I do wonder- is this what the Brexiters wanted?

??. It happens!

Urmstongran

^Flying to Malaga to spend time in your second home, no matter how tiny, is not the small, simple life confused^

Its very nice, I don't grudge it to you, but if you think that's the small simple life then there is something deeply wrong with society.

Ah, but it is for us! We had a semi detached house, sold it and bought 2 small apartments. Technically anybody who owns a house (most on here I think) could do the same.

And it is a simple life. Less cleaning, small utility bills, no garden or fence panels, guttering to maintain. It’s so simple to live our way of life you wouldn’t beli very it Alegrias!

A few years ago I heard Polly Toynbee talk about some research she'd done that showed that the more "comfortably off" people were, the more they thought they were ordinary and everyone was like them.

Anyone, anyone at all, who has a second home anywhere, is privileged. Maybe when you get there life is all relaxed and lovely, but the very fact that you think getting on a plane and staying in your second home is "small and simple" the more it convinces me that there really are people who have no idea how the world works.

BTW - I've been to Andalucía many times. Clue in the user name. I know exactly how life is there.

You’re joking right?

Look how people with one (bigger) home buy furnishings, creosote for fence panels, plants for their gardens, paint for their guttering, slates for their rooftops, carpets for the extra bedrooms, towels for their en suites, my goodness you have no idea!

A flight to Malaga with Mr O’Leary Alegrias? £25 return for me in July. The price of a takeaway!

I know you don’t mean to be rude Alegrias but I have found justifying my quite do-able and simple (really!) lifestyle somewhat hurtful.

Ah well.

I wouldn't go on one of Mr O'Leary's planes if he paid me . Jet2 for me.

I don't expect you to justify your lifestyle at all Urmstongran. Wish I could go to Malaga right now; Peña Juan Breva is calling me I'd also never comment on people going abroad at the moment, just to be clear; everyone makes their own decisions and I'm certainly not going to question that.

But there are people with no homes at all; there are people who have lost everything during the pandemic; there are people who can't feed their children. So when someone who is popping off to Malaga for "the simple life" tells me that anyone can do what they do, forgive me if I don't agree. While I'm at it, I would also ask for forgiveness for telling them to get more compassion, and gratitude for what they have.

Thousands of retirees could have done what *Urmstongran did, but they haven’t got the testiculos.

Urmstongram This is not a dig at you but I'm interested to know what you do with your time when you don't have a house to look after or a garden to work in. I can't imagine it myself, which is why I'm asking.

MerylStreep

Thousands of retirees could have done what *Urmstongran did, but they haven’t got the testiculos.

Tengo los testículos, yo también tengo el dinero.

And I'm grateful for it.

Kali2

Gret news re The Tunnel bail out. You do realise, of course, that if France puts up the money, they will have control of access, etc, for imports and exports, and more.

I think you will find that the bail-out applies to Eurostar (rather than the Channel Tunnel) which was majority owned by SNCF anyway
From the FT
Eurostar has landed a £250m bailout from shareholders including the French government, securing the future of the struggling Channel Tunnel train operator, despite the UK’s refusal to join the rescue

In a statement on Tuesday morning, Eurostar said it would get £50m in shareholder equity, £150m in loans guaranteed by investors, and a restructuring of £50m of existing loans

“ Everyone at Eurostar is encouraged by this strong show of support from our shareholders and banks . . . The refinancing agreement is the key factor enabling us to increase our services as the situation with the pandemic starts to improve,” said Jacques Damas, the company’s chief executive

The package is led by France’s state-owned railway group and 55 per cent shareholder, SNCF, along with Canadian institutional fund manager Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Hermes Infrastructure and the Belgian state rail operator

The UK, which sold its 40 per cent stake in Eurostar in 2015, did not take part. Grant Shapps, transport secretary, said in February that Eurostar was “not our company to rescue” given it was majority owned by the French state

Urmstongran you do not have to make excuses your life choices to anyone.

Envy comes in many forms and disguises, it’s not very pleasant however the attempt to justify it.

Envy, yes that's right. At least it's not faux outrage ?

Urmstongran
Please ? stop apologising for the very sensible lifestyle choice you made.

Yes Urmstongran please stop and enjoy what you've worked so hard for.

Dinahmo

Urmstongram This is not a dig at you but I'm interested to know what you do with your time when you don't have a house to look after or a garden to work in. I can't imagine it myself, which is why I'm asking.

So do both properties come with resident staff? ???

Just such an odd question Dinahmo.
Do most people spend their time on housework, house maintenance or working in the garden?
I certainly don’t

Dinahmo
You could ask me what we do when we take the motohome to Spain / Portugal for 3 months in the winter.
You just live a very relaxed life. We are lucky that we tow a smart car so that enables us to explore villages where we can’t take the motohome. Watch uk telly ?

GrannyGravy13

MayBee70

I thought Malaga was on the amber list which meant that although it wasn’t illegal to go there the government advise people not to?

So it is, but if you read had Urmstongrans post correctly our usual in 6 weeks time when hopefully it will be on the green list as predicted.

I did read it correctly. I’m not stupid. Just because it’s predicted to be on the green list doesn’t mean it will be. I just asked a question.

How do i spend my time Dinahmo?

Good heavens, there’s wine to be drunk, people to see, meals to be eaten, books to be read, walks or swims to be had, places of interest to visit. Like most people’s lives really. Just very little housework and no gardening!
#lazygran

Anyway .... enough about me.
Must be a pretty boring read for anyone looking at this thread!
?

Dinahmo

Urmstongram This is not a dig at you but I'm interested to know what you do with your time when you don't have a house to look after or a garden to work in. I can't imagine it myself, which is why I'm asking.

Well, lots of people spend a lot of time on Gransnet
?

Excuse me, must go and wash the kitchen floor for the 2nd time today.
No watering this evening as it's rained, thank goodness.
?

I do take it that it was a facetious question, though, Dinahmo.

I'll take a bet that those criticising Urmstongran who mention their houses and gardens that need so much constant maintenance own properties worth at least as much as both Urmonstongran's properties together.

Not saying that your two apartments are not lovely, Urmonstongran but from the few things mentioned on here, there are some extremely well-heeled posters who are often the first to criticise others' life choices!

I your vintage dining set btw.

Urmstongran
Who knew that a small apartment in Malaga could generate such strong feelings.
I notice that other people on this thread are keeping quite about second homes.

Nought wrong with having a second home, and making the choice not to have lots of maintenance or a garden. Each to their own- enjoy.

What is wrong is the 'I am alright Jack attitude' re others who have made different choices. Who have worked hard and done lots of planning, and now find all the goalposts have moved. Now THAT smacks of hypocrisy and total lack ot empathy for others.

*What is wrong is the 'I am alright Jack attitude' re others who have made different choices. Who have worked hard and done lots of planning, and now find all the goalposts have moved. Now THAT smacks of hypocrisy and total lack ot empathy for others.^
It is not a case of 'I am alright Jack attitude' at all.

The goalposts are the same for Urmstongran as for others.

It's a question of riskzztaking too. I remember durhamjen's words when Brexit was approaching that it depends on your attitude to risk. I thought about that a lot.
I am Mrs Cautious but I'd love to be braver.

And if we all had crystal balls we'd worry even more.

Excuse typos please, I am trying to silence the TV.