I do wonder- is this what the Brexiters wanted?

Good post Urmstongran truly.?
Kali you are in Switzerland I believe and you used to have a flat in the UK, or maybe you still have? Or am I mixing you up with another poster I wonder. I know there was a poster who used to go on and on about unfairness because of Brexit and how it had affected them financially, but this may not have been you.
Just remember that voting to leave the EU bloc was the right of every voter in the UK and there was more to think about with that decision than those who had chosen to live in another country.

How bizarre- none of this applies to me.

I know many British people living in France, Spain and Italy who do not speak the language well after a long time there. And who would find it really daunting to have to re-take a driving test in full, in the local language- over 60 or over 70- even those who are good drivers.

Would you?

Why Switzerland? Is Switzerland in the EU? I didn't think so.

My brother in law is 74y. He will have to, if he wants to drive in Spain. Which he does! A good driver will be fine. Your friends have lived in Europe for years. They will already be experienced and well used to the road signs and markings etc. It really ought not to be too difficult to sort out.

Healthcare is fine, as the excerpt from the French government has indicated.

Sterling didn’t tank as you surmised months ago so pension exchange rates are still decent - not the 1 for 1 as some doomsters were prophesying saying ‘all these pensioners won’t be able to afford to continue to live in France (or wherever).

It’s time to take a deep breath and be much relieved that things are not as dire as forecasters assumed!

Urmstongran

growstuff

Oh dear! Yet another fairy tale! The EU have had accounts audited. You really shouldn't believe all the scare stories you read!

They hadn’t in 2016 when I voted to leave.

They are and have been audited each year. You are confusing auditing accounts with qualifying accounts. The EU''s accounts were qualified because of some discrepancies. Those discrepancies were a tiny percentage of the EU's total budget.
Many UK companies have their accounts qualified. It's not unusual.

Urmstongran

Sorry growstuff. I can only relate about my sister’s circs. I have no knowledge post Brexit of those who choose to emigrate to Spain to live and work. Some friends of ours moved lock stock & barrel to open a bar in Benalmadena. Both aged 60y. But that was 18 months ago. Pre-Brexit and pre-pandemic. That said, they are doing okay but time will tell.

I imagine your sister, post Brexit, weighed up the pros and cons when making her choice? I think you said healthcare was expensive but affordable for them. It will have been one of the factors she took into consideration.

Someone I know aged 66y who has lived in Spain (as a resident) for 20 years chose private health insurance as her ‘peace of mind’. She has severe asthma and some degree of osteoporosis. She told me last summer, she pays €110 per month and it covers everything. Regular check ups, bone scans, blood tests, surgery when needed etc. If I lived there permanently I think it’s what I would do as well.

If your friend has been resident in Spain for so long she will be covered by the S1. The insurance cover that she pays is for top up.

My question is 'is it what Brexiters wanted or expected'.

I didn't vote for Brexit but I would say Yes, this is exactly the kind of deal that Brexiteers were hoping for.

Thank you for reminding me that I haven't had my driving licence back yet, Kali after I sent it off for renewal.
I must chase that up.

Cheers ?

And who would find it really daunting to have to re-take a driving test in full, in the local language- over 60 or over 70- even those who are good drivers.

I admit that this had never occurred to me a previously but, if going to live in another country, it would be a good idea for driving tests to be compulsory, especially if driving on the opposite side of the road to the country where you learned and passed a test.

This is compulsory in Australia except for temporary residents.

Urmstongran

Sorry growstuff. I can only relate about my sister’s circs. I have no knowledge post Brexit of those who choose to emigrate to Spain to live and work. Some friends of ours moved lock stock & barrel to open a bar in Benalmadena. Both aged 60y. But that was 18 months ago. Pre-Brexit and pre-pandemic. That said, they are doing okay but time will tell.

I imagine your sister, post Brexit, weighed up the pros and cons when making her choice? I think you said healthcare was expensive but affordable for them. It will have been one of the factors she took into consideration.

Someone I know aged 66y who has lived in Spain (as a resident) for 20 years chose private health insurance as her ‘peace of mind’. She has severe asthma and some degree of osteoporosis. She told me last summer, she pays €110 per month and it covers everything. Regular check ups, bone scans, blood tests, surgery when needed etc. If I lived there permanently I think it’s what I would do as well.

I didn't claim that it put my sister off her plans. She did do her research and knew what it would cost and can afford it. I was merely stating facts.

What I object to is being told that I don't know what I'm talking about and having what I know swept under the carpet by somebody who quite clearly doesn't know the facts.

PS. My sister and her husband are already planning to take Spanish driving tests. Moreover, unlike many people who move to Spain, they can both speak Spanish.

Of course Brexit was about immigration - are leave voters cheering at the story of the 24 year old Italian woman ? - put in a detention centre, phone taken away, put back on a plane to Italy for the temerity of coming to the U.K. to help her NHS doctor brother with his children.

Oh, but she was an immigrant, not an ex-pat.

U.K. citizens aren’t locked up in prisons when they arrive in an EU country - there’s the difference.
www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/13/eu-citizens-arriving-in-uk-being-locked-up-and-expelled?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Just imagine the outrage and hatred if U.K. citizens were treated the same in EU countries.

lemongrove

Good post Urmstongran truly.?
Kali you are in Switzerland I believe and you used to have a flat in the UK, or maybe you still have? Or am I mixing you up with another poster I wonder. I know there was a poster who used to go on and on about unfairness because of Brexit and how it had affected them financially, but this may not have been you.
Just remember that voting to leave the EU bloc was the right of every voter in the UK and there was more to think about with that decision than those who had chosen to live in another country.

Ah, now the penny’s dropped. Thank you.

lemongrove

Good post Urmstongran truly.?
Kali you are in Switzerland I believe and you used to have a flat in the UK, or maybe you still have? Or am I mixing you up with another poster I wonder. I know there was a poster who used to go on and on about unfairness because of Brexit and how it had affected them financially, but this may not have been you.
Just remember that voting to leave the EU bloc was the right of every voter in the UK and there was more to think about with that decision than those who had chosen to live in another country.

Are you poised to restart the hate campaign, lemon?

You are, of course mistaken, both in your description of the former poster's circumstances and the identity of the one you were addressing here. But clearly ready for the off. Have you alerted the other pack members too?

MerylStreep

lemongrove

Good post Urmstongran truly.?
Kali you are in Switzerland I believe and you used to have a flat in the UK, or maybe you still have? Or am I mixing you up with another poster I wonder. I know there was a poster who used to go on and on about unfairness because of Brexit and how it had affected them financially, but this may not have been you.
Just remember that voting to leave the EU bloc was the right of every voter in the UK and there was more to think about with that decision than those who had chosen to live in another country.

Ah, now the penny’s dropped. Thank you.

Jeez, here comes the first reinforcement. Well done lemon

How very rude of you MaizieD ( and I may add...what does my question to another poster have to do with you.)
Kali has answered my post, so that’s the end of it, why are you stirring in this way, disgraceful!

Kali2

Oldwoman70

Kali2

Free Movement of people agreed with India in exchange for Deal?

Are you objecting to free movement of people from India or is it every country you object to

I have no problem with it. My question is 'is it what Brexiters wanted or expected'.

To answer your question, I think the vast majority of people who voted Brexit did so with immigration in mind. This isn't to say those people are necessarily racist but Britain is a small island and our infrastructure has been put under considerable strain trying to cope with the amount of immigrants coming here. Perhaps if your life has been adversely affected by this you would vote Brexit in the hopes that this out of control immigration would either stop or be hugely reduced.

MerylStreep

lemongrove

Good post Urmstongran truly.?
Kali you are in Switzerland I believe and you used to have a flat in the UK, or maybe you still have? Or am I mixing you up with another poster I wonder. I know there was a poster who used to go on and on about unfairness because of Brexit and how it had affected them financially, but this may not have been you.
Just remember that voting to leave the EU bloc was the right of every voter in the UK and there was more to think about with that decision than those who had chosen to live in another country.

Ah, now the penny’s dropped. Thank you.

I gather from Kali’s response that the completely wrong Penny has dropped.

PS. My sister and her husband are already planning to take Spanish driving tests. Moreover, unlike many people who move to Spain, they can both speak Spanish

Well that’s great. My sister & her husband who have retired there are taking Spanish lessons. Sensible if you live there. We don’t of course. We just enjoy extended holidays but over the years have picked up a decent enough vocabulary between us - especially if ordering in a bar or restaurant!

Mind you, on the Costas I find that (a) the Spanish very much want to practice their English! and (b) lack of fluency in the Spanish language doesn’t detract from the grey spending power which is very much appreciated by the Spanish bar & restaurant owners! All these people spending their pensions brings a huge boost to their economy. I read tourism accounts for 12% of the Spanish GDP!

I can’t wait to go back in July. My sister rang me yesterday. It’s 26°C in Casares (behind Estapona) wall-to-wall sunshine for the next 10 days. Summer has finally arrived in Spain!

I wish it had arrived here Urmstongran as my newly planted hanging baskets are dripping with the constant rain!

Anyone who settles in another country should make the effort to speak at least some of the language.
Anyone who now applies to live there (post Brexit) should accept that things are different, and those already there will have to adjust to any differences, not easy if they are very old but help should be at hand. UK voters had to decide what they thought best for the UK and the people that live here.

Totally agree lemon and as my excerpt from the French government website showed last night - even post Brexit it’s quite do-able! Some people just look for gloomy negatives.

Well here’s a Brexit positive in the news this morning to counterbalance:

“Britain will bounce back from coronavirus faster than the EU, according to the European Commission’s latest economic forecast”.

Seems our economy is about to surge! Boris is right on this. I think there is a real sense of optimism in the UK. Well, mostly.
?

I’m certainly about to surge anyway? looking forward to a more normal life from next week, seeing friends and grandchildren and going out and about, having a snack in a cafe, or a pub lunch etc.

The surge will come from the savings made by the better off during the past year.

The poor will not be able to benefit as they have no savings.

It is thought that the surge may be short term because once the savings are spent, the economic downturn and job losses will affect growth. Growth lead by consumer spending is not viable in the long term, unless growth in the economy is due to factors other than consumer spending.

I am hoping that Sunak follows the Biden lead with regards to the economy, and supports growth by putting money into the poor’s pocket on encourages the economy by state spending in various sectors. USA using this fiscal policy has almost got back to pre-pandemic recovery.

No sign of Sunak following that lead yet, but I live in hope.

^Anyone who settles in another country should make the effort to speak at least some of the language.
Anyone who now applies to live there (post Brexit) should accept that things are different, and those already there will have to adjust to any differences,^

And the rest, and the rest. Just get on with it. That's the life they have chosen.

No one could have predicted the havoc wreaked by covid.
Not many predicted the emerging repercussions following Brexit.
Fair enough.
But surely those living abroad have had time to reassess their situation and either try to get home or adapt their ways.

You can't be having the benefits of two systems or lifestyles. You have to realise things evolve differently in different countries and at the end of the day. Factors need to be taken into account on a regular basis.