Hillary, I recall seeing written somewhere v recently (an online UK paper or poll) that more UK expats are thinking of trying permanently relocating to USA than Europe, given the ongoing terrorism here. Despite advertising organisations, I e property agents selling French props to uk expats, so of course the Prop Agents for here and Spain are going to "talk it up" saying more sales enquiries by expats for France!
Sadly I don't think we've heard last of ongoing terrorist acts in France/Europe. UK population is so laid back, always had a 'not in my backyard' mentalitŷ, meaning if the 'don't want it to happen' it won't!
Society worldwide has and is changing here and now - and very rapidly IN our lifetimes!
Vero, I totally agree with you! I'm already experiencing a change in attitude to me here in my village by the locals. Less than 1 year ago I was spoken to by all I met, now I'm virtually ignored and local drivers stare at me in my open window when driving past. Yes I definitelŷ feel v uncomfortable here now, unhappŷ even! Initially I thought perhaps it was because I was taking my landlady to court over this house condition.
Now I'm not so sure, 1st court hearing and BREXIT were within 1 week of each other. Locals obviously know about both! My big mouth probably, cos I used to talk to lady who owns the local cafe/Epicerie, stressing I had voted remain. Even she she barely speaks to me now. I'm an immigrant - the French are scared about what's happening, haven't yet seen the bigger picture.
My Departmentale Asst Sociale brought a lady from AL72 to see me 2+ weeks ago (Assistance Logement Dept 72) it makes sense for me to be in or v near a larger town with public transport, given my health and no transport problems. We were discussing the whole situation here in France, I was also explaining about the change in attitude I've found from the locals, the AL lady immediately said, small village, small minded culture and attitude - they (the French) only look after,and out for, their own here, not immigrants!
It's the same attitude that's happening now in UK sadly. Fear is over riding fact! That's why I can now understand where both Marine Le Pen and others are coming from, even why I'm viewed with suspicion not friendliness any more - I'm an immigrant! My colour or Creed doesn't matter anymore either!
Now im faced with prospect of moving nearer to Le Mans for health and transport reasons - wherever I end up, I'll still be an immigrant - so would I like to be able to make contact with any UK Expats living there, you bet I would - for my own security and safety now. I can't convince indigenous French people that I love France, I do understand a lot after 8 years living here and my personal experiences, about the culture though, which I accept, but it doesn't stop me now being worried about myself living alone in this country.
Hilary those old 'Foreclosure' houses you saŵ 'a few years ago' were probably what started the USA/UK Banking Crisis - remember Freddie Mac and Fannie Rae ?
The Mortgages were sold on to UK and other banks - who had $/£ stars in their eyes and thought theŷ had found a 'get rich quick' solution for themselves by buying up the mortgage debts - wrong! In the end the UK Gov I.e. Taxpayers had to shore up those banks to tunes of millions!
its astounding how quickly people forget the past and live only for today!
graham my 2nd reply to you have you had an Aneurysm and Brain haemorrhage with subsequent TBI as I did here in France 3+ yrs ago? I live with that with NO support, except via the Internet for research and information plus watching UK TV documentaries, interviews, news, via satellite! Yes I also can see French to and yes have spoken with local villagers in French.
1 of the major effects of a TBI is short term memory loss, making it difficult to remember things like the name of person I met perhaps only 2/3 minutes earlier!
The brain and the mind are 2 separate entities - however I don't expect you to comprehend that fact, I've had 3 years to study, research online and get to 'know myself' but language learning does not necessarily improve neural capability! Just playing computer games, reading, researching, socialising in whatever the situation keeps your mind active.
How many 'older French' do you know with active lives and minds - but can't speak or understand a word in a language other than French, Sorry Graham, but I refute your argument, quoted from stats or media, purely through my own real experience of life in a foreign country. Yes I've learnt to speak French here, I speak Frnch far better than any of the older, fitter, healthier, French who have also had from some form of brain injury or Dementia but don't or can't speak English! Wherever we were born, live, irrespective of travel, we all live with our own inbred culture!
.....and well done Daisy for posting the Discussion! Please forgive me, but the ensuing answers from so many SFN members who think they know it all, just because they (expats) "bought" their 'Dream' life/retirement (as i/we also did) here in France - are now waking up to the realities of the French System and Culture! Its all changing, slowly but surely, mainly because of the upsurge in terrorism in Europe.
The sooner expats realise that, the better! Quoting rules or customs that existed or were interpreted differently depRtment by department either now or on arrival years earlier are not much use to new arrivals here and now. We all need to open our minds, as the youngsters do, to the reality of life in the here and now - living with the reality that all multiculturalism ideology will not work for all, for many years to come and yes expats will be seen as immigrants, therefore treated as such!
Number one Jane, is the not all institutions will leave, in fact probably all will stay but with radically reduced operations. HSBC have already announced 1000 jobs moving. I'm an (ex) corporate animal myself, there is no sentiment in these decidions. Number two, regarding the old Irish/UK mobility arrangements, all bets are off. The highly mobile, well educated Paddies will have no problem moving to sunnier horizons. The UK can keep the rest :-)
Je suis français et comme beaucoup de français nous aimons les anglais m^me si parfois nous ne comprenons pas toujours leurs réactions vis à vis de notre pays.
Merci Patrick, c'est gentil de le dire. Et oui, malheureusement, Il y en a qui comprennent rien mais c'est parce qu'ils n'essaient jamais de comprendre !
Also because there was no real information on which to base a real decision.
Pensioners who had not bothered to vote for many years were seduced by false promises of more money for the NHS and the frightening claims of Michael Gove that Turkush workers were going to be allowed access to the EU in return for keeping Syrian refugees within Turkish borders.