I left Ireland because back then (mid 80s) everyone did. No jobs to stay for. No prospects. I came to England because I didn'thave enough money to get any further. I found the first several years in the county abysmal. Not worse than what I had left necessarily but differently abysmal. But I was making my way. Since approx 1992 I started to get things in order (as 20 somethings do) and by now I not only have all of my friends here, but I have spent longer in this country than my native. I wouldn't take UK citizenship (largely because of the whole monarchy "thing" but I'm not hung up on being "Oirish" eeder) - as I have previously stated, where my parents had sex and gave birth is arbitrary to the point of laughable But of the things I like about this country, some include It's a small place but there is still plenty of differences geographically and culturally across the country. I like travelling around here Culturally the country is second to none IMO.Be it music, comedy, theatre - we get more here than anywhere else I've been to The diversity of the population in London is extraordinary (a cliched view maybe but no less true for that) There is less homgenity to the thinking here than I find elsewhere. Discussing political views for example with people in Hong Kong or New York I can meet very intelligent people but they subscribe to a very orthodox line. Even amongst Guardian readers in this country I find less agreement. I could live elsewhere, and may yet do so (for experience rather than any discontent with here) but this is home