expats - clarkson

**bangladiver** · 29-03-2009 17:53

His usual approach to taking a minor truth and running with it but a good light read anyway:-

Stand still, wimp – only failures run off to be expats | Jeremy Clarkson - Times Online

The fact of the matter is this: every single person who ever moves to another country – with the exception of America where you go to grow – is a failure. Seriously, no one has ever woken up and said: “I am completely happy. I have a lovely family, many friends, a great job and plenty of savings. So I shall move to Australia.”

although he also wrote about it previously
The hell of being a British expat | Jeremy Clarkson - Times Online

**Coolhand** · 29-03-2009 21:01

Originally Posted by bangladiver

The fact of the matter is this: every single person who ever moves to another country ...is a failure.

There is some truth in what he says. There is an old acronym in Hong Kong, F.I.L.T.H., which stands for "Failed in London, Try Hong Kong".

Nowadays this has been replaced by FIHKTS, which stands for Failed in Hong Kong, Try Shanghai.

**Sir Burr** · 29-03-2009 21:39

Clarkson maybe a mildly amusing and popular knob-head, but, he's still a knob-head.

**Dupree00** · 29-03-2009 21:42

You will sit there in a bar, in your stupid Hawaiian shirt, pretending the waiter is a friend, reading the barcode on a two-year-old copy of The Week, trying desperately to convince yourself that you are happy. But you won’t be, because abroad is where you go on holiday. Britain is home.

I guess the author never heard of the internet.

Do you guys wear Hawaiin shirts? 5555

**Simbo** · 29-03-2009 22:23

I agree with him- I'd consider I had failed in life if I moved to Oz 5555555555. When reading Clarkson assemble these words in the correct order: cheek, tongue, in.

**Pad Mc** · 30-03-2009 00:51

Originally Posted by Sir Burr

Clarkson maybe a mildly amusing and popular knob-head, but, he's still a knob-head.

Haha, good description.. Still he's a good entertainer, Top Gear is a great TV show. He reminds me of one of my mates that I met up with in Patts last year.

**Sir Burr** · 30-03-2009 01:17

Originally Posted by Pad Mc

Still he's a good entertainer,

Exactly,he's an entertainer. Anything he preaches outside of his area of expertise, is not worth listening to.

I'll listen to him when he talks about cars, or, knob-headedness.........

**kris-one** · 30-03-2009 01:54

Originally Posted by Sir Burr

Clarkson maybe a mildly amusing and popular knob-head, but, he's still a knob-head.

My thoughts exactly.

**Nicke** · 30-03-2009 04:23

He talk about friends, you make new friends where you move to and ocassionally your old friends may visit you too. As for family, they also come here regulary, so his arguments dont work for me.

**nelsonone** · 30-03-2009 05:41

Clarkson only exists to take the pi$$ and have others rise to the bait...of course he's gonna say that!

**bangladiver** · 30-03-2009 05:50

as i said a minor truth and run with it is his MO

however upon meeting an expat i do casually wonder to myself what they might be running away from - expats in LOS particularly - can't all be retired bankers

**Nicke** · 30-03-2009 05:56

Haha, I have met many guys who run away from tax in their home countries, common I would say. In a country like Sweden where taxes are very high, running away from taxes can make you very good money, even if the business itself was not really profitable. (When taxes paid)

**bangladiver** · 30-03-2009 06:10

Originally Posted by Nicke

Haha, I have met many guys who run away from tax in their home countries, common I would say. In a country like Sweden where taxes are very high, running away from taxes can make you very good money, even if the business itself was not really profitable. (When taxes paid)

especially vat carousel frauds!!!!

**Masterwoodsman** · 30-03-2009 08:08

Originally Posted by bangladiver

as i said a minor truth and run with it is his MO

however upon meeting an expat i do casually wonder to myself what they might be running away from - expats in LOS particularly - can't all be retired bankers

Is that cockney rhyming slang !!!

**marc26** · 30-03-2009 08:44

i don't know him but i would say ex-pats are a mixed lot of people, just like every other people in the world

i am an ex-pat(alibi only US to Canada) but although i love my family and friends, i have no desire to return to US. and only reason i have no desire to return is to see more of the world. if i ever leave Canada it will be for another country besides US. but i also keep in costant contact with my family and friends from home

**nelsonone** · 30-03-2009 09:22

yeah...like Rupert Murdoch was a failure in Australia so he went to America as an expat to see if he could become a bigger failure...

Clarkson is a shi'te stirrer.....why bother?

**Homer** · 30-03-2009 12:54

I think he's a classic. I get no end of laughs from his quotes and philosophies.
He's also politically incorrect - which IMO makes him much more refreshing and worth listening to over most of the other tossers in media and film industries spewing the same sterilized, regurgitated rubbish every day.

I think people take him much more seriously than he does himself.

**retepg** · 30-03-2009 16:52

Clarkson is making a huge generalization here.. But in some cases there is a lot of truth in what he says..

My experience with some Saffa expats, mainly met in New Zealand where I have met quite a few on my visits to friends (Expats) . But also from local blogs is interesting to say the least.
The kind that wear their Springbok jerseys, but spend all their time running down their ex-country ..
Now I would be the first to admit that we have problems at home, but the horror stories that they tell are frightening, try and balance them with any positive news and you do not know what you are talking about. Rich when coming from someone who no longer lives in the country to someone who does..
Add to that their complete inability to assimilate in to their new home’s culture and lifestyle.. Constantly complaining about the locals and why they do not do things like we did back home???

Not all expats fit in to this mould. Many are good people who add value to their new homes, but the “When We’s” can be a pain in the A@se......

**Mr Kobi** · 30-03-2009 17:01

Clarkson for Primer Minister.

**sishow** · 30-03-2009 17:35

Originally Posted by Mr Kobi

Clarkson for Primer Minister.

If that was to happen, no UK voter will have the right to mock or complain about the USA electing George W for 2 terms.........

But then, Londoners cant now after electing Boris to be their Mayor!

**kris-one** · 30-03-2009 17:51

Originally Posted by sishow

If that was to happen, no UK voter will have the right to mock or complain about the USA electing George W for 2 terms.........

But then, Londoners cant now after electing Boris to be their Mayor!

Come on. Borris has done a good job, much better then i had expected. I was all in favour of Ken and voted for him in the mayor election but since he has lost his has become so bitter and twisted and is such a sore looser i hope labour don't let him run again as their candidate.

**marc26** · 30-03-2009 20:18

Originally Posted by retepg

but spend all their time running down their ex-country ..
Now I would be the first to admit that we have problems at home, but the horror stories that they tell are frightening, try and balance them with any positive news and you do not know what you are talking about. Rich when coming from someone who no longer lives in the country to someone who does..
......

i am always blown away when i meet an ex-pat and they proudly claim they havent been to their home country in 10 years ot whatnot. i sort of feel bad for them that they dont seem to have a good feeling about where they are from

**Sir Burr** · 30-03-2009 20:39

Depends where you're from.
As far as I'm concerned, Hounslow has no redeeming features whatsoever.

**Pad Mc** · 30-03-2009 20:55

As Nels said, it’s a wind up, or just Clarkson’s quirky observations and his own misunderstanding of expats. He's forever going on about Britain’s greatness and having a pop at "Johnny Foreigner" too, all for laughs of course... I think hes entertaining in that annoying smart Ars e schoolboy sort of way...

**kris-one** · 30-03-2009 20:58

Originally Posted by Sir Burr

Depends where you're from.
As far as I'm concerned, Hounslow has no redeeming features whatsoever.

have to agree, live next door to it and its a sh!t hole!

**eddiemonster** · 31-03-2009 00:03

Originally Posted by nelsonone

Clarkson is a shi'te stirrer.....why bother?

Exactly. End of story.
Clarkson is typical of what passes for journalism these days - just try to be as provocative as possible. You will find examples of this kind of mock-journalism in all UK newspapers these days.

But he is good for a laugh and there are plenty of dodgy ex-pats knocking around....

**Denver** · 31-03-2009 18:27

Originally Posted by Sir Burr

Depends where you're from.
As far as I'm concerned, Hounslow has no redeeming features whatsoever.

Two weeks in Phuket, Two weeks in Rochdale....mmmmmmmmmmm!!! 555555

**Mr Kobi** · 01-04-2009 01:22

Originally Posted by sishow

If that was to happen, no UK voter will have the right to mock or complain about the USA electing George W for 2 terms.........

You're joking of course. We'd be less embarrassed if we brought Roland Rat to power than GWB.

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