With respect John that’s not what you said and the France figure you quoted is also incorrect. If you look at the current EU average inflation number it is 5.1% and forecast to rise in the coming months.
What I don’t dispute is that the UK will suffer more than most other large economies and I’ve no doubt that a recession or downturn is inevitable, the Johnson government has no idea how to deal with the cost of living crisis but then again the opposition’s idea of a one-off ‘windfall tax’ on energy companies is also flawed as high inflation will be with us for some time so what happens next year, another one-off tax of some description?
It’s disappointing that you feel unable to converse with me because of a personal dislike, people don’t always have to be best mates to discuss topics on a forum and a bit of jousting never hurt anyone, just ask any knight sitting on a horse.
Thats not true Mat, it takes a bit of time to work out which solution nets the best gain for them and the friends, relatives, neighbours etc. May not actually be a solution but they, their friends, relatives and neighbours still make financial gains.
centred on Paris perhaps?
I haven’t seen any in Charente where I live although when I travelled regularly by light aircraft to Calais over 10 years ago there were often people outside the Carrefour Supermarket (probably migrants) begging for food and travelling through Paris by road, there were many tents positioned under bridges and the like
I know about the foodbanks and all sorts of help available to those in need… both here in France and also in UK. I never said or meant to imply that France was in any way better than UK in this respect… perhaps folk have misunderstood what I wrote…
What I was/am saying is that…
Recently, it seems that there is an explosion of families in dire need, in certain UK Villages where we once lived and worked and knew/understood the dynamics… and I’m wondering why such a marked change …???
This is my original post:
"Must admit, I worry about my UK family. When I see villages I know well, now offering foodbank facilities to locals who would otherwise go hungry… I have to ask myself what the heck is going on… or rather what has been going on since we left… that things have come to this.
I can’t change things, worrying doesn’t help… yes, I know that… but, being a Mum/Nan/Aunt… I do care about the present and the future."
I think @plod misunderstood my post…
(I don’t normally get involved in anything even mildly politically contraversial… I’ll stick to Food/Recipes in future…)
Les Restos du cœur se composent de 11 délégations régionales, de 117 associations départementales et de près de 2 000 centres d’activités partout en France métropolitaine.
Though, looking at the Wikipedia page their “brief” seems to be much more than just food parcels, so I’m not sure how to translate the numbers to compare with UK food banks.
My impression pre-Brexit was that food was more expensive in France. Eating out too. Much of that is I think (hopefully) to do with better wages and renumeration but I think it is very tough out there for both consumers and producers in France.
In the UK my impression is there has been a race to the bottom for ages, and some areas suffer from a distinct lack of opportunity to buy nutritious healthy produce.
Don’t forget aux secours Catholique, secours populaire and les mairies that give out food parcels all year. In big Cities they tend to be more visible as you are pretty much anonymous to others living in the area, in the countryside they tend to be more descreet as everyone knows pretty much everyone and their families so more shame is felt. Sad From where I have a flat in Nanaterre I know of 2 within 5-10 minutes walking. The Mairie has a long list of people that receive food parcels… Food poverty in France is a real problem that is on the rise each year and not only the for unemployed, pensioners but lower wage families too.
Depends very much on where you select to eat out… the roadside friteries are generally good value for money, clean and respectable and all things are relative when looked at from the perspective of the exchange rate £-€.
If you eat where the “workers” eat and have the menu du jour… you can eat very well for a very reasonable price. We have located such places close to home and enjoy taking friends there… we know they’ll have the time of their lives and it won’t cost us a bomb.
I do try and remind folk when it’s “collection time” for Banque Alimentaire and Resto du Cœur etc…
Those who can afford to give something, anything… are invited to do so… and it is such a worthy cause.
One never knows when disaster might strike and “you/me/we” might be the ones in need.
I would add that families I meet, they are not ashamed of having needed/received help. Often folk will give… while telling me that their family/friends/whoever have been greatly helped by these organizations and now that they (or their family/friends) can afford to “give something back” they are pleased to do so.
From where I have a flat in Nanaterre I know of 2 within 5-10 minutes walking. The Mairie has a long list of people that receive food parcels… Food poverty in France is a real problem that is on the rise each year and not only the for unemployed, pensioners but lower wage families too.