This country

[Give it to Jabo]

The Tories will argue that they saved Christmas by making Xmas trees and turkeys available. That is about it in terms of a feel good factor. Console myself that I did not vote Tory or for Brexit. Oh I forgot, we will be okay - Ian Botham is a trade envoy to Australia. Nothing against him, but the modern world is not an 80s TV game show.

Reminds me of the time Cameron appointed Phillip Green to sort out the UK’s Public Service finances, wtf was that all about?

[Dunners]

Having escaped scrutiny / criticism over the last decade or so, I can't see there being much change on the horizon. I'm starting to think it'll be my kids generation or even the one after them that'll provide the driving force for real change once all the olds and gammons are dead.

Unlikely, I'm afraid.

Here's the thing: As bad as it is right now for the UK - and it is bad - there's just not many better alternative options. And even if you have the option of moving to a 'better' country, things are unlikely to stay that way as the future is likely to be one of increasing instability around the globe.

The past seventy years have been the greatest period of human history in terms of social progress, personal wealth, health and happiness. But the 2020s is the decade when the unique set of circumstances that have enabled that all come to an end.

Global trade security is no longer to be under-written by the USA, so we can expect to see increased disruption of long-distance supply chains as regions destabilise and the real implications of a multi-polar world emerge (think pre-WW2). And the majority of the population in the developed world will move into mass-retirement. Our kids will increasingly find themselves outnumbered by those above 65/67/70 years of age. And we've seen how older people vote and tend to wield power.

And this is a situation that is unlikely to change in their (or our grandchildren's) lifetimes. Unless they start breeding like rabbits (which they wont be able to afford to) or decide that forced euthanasia of the old is an option.

But back to the point of our government. Even if it is inevitable that everything is going to go to sh*t, it is still a question of degrees. A more competent administration could at least mean things were slightly less sh*t. And that's not to be taken for granted.

And South East Asia. What's the situation there?

Increasingly messy. With China right at the heart of it.

China possible has one of the worst demographic profiles by age in the world. Mainly thanks to their one child policy, but also due to the mass-urbanisation of its population. They are also almost entirely dependant on energy imports from the middle-east. Which means they'll now have to involve themselves in the nightmare that is the Gulf states in the way the US had to for the last 20 years.

The oncoming collapse in their population, having built over much of their arable land and a steep decline in export opportunities is going to hit hard. They're expected to ramp up the nationalism and become more assertive to their neighbours and to try and deflect criticism of the CCP onto their 'enemies'. The world is right to be wary of armed conflict in the Asia-Pacific region.

[Chicken Dhansak]

If it carries on like this there will be boat loads of English people washing up on French beaches.

[RedDwarf 1881]

When you say "This country" do you mean England only.

Suppose so. We are looking at possibly relocating to the highlands in the longer-term. How welcoming will the natives be to us soft southern sassenachs? Are we talking mild dislike or full on Braveheart?

Please don’t. Don’t take this the wrong way but houses in the countryside (I mean real countryside not the green bit in Surrey and the Cotswolds ) are staying on the market for 24 hours currently and seeing multiple offers. It’s all city folk that can now work from home full time. As you say, most of the country has gone to poo poo. I fear for the last remaining areas of rural idle.

If these jobs can be done online at home they can be done in India or anywhere else in the world that’s cheaper. In time you can Kiss goodbye to a lot of those middle class jobs.

[Sid Bishop]

Someone on the fuel thread was saying that Brexit had nothing to do with the shortage of lorry drivers leading to petrol shortages, but blamed young people wanting to be famous on tiktok as a factor. How do you argue with that?

Without even bothering to search, I suspect this was ol' Sid Bishop.

Referring to the shortage of HGV drivers, well it is not in the UK alone, similar shortage in the EU as well, for example Poland are short of around 140 thousand HGV drivers and Germany around 60 thousand short. Many reasons for it, drivers retiring, bad working conditions and until recently bad wages in the UK for doing this skilled job, wages kept down by importing lower paid HGV drivers from the EU, also a long backlog of driving licence applications at the DVLA. I know of HGV licence holders still waiting for their licences to come back from the DVLA after sending off their application forms in June !

[Max B Gold]

Unlikely, I'm afraid.

Here's the thing: As bad as it is right now for the UK - and it is bad - there's just not many better alternative options. And even if you have the option of moving to a 'better' country, things are unlikely to stay that way as the future is likely to be one of increasing instability around the globe.

The past seventy years have been the greatest period of human history in terms of social progress, personal wealth, health and happiness. But the 2020s is the decade when the unique set of circumstances that have enabled that all come to an end.

Global trade security is no longer to be under-written by the USA, so we can expect to see increased disruption of long-distance supply chains as regions destabilise and the real implications of a multi-polar world emerge (think pre-WW2). And the majority of the population in the developed world will move into mass-retirement. Our kids will increasingly find themselves outnumbered by those above 65/67/70 years of age. And we've seen how older people vote and tend to wield power.

And this is a situation that is unlikely to change in their (or our grandchildren's) lifetimes. Unless they start breeding like rabbits (which they wont be able to afford to) or decide that forced euthanasia of the old is an option.

But back to the point of our government. Even if it is inevitable that everything is going to go to sh*t, it is still a question of degrees. A more competent administration could at least mean things were slightly less sh*t. And that's not to be taken for granted.

And South East Asia. What's the situation there?

Increasingly messy. With China right at the heart of it.

China possible has one of the worst demographic profiles by age in the world. Mainly thanks to their one child policy, but also due to the mass-urbanisation of its population. They are also almost entirely dependant on energy imports from the middle-east. Which means they'll now have to involve themselves in the nightmare that is the Gulf states in the way the US had to for the last 20 years.

The oncoming collapse in their population, having built over much of their arable land and a steep decline in export opportunities is going to hit hard. They're expected to ramp up the nationalism and become more assertive to their neighbours and to try and deflect criticism of the CCP onto their 'enemies'. The world is right to be wary of armed conflict in the Asia-Pacific region.

So to sum up we are all DOOMED.

What does Martin Jacques say about your analysis?

[Dunners]

Old Marty agrees completely. We're DOOMED.

[Simple Man]

Suppose so. We are looking at possibly relocating to the highlands in the longer-term. How welcoming will the natives be to us soft southern sassenachs? Are we talking mild dislike or full on Braveheart?

Please don’t. Don’t take this the wrong way but houses in the countryside (I mean real countryside not the green bit in Surrey and the Cotswolds ) are staying on the market for 24 hours currently and seeing multiple offers. It’s all city folk that can now work from home full time. As you say, most of the country has gone to poo poo. I fear for the last remaining areas of rural idle.

If these jobs can be done online at home they can be done in India or anywhere else in the world that’s cheaper. In time you can Kiss goodbye to a lot of those middle class jobs.

You are correct. I did the same, middle class, job in the office for 20 years and have done the same job at home for 15 years now. At least 50% of the people who do the same job I do are offshore in India. Glad I can retire soon.

[Max B Gold]

Old Marty agrees completely. We're DOOMED.

He's held in high regard in China.

Chinese liberal intellectual Xiang Lanxin argued that the book laid the foundations for the advent of "Wolf Warrior diplomacy", the moniker given to an increasingly aggressive style of diplomacy from China in the 21st century, named after the "Wolf Warrior" patriotic action movie series. Xiang further remarked that Jacques "doesn’t speak Chinese, and knows little about Chinese history and tradition", and that the theory of a civilization state is "utter fiction [that] does not stand up at all in scholarly terms."

[Ornchurch]

Suppose so. We are looking at possibly relocating to the highlands in the longer-term. How welcoming will the natives be to us soft southern sassenachs? Are we talking mild dislike or full on Braveheart?

Please don’t. Don’t take this the wrong way but houses in the countryside (I mean real countryside not the green bit in Surrey and the Cotswolds ) are staying on the market for 24 hours currently and seeing multiple offers. It’s all city folk that can now work from home full time. As you say, most of the country has gone to poo poo. I fear for the last remaining areas of rural idle.

If these jobs can be done online at home they can be done in India or anywhere else in the world that’s cheaper. In time you can Kiss goodbye to a lot of those middle class jobs.

Already happening.

[tuffers#1]

What a Pessimistic Bunch You all are !

[Real Al]

Christ mate, that young person giving up his seat has really upset you, hasn't it?

[bobo66]

At least we can still go and watch the Os. Hang on is that an advantage?

[Stowaway]

When you say "This country" do you mean England only.

Suppose so. We are looking at possibly relocating to the highlands in the longer-term. How welcoming will the natives be to us soft southern sassenachs? Are we talking mild dislike or full on Braveheart?

Youse will be fine. The teuchters are a welcoming lot. Despite what the xenophobes in England say there is no foaming at the mouth Scotch nationalism of any note. Of course I'm not saying there are none at all but they mostly live in Paisley, Fife and other backwards areas.

Besides any time I go to the Hielans it's mostly English refugees I bump into. Who are escaping the insanity of a small insignificant xenophobic nation angry at the world because it ignores them.

I believe another Boarder once moved from the Home Counties to Shetland to get away from the smell of foreign food. I understand he abandoned the move after a few years because he was a weak yella bellied Southern softie. So mibees cross Shetland off your list. I wonder where that Boarder is now?

I recommend the Outer Hebrides, the islands there are far enough away to deter family and friends from turning up looking for a free holiday. HTH.

He was last seen in Norwich, but was at the game last Saturday.

[Stowaway]

My wife and I were planning on going to Australia in 2022 for a couple of years to see if I could hack it there (my wife is Aussie) but The Covids have out paid to that for the foreseeable. It’s got it’s problems (not least of all China knocking on its door), it’s pretty racist outside of the big cities and it catches fire every year, but it’s sunny, quiet outside of the cities and the pay is much higher - my wife could more or less double her salary out there.
As I get older I’ve become more disillusioned with this country, which is quite something when you consider I grew up in the late 60‘s/early 70’s. To be honest it’s only close family, warm beer and the O’s that have kept me here this long. Let’s be honest, most countries in Europe are nicer to live in than the UK. They’re generally more civilised, the food is better, the weather is generally better and the people tend not to be pissed-up arseholes. We really are seen as the idiots of Europe by the rest of them, and not without reason. I was offered a job in the Netherlands some years ago, I really should have taken it, but I really would have missed the three main things I listed above. Now I’m over those too, and once we’re able to we’re going to try and move to Aus for a while at least. Overall it’s got to the point where the advantages now outweigh the disadvantages. Living in a shithouse part of south London for 8 years really hasn’t helped, but it’s pretty much the same anywhere I guess.

[Dunners]

Me and the missus have started to talk about the future and where we'd choose to live given the chance. We already have a bolthole in the south of France, but I really do not think we'll ever live abroad permanently. There's something to be said for familiarity with rules, customs and language for when things go wrong. Also, the friends and family connection means too much.

But we are sick to the back teeth of living in London. Obviously it has it's benefits but, as parents of teenagers, you also have the constant worry about their safety. Our son was mugged at knifepoint a year or so ago, and it's such a common occurrence now that it would be easier to count the number of people we know whose households have not been affected by something similar. Pre-kids most people we know thought it was great living in such a "vibrant urban community". Sure, it was always a bit "edgy" but you had access to excellent transport, shops, restaurants, bars nightlife, culture etc.
But now we're all thinking; "f*ck this!"

My preference would be to remain in the South of England, preferably a market town. The missus wants to go full-on remote country living, but I reckon the novelty of living miles from anyone and any amenities would soon wear off. I do like other places, such as Wales, Scotland and the north generally, but I'm not sure I could suffer the miserable weather.

Whatever we do we'll probably have to stick this out for another several years until the kids are all sorted. In the meantime we now spend our spare time travelling to different counties and towns to get a feel for them. It's become our new hobby.

[Harlow]

My wife and I were planning on going to Australia in 2022 for a couple of years to see if I could hack it there (my wife is Aussie) but The Covids have out paid to that for the foreseeable. It’s got it’s problems (not least of all China knocking on its door), it’s pretty racist outside of the big cities and it catches fire every year, but it’s sunny, quiet outside of the cities and the pay is much higher - my wife could more or less double her salary out there.
As I get older I’ve become more disillusioned with this country, which is quite something when you consider I grew up in the late 60‘s/early 70’s. To be honest it’s only close family, warm beer and the O’s that have kept me here this long. Let’s be honest, most countries in Europe are nicer to live in than the UK. They’re generally more civilised, the food is better, the weather is generally better and the people tend not to be pissed-up arseholes. We really are seen as the idiots of Europe by the rest of them, and not without reason. I was offered a job in the Netherlands some years ago, I really should have taken it, but I really would have missed the three main things I listed above. Now I’m over those too, and once we’re able to we’re going to try and move to Aus for a while at least. Overall it’s got to the point where the advantages now outweigh the disadvantages. Living in a shithouse part of south London for 8 years really hasn’t helped, but it’s pretty much the same anywhere I guess.

We have visited Australia 5 times, we love the place (one of our daughters lived in Bondi but back now). Not sure I would totally agree about the weather. Sydney is twice as wet as London (one Christmas it started raining at 8pm on Christmas Eve and was still raining when we went to bed on Christmas day). It isn't as cold as London but can get very hot.

[Harlow]

The Tories have been in power for 11 years and have been abysmal. We were totally unprepared for a pandemic, we knew Brexit would probably not be smooth but to insist upon pushing it through during a pandemic was surely the height of absurdity. The shortage of HGV drivers has been known about for years, ok we have a free market economy so should the haulage industry have sorted themselves out, surely govt should recognise a situation that affects everyone of us and managed it.

In my view the current govt is the worst I can relate to ( before I was born,perhaps the govts of 1930's were more incompetent in not appreciating the Nazi threat) and the pm is the biggest clown we have had in power

Am actually thinking about joining Labour because I feel so desperate

[Give it to Jabo]

Next General Election should be interesting. Pity that the current government has such a large majority - more likely to go “full-term.”

[Admin]

Christ mate, that young person giving up his seat has really upset you, hasn't it?

Final straw tbh.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

The best bet is just to avoid people as much as possible wherever you are.

[Long slender neck]

Have pondered it but is there ever a good time to uproot the kids? That, family and work keep me in London, it is not a particularly nice area. Can only imagine moving south.

[Long slender neck]

Crisis after crisis, things do feel a bit 'end of days'. I suspect next year will be more normal, it cant get much worse.

[WickfordO]

When you say "This country" do you mean England only.

Suppose so. We are looking at possibly relocating to the highlands in the longer-term. How welcoming will the natives be to us soft southern sassenachs? Are we talking mild dislike or full on Braveheart?

I recommend an island up in the Orkneys. My brother in law moved up there when he retired a few years ago and is absolutely loving it. He found a partner who is also English, as is quite a few of the inhabitants. Been there to visit him a few times and apart from the 2 day journey by car and boat it is absolutley fabulous. Can't say what it is like in the winter but in the summer, especially in June, it is spectacular. The island he lives on is Shapensay.

[Max B Gold]

Orkney are only the Islands Shetland could be.