Across the Channel

Sadly, I have no doubt about this. Racism and the division of people along lines of difference seems to be a feature of human nature. Even as a white male I experienced it when a kid in post-war London: my father had a German accent. It happened again to my wife when we moved to a small village in Oxfordshire, where she was the incomer with the wrong accent, and marginalised for the first few years.

Just a couple of days ago I had quite an interesting discussion with a colleague. My suggestion was that mixing people of different origins required careful management and guidance to enable a successful integration. She’s 2nd gen Pakistani, growing up in Birmingham, but found it quite unthinkable that people might have difficulty because the places they had grown up in were changing and taking on facets from other cultures, changing the way they looked and even in some cases, even the way they smelled. She absolutely could not understand that someone might feel displaced in ‘their own country’.

This is of considerable interest as someone who wants to ‘fit’ in France when we go, and not stoke anti-foreigner feelings. The area we have our house has a significant proportion that voted for Le Pen last time, and I can quite imagine why they might want to do that, even if I might prefer they didn’t.

It’s really important for us not to just see racism as simple bigoted stupidity.

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Yes I do.

My family in the Borders are very clear about being Scots.

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It is much easier to fit in if you come from similar backgrounds. I come from a farming family and Jim is a professional. We have retired professionals from Lyon in our village, indeed our Mayor is one and beef farming families too.
Take your time and be friendly but do not expect too much.
It always amuses me when townies from UK say they want to become friends with the locals when they have absolutely nothing in common and do not even speak the language. They would not dream of socialising with small farmers in UK, but think they will become bosom buddies in France or wherever.

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As are mine, passionately so.

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Here in the Languedoc, Parisians are somtimes referred to in a disparaging manner as “le gens qui descends”

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We have Parisians with a maison secondaire next door to us in Charente and they are really nice, charming professional people… Couldn’t ask for nicer neighbours.
We did have English neighbours in that property and I’d pitch the Parisiens against them any day.

My previous partner was from Hawick and she was ‘from the Borders’.

I have an aunt and uncle just outside Hawick who live in a peel tower ( in case the English get up to no good again). And more in Selkirk, Melrose, Gala.
In the very early 14th century one of my ancestors had his hands chopped off by the English for reiving not far from Hawick.
That side of my family is Scots, other people can call themselves what they like :slightly_smiling_face:

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Ah but there were peel towers on the other side of the border too.

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Pele towers were built as defences against the Border reivers.

Above is a defensive church with a pele tower on the Solway coast just west of Carlisle. It dates from 1303., but this morning on our weekly randonée, I went past a much older church, near Conques, folllowed by 13 kms on mediaeval routes through the woods, two ascents of around 600m and even worse,two descents. This evening a pair of seventy year old knees are aching.

'… we can, in all likelihood, date it back to the 5th or 6th century. What we are certain of is that it already existed in the following century. Several texts mention that Dadon, the founder of the abbey of Conques, withdrew to Grand-Vabre where he was buried around 755, ’

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I think we need to watch out for those dodgy types on the southern side of the border :slightly_smiling_face: rather than honest Scots rationalising movement of stock.

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Oxymoron there Vero? :wink::joy:

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Or to defend England’s goal against Brazilian footballers… :smiley: :smiley: (RIP Edson Arantes do Nascimento aka Pelé)

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Think the original pele towers performed more successfully

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Agreed

Hi, we retired here 8 years ago having explored France for years-camping, caravanning & motorhoming. Memories are good in UK. I have a research-based doctorate & am fascinated by different perspectives. The Sweeney, Endeavour & News Programs can be fascinating. I was brought up to believe Tories Robbed the Poor to Look After the Rich. With exceptions still hold that view.
We live in Gironde in a small commune & often skint but so glad we moved. Brexit seems to be taboo in UK re their shortages as is Rejoin or opinion polls. Still do not like UK society portrayed by the media although son & daughter seem happy enough there. Best Wishes

Hi Roger, hope you are well. Eight years in the 33 ? Where does the time go ?
My son has since moved to the Gironde , a commune near to St Emilion and is loving it.
I see The Rams are still treading water !

I am there right now ( to be fair I am often there as my office is there!)

Nice place though a bit too touristy for me. My son is in St Sulpice.