for Expats in the EU who voted remain, to be relly upset and angry at neighbours and 'friends' who have voted to leave?

Jura, it may well cost you a lot to travel through France, but you drive free of any charges at all in Britain, so long as your car is registered in a different country.

Jura,

£32 for a year’s road tax is excellent value, if you live in Switzerland. It’s not good value at all if you happen to be driving through Switzerland to Italy and back again, and that’s the sum total of your motorway usage in Switzerland in a whole year. I’ve been in the queues of foreign cars waiting to hand over this sum of money just to drive through a tiny country. No wonder it’s such good value for the Swiss.

Urmstongran; how sensitive of you to not divulge to your neighbours in Malaga that you voted for something that will make their lives more difficult. Especially those that don't, unlike you, have another property in the UK. I would have thought you'd be proud to tell everyone how you voted.

juta, what was the resolution that you were looking for when you started this thread? There are 215 posts, going over and over the same ground. You asked if you were being unreasonable. The majority of responses indicate that you are. But you're still demanding answers; offering more scenarios of the unfairness of it all; providing more examples of how hard life in Switzerland is for ex pats. What is it you want us to say?

Well Jura "what can't be cured must be endured" and crying over spilt milk will get you nowhere - and frankly, gets tedious

And of course, of course - there are awful tragedies happening all the time, to people far and wide, to children, to friends old and young we know ...

does it mean we should never discuss anything else, or complain about other things that affect us or others in our day to day life. Massive threads going on and on about HRT, and all sorts of niggles and ailments and hurts - like not being invited to every part of a wedding, and the like. But never read anyone say ' suck it up snowflake, what's done is done' ...

MawB- people know, because people boast about it very loudly, in pubs, in meet-ups and clubs...they gloat and they tease constantly- like on GN à la 'suck it up snowflake' on and on. It is very easy to know.

And no, this is not an ordinary election- one you can reverse in a few years' time or before...But the point is, those who voted for it are now complaining bitterly about being affected themselves. And that is what really upsets those who tried to explain that it would happen ....

Coolio- using our UK address to get travel insurance would be fraud- and would mean we would be repatriated to UK. And we just don't do fraud.

maddyone- those driving on Motorways in Switzerland have to pay 40.- measly francs- it costs us 200.- to drive up to Calais and return on French Mways- and about the same to drive down to Tuscany. So I'd say Swiss Mways are brilliant value- superbly maintained and cleared, no litter...40.- about £32 for a year is fabulous- even if you just cross the country to go beyond. But how is this relevant to this thread? The Swiss do look after their own well- but not (and fair enough) those who have spent their life working in the UK or anywhere else, and didn't contribute to the system. Oh I wish I had a Swiss pension - which would be about 10 x the UK one, especially the teacher's pension. But hey ho.

So, those expats voted to make themselves poorer, more insecure, possible lose fundamental rights, possibly to have to re-take driving test, not be able to travel to another country at a later date, not being able to travel with their dogs, etc, etc. Their democratic choice - what they should not be doing is gloat and wave the St George flag in the face of those who didn't- but especially not now complain and say 'oh, it is affecting us, our lives and our rights- how very dare they...'

Those who did not will not give them much sympathy and may even give them short shrift. Ursmstongran knows what it feels like and says 'this is so toxic' - and at least has to sense to keep her vote and views quiet.

BTW maddy- the UK being an Island, it would be so much easier to do so as everyone drives via clear ports- and I do think foreign cars and lorries should be charged to use MWays in the UK- and then provide proper facilities, so you don't have 'yellow' bottles everywhere with tons of litter, which is a total disgrace. But this is another topic for another day.

CoolioC,

A well written post. I also do not understand why the OP cannot buy travel insurance using her British address.

The Swiss have always looked after their own population excellently.
However, this sometimes puts others at a disadvantage ie Jura and the insurance.
Another example is when driving through Europe, as drivers approach Switzerland on the motorway, vehicles are stopped and charged a full years motorway tax in order to travel through Switzerland, sometimes the vehicles are on route to Italy. Compare this to Britain, where anyone can use motorways with the only charge being yearly road tax, payable only by those who live in Britain, not by visitors.

No Maw, YANBU.

CoolioC. If you are in receipt of a U.K. state pension you are still entitled to free NHS treatment wherever you live in Europe.. Thisis why U.K. pensioners still get their EHIC card from Newcastle and not their country of residence.

Sorry CoolioC but that is wrong. If you have a UK state pension and the UK is defined as your competent state (basically where you paid your contributions) then you are entitled to an S1 form. This gives you cover in your place of residence and allows you to use the NHS in the UK.
www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/moving-abroad/planning-your-healthcare/

Although I voted to Leave in the referendum when we are in Spain we are mindful of sensitivities and never divulge how we voted. Some, like us, enjoy having a foot in both camps. Others have taken up residency and are anxious about the possible prospect of paying for healthcare out of their U.K. pensions.

It is such a toxic subject I think it’s wise to hold your own counsel when in groups of people who may not share the same viewpoint. Common sense really. (See (1) of Maw’s last post).

In the meantime an ambulance has been bombed near the city of Ariha in Syria, fleeing refugee families killed as they rest by the side of the road, people displaced from their homes.

No Maw; YANBU.

Jura
Have quickly read through all posts so sorry if I have missed something here.

You mentioned you have a property in the UK, so, why can’t you buy the required insurance using that address? It may be rented out, I don’t know however, if it is, you can still you it.

You have UK pensions, surely you have these paid into UK bank accounts therefore if you need to prove an address you can use this?

I can see you have a foot in both camps and therefore choices, it’s not difficult to get around.

Use of the NHS system is about habitual residence. Just because you have a UK state pension and live abroad does not entitle you to use the UK NHS system. It’s all about where you reside. Here if I produce my passport or EHIC it doesn’t matter which, they then know to bill Leicester UK. The UK hospitals do not ask for proof of name and nationality which is a failing of the NHS because they could then bill the relevant country. I suppose it’s easier for EU countries with their ID cards and the fact they have to show these for everything government and a fiscal number. The Uk loses millions because they do not ask for proof of residence and identity. I digress.

It shouldn’t be tricky for you Jura, you have choices. I think your conversation really is about those who voted out, who live abroad and are now moaning? Which ever way anyone voted it doesn’t matter now because come Friday it’s all over so we all have to get on with it.

Those living under the radar have to think of new ways to remain so.

It is really going to affect their relationship with those who voted for those changes that will impact daily lives in such a significant way- especially in those communities where there are large numbers living in close proximity
Just to get back to the OP for a minute , and ignoring the red herrings of travel insurance for expats in Switzerland or those sadly bereaved in France,
1) why would anybody necessarily know how their expat neighbours or friends had voted?
2) the same applies to U.K. residents- jobs have already been lost or are under threat, offices have or will shortly be relocating to other financial centres, some factories have moved or are moving production to mainland Europe
3) is there of necessity bad feeling where people’s political persuasions differ (other than on GN?)
4) U.K. expats in EU countries are all “in the same boat”so why should living in proximity to others create a problem in their relationships? (Also see number 1) above)

AIBU if I don't get the point of this original post?

I have just watched the Holocaust Memorial Day on BBC. A very moving programme. Can’t concentrate on holiday insurance at the moment so may well have missed a bit. jura do you have to pay the 500 a month each for every month or do you only need to pay it when you go on holiday?

maw the truest post on this thread.

I found the statement opening this thread curious, so ignored it. However, now seeing so many posts -199 at the time of writing - I’ve had a longer look.
What an earth is it meant to mean? That I should worry about the potential effect on people I’ve never met because they’ve taken a risk by moving abroad in their older years?
That I worry they may become adversely affected by life happening in its usual random unpredictable way?
We all had our own reasons for voting and mine - to leave - was made after much research and consideration. The effect on myself and my family and friends i.e.the people that matter in my world was part of that consideration.
So ... apparently a few of those that took that known risk are having a hard time of it. And should I ever encounter those unknown people, they might be angry. Well, blow me down, someone let me know where I where I’m in the wrong because I can’t see it myself.

Do you know what?
Being widowed is 100% whatever the circumstances, there are no degrees of bereavement.
There is no easier and no harder.

No Fennel. they are people I know personally.

One more point and I'm going to bed.
As far as I know the story about 3 widows was from something I wrote.
jura mentioned a widow early in the thread.
I could tell you the stories of my 3 friends who were widowed, and it's just as hard in France as anywhere else. Probably harder, because of the language and legal differences.

I am afraid I can't regard the loss of over 20,000 euros from our income (monitored on our financial spreadsheets) since the 2016 vote as a normal fluctuation

I think fluctuations in exchange rates are something that has to be factored in if you decide to relocate overseas and have income originating in the UK.

For those who left to live in some countries eg Australia, their State Pensions remained static at the rate they were on the day they left.

If one has friends or neighbours and values that relationship, it seems to me very shallow to blame them for the outcome of the Brexit referendum or to allow their views to alter that relationship. Substitute “friendship” for these famous lines from one of Shakespeare’s loveliest sonnets - No. 116
Love is not love
which alters it when it alteration finds
You cannot blame your friends, neighbours or indeed anybody for the vicissitudes of life, or to put it bluntly when ”shit happens”
So, tout court AYBU? Are they?
Yes.

My daughter's friend possibly won't be alive by then. His lovely young wife will possibly be widow.

Regardless of Brexit, EHIC, S1 or any blame being laid at an erstwhile 'friend's' door.