I hate chavs!

[NikkiSixx]

Just to let you lucky old' expats know, you've done the right thing in leaving dear old blighty. Its about time they put the poor old dog to sleep. The social decay is overwhelming and getting worse by the day, with young teenagers terrorizing street corners everywhere I turn and benefits scroungers making the place look untidy, I am totally depressed by it all but hey ho shouldn't be too long before I join your hallowed ranks...I know, I know, the grass isn't always greener and all that but I'd take a few stray dogs over a crowd of teenage 'hoodies' any day of the week!

sorry....had to get that off my chest!

[caller]

In Torquay!!!

Genteel Torquay???

C'mon, whats brought all this on, there has to be more?

[Guess]

The social decay is overwhelming and getting worse by the day, with young teenagers terrorizing street corners everywhere I turn and benefits scroungers making the place look untidy, I'd take a few stray dogs over a crowd of teenage 'hoodies' any day of the week!

sorry....had to get that off my chest!

The last time I spent very long in the UK they were discussing legislation regarding hoodies. Now I understand there would be a clash with the muslim ladies with the Burkas. All to do with facial recognition.

Anyway the teenage gangs are already here but have not learned to cover there faces yet.

At least the scroungers here, and there are many, offer some kind of goods or service in return so long as you continually nag them.

As for UK teenagers are concerned. If they block your path or harass you, pick out the biggest one and kick him in the bollocks. It always worked for me.

[Randy Cornhole]

I agree with you Nikki, when I go back to England every year or so it feels less friendly and less like home....

[Guess]

I agree with you Nikki, when I go back to England every year or so it feels less friendly and less like home....

I don't go anymore but I hear the same story not just from the UK but from many countries in Western Europe. The last time I was in Europe I was in Paris and witnessed a mugging and I was only there for two nights.

[lomuamart]

Sorry, I'd have to disagree with the above sentiments.
On the five occasions I've been back to the UK since living here, I havn't experienced any problems at all. Certainly the country's changed and got a whole lot more expensive, but overall I havn't seen it any more aggressive or dangerous than it was years ago.
Maybe I've been lucky, but I don't think so. The last time back with my Thai wife, who was there for the first time, we found nothing but welcome. I was a bit concerned about how the locals might accept her based on what some people here had told me. However, I should never have had any reason to be concerned.

[Jim]

I think we have a bit of a Toquay issue. I spend half my time in Exeter and Torquay's reputation is shocking. Genteel Torquay it ain't.

Is England getting worse? Hard to tell, but generally it probably is - open to debate of course. An ordinary guy was kicked to death (allegedly - case yet to come to court), in genteel Henley last week and anyone round here will say it was only a matter of who and when, not if.

The grass is always green through rose tinted glasses.

Jim

[lomuamart]

Fair comments, Jim. But a lot of market towns and cities in the UK were getting pretty violent years ago. I'm only saying that I have not noticed any increase in "antisocial" behaviour during my visits back to the UK - but I bet that they're getting reported more. Same same. That's just my view though and again maybe I've just been lucky.
Nastiness can happen anywhere in the world and if it does it will obviously affect your feelings. Thailand is no different.
No rose tinted glasses here. Just reality and what has and hasn't happened to me.

[Jim]

Fair enough Lomu. The rose glasses comments was more aimed at us over here in Blighty. Shit happens everywhere. It's just at the moment shit in HuaHin seems a very attractive option relative to the cold, grey, freezing English winter. I'm just pulling on several layers of thermals before trecking down to the Mad Stad for Reading and Everton. We all have to remember we see things from different perspectives - you locals tend to try to sort out whatever issues you have living in HH, us wannabes just wish we were there and we therefore whinge about things over here.

The one thing that made me want to cry this week was getting an email from our letting agent saying the tenants wanted some more sun loungers...

[Big Boy]

Guess wrote:

As for UK teenagers are concerned. If they block your path or harass you, pick out the biggest one and kick him in the bollocks. It always worked for me.

I'm not generally a violent man, but if needs must, its the only way. They're like a school of young fish - sticking together for protection. Take the biggest one out and see them scatter.

lomuamart wrote:

Sorry, I'd have to disagree with the above sentiments.
On the five occasions I've been back to the UK since living here, I haven't experienced any problems at all.

I've never experienced any problems either, but the threat is certainly there, and increasing. As NikkiSix said, "Young teenagers terrorizing street corners everywhere I turn." I can certainly relate to such an increasing trend. Maybe the situation can be likened to approaching a Soi Dog when you're frightened. If he sees that you're afraid, he'll probably attack. These kids are the same. However, I think they take one look at my large frame, and let me pass through.

[NikkiSixx]

I know by the conversations I have with my friends that I am probably more sensitive to these problems than most due to being a landlord in a run down area where you would expect(and do!) have to deal with some truly awful people on a daily basis.
My comments were triggered because I moved to the Cockington area of Torquay, where some of you may have visited, to get as far away as possible from any unpleasantness but even in this last bastion of decency I have had my car vandalised three times in the last fortnight and had abuse bellowed at me as I drive past. It just makes me so angry that our parents/grandparents generation laid down their lives for these ungrateful oiks and the rest of us are forced to either put up with it, start a middle class revolution or leave the country
Anyway, I have a large picture of Kao Takhiab on my wall to give me fresh determination to get where I want to be!
Sorry to be a miseryguts! a Merry Christmas to you all!