2 Million Dollar Bills

About the Author

Software developer with 4 years of experience.

For those of you looking for some useful information relating to Barbados  why not travel over to The Barbados Blog or take a look at the Barbados Photo Blog.

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The dream is getting closer; my desire to escape the rate race of the UK is almost upon me. For some people the prospect giving up everything that they know and are comfortable with is a terrifying prospect. Personally I see it as being the greatest adventure of my life so far, I’m filled with excitement and enthusiasm at the prospect of leaving my home, my city, my country to go and live and start up a business in my new home in the Caribbean.

I was recently asked the question, from a friend that has also had enough of the rat race and would like  to escape the UK, why did you chose the Caribbean and why Barbados in particular. That is the 2 million dollar question!

I have been to the Caribbean and in particular Barbados on many occasions and have a family connection with the island. Because of this I’m very comfortable, familiar and know what I’m getting when I move there.

What will I be getting? Virtual year round sunshine, some of the best beaches in the world, a laid back lifestyle, friendly people, lower crime rate, criminals still receive proper sentences for their crimes, food that tastes so much better and healthier than what I get here in the UK. These were not my only criteria for choosing to relocate to Barbados. Other major factors are that they speak English, (I know it takes time to understand the Bajan version of English!) and they drive on the correct side of the road.

I also had the major concern of how I would earn enough money to enjoy the great Caribbean lifestyle that I crave. I suppose this is the biggest obstacle that stands in anyone’s way, that dreams of escaping to a place in the sun. During my many visits to the Caribbean and Barbados, I would research various business ideas that I felt would work there. It took a lot of research and planning, but finally feel that I have found my own particular niche, which will provide me with a good income, with the potential to grow it into something substantial.

My advice to my friend or anyone else that wants to immigrate to there own particular paradise, is do your research, you must go and visit, and more than just once. Unless you’re rich enough, not to have to worry about money, you will have to figure how you are going to make money. Paradise will become worse than where you’re escaping from, if you have to constantly worry about how you are going to make money to live.

I will be doing a series of articles relating to escaping the rat race, and business and life in the Caribbean. Escaping the Rat Race in Scotland, Just Do it!

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”   Jawaharlal Nehru

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Cloutie dumpling (also spelt Clootie) is a traditional Scottish pudding, so called because in the old days, it would have been boiled in a clout or cloth. I thought I better take note of this recipe before I embark on my travels to the Caribbean and share it with other connoisseurs of delicious food.

Ingredients:

4 oz. (125 g.) shredded suet or margarine

8 oz. (225 g.) flour

4 oz. (125 g.) oatmeal

3 oz. (75 g.) sugar

1 rounded teaspoon baking power

8 oz. (225 g.) mixed sultanas and currants

1 teaspoon each: ground cinnamon and ginger

1 tablespoon golden syrup

2 eggs

3-4 tablespoons buttermilk or sour milk.

Directions:

Rub the fat into the sifted flour; add all the other dry ingredients.

Make a hole in the centre and add the syrup and beaten eggs and mix well.

Then add enough buttermilk or sour milk to make a soft firm batter.

If using a pudding cloth dip it first into boiling water and then flour it well before adding the pudding mixture. Tie up, but allow a good space for expansion.

Or the mixture can be put into a slightly greased basin allowing a one-inch (2.5 cm) space at the top. Tie down securely boil with boiling water coming up to the rim for 2 ½ -3 hrs

If using the cloth, put a saucer or plate in the bottom of the saucepan and stand the pudding in the cloth on top, then cover with boiling water, and cook for 2 ½ -3 hrs.

Turn out and serve hot with custard or cold with cream.

I found this Caribbean dish that sounds and looks absolutely fantastic, I sure would love to eat the Cloutie dumpling after I have had this great  dish.  I can’t wait to get on with my travels and get back to the Caribbean to taste some of the best food in the world. A dish most comforting

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 For a long time now I have often dreamt about escaping the rat race here in Scotland. The thought of immigrating to another country has been in the forefront of my mind for a long time. My desire grows daily to live in a country where the pace of life is a lot slower, where the sun shines more often, where people seem happier and smile more.

Don’t get me wrong I love Scotland, the beautiful countryside, my friends, family, but like many people I feel that there is a massive decline in moral standards in this country. You can’t walk down the street nowadays without having to witness some wee kid swearing or running amok, everywhere I go I see junkies, drivers constantly running red lights, I could literally go on for ever, but I’m sure you get the picture as to what I hate about life in the UK. These are not just Scottish problems because I travel to London on a regular basis and its even more noticeable there.

I don’t hold out much hope of things ever getting better, we have Gordon Brown as PM now, this guy cant even put his make up on properly, what a fool!  The UK government is more concerned with fighting in American wars, than dealing with problems at home.   I’m still trying to figure out what good those would be cops, the community police officers are meant to be doing. Anytime they see a hint of trouble they are suddenly walking in the opposite direction.

Those social worker clowns have got their stinking teeth ingrained too far into the basic fabric of this country now. Your child could be running wild and creating mayhem and all you’re allowed to do is tell them off, give them a firm slap and you could go to jail. The amount times I have read about junkie shoplifters being given a 50^th or more chances by the judge because of a good report by there social worker. I thought judges were meant to be educated, but it seems that they believe any old crap. Send the junkies round to break into houses of the Judges and social workers and I’m sure we will see some changes for the better.

What was stopping me from leaving Scotland I heard people tell me it’s not fair to leave your family, your child’s education will suffer, you wont get the same health care, all I heard was negatives from other people as to why I shouldn’t leave Scotland. I thought to myself, are they really living in the same country as me.

I don’t live my life through my family and I wouldn’t dream of preventing any of them from following there dreams, I would be helpful and supportive towards them. The Schooling system isn’t getting any better, classrooms are more crowded than ever, I wish I had the opportunity to live abroad when I was a kid, and I wont even talk about health care, try to get a NHS dentist here, you have no chance.

The time had come to take affirmative action and as the title of the recent book I read by Richard Branson says “JUST DO IT”. When you have a family it isn’t quite as simple as just packing your bags and heading off into the sun. You have a lot issues to deal with, such as earning money, place to live, schools etc. But these are all part of the excitement and challenge of moving to a foreign country to live and work.

My escape plan is hatched and the flights are booked for the Caribbean. The island I’m moving to I have been on holiday there many times and I know it extremely well. We have a place to live, school organised and a couple of business ventures ready to start running when we arrive.

Things are looking good, we have almost escaped the rate race, and I’m ticking the days off on the calendar, getting ready for a new challenge.

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