peterb Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 Some TSN members will remember me .... I moved to the Philippines just over a year ago, having sold up everything in the UK - including a nice house, an RS6 and an MR2 Roadster. I left an ex-wife and a 23 y/o son in UK. I have no regrets at all and have no intention to return to UK except, perhaps, for a holiday visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 Holy smoke, it's Peter B See you're driving a Mitsu w*nker, as they say in South America... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterb Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 See you're driving a Mitsu w*nker, as they say in South America... 'fraid so, but at least it copes with most of the 'roads' here. However, it still bottoms out on the track leading to the in-laws in the middle of the paddy fields. Neither the RS6 or the MR2 would have been suitable. It's the slowest (0-60) car I've ever owned, but one of the quickest on the roads over here. Before I left UK, I fully intended to buy a Land Cruiser - until I discovered how dismal the local specification is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 Get an ex-UN one - a friend owns the Toyota import business in Liberia and the UN spec them massively with every extra. It's not that far to import one to the Philippines... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louboolicious Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 As opposed to America where everyone was a miserable as sin; I had planned on moving to America but my visit there a couple of months back put me off. Which part of America did you go to? I find that people in the big city/touristy areas arent as friendly! But my brother moved to Ohio for work and the people there and in chicago could not have been nicer... customer service was amazing even just the general public would go out of their way to help us! Not something u get very often in the UK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterb Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 It's not that far to import one to the Philippines... You, obviously, haven't seen the import duties in the Philippines: Assembled diesel vehicle is 35%. Petrol is 40%/80%/160%, depending on no of cylinders 4/6/8+. Sports cars attract 250% duty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted December 18, 2008 Report Share Posted December 18, 2008 Assembled I'm sure we can ship you a kit car... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesK Posted December 21, 2008 Report Share Posted December 21, 2008 Go for it, I was born over there and spent the first 11 years of my life there. I know it rose tinted glasses for me, but I still love it, and want to go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Watson Posted May 24, 2009 Report Share Posted May 24, 2009 (edited) I moved to Switzerland 8 years ago. I had a good job at an electronics company near Edinburgh but good an offer near Zurich so I took it. Sold my MR2 and ZX6R and took my mountain bike to Switzerland! I love this country. The weather is great (31 today), great girls (getting married in 2 months), no litter, no crime, great schools, great health cover, great countryside. The downfalls here are there are no racing tracks. The speed limit is 80kph on A roads. The police don't tolerate speeding one bit, but you learn to live with it. Cost of living is very high but the salaries are high and I have about a 73% takehome from my total salary which is better than most countries. Im not far from the Ring but I have only been once. It's not worth having a performance car to drive 2km everyday to work at 50kph then go for a blast a couple of times a year. I have about 5 friends here who have moved from Ireland/England/Scotland to here. They all say they will never go back. They are scared of the crime, the schools, the hospitals, weather etc. If I get paid off from work (for any reason), I get 80% pay for about 1.5 years and get as much help as I want with language leassons, job seeking etc. A good friend of mine is in Dresden for 7 years. He runs a Escort Cossie in the German hill climb chapionship. Unfortunately his company closed recently but he seems to be doing well. i need to ask him what the story is as Qimonda (a division of Infineon Semiconductors) employed about 3500 so there can't be many jobs going. My parents visit me once or twice a year. They are pretty amazed by the place. For instance, walking back from the pub at 1am, a group of 20 teenagers standing in the corner will get out your way and nearly all will say good evening or hello as you walk by...my Dad was totally amazed by that. Edited May 24, 2009 by Dr_Watson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted May 26, 2009 Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 Just to foment a riot - w.r.t. the teenagers, do you think their behaviours are influenced by the fact they all have to do National Service as they end their teen years? (or am I just smoking crack and taking too much notice of the voices in my head?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arch Posted May 26, 2009 Report Share Posted May 26, 2009 For instance, walking back from the pub at 1am, a group of 20 teenagers standing in the corner will get out your way and nearly all will say good evening or hello as you walk by...my Dad was totally amazed by that. We went to visit friends last month in Switzerland who moved out there last year. They said the same thing about the local "hoodies" in the town, very polite! On the downside, there are apparently a lot of 'rules' and the all vary from one canton to the next. They were telling us all about the 'book' of regulations. Limited noise on a Sunday until a certain time (we couldn't let the kids loose on the trampoline until after 13:00ish!!) can't wash your car or mow the lawn on a Sunday, not that bothered me! After visiting Switzerland, Austria & Germany on our trip, we want to move again even more though. Should have done it years ago when we were in a better position, now we'll just have to wait and see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Watson Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 (edited) I don't think the national service (green hoilidays) makes a big difference. There is a very strong family/community spirit and kids are brough up with a lot of manners. There are a lot of rules, I live with them now and like nearly all of them. Sundays are great. No shops open, no noise, can't take your bottles to the bottle bank, cant cut the grass, cant stand up and pee etc. You soon learn to chill out, do something with the family, drink some wine, have a BBQ, go biking.....I hate Sunday shopping in the Uk now, you have 6 days a week, late opening etc but you still have to go on a Sunday! On the motering side, you get a far superior selection of nearly new and used cars, you get new cars available sooner. I think it is law to carry your driving liciense around too but I0m not sure. You always have the same number plate, if you dont pay your tax or insurance, it shows up on the computer and the police come and screw your plates of your car. VERY simple method that works! There is no car crime, it really doesn't exist. Many cars parked around with GPS stuck on the windscreen. Other plus points are the quality, pride and trust people take in there work. If the joiner says he will be there at 7:30 (when people and kids start work/school) he will be there, not 7:38 but 7:30. The job will be done to the top quality and thats it. If you txt 10 friends (swiss one's) and say the party starts at 10pm, your door will buzz at 10pm, its a bit freaky to start with but now I hate people being late. I sold my Subaru a few years ago, took it to the garage and he said he would give me 10'000 for it. I said ok, but I need it for 2 weeks, well, he just trasnfered the money into my bank account and said park it outside when your finished in a few weeks and drop the keys through the letter box! I must say though, I hate the smoking in public places, it great to go back home and eat out without the smoke. There are a few more restaurants here with no smoking area's but still not enough. Edited May 28, 2009 by Dr_Watson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisg Posted September 2, 2009 Report Share Posted September 2, 2009 I made the move to France 18 months ago, divested myself of everything I had in UK so nothing there now except very elderly parents and 1 daughter, other daughter and husband also moved to France 4 years ago so are now well established. It's been hard work for someone in their 60s but the barn conversion is now almost done with only a couple of rooms to finish off and then the landscaping. I'm now virtually broke as it all cost much more than anticipated (doesn't it always though!!) but would not want to go back so living on a very meagre income instead of the fairly comfortable retirement I could have had in the UK but just could not stay there. It was New Labour that drove me away, just couldn't understand why people kept electing them, bunch of shysters. Now that I've gone GB won't be getting any more of my money. Had to sell my much loved Audi Avant and now drive round in Renault Kangoo diesel, no new cars for me unless my premium bond come up!!! We have friends in Bellac, ( Haute Vienne or Limosin ?). Been there about two years. Much the same story as you, they have not finished their work on the farmhouse but have just about run of out of money. He is back here trying to earn more as their language isn't good emough to get a local job - difficult at the monment, however they do seem to be enjoying life even though he has an ailing elderly mum here ( we keep an eye on her !! ). Easier to do when you are younger ?? If it goes pearshape you have a few years to get back on track........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lussac Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Bellac is about the same distance North-West of Limoges as we are South-West. We are fortunate in that we can leave a few bits to be done in the future as funds are now extremely tight due to the value of the Euro and we mostly live on my wife's pensions which are paid in sterling. Yes, it's almost impossible to get employment here, especially in this rural community, if you don't speak the language fluently and even then they would always employ a French person in preference. Lots of youngish English are leaving as they can't get work when they've run out of cash so there are lots of unfinished building projects around. My plan, now abandoned, was to replace my Audi A4 with a newer LHD A4 or A6 Avant so will be keeping the Kangoo for the forseeable future; all the money that was put aside for it has been spent on topping up the loss in the currency exchange for the essential parts of the building project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 Bellac is about the same distance North-West of Limoges as we are South-West. We are fortunate in that we can leave a few bits to be done in the future as funds are now extremely tight due to the value of the Euro and we mostly live on my wife's pensions which are paid in sterling. Yes, it's almost impossible to get employment here, especially in this rural community, if you don't speak the language fluently and even then they would always employ a French person in preference. Lots of youngish English are leaving as they can't get work when they've run out of cash so there are lots of unfinished building projects around. My plan, now abandoned, was to replace my Audi A4 with a newer LHD A4 or A6 Avant so will be keeping the Kangoo for the forseeable future; all the money that was put aside for it has been spent on topping up the loss in the currency exchange for the essential parts of the building project. I have some freinds who are converting an old farm who must be close to you, there just south of Lubersac - nearest little big town is called Pompadour, Do you know it ? They have faced simmilar challenges but get good support from the locals after being there on and off since about 85. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lussac Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 Yep, Lubersac is not too far away, it's the other side of St Yrieix la Perche so about 45 mins drive away, we are close to Châlus which is on the N21 (Limoges to Thiviers road). We've also good relations with the folks around here as we bought in 2004 and came permanently in 2007 and have negotiated some good deals with the local buiders merchants by opening an account and buying onle through them, it can be swings and roundabouts but mostly stuff is up to half the price you would pay if you just walked in. At a recent local fête the folks from the buiders merchants invited us to have dinner at their table which was very nice of them and much wine was drunk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted September 4, 2009 Report Share Posted September 4, 2009 That's a nice part of the world Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazmondo Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 I`ve always liked England............ but now I live in the country of Cornwall its so not right ! So when eh visit don`t forget ure passportes ? us fuolks aint keen on emmits, oh and locke up eh daughter`s and muthers if eh do cum over the bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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