I read on the huff post today, that David Cameron has ordered vans to drive through London, with the publicity written on the van, immigtants remember that you can go back home.The Prime minister hopes to go for
ward and have vans running around the entire country within a few months.
So it is happening in England too.
Lynnette I have been here for over ten years now and the amount of people who say I would love to …now I just say you have one life one chance thist is it …what do you want to do with it and hey what’s the worst that can happen …the less you have the harder you will try…fact
hello Lynette, I would certainly encourage you to to work and live in France- it can be frustratingly difficult for 'foreigners' (as the French like to call anyone who isn't) particularly on the job front- UK has zero-hour contracts, France has similarly ridiculous work situations but on the plus side there are so many benefits. You may want to consider Montpellier/Languedoc region (beaches, nature etc) Food is always a good option, though complicated on the bureaucratic side, cleaning would probably require a basic level of of French and a diploma of some sort (I am NOT kidding). I hope I haven't put you off, good luck!
Had similar experiences in the metro in Moscow- actually felt a hand in my pocket- which was empty! They ran off when i lashed out and shouted F*** OFF! Then I saw hordes of similar types round the foot of the Eifel tower. Unfortunately and during our honeymoon my wife's handbag was snatched in the Paris metro not far from Pere Lachaise- there was not much in it but the reporting took a slab of time. Mind you this is better than gangs of knife gangs experienced by my sons in London. One of my sons lives in Istanbul now and it seems quite safe there, despite the riots.
You did the right thing. I saw these people performing on the tourists in Paris last year, one tried it on with me, so "I put a flea in his ear".
Most French people were fine with me, you get the odd one who is a bit "off" but I just put that down to life. There a few in the world I avoid as well, we can't all like each other. Very soon I will be starting to look for a new home in the South West of France. I lived outside Paris for fourteen years so I hope the South West or Brittany will be a little slower way of life.
I seem to remember from my stats class that you can make an impeccable though erroneous correlation between coal production in the UK post 1945 and the Antarctic penguin population for the same period.The joys of statistics.
David absolutely correct, in my days as a Marketing Prof (and in my books) I always advised my students in the research areas of data.stats call them what you will, should always be viewed with caution and above all be aware of the source.
My Marketing Health warning.
Both Companies and media manipulate like mad. I have often found that Inventories can also be great works of fiction!
Not all the statistics are published, as news is manipulated. Mind you it's possibly a good thing in view of the apparent(!) increase in the number of nutters about.
Drove through it last year- have to agree. Not only is it a blot, but there is now the constant noise of air and road traffic.
Slough was alway lousy, mass immigration just accentuated it. Does anyone else recall that Slough Estates was always called 'The Dump'?
Summed the place up for me. Total blot on the landscape - literally. Just look around it and see some beautiful countryside and then there is ...........................!!!!!
I seem to recall some yonks ago about crime in London (particularly) which showed/indicated that most crime (and define that how you will) was committed more by locals living locally against locals rather than it being 'exported'.
I do recall it mentioning that on race grounds it was usually blacks on blacks, whites on whites etc.. Mind you if my memory all so serves me, which is a dangerous assumption these days, this also related to times where personal transport was less car oriented than today.
Then again we are back to Lies, dam' lies and statistics aren't we? I also recall someone far more erudite than me - in that 99.999% of the population out there, saying that "Data, if tortured long enough, will admit to anything!"
Now that's a truism if there ever was one?
Cate, we are country people and would not dream of living in a town, let alone a city. If we make a comparison it is like with like.
We wouldn’t dream of leaving anything unlocked, especially now as la crise is really starting to bite here in southern Burgundy.
Hi Tony,
the challenge was to present reasons why I see the benefits of being in France as opposed to the UK. In answer to your question no I haven't been to the Hebrides (but I have seen the sunrise over Mount Everest). Yes I have been to the Lake District as my family come from Cumberland, and yes I have investigated the half-timbering in Warwickshire, Lancashire and the stone of Yorkshire. I used to love the pubs of England before the wretched games and slot machines overwhelmed them.
Yes I have been to the Cheddar Caves, and Devon and Cornwall, and have spent boating holidays on the Norfolk Broads in my yoof. I have also done hopping in Kent and had glorious pissups in Clacton and Southend.
I have also produced numerous illustrations and paintings of the UK - several of which were 'legally stolen' by the authorities there as part of the assets of a London Wine Bar that went bust and just happend to have my works on display there. So I don't speak from ignorance or non-knowledge of the UK - just non-preference for the place.
Oh, no I have never drunk English wines ' c'mon, I'm busy doing my best to support the French industry!
On the basis that you say you and your wife fancy moving to France what is that attracts you to the place? I thought my reasons were fairly all-embracing.
Tony,
If you life “on the park” or “West of Havant” then your crime statistics will predominantly be based around White UK Males. Move North of Basingstoke and this will change significantly. Of course I can only comment on those who were remanded and or sentenced not those who wee cautioned and or bailed.
In both Horndean and Chichester we did not suffer as some parts of the UK have. Just take a drive through Slough to see how it can go badly wrong!
Note to self…Don’t upset Cate or Maria.
What a pair of feisty fillies. But, as you often are, both bang on course.
I think we all have our individual reasons for “making the move” and often need to sit up and smell the coffee, how I miss Starbucks etc, when those days of boredom and or homesickness sweep over you. The UK has many faults, too accepting in my mind, and the same can be said for France. however, France provided most of us with an opportunity to retire, start again or change direction in our lives. I also cringe at some of the comments made by some on this site who have obviously been let down by life, are jealous of others achievements and are looking to find fault to make them feel better about themselves and the life they have chosen. Additionally Blighty bashes that retain a British passport stating “I haven’t got round to changing it yet” make my blood boil. If Blighty is that bad surrender your passport and severe all links.
Notwithstanding these few I think what C & J have put together is an excellent source of useful information.
What I was saying Cate was not some passing fashion about taking wine with meals but the basic English Common Law right to walk the common highway without interference from any Constable. Similarly there is no offence in English Common Law regarding names/identities. I may call myself whomsoever I choose. It only becomes an offence in Common Law if I do so for nefarious purposes. However this is for a court to decide.
As to thugs the Border Agency has a public record of its agents,, having illegally restrained and caused the death of illegal immigrants being returned to their country of origin.
The majority of so-called illegal immigrants in the UK I believe are in fact visa overstayers. However the forces of the Right eg Immigration Watch aka BNP in suits conflate asylum seeker, visa overstayers and real illegal immigrants ie. those who have been smuggled into the country, for their own nefarious purposes.
I suppose that I wasted my time as an historical geographer but that which i learned was that no legal or physical barrier will, in the end, prevent the movement of people. So I supppose that the best thing in the long or short run is to make them legal and make them pay taxes.
Hi Lynette
Welcome on board! I would start a new discussion on this subject as your post may well get lost within this one - sure you will get lots of input!
Catharine x
I have two brothers. One is black. One is white. Guess which one would (regularly and for no apparent reason) be stopped by the police?
And no this wasn't the 60's - 1980's Surbiton.
The Border Agency does not have the power in law to stop and search at random they can only act on information received , i can remember in the 60s walking home from a dance hall with mates at 2.00am and being stopped by the police being asked where we had been and where going at that time in the morning it was thought of as normal now its harrasment, racist, against our civil liberties whatever fits at the time