Its getting more tempting to move away! Who else has thought of migration?

I lived in NZ for a few years...wife and kids missed relatives and we returned ....biggest mistake ever...will be back there in a few years. Lucky for me I've an indefinate returning residnets visa.

Biking is great, racing is cheap and you can race through the winter (it's like fast commuting) but they do stop the races if the track gets covered in hailstones. Only problem is that you can enter the national classes as a novice and be racing alongside (at the start line) IOM TT class winners.

Originally Posted by bluninja

I lived in NZ for a few years...wife and kids missed relatives and we returned ....biggest mistake ever...will be back there in a few years. Lucky for me I've an indefinate returning residnets visa.

Biking is great, racing is cheap and you can race through the winter (it's like fast commuting) but they do stop the races if the track gets covered in hailstones. Only problem is that you can enter the national classes as a novice and be racing alongside (at the start line) IOM TT class winners.

...and I thought you bikers loved a challenge! - where will you be based when you go back?

[timwilky]

worked in :-

China
Indonesia
Philippines
Taiwan
Malaysia
Dubai
France
Switzerland

I never want to work outside the UK again.

Originally Posted by vixis

...and I thought you bikers loved a challenge! - where will you be based when you go back?

I expect I will probably head back out to West Aukland initally, mainly cos IT work is most plentiful around Aukland, but I wouldn't mind living around the Coromandel.....the Coro loop is an awesome days ride.....and easier since they finished tarmacing it all the way round 6 years ago.

I've been reading this thread with interest. It never stops to surprise me how many brits think that leaving outside the UK is a lot better.

I'm Greek and that's where I grew up till I came over to the UK to study when I was 18. All the people at work ask me WHY I'm here and not back in Corfu where I come from (and the family is). I guess it depends to what you want from life but from my perspective this is how life in Greece will be for you guys

IF you decide to leave in an island then during the winter there will be F-ALL to do. Apart from a few more sunny days it will be cold and probably windy. In terms of friends you most likely will end up having other ex-pats so not much of a difference there either.

During the summer you will have to withstand the high hummidity and high temperatures of about 40 Celcious. The traffic chaos, lack of public transport, a public sector that is the definition of "nothing ever gets done in a million years" etc etc.

Finally, most people don't take into account the income "issue". Life in Greece is not as cheap as most people think! As a matter of fact shopping in the supermarkets here is A LOT cheaper than there. With the exchange rate as it stands after tax income of £2000 i.e. €2000 would just help you go by.....that is with rent/mortgage included. Hence why all the riots in the big cities.....the generation of today is working on basic salaries of €700!!!!! In Athens that would give you €200 to buy food.....u'd starve!!!

Do the maths I'd have to say to anyone! Be realistic as to what level of lifestyle you could have in this other place you intend to move to.

From my point of view, work in the UK and take holidays at least twice a year abroad.

Originally Posted by 600+

I've been reading this thread with interest. It never stops to surprise me how many brits think that leaving outside the UK is a lot better.

I'm Greek and that's where I grew up till I came over to the UK to study when I was 18. All the people at work ask me WHY I'm here and not back in Corfu where I come from (and the family is). I guess it depends to what you want from life but from my perspective this is how life in Greece will be for you guys

IF you decide to leave in an island then during the winter there will be F-ALL to do. Apart from a few more sunny days it will be cold and probably windy. In terms of friends you most likely will end up having other ex-pats so not much of a difference there either.

During the summer you will have to withstand the high hummidity and high temperatures of about 40 Celcious. The traffic chaos, lack of public transport, a public sector that is the definition of "nothing ever gets done in a million years" etc etc.

Finally, most people don't take into account the income "issue". Life in Greece is not as cheap as most people think! As a matter of fact shopping in the supermarkets here is A LOT cheaper than there. With the exchange rate as it stands after tax income of £2000 i.e. €2000 would just help you go by.....that is with rent/mortgage included. Hence why all the riots in the big cities.....the generation of today is working on basic salaries of €700!!!!! In Athens that would give you €200 to buy food.....u'd starve!!!

Do the maths I'd have to say to anyone! Be realistic as to what level of lifestyle you could have in this other place you intend to move to.

From my point of view, work in the UK and take holidays at least twice a year abroad.

Very good points - but I assumed that most people would do their homework if they ever did make such a big move (or am I being dense again?); although if you dont have kids, why not bop around for a bit, its not like travel will kill you!!...and the reason I'm here and not back home in 27 degree sun? NZ is in the middle of no where and while I intend to go back eventually....I love London and the people I meet are a darn sight open minded (ha, that will scare you) than most people in NZ!

Originally Posted by bluninja

I expect I will probably head back out to West Aukland initally, mainly cos IT work is most plentiful around Aukland, but I wouldn't mind living around the Coromandel.....the Coro loop is an awesome days ride.....and easier since they finished tarmacing it all the way round 6 years ago.

West Auckland (Henderson to be exact) was where I grew up...puzzled me why people cracked up when I first came over here and said I was a Westie. Until Soulkiss pointed out it was a small dog (I'm a medium dog, thank you for asking) )

Originally Posted by vixis

West Auckland (Henderson to be exact) was where I grew up...puzzled me why people cracked up when I first came over here and said I was a Westie. Until Soulkiss pointed out it was a small dog (I'm a medium dog, thank you for asking) )

So do you wear a beanie, a black t-shirt and drive a Holden V8?

I lived Te Atatu South just down the hill from Foodtown....small world huh?

[Biker Biggles]

I visited Auckland once and had a great time.Also went to Wellington.(Which was closed due to lack of everything)