Is Xenophobia on the rise post Brexit?

Question:- How do you silence a brexiteer?

Answer:- Ask them to list the benefits of leaving...

You made me laugh Hilary when I read your reply :-) to answer you, no, I had enough blood in my head 3 yrs ago :-) but to go on to yours and others replies - reading them this afternoon, the other side of the coin here in France from expats, appears similiar the other way round (hope that makes sense) to arguments used by people, not sfn'rs still living in UK.

Independence, control, freedom of choice. That actually is the 1 thing we do all currently have in common as individuals - freedom to choose where we live, whether to remain or leave. For the UK voters and expats it was the freedom of choice of our own vote, deciding what we had to lose or gain from using it. We still have control of whether to remain here in France, whether still living with our partners or not (yes some, not all of what you wrote later I could relate to some of my life, and I chose to leave that life as half of a couple here and like the Brexiteers had no Plan B - other than to regain control of my life. Like you It was like a weight off my shoulders once I'd made the decision and gone. A decision I still don't regret.

Some of my UK friends and family did suggest going back to UK, it was not what I wanted to do then or even 3 months ago, I'm referring to my legal action as well as BREXIT both 1 week apart.

However I have decided I need to leave now, taking everything into account. Having come to know the French culture much better than 8 years ago, when we arrived, especially in this village over last 2.5 yrs.

All above, plus reading others comments has made me realise more so that without transport, bad health and the myriad of extra French administration to deal with because of being in the CAF system here, I am better off going back to my own friends and culture in the UK. It would remove some problems that I have here, that I could cope with better in UK.

Life isn't always a bowl of roses, nor is the grass always greener on the other side - that's something that works both ways, but easier to deal with if there are more than one of you, someone to discuss things with to make better considered decisions. We are all only human and things happen in life and politics that cannot be remedied or coped with as easily as we once thought or think they could.

I nearly said 'I envy' you all your assurednes in your current day to day lives - but actually no, Envy has never been a trait of mine. I thankfully don't envy any of you. I applaud you all in your confidence - just as I have the confidence in the decisions I will hopefully put into practise over coming months. The biggest factor being my health and welfare, because after 3 years of dealing with Specialists in a joint Franglais manner, it's a health and system that is not working for me. I can't fault the help I've had through CAF though.

I shall all of course, continue to participate in SFN as and when Internet allows without being remote accessed/ Whether any of you think my attitude is Xenophobic or not I can't guess, but I do hope not, given it's not intended to be. I'm just working on my own Plan B!

John, porc is one thing my pharmacist here told me NOT to eat given he looked at my long blood test result sheets a few months ago. I asked why but he wouldn't say! So guess I'll have to forgo the bacon and perhaps have a poached egg on haddock instead - much healthier anyway :-)

When - in 10 years time Mark? The more professionals I see being interviewed, and yes I watch Euronews, Aljazeera, RT, CNN, France 24, as well as French and UK channels at varying times, there are some verŷ interesting discussions going on, all in English, except French tv of course! Italy may well drop out of the EU ultimately.

Also according to a documentary I saw more recently, the idea of a 'more united Europe' was originally spawned in the UK long before WW2. Yes it was Germany and France that made that first ALLIANCE in reality! I'm sure some historian here will say when, I can't remember now. At least we have the Olympics to discuss instead as from today!

I am not the only one who thinks that Putin is rubbing his hands in glee. I remember hearing Frank Gardner the BBC's Security Correspondent saying the same thing.

I think he has his ear to the ground more than most of us and should be taken seriously.

What a load of tosh Hilary Jane. Do you not remember Margaret Thatcher gaining rebates against all odds? We are not in Schengen, we do not have the euro.

Plus, I do not like the way you have used a woman in your analogy.

Maybe if you lived in the Baltic States you would see things differently.

Putin sees anywhere where there is a substantial Russian population as fair game.

I think you are on the verge of madness on this subject.

Shirley, if you go back to Clacton you can heckle Douglas Carswell all the better.

Hilary many experts hold the view that Putin would like nothing better than to see The Eu split up.

Remember the fall of the Berlin Wall? Also Georgia was I think, the first State to break away from USSR and become independent before other E European countries also went for greater independence, at cost to more human lives including State Leaders who didn't believe in Democracŷ when the ordinary people did!

The USSR is no more, Yeltsin couldn't stop it - it's only since Putin came to power things started going wrong in EU with the way the EC Works, to for all but for JcJ. Hence BREXIT now.

I suspect Syria actually sold its oil to Russia, that's the money that funded Isis, when the Russian supply line was closed. There are many other examples of Russian interference over the years. Turkey shot the plane down because it crossed over into Turkish air space! Putin & Assad meeting in Syria? There is no attempt certainly at present by NATO to assist or interfere - UK& USA won't take Assad out for their own good reasons at present. Probably Russia - although there was no hesitation before in invading Iraq and taking out Khomeni.

Many of of you seem to have short memories - I still think things are going on re Russia, and Putins ultimate desire to see a broken up EU. More food for thought!

pretty obvious....that Mr P is delighted....my other half does not 'get involved' but

he can see that Mr P is enjoying the divorce proceedings.

Oh no Shirley. Stop the cold war paranoia. What has created ISIS is US interference in the M/E.

Rubbish Jane. Putin is just defending his country. Why the hell is NATO required now? Why does it still,exist? Who is NATO defending us against? The Soviet Block is gone, Russia has far, far, far less weapons than the the US?

Do you really, really think Putin gives a damn. He's the only Western (because Russia is in the West) leader actually in control.

Shirley, I do not understand the complexities of your situation (CAF etc ?), but I do hope that you are making the right decision........I do understand that fighting a legal battle (is this one worth the effort ?), will be stressfull and probably contributes to your health worries....

Healthcare in France is supposed to be 2nd to none and in my own recent (hospitalised experience here and in the UK), I have had that view confirmed.....

I have no idea where you are thinking of returning to in the UK, but I recommend that you re-visit that place first, before commiting yourself.....There will be much that will be the same (comparatively lousy weather - but as your closer to the Northern end of France than I am, then perhaps, that isn't a negative factor for you)...but the atmosphere (in alot of places), will not be the same and whether you are buying or renting, you will find the cost of accomodation astronomical, compared to France. You have said yourself, in this day and age is is easy to keep in touch via cheap/toll free calls and the internet....and returning may not yield that much more contact with friends (who are often very busy with their own families)......Why is having your own transport an issue now, when it wasn't before, I wonder ? Would it not be possible to relocate to the edge of a small town (something that I may do at some point), close to where you are now and where you would have access to short taxi journeys to get around. I am thinking that would be less of a gamble, than thinking that it will be easy to fit back in and that you will be happy going back.

You are not comparing 'like with like'......Italy and Spain will always have the 'feel good' cafe culture....It's down to one thing, the much better weather ! I wouldn't swap that for another rainy day in (say) Manchester, which my friends tell me is just as bad as Ireland...

Sentimental 'codswallop'......

We will still have a friendly relationship with Europe (probably a better one) and we will still 'never forget'...

Not all families are the same...some are, or for some reason. have become 'disfunctional'...

Well, in more recent times, Cameron went over there (full of b***s and promises) to 'negotiate.......but her returned (somewhat embarrassed) ...with very little, if anything....

The US is not on Russia's doorstep.

You only have to look at the doping scandal in Russian sport to see that there is still an attitude of winning at all cost.

Putin uses the pretext of protecting the remaining Russian population in States that have left the sphere of Russian influence to invade.

Dissension is not allowed in Russia, Putin is a dangerous man.

Freedom of movement is a building block of the EU and is not up for negotiation. It is why we are able to live here so easily.

Back to fish again Hillary!

Who has told you that UK/we...... will still have a good relationship with Europe?

Is that sentimental idealism or fact?

No not all families are the same but which you disengage yourself from a realtionship

it vary rarely goes back to being very amicable.