Peccavi

I reckon it's a malaise that is catching.... ..however, tbh I agree with what you said. The reputation lawyers have is well deserved. But not all. I was a community lawyer not a Perry Mason! Corporate lawyers will bill you for sneezing. They make their entire income from fees they charge.... Community lawyers are salaried. They are waged, and given the level of funding, they are paid less than those in retail etc. We were always looked down on by the Corporate cretins. But we were real lawyers-I'll thank you to note that. (I once attended a charity function put on by a top (and decent) corporate lawyer. They had paid to attend, so they had contributed to that charity hadn't they.......? They behaved like arrogant bloody animals! When the charity rep took the mic, he said: 'I would like to thank-you, but none of you are listening. I barely heard him. There were polishituns there as well. They were tanked! I left.) Learn the distinction. Don't class us with those arrogant idiots, even if you disagree with what I say.

You totally missed the point!! I wonder if you did that deliberately?

I can picture it. And for a very good reason. But as a lawyer I do not see that Police are exempt from the law. Thus there should have been far more inquiry into their actions. Now I wonder how that would be responded to? Another much bigger riot. Brilliant! We can get the entire community!!! This explains the first post very well, and frankly knocks out any part of it that was remotely valid. Stephen Lawrence wasn't a 'gun toting gang member'. Of course that will be rationalized that he wasn't killed by police. There is always an excuse isn't there?

Happy to. (After I deciphered your sentence!). Because the Proms is a social event. It's froth, it's fun, it's silly. Don't get me wrong-there is a strong overt display of national fervour there.........with some notable flags being waved btw.. It is patriotism not directed at the Australians. When comment is made about- and I quote verbatim: "we are ahead of the Brits" (this was the early days of the Olympics-it was said by the former Sunrise female co-host),--not 'we are ahead of France/ Spain/ ...er, Japan', whatever; "we are ahead of the Brits". When an ABC! documentary showed a beach with stumps running up the beach-two rows of them (a former pier?), and said "we put the British in there so we don't have to mix with them" (verbatim)--not 'we put the Italians/ Chinese/ ...'whatever,-- That IS patriotism directed against the British. Now I could call that something else as it is directed at an island group of nations, but I'll call it immature.. Because it is. One of the obvious signs of this is denial. Nothing is ever acknowledged-even when there is recorded evidence of it! It's the la la la hands over ears stamping foot denial. That speaks volumes.

I'm sure someone has mentioned it, but what IS this PB thing? Wasn't a compliment was it Coventry.......?

No I'm at home. At this stage medication is double the normal. I am having a bad reaction though with a swollen face and rash. It's a catch 22. They must continue at this level for several days. This is the only way to bombard the clot. Blood count every three days. When it's in the requisite ballpark, they can ease back on the meds. Then medication for life. This was picked up by accident when checking the other lung. These can move to the heart or brain, so my luck was in! People have so much worse. I just have to get through this trial and error period. Anyway-sorry OP, we'd better get back to topic. Oopsie! Meant to say thanks Nikey!

Pommieaussie-Oh hell! I beg your pardon!!!! I meant here on PIO!! I have a blood clot in my lung from my flight across the pond. They are hitting me hard with medication atm to dissolve it, but I'm reacting badly to the medication and feeling utterly buggered! Sorry, sorry!

That is a strange comment, but I rather like you! (Frankly I don't have long here left-I just don't feel well. That is NOT intended to be set to violin music, I'm just telling you that as far as I am concerned at least; you are going to be able to rabbit on ad nauseum fairly soon!!)

Like it or not, in law it does not. Preconceived opinions could result in what has happened. You cannot use 'he was a bad lot, so he deserved it', as a defence. It certainly was not used in the court case because it cannot be, but it was used somewhat more subtly.. A police officer can deal with someone who has no record-and still get injured or killed. It is sadly the nature of their job. God! Here we go again! 'Gun fight at the OK Corral' your preference? Of course not! The rationale is that 'he deserved it he was bad'. Police are thriving on this public opinion! It empowers them, and they are armed! It sets a very dangerous precedent. The jury? It depends on the skill of Barristers/ the interpretation of the law (it can be quite flexible)/ the summing up by the Judge/ and the individual bias of jurors (they are fallible humans the Court system knows this). Justice (no....I am NOT referring to this case) is sometimes not done. So many times that goes unchecked, and on many occasions investigation has shown a miscarriage of justice. How can that possibly be if the Court system is functioning well? .........and the 'highly trained officers' defence? No. Not like it used to be. Pressures of recruitment/ good officers having left the force because they spend more time with paperwork rather than policing, have led to a force like so many others, that is not what it used to be. Of course there are good officers, they know who they are,.and they also know who are not, but like any other system they cannot speak up. This good guys vs bad guys thing has very blurred edges but the focus is solely on bad guy Duggan. At the very least, there are questions to be asked, but because he's 'bad' let's ignore that and concentrate on the heroes and the villain.

And get over why it's not being answered? It may well be in the 'archives', but none of us shirks discussion on a discussion forum. We pass opinions/ give responses etc., that's the nature of it-so why not just answer? If this is to be used by those who defend all things Australia, with the retort, 'how long were you in Australia?' (ergo: what would you know?),-and that IS done, then why the coyness when it is done in reverse? Just answer-ain't no biggie. Is it? This is the 'PIO two step'-each 'side' protecting its own. Such fun.

Really liked your post! The highlight though I can't agree with. Again, -since posting last I had someone say 'why would you leave Australia for this ....'. This time I got angry (I think I scared them!). We ended up having a good conversation. Tbh I would like to see a bit more pride in country, but as wozname said 'patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel'. It is. 'Patriotism' like religion has excused countless deaths historically.............and yes! the British Empire were damn good at that! Cronulla? This is incredibly sad, and true. And yes,- I am going to use it to show that this resentment is still manifest. Crikey!! What an example! Showing British patriotism by referring to a yearly concert where it is implicit to turn up in 'uniform' and behave like a plonker!........it's fun. My God. So it is. And it was necessary. Why the causal resentment because of this injustice is then denied, is beyond me. Ooooo I know. The thousands who watch this globally every year only do so so that they can say 'look at those idiots'.

This (I think!) is what jen85 is referring to. A bank account for yourself opened in anothers name. It can be done, but it can lead to all sorts of problems. Strewth! I think these banks make it up as they go along! You CAN open a bank account in the UK from overseas in your name, but you can only deposit. You cannot withdraw funds from that account until on UK soil. That's the money laundering potential area. You can do it through any bank that allows it. Yorkshire/Clydesdale-Barclays (minimal £5,000 deposit for them). The moral is that the damn thing is a lottery! Like every other 'service' it seems, today. Two different staff members will give different advice, never mind branches!

They are UK charges. Perhaps I wasn't clear, God knows I was tired and stressed! Proof. How do I prove that this stuff was left in my house and not added? Also delivery of household goods was end of November-I doubt they are liable now. I appreciate the suggestion fifi, but you can bet your boots they/their insurers will turn me down because I can't prove it was left. You're right Cez-UK charges. ....................and early this morning (UK-Friday), they have sent me an email knocking £70 off the delivery cost with the statement "does this help?" !!! It IS a ripoff-even close to a scam. Look at some of those costs...currency conversion 10 quid?!! My dilemma now is twofold, I cannot and will not pay those charges, and have no choice but to surrender the boxes: 1) I need to approach some sort of watchdog, because: 2) I do not know what will happen if I refuse to accept the boxes? It IS like being held to ransom. But I need to find out where I stand if I surrender the boxes. Arrives on the 16/1. One week free storage. .......then £12.50 PER DAY??!! (Have I read that correctly?? It's copied/paste). It's a nightmare.

I have to agree with you. I recall that sweet boy Darcy though having a track record for violence being selected for the Olympic team on stringent conditions: he was to return to Australia once his event was completed. He had staying power didn't he? He got nowhere in the event, and then went holidaying in Europe. (And this was after declaring bankruptcy so he did not have to pay out on his last victim). Gotta hand it to the kid. He stayed. (And don't ask me what that has to do with anything. You and I both know we can come up with any amount of this crap). Not as I write this, that much is obvious! But thanks for the advice 'mate'. I went one better than 'stop watching'. How very true Skani. The poster made a very balanced couple of posts. Did you miss that? It is isn't it? And its par for the course. I too took what you describe for nearly 40 years. It usually came from those Australians with a vacant lot between their ears. It happened a lot. What I find different about Australia is that the media there never quits this. Every week, (not everyday), every week there is this incessant 'my Daddy's biggeran' yours'. And guess what? I have had a lot of the 'you must be mad to come back to the UK' mob. Only one person (in a Doctors surgery!) told me it was a very good decision. Just one person so far. Why? Because of the usual mantra: UK-pits/Australia-paradise. And I'm sick of it. I can't get away from this droning even in the UK!

I had my packing done for my return to the UK. The packer missed a cupboard which I discovered afterward. I decided to ship the goods separately. Two boxes-one medium (and I mean medium about 2'x1') and a small box 1'x1'. Even shipping was exorbitant, nearly $400, and a friend paid for it. I have now heard from the receiving company here. These are the charges they have levied: Terminal Handling Charge - £55 Import Docs - £75 Import Service Fee - £15 Currency Adjustment Factor - £10 Haulage to destination - £180 Customs - £100 Usage of Duty Deferment to pay VAT/Duty to Customs 1.5% or £35 of total Duty/VAT outlay (whichever is greater) Tail-lift for Delivery (if required) £45 Timed Delivery (if required) £45 Once the goods have unpacked in the UK, we have 7 days free storage in the warehouse, after this storage is charged at a rate of £12.50 per wm per day (minimum of £30) so your soonest assistance would be most appreciated. The value of those goods would be £100 max! (I had no idea about all this-the boxes were sent at the last minute-the day before I left Australia). Those charges will be £470!! That is nearly half the cost of shipping my entire (but small amount) of household goods! It's out of the question. I cannot afford that, I have sent them an email suggesting that I will have to surrender those boxes. It's turned into a nightmare. Is this normal? It's a fees and charges feeding frenzy! Should there be all these charges, and at this level? Any advice would be appreciated. These boxes arrive on 16/1.

Silly again. That isn't oversensitivity! it's the irritation of having to continually swot at a blowfly!

Yes we are. It sets a very dangerous precedent, but no one seems to care because this man 'deserved it'.

(Replying to paulv). Damn me! That was my first reaction. It sounded so bitchy! Oooohhh alright then!

I reckon that a 'sensitive soul' would be 'sensitive' enough to have some awareness of how they actually think and feel by virtue of being 'sensitive'. You do not have that problem.

I did say silly... It's a discussion forum. We respond,.........and,..and,....sometimes we even disagree... I'm not 'down on 'Oz'. I have been open on returning forums about my reasons for returning,-and will endorse the right of anyone to do the same, without the Bazfactor incessantly turning up with the same old chant. Just quit the sensitive/nerve thing-it doesn't become you.

Here too Nikey. I'm told this village has its own little microclimate. Yesterday I walked down to the front in a blouse and waistcoat thingy.

These links are so irresistible aren't they? We are ALWAYS talking about those on the lower end of society aren't we Simmo? So up come the links. If we were to discuss the utter corporate greed that abounds-and then put up links-that would engender the 'Lefty nonsense' thing wouldn't it? As I said: it is cowardly. If 'above' someone one can get a damn good kick in- to the head. But if below someone, all so many do is look up to them, literally and metaphorically. They are to be admired, don't you know.

Oh come on! surely you can do better than that? (I'm actually not being sarcastic bion). Every time you have no answer, you come up with this sensitivity thing. It's silly.

This one merits an answer. I was not defending the man, I was talking about the levity over a death. Don't impose this odious reasoning on me. Read what I wrote.

Talking about patterns......... Gawwwdd! Will it never end? This can and has been validly levelled at those who are always ready to take a shot at returnees....eh Baz? It has been suggested that it occurs because so many need to qualify that their decision to go to Australia was the right one,...eh Baz? (One poster who routinely disparaged returnees became one himself two years later, and had the good grace to post and apologise, admitting it was more his need to endorse his decision to settle in Aus ((it was here or 'another place'). Don't keep coming up with this text book tripe. It has been the accusation de jour for a while.