OK, the results are in, done and dusted. England now has a Conservative Government - and also for the foreseeable future? The feared UKIP have been dismissed as has been the Front Nationale here in France.
So for all of us British expats in France the world is lubbly-jubbly - or is it?
Putting on my Jeremiah's hat, I am wondering.
Two things stand out in my mind, and they are a) the now unavoidable in/out vote of the Brits re.the EU. and b) The inescapable fact that no fewer than 67% (according to a recent poll of the French) believe 'there are too many foreigners in France'.
A very unscientific straw poll I have conducted of a few French, including family members would seem to indicate that the Brits are seen as a disruptive and not altogether welcome partners in the EU, so few would seem sorry to see them/us depart. The bRits in the UK for their part seem to think that those of us living in France are opportunistic at best, and tax dodgers at worse. Envy at our perceived lifestyles being well to the fore in this regard.
To my ancient eyes we have no allies in France nor in the UK, which leaves us exactly - where?
It is nice to think we are loved or even liked in France, but is this really true? Many years ago it was acknowledged in many areas that thanks to the Brits and Dutch many communities that were dying were recuscitated by the appearance of the Gites etc of the dreaded 'foreigners', but such memories are short.
So, in totally realistic terms and assuming, not altogether unrealistically, that Britain could/will leave the EU, what exactly would you do?
To me it would seem that at best we would be required to be Registered Aliens, and at worst Undesirable Aliens. Those of us with French partners might have a reasonable possibility of taking French Nationality, but that is not a 'given'.
How far have you gone in your thinking on this? If Britain DOES leave the EU an awful lot of options go with it - no shifting to other countries in the remaining EU as it hasn't, or wouldn't have been their choice.
So what are you considering YOUR options are in the event of a vote to leave the EU?