I've had enough....
- Thread starter georgie_no23
- Start date
There's a shortage of skilled workers in Alberta....... period. Back in '66, my old man was moving to Bahrain but the sheik got punted and so did his job, Canada house was across the Street in London and we ended up here. Best thing that could have ever happened.....
I'm not kidding about the job market in this province, the oilsands are driving the market crazy. Where I am there is an expansion plan for 10 years and around here there are a dozen more places just like it. As a matter of fact, there are hundreds of sites, some planned , some operating and and some in construction. All these sites require head office people, site people and support services.
Note: a lead tradesman up here gets about $80 an hour (a $63 base rate plus 27% uplifted for being in camp 7 days on and 7 days off) plus 360hrs of holidays per year not including stat holidays that are extra. Plus every shift has 4hrs OT at 2x rate Thats about $180,000 without any extra OT or bonuses and more holiday time than you can use. A basic tradesman will get around $50 an hour and work 100 hour shifts (10 days on and 4 off) so minimum $150,000 a year. Turnaround planners with experience and Primavera or SAP skills are at $110 per hour.....pretty scary numbers unless you're a partner in a law firm
By the way, premium fuel is about $1.30 a litre. that's $$ not pounds. 8)
Oh yes, it gets really f**king cold in the winter. Put up with it for a couple of years then move to an island that's warm all year long .......
Choose carefully , I hear Oz is pretty competitive too....
I'm not kidding about the job market in this province, the oilsands are driving the market crazy. Where I am there is an expansion plan for 10 years and around here there are a dozen more places just like it. As a matter of fact, there are hundreds of sites, some planned , some operating and and some in construction. All these sites require head office people, site people and support services.
Note: a lead tradesman up here gets about $80 an hour (a $63 base rate plus 27% uplifted for being in camp 7 days on and 7 days off) plus 360hrs of holidays per year not including stat holidays that are extra. Plus every shift has 4hrs OT at 2x rate Thats about $180,000 without any extra OT or bonuses and more holiday time than you can use. A basic tradesman will get around $50 an hour and work 100 hour shifts (10 days on and 4 off) so minimum $150,000 a year. Turnaround planners with experience and Primavera or SAP skills are at $110 per hour.....pretty scary numbers unless you're a partner in a law firm
By the way, premium fuel is about $1.30 a litre. that's $$ not pounds. 8)
Oh yes, it gets really f**king cold in the winter. Put up with it for a couple of years then move to an island that's warm all year long .......
Choose carefully , I hear Oz is pretty competitive too....
Do you think it might matter which part of the UK you live in?
Don't tell anyone but some areas of the North East are brilliant....open spaces, great city with amazing facilities and world class quayside and night life, good air road rail sea links, cheap housing, fantastic unspoilt coastline, Nothumberland is amazing, Lake District less than 90 mins, Northern Pennines with fabulous roads and little traffic.
Visited Kent for a few days this summer - what a mess of a place - so busy wherever we went, everyone in a rush, traffic ridiculous, no thanks - couldn't wait to get back to wonderful scenery, space and open roads and less of the problems faced 'down south'. Take a deep breath of fresh air and move up 'ere.
Like I said....don't tell anybody :roll:
Don't tell anyone but some areas of the North East are brilliant....open spaces, great city with amazing facilities and world class quayside and night life, good air road rail sea links, cheap housing, fantastic unspoilt coastline, Nothumberland is amazing, Lake District less than 90 mins, Northern Pennines with fabulous roads and little traffic.
Visited Kent for a few days this summer - what a mess of a place - so busy wherever we went, everyone in a rush, traffic ridiculous, no thanks - couldn't wait to get back to wonderful scenery, space and open roads and less of the problems faced 'down south'. Take a deep breath of fresh air and move up 'ere.
Like I said....don't tell anybody :roll:
mcbeee said:There's a shortage of skilled workers in Alberta....... period. Back in '66, my old man was moving to Bahrain but the sheik got punted and so did his job, Canada house was across the Street in London and we ended up here. Best thing that could have ever happened.....
I'm not kidding about the job market in this province, the oilsands are driving the market crazy. Where I am there is an expansion plan for 10 years and around here there are a dozen more places just like it. As a matter of fact, there are hundreds of sites, some planned , some operating and and some in construction. All these sites require head office people, site people and support services.
Note: a lead tradesman up here gets about $80 an hour (a $63 base rate plus 27% uplifted for being in camp 7 days on and 7 days off) plus 360hrs of holidays per year not including stat holidays that are extra. Plus every shift has 4hrs OT at 2x rate Thats about $180,000 without any extra OT or bonuses and more holiday time than you can use. A basic tradesman will get around $50 an hour and work 100 hour shifts (10 days on and 4 off) so minimum $150,000 a year. Turnaround planners with experience and Primavera or SAP skills are at $110 per hour.....pretty scary numbers unless you're a partner in a law firm
By the way, premium fuel is about $1.30 a litre. that's $$ not pounds. 8)
Oh yes, it gets really f**king cold in the winter. Put up with it for a couple of years then move to an island that's warm all year long .......
Choose carefully , I hear Oz is pretty competitive too....
WOW ! that's some good poke for trades , i'm currently on a refurb contract (joiner ) in Bradford yorkshire on rates i was earning 7/8 years ago yet expenses & household bills are nowhere near similar
my son qualified as a plumber/heating engineer in march yet the pay was so low he has applied to work in the bakery at our new Tesco 
i wonder about a 12 month working holiday ? ?
georgie_no23 said:
Well the situation you described on the UK, is almost the same as in the Netherlands, it's just taxes are even worse here. The rest just as crap and way too many people here on not enough space :thumbsdown: So I know how you feel. Where to move? Europe is quite a mess at the moment. Must admit though if only I had more than enough money, I'd be trying out the French Cote d'Azur now :lol:
But the climate would do it for me, hate winter If it was me I'd go somewhere that Everyman and his dog wasn't going. 3 of my neighbours have emigrated to Perth in the last year. There must be more Scottish people in Perth Australia than there is in Perth itself. One of my mates went and said it was like Paisley in the sun.
I remember when I was young that loads of people around my dads age emigrated to South Africa. My uncle went along with just about every other joiner in the town. Big house, swimming pool, boat etc. 30 years on he's back and penniless. Extreme case given the politics of SA but I always just figure the bubble can burst anywhere. You only have to look at the whole of Europe for evidence of that.
If you do decide to do it, please don't (and I know you won't) base your decision off the back of a holiday.
I remember when I was young that loads of people around my dads age emigrated to South Africa. My uncle went along with just about every other joiner in the town. Big house, swimming pool, boat etc. 30 years on he's back and penniless. Extreme case given the politics of SA but I always just figure the bubble can burst anywhere. You only have to look at the whole of Europe for evidence of that.
If you do decide to do it, please don't (and I know you won't) base your decision off the back of a holiday.
pvr said:
pretty blinkered & antiquated opinion :? why not follow it with the old classic " the french hate the english & smell of garlic "
just about to complete my fourth renovation & have never had issue with planning consent ,connection of services ,buying or selling process or the french in general.
have always found them over helpful if anything
mr wilks said:
Cannot agree mr wilks, pvr is pretty much cock on. Who would think that you would have to send letters to councils and official bodies recorded delivery as civil servants & officials will deny receipt and you have to prove you sent the thing !! The French in all truthfulness tolerate the British and that's as far as it goes. When you arrive they are always happy to help & have you over for 'apero's' as they are intrinsically nosey and want to know the ins and out ands of a cats arse and to know why you are living in France.
You are a lucky fellow not to have had issues with planning etc. probably they are happy to take your euros and know more are on there way as you buy and restore then sell your projects. I take it your a registered artisan and in the system of paying your huge cotisations to keep the elderly ,'manoche', the commune clean and tidy et al along with the miriad of things that go with having a business ?? Good luck my friend if you are good luck indeed.
We lived in France for seven years and what a joy to be back.
Individually the French (rural) are fine but collectively they are a nightmare. Beauracracy is second to none, tax's ???? we wont go there. Utilities so so expensive €3000-00 for two months electricity and heating (yep you read right and it wasn't a big place) without water.
I could ramble on and on but i won't, good and positive points are we learnt French, the wine is cheap and the sun shone and we did have fun. Oh I was 44 and my wife 42 and we took our sons then 7 & 11 and we are alll so very pleased to be back as England really isn't that bad at all.
Remember the grass almost never greener on the other side. I think it's been said a couple of times, we all dream of living in a warmer laid back climate, yet we only see these places during our vacations. If you do narrow down your choices then I would suggest visiting that place at the worst time of year for their weather. See if it has the same draw when it's pissing down for days on end, or when you have to go to work in high humidity.
The UK has many issues, I hate the taxes and the way the system seems to benefit those who make no contribution to society. But there are places much worse. I work for a Dutch company and many of my colleagues face much worse taxes and living costs.
Belgium is a pretty good place to live, good benefits and taxes are ok. Land and property is cheap in comparison to the UK, but you could be back in a few hours to visit friends and family.
If you really want to go further afield then Brazil could be a good option. Huge investment and improvements in the country, attractive for expats. The downside; crime, but then you could probably get a nice apartment in a gated community or very affluent area.
Good luck
The UK has many issues, I hate the taxes and the way the system seems to benefit those who make no contribution to society. But there are places much worse. I work for a Dutch company and many of my colleagues face much worse taxes and living costs.
Belgium is a pretty good place to live, good benefits and taxes are ok. Land and property is cheap in comparison to the UK, but you could be back in a few hours to visit friends and family.
If you really want to go further afield then Brazil could be a good option. Huge investment and improvements in the country, attractive for expats. The downside; crime, but then you could probably get a nice apartment in a gated community or very affluent area.
Good luck
Yep do it when u r still young. I wish i had 
At least the sun might be shining and you would get good use out of the zed. This is the first year i have owned a convertible and its p....sed down ever since. If things dont improve i am gonna have to let it go next year You would miss things about the uk but it is getting more difficult to survive in this country i constantly feel like i am doggy paddling in a swollen river, we have had plenty of them lately. Good luck and choose carefully should you ever take the plunge.
At least the sun might be shining and you would get good use out of the zed. This is the first year i have owned a convertible and its p....sed down ever since. If things dont improve i am gonna have to let it go next year You would miss things about the uk but it is getting more difficult to survive in this country i constantly feel like i am doggy paddling in a swollen river, we have had plenty of them lately. Good luck and choose carefully should you ever take the plunge. I don't see anyone mentioning Germany? Seems like a decent country to live in, except for the winter haters like me maybe 
Another thing about living in another country is that I think you have to adapt to their culture and habits more or less or else many things might start to annoy you?
Another thing about living in another country is that I think you have to adapt to their culture and habits more or less or else many things might start to annoy you?