Reason to move back to Canada?

Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1676
Location: Calgary

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:42 pm

 

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Slough

Come friendly bombs and fall on Slough!
It isn't fit for humans now,
There isn't grass to graze a cow.
Swarm over, Death!

Come, bombs and blow to smithereens
Those air -conditioned, bright canteens,
Tinned fruit, tinned meat, tinned milk, tinned beans,
Tinned minds, tinned breath.

Mess up the mess they call a town-
A house for ninety-seven down
And once a week a half a crown
For twenty years.

And get that man with double chin
Who'll always cheat and always win,
Who washes his repulsive skin
In women's tears:

And smash his desk of polished oak
And smash his hands so used to stroke
And stop his boring dirty joke
And make him yell.

But spare the bald young clerks who add
The profits of the stinking cad;
It's not their fault that they are mad,
They've tasted Hell.

It's not their fault they do not know
The birdsong from the radio,
It's not their fault they often go
To Maidenhead

And talk of sport and makes of cars
In various bogus-Tudor bars
And daren't look up and see the stars
But belch instead.

In labour-saving homes, with care
Their wives frizz out peroxide hair
And dry it in synthetic air
And paint their nails.

Come, friendly bombs and fall on Slough
To get it ready for the plough.
The cabbages are coming now;
The earth exhales.

John Betjeman, 1937
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Steve.

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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1676
Location: Calgary

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:46 pm

 

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Oh yeah, and the worst place to live in the UK is officially Walsall. Highest rate of heart disease, worst performing local council.
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Steve.

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dannykool
CanuckAbroad Regular


You can't win if you don't play

Joined: 16 Oct 2007
Posts: 71
Location: Europe

Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:00 am

 

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is it that bad ? 2 years ago a company was interviewing me for a job and the company was based in Slough. Did not get the job but it sounds a bit depressing of a town, based on the responses.

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Deus
CanuckAbroad VIP



Joined: 16 Sep 2004
Posts: 227
Location: Wrecsam

Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:03 am

 

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I will be back, as planned, within 10 years.

This is simply not home and there are things that I just don't agree with personally.
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republican
Super Member



Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 193
Location: England

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:23 am

 

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there are many MANY things in the UK I do not agree with. I have seen this country change so much and it has gone down a dark, dark path.
_________________
long live the Canadian republic
vive la republic Canadienne
Ben

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nessamj
New Member



Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Posts: 6
Location: Berkshire

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:19 am

 

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so I just checked this thread and i was quite happy! Esp with the infamous Slough poem.and yes, it is that bad! I have put in my resignation and am leaving this month.no idea what im gonna do tho!


=)

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republican
Super Member



Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 193
Location: England

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:03 am

 

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I am hoping to leave in February for Toronto, my home. I cannot wait I am really exited!
_________________
long live the Canadian republic
vive la republic Canadienne
Ben

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Sunny
New Member



Joined: 29 Jul 2008
Posts: 2

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:36 am

 

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I've been here 9 months. oops, 10 months now and it is NOT getting better!

My friends back home keep telling me to keep my chin up and etc, etc. that I'll get used to it and I'll love it.

My reply. no way!

First off, they do not have REAL coffee here. I was shocked, flabbergasted to see all the people in my office think nothing of putting dehydrated brown flakes in boiling water. That's disgusting. Give me a Second Cup filter coffee and that is heaven - paradiso blend.

And, I don't agree with the politics here and the level of bureaucracy - the acceptability of saying something but doing the opposite.

Perhaps I'm romanticizing how we dealt with things back home, but I just don't remember having to watch my back or play all these games when i worked in Canada.

What are others thoughts on this?

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