manic.
I think the standards in Britain have deteriorated partly due to youngsters having more money and given more freedom (in one sense) but in other ways they have less freedom cos you can contact them at any time via mobile phones. There are a lot of social reasons which I cant go into on your blog.
Hope your badminton went well today and your nightmate taxi journey is over.
Take care enjoy the rest of your trip.
LOL
Anne xxxxx
Hi Anne, Thanks for the text, I was on the south superhighway in a taxi when I got it.
Yes you are right about the health service, but I would just have to manage, the hospitals are not too expensive so it is possible to self cover, of course I would have to keep some cash for emergencies.
No actually work isn't the issue at all, I still do enjoy doing what I do, I just don't want to do it in the UK.
Anne, I don't do "nothing", even if I am just sitting my own condo, I am still not doing nothing as I will be doing what I choose to do.
If I lived here permanently I would possibly do some voluntary work, I may be married so I would be busy with that, I may have children another possibility. I really very rarely get bored as I am happy with my own company.
Oh I would definitly drive....no problem thats 100% certain.
I can only answer honestly how i feel today, I may feel different if the dream became a reality but I think I could live here VERY easily. It's so much better to get old here rather than the UK... believe me.
Regarding the mobile phone thing.... it has an off button if you don't want to be bothered, and lots have an ignore button also these days.
Post a Comment