Want to move in Scotland

Veteran Piper wrote:

MurdoMac wrote:Boy.....how far from reality are you?

Living in this sleepy little Cow Town, I'm sure glad to have the forum for keeping up on World events!

Thanks Murdo for the reality check!

Cow Town?

How often do you have to stop for them because they're in the road, eh?



Those, and wild turkeys. (No, not the kind you drink!).

I'm not kidding.

crackedpipes wrote:Sure it would be nice to live in the US too; I have been only in NY and in California, but I guess there are some other nice places to be; but idealism and morality seem to follow different ways in US and Europe?

I think we have more of both over here. I'm not saying that's necessarily good or bad, just that it is.

(By "morality" I mean that more people make an issue of staking out the high ground, not that the results, on a national level, are reflected in the goal.)

bob wrote:

Cow Town?

How often do you have to stop for them because they're in the road, eh?

Well, two minute drive and you're out in the country, lots of orchards too.
It's all agricultural around here for miles, very little manufacturing!

Veteran Piper wrote:

bob wrote:

Cow Town?

How often do you have to stop for them because they're in the road, eh?

Well, two minute drive and you're out in the country, lots of orchards too.
It's all agricultural around here for miles, very little manufacturing!

If you go northwest, between Sacramento and the bay, there's a town called Vacaville, which is Spanish, literally "Cow Town." I've been there, and it sounds similar to your description.

It's amazing when you drive on I-80 how there's just miles and miles of cows. All that unimproved land while people are stacked up bumper to bumper for 4 hours. Crazy.

crackedpipes wrote:I don't really know about the economic situation in Scotland today, but recently read in a newspaper "The Independent" that Edinburgh is one of the best place of UK and more protected of recession because of the vast majority of high graduate people living there.
Anyway, 2009 is the "homecoming year" in Scotland, and I hope there will be some associations that will help people of Scottish origins to plan their comeback...

Think you may looking at Scotland through rose-tinted spectacles.

Not sure what you mean by "high graduate people"?

Looking at one of the main job search websites, www.s1jobs.com, currently it's showing aproximately 4,500 vacancies. When I was looking last year, and indeed most other times I've checked over the last few years, the total number of vacancies advertised on that site was in the 7000 or 8000 region.

Here's a bit about Edinburgh: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Edinburgh

Glyn_Mo wrote:Think you may looking at Scotland through rose-tinted spectacles.

I often shake my head at the young people here who say there is no opportunities!

Many foreigners come here and do quite well as they see all the opportunities available to them. Sometimes it's just a matter of attitude!

Veteran Piper wrote:

I often shake my head at the young people here who say there is no opportunities!

Many foreigners come here and do quite well as they see all the opportunities available to them. Sometimes it's just a matter of attitude!

Here in the South there's historically been a lot of poverty. A lot of people complain about limited opportunities, and the old boys club that excludes people based on race or whatever.

There might be some truth in that, but it sure didn't hold the Mexicans down. Those people have come and worked hard and set up their own businesses and created wealth and opportunity for themselves and others. And they have a additional handicap in not being native English speakers.

Veteran Piper wrote:

Glyn_Mo wrote:Think you may looking at Scotland through rose-tinted spectacles.

I often shake my head at the young people here who say there is no opportunities!

Many foreigners come here and do quite well as they see all the opportunities available to them. Sometimes it's just a matter of attitude!

Don't think that's what I said. I'm just saying that things may not be quite as rosy as your man seems to think.

Think you may looking at Scotland through rose-tinted spectacles.

I'm 46 and run my own business; I am not looking Scotland through rose-tinted glasses or whatsoever, but looking for some quality of life I call the european way!.

Something you will understand later when you will be older and have travelled around the world like me.

crackedpipes wrote:

Think you may looking at Scotland through rose-tinted spectacles.

I'm 46 and run my own business; I am not looking Scotland through rose-tinted glasses or whatsoever, but looking for some quality of life I call the european way!.

Something you will understand later when you will be older and have travelled around the world like me.

I've travelled about a fair bit, though granted, perhaps not as much as yourself.

I'm just a bit confused when you talk about "some quality of life I call the european way" What is the European Way? How are you defining "quality of life"? Are you talking about education standards, crime rate, employment opportunities, price of housing and food, political stability, quality of health care.....? Or are you talking about your perception of the people and your experience of interacting with them?

In any case, I'm not having a go at you and I wish you all the best in your endevours. Remember that there's a perfectly good Grade 3A pipe band in Edinburgh. There's really no need to go to LochDrum or whatever that Northern Irish band that some twit was gibbering on about earlier in this thread..(<-REDNECK)!

aye.. nae need to go to that silly edinburger band either.. perfectly good one in the denny area!!

Glyn_Mo wrote:

crackedpipes wrote:

Think you may looking at Scotland through rose-tinted spectacles.

I'm 46 and run my own business; I am not looking Scotland through rose-tinted glasses or whatsoever, but looking for some quality of life I call the european way!.

Something you will understand later when you will be older and have travelled around the world like me.

I've travelled about a fair bit, though granted, perhaps not as much as yourself.

I'm just a bit confused when you talk about "some quality of life I call the european way" What is the European Way? How are you defining "quality of life"? Are you talking about education standards, crime rate, employment opportunities, price of housing and food, political stability, quality of health care.....? Or are you talking about your perception of the people and your experience of interacting with them?

In any case, I'm not having a go at you and I wish you all the best in your endevours. Remember that there's a perfectly good Grade 3A pipe band in Edinburgh. There's really no need to go to LochDrum or whatever that Northern Irish band that some twit was gibbering on about earlier in this thread..(<-REDNECK)!

I agree my answer was a bit short and unclear, this due to the fact that I am quite busy and don't have the time to express things in a proper manner (and english is not my mother tongue...despite of my name!)

For me quality of life is a matter of lifestyle and education more than an economic criteria.
And I'd rather use the term of western way of life than european which is more a geographic term.
If you don't know France I would say that crime rate and insecurity seem to be far from Scottish ones; living and working here cause a permanent stress because of violence and rudeness which are very common.
Even driving is a fight though I drive a big Jeep commander 4x4 that makes things easier , but it is definitevely not "my cup of tea"!
I like Scotland because it seems there is an amazing mix of tradition and modernity, that I compare to France where Kilt wearing is considered as an extravaganza more than wearing a burka...

All politicians are talking about diversity and the so-called "huge benefits" it is supposed to give to our society, but in the place I live I'AM THE DIVERSITY!!!!
I've got nothing to do with racism in any way and worked in several countries even muslim ones without any problem, my wife is cambodian and my son William (the name of his great grand-father) is metis, but I consider it is my right to live like I was educated as a westerner and old occidental, and it is my right to give preferences to my history, my past, my lifestyle, than to give the way to some people who denie to melt with us and want to impose their beliefs and their lifestyle.

My father had the double nationality (Brittish & French) and has fighted against the Germans (seized and escaped three times) as an spy for the American secret services (and was awarded by them at the end of the war).
I think it is my duty to continue the fight in his memory and resist againt the oppresors wherever they come or they are and to defend my honour.

Another anecdote: when I was en route to the museum of Beaulieu with my wife and our Austin-Healey I found lost and asked a British Policeman the way, he simply said to follow him with his car and took us to the right place; last time I've asked for such service in France the "gendarme" (French military police) fined me for a worned tyre that wasn't ( fine cancelled by his chief later on)

French politicians don't like their history and their favourite past-time seems to be to ashamed by colonisation and ask for pardon, in despite of the fact that most of the ancient colonies even when they have suffered from that had no roads, dispensaries, schools, factories and public services before the colonization; even some countries didn't exist before like Algeria which is a French administration whole creation from A to Z!

I have always paid taxes (a lot!), done my duty in the army, never cost a single euro to the community, and work 80 hours a week; but cause of my name have been teated like the "english" old-enemy and was even thrown stones by other pupils during my child-hood because of Joan of Arc, the 100 years war, and Napoleon and so on, and I've never seen an adult intervening to stop such agression, parents or teachers.
Today, if I go to a public administration people there are looking at me strangely because of a stupid sentence used in public shools to learn english "My tailor is rich" (that I heard a million times) and can hardly ask for a delay or any help.

I am fed up of all this and I consider that it is very difficult to love a country that hates itself and misconsiderate myself so, and definitely believe I am French only on the papers; my heart and my conscience are pushing me to go away not only for my existence but for my family and its descent.

You should visit here sometime.

Where I live people generally think the kilt is "cool." They like seeing people play bagpipes too. Mostly people live and let live. People care about history and tradition, and help each other out. Oh, and taxes are low, too (knock on wood).

There are downsides, too, of course.

Crackedpipes :

There's an old expression that says....the grass may be a bit greener on the other side...but it's just as hard to mow.

Since you're a French national...have you ever given consideration to the French Islands in the Caribbean like St Martin, St Barth, or Martinique ?

St Martin http://www.geographia.com/st-martin/index.htm

St Barth http://www.frenchcaribbean.com/

Martinique http://www.martinique.org/index.htm

You could fly home every summer to (avoid hurricane season...&) play in a band & have a nice job down there in the sun all the rest of the year !!!

P.

P/S For those who may want to go over from Canada...there's this... http://www.cometoscotland.ca/canadianaffair_west/index.html?pointroll

[quote="PaulO"]Crackedpipes :

There's an old expression that says....the grass may be a bit greener on the other side...but it's just as hard to mow.

Since you're a French national...have you ever given consideration to the French Islands in the Caribbean like St Martin, St Barth, or Martinique ?

Same expression exists here.
I know what it means and have paid for: lived many years abroad, most in south asia, and travelled all around the wolrd so I can compare...

Livind on an island is done also: one year in the middle of south chinese sea. Great experience but no, thank you! I am definitly not a Robinson Crusoe...

I don't mean that France is a horrible place to live and there are many reasons for it is still the first world touristic destination , and I know a place you couldn't find such a beautiful blue sky and nice landscape like in provence for example.
The problem is not there.

crackedpipes wrote:

"..and work 80 hours a week.."

Holy shit! Do you have to give your employees a 35 hour week? That's the sort of socialist policy which is very good for the employee. I worked a 35 hour once and it was brilliant. My day at work seemed so short and there was loads of time to do other stuff. However, it must be a nightmare if you're a business owner!

Glyn_Mo wrote:

crackedpipes wrote:

"..and work 80 hours a week.."

Holy shit! Do you have to give your employees a 35 hour week? That's the sort of socialist policy which is very good for the employee. I worked a 35 hour once and it was brilliant. My day at work seemed so short and there was loads of time to do other stuff. However, it must be a nightmare if you're a business owner!

Taxes are so high that I cannot have any employee, that's the reason why...
My only day off is on Sunday, and I do not have any time for other stuff except for my practice chanter which is on my office desk!
Playing with cane reeds in these conditions is really a nightmare

Hey CP :

I've been to both St Martin & St Barth...& they're both really nice places.

Have a look...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfU6YtSYCrE&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI6JWCrFFhE

P.

I have a nice house for sale 60 miles south of Edinburgh - only £99950. It would suit you fine.

Blackwoodpiper wrote:I have a nice house for sale 60 miles south of Edinburgh - only £99950. It would suit you fine.

where?

Any advertisements published?

View the property by going to the estate agents wesite and clicking on page No. 8.
The property is in a small village called Auldgirth 8 miles north of Dumfries.
www.rightmove.co.uk/estate-agents/agent/YOUR-MOVE/Dumfries-8474.html - 16k

Ron, that wid do us fer long weekend sessions m8........

REDNECK wrote:Ron, that wid do us fer long weekend sessions m8........

Just a short sail across to Cairnryan boys and your almost there.
There's a nice local pub in the village if your that way inclined
and the locals love the sound of the bagpipes.

When my kids are a bit older (they are almost 4 and 2, respectively, and my wife is pregnant with our third), my wife and I hope to bring our family to Scotland for maybe a year or so to work (perhaps as part of a teacher exchange) and have the kids go to school there, maybe when they are ages 12, 10, and 8 or so. We're not city people, though, and would look to move to a Highland area with a climate similar to our home here in Alaska.

Crackedpiper, isn't Beaulieu a beautiful place (pun intended)? I went through in 1992 and again in 2004, and found it a welcoming village both times. What draws you to the city, rather than the countryside? I wouldn't mind living outside of a city, say Inverness, which might have more opportunities, so long as we could retreat a few miles away when it's time to head home for the evening/weekend. I believe Inverness has been one of the fastest-growing cities in Scotland over the past 10 years or so; not sure how it's doing in this economic situation, but there sure was a lot of growth in between the twelve years between my visits.