Reflections

I'm getting really cheesed-off with uptight people...
It seems that wherever I go people are always moaning and whining. Whatever they have, it's never enough.

In my view Filipinos, generally, have nothing, and yet are always happy.
Take a note and compare some of the differences in attitude when you next travel there and back.

My main reason for wanting to move to Philippines is just that...people!

To be honest, I've been very lucky in my life. Had a great time. Like everyone I've had the usual ups and downs and those moments of tragedy and of ecstacy of being happy and being unhappy.

But for sure, I don't want to grow old, feeble and vunerable in a cold and wet country like England, wishing away nine months of winter, hoping for a good summer.

When we first arrived in UK I really did used to sit by the window and look out at the grey sky, the dreary, heavy, endlessly grey sky, and wonder what on earth had possessed us to think we could adjust to life here. My wife felt it a lot of the time too.

But we have adjusted, (sort of) We made it, and we already achieved so much. We're very happy together and a strong team together living life here in the west to the full. We've set our goals and we have an achievable tactical plan that's nearly enough but......well we'll see.

England has just never worked out for us the way we had dreamed. We both miss the sun, the food, the chika, the people and the way of life.

I've grown weary of the miserable English way of life, the politics, and the lies, the dramas, the continual raping of the system, the sell out to Europe, the political correctness, the once-great welfare system that has turned into an abused and accepted way of life for millions. The bludgers and scroungers, those who have never worked a day in their lives yet are in the pub every night, and have a home and a car!

The fact is it's getting harder and will likely get harder still. That's why I need to rant from time to time.

Now that we are really planning the details, the move to the Philippines is getting ever closer. I'm feeling a little bit nervous, just a little hesitant, but it's all good. Our plan is looking like it might just be OK, might just make it as long as we remain positive and focussed.

There really is a secret to immortality. That secret is to live a life worth remembering first.

Rant over. Feel much better now.

hiya Micawber i dont want you to felt that i kind of disagree of you moving out to the PH i do and fully understand your way of thinking and passion to move there ..

let me tell you a bit about my life before me and my husband get married we plan our lives to settle and live in PH eventhough on the back of my mind i was a bit upset coz i was hpoing to move out from PH.. but i meet him and is already set his mind to move out UK and LIVe TO THE ph..ive been working 7 long years in PH before i meet my husband and i wa so sick and tired of working all my life earning with nothing and when i meet my husband i was so this deep passion that he will at least help me move out to the PH but i just one wink i totally disregarded my dream to be with him and consider his plan and hoping all will be well and so we get married and live in the PH for 3 years got the small business running and i continue my work until i get pregnant and i stop working eventually but after a year the business got wrong and were struggling to pay bills etc..life has been so hard fro us that time PH is a wonderful place same with other places in the world BUT even how much money you got on your wallet it wont go on unless you got business running and being mange properly and that you can pay the bills then thats not a problem ..you just need to focus on what you really want BUT good luck Micawber AND send my warmest regards to your wife if im correct she is from Davao City which i am also been there living all my life before i came here in the UK

Malta? was it Malita? sorry for being ignorance WalesRoB just curious hehe but i totally agree on your point of view well said

oh i see lovely place

I think the "happiness" and "face" you encounter here in the Phils is mostley shallow in anything outside of a moments enjoyment of the now food and glass in hand, the further I become immersed the more I see that for me the Phils is where you can sure retire and retreat if you have the money but there are very few expats that I know who are what I would call "really happy" with their lives.

The politics and deviousness I have experienced with the extended family may be cultural but its got nothing to do with being happy, and the fallicy that I am some sort of "saviour" must by now be wearing thin

It may be that my lot are exceptions but in that case I know a lot of other exceptions too and at least my wife is honest when she tells me she wishes her father dead of course she also feels guilty for the thought as well.

If it were me I would plan on comming over without severing my ties and property in the UK or Europe and spend a year renting and see how you feel after that if still not sure spend a second year.

The Phils is impossible to understand from a distance but its no accident as Balot says that most want out

Thanks all for reading my 'reflections' and thank you very much fellow forumers for not only the thoughtful observations, but also for your own experience sharing.
Thank you Balot for sharing your story.

I do understand the points you make. No arguments there.

Of course, with me still being so new here, nobody could know or guess anything of either my background, or that of my wife. Probably, over time some details will emerge through my postings.
In principle my childhood was neither happy nor unhappy. I adapted to life in order to survive.
Most of my life has been spent out of UK. I have lived and worked in many countries.
Before I finally quit my job and married my wife I had spent 15 years living and working in Asia.

When we came to UK in 2002 I can still clearly recall the first impression I got of the almost intimidating way people moved, looked, spoke and behaved etc. Cultural shock or what. I remember just how stressed everyone seemed, not even time for a casual smile.
The UK I remembered had completely gone. I felt a little bit lost at times and a little bit uneasy. It's so difficult to explain those feelings.
I very soon realised just how comfortable I had found Asian culture, just how easily I had integrated.
I also know the internal stresses that Asian culture can often put into Asian people, but for me I don't feel that, as I'm not Asian. I understand it though.

I really have no assets in UK and I have no family ties, I am in receipt of nearly all my pensions already and generate some small income 'here and there'.
My wife works as a carer in our small village area going from house to house to support the elderly, vunerable and lonely to 'get by'. She really loves it and gets close to many of them who appear deserted by their busy families. She just recently received her NVQ level 2 certificate for Social Care, well done to her for that, she did put a lot of effort into that.

Anyways, I don't want to write a book here, just to share some background to the life experiences that have caused me to be me and to think the way I do.

The only family I have is in Philippines, the only close friends I have are mostly in Asia (strange but I have no close friends in Phils..... I just thought of that)

Gotta run now and get an MOT on my car. Hope it's OK. I'll report back.

you hit the balls Kieth well said

you are not alone Micawber and am sure of that and nobody can blame you either me mylsef..suffer the greedyness of this soiciety and im sick living and thinking tomorrow what would be like but i just set my mind instead that wherever i am and whoever i will meet in the FutuRE ill make sure that i am capable of doing things that will benifit not only me but my immeadiate family that will be matter most really :grouphug:

By the way Balot, although my username is 'Micawber' my real name is Peter.
I mentioned in my intro posting but you can call me what you choose.
Just don't call me Tiguang

oh my sorry but i miss that post you mention about your REAL name Is PETER does not matter i will call you Pet for short
and your not tiguwang am sure it might be the way you look but you are still young and youthful at heart:wow:

Dont call me late for dinner

hmm now i dont quitely dont get what you means lolz

So you can call me what you like but dont call me "late for dinner"

your post fell between Peters and mine lot lot

it just means that im following you and i like a tiguwang like you

Oh no please no that. How about Pedro? I get called that quite often.

Or if you want just call me Sir.

hmmm Sir? I DONT quitely respect the elders quite so often if you know hahaha but perdo is same as peter in our local dialect

But I always thought that Philippine culture insists on high respect for senior citizens.

Maybe I'd better think again about my retirement destination ...............................................................................................OK I thought about it no change :wave:

insist ?? hmm in a way its a cultural folks tales hehe but yes its true Ph culture as well if you are going to visit a house in ph to show respect you have to say "Mano po" to the elderly but i dont mine if its younger or older i just do it when i felt too