Little Britain - the state of England today

MissAdventure

Well, you'll be having a long wait then.
I never justify myself to people who don't matter.

MissAdventure
?

Some people always demand others justify themselves. It's way of gaining control.

I once stopped to intervene when a man was pushing a woman, she jumped into her car and he told me to fuck off.

I once told a man off when he threw an empty cigarette packet on the ground. I got the same reply as you, Galaxy. That was predictable because Keeping Britain Tidy is not what we do.

Are they in an area with lots of UK migrants Callistemon? I think that there are places where people perhaps recreate a "Little England", a bit like French migrants in areas of London. It isn't like that where we live in Normandy, we are the only Brits in the village. Having said that, this area as a whole feels very close geographically and historically to England. I keep trying to retire from teaching English, but people still keep asking. When you spend a lot of time researching and interpreting UK culture and events for advanced learners, it feels a bit harsh to be told that you can't understand what is happening in the UK unless you live there.

I must say I do feel pretty powerless to change things for the better. I do write to my MP and she sometimes replies but keeps repeating tory mantra. I have volunteered over the years, mainly supporting young people and I know this has been appreciated. Big changes must come from the top. I don't subscripe to the ”wealth will trickle down” theory. I can't remember if that was one of Margaret Thatcher's convictions.

Are they in an area with lots of UK migrants Callistemon? I think that there are places where people perhaps recreate a "Little England", a bit like French migrants in areas of London.

No, on the edge of a French village, I won't say where but fairly well south. And worked in Brussels too and speak fluent French.
It seems a few Gransnetters also keep a flat in the UK from what I've read on here.

Others I know of (acquaintances) in Spain do live rather as you describe but haven't heard of some of them for years .

I think some people keep a flat in the UK as an investment / somewhere to live if they need to return. We would never have been able to afford to do that! Bit like having a second home abroad I suppose. I think it is fine - just a different way of living your life.

Greta

*Callistemon*: ^"It's only the ones in France who seem to keep a foot in both camps, so to speak, a home in France and a flat here as do several posters on here.
So they don't seem properly settled in either country, and I wonder why."^

Well, I wonder if it's more of a British thing.

The Scandinavian group I belong to mainly consists of women who like me moved to Britain, married a Brit, started a family and settled here. Nobody I know still has a home in Scandinavia. Of course we still go back for holidays to meet family and friends. I have been going back for one 2 weeks' visit a year but my next door British couple manages to visit their villa in Portugal for an extended stay every year. So I actually think I am more settled in Britain than they are. Also, they still haven't picked up many words in Portuguese.

I don't think it's a British thing at all, Greta. But of course it's a common view and we're so used to being told that we're just too lazy to learn other languages, because we're British, that we tend to accept it.

I've come across many people in my working life who've come to live here permanently and haven't learnt more than a couple of words of English. We had grandparents picking up children at my school who'd lived here for 50+ years and had to have interpreters provided if they'd a problem. Our pupils hailed from 25+ countries, including, as it happens, French speakers from Mali, Cote d'Ivoire, The Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

I think it's more a case of people who don't have to work and engage with their new community not having to bother if they choose not to - obviously most retired people have this choice. Some will still make the effort and commit to their new country, others won't. When I worked in Europe (not France), of course I'd to learn to speak the language fluently or I'd soon have been out of a job. I lived in a major city, but there was no English community there at all. This was in the days before social media, but I certainly didn't spend any time searching out the English newspapers, or worrying about the nonsense (and nonsense it was) spoken about the UK in the local media. I went back to the UK three times over two years to visit family. My new country was my home and I seriously thought I would be living there for good at one stage - everything about it seemed vastly better than the UK when seen through the rose-tinted specs of a young newcomer. After two years I'd got a more balanced view and couldn't wait to get on that homeward bound ship.

Not getting a vote in the United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum of 1975 didn't strike me as unfair in any way.

I think there have always been people in some areas of Spain and France living under the radar in communities with lots of other English speakers, not in the tax or health system in their main country of residence and relying on EHIC and Freedom of Movement. Now, of course, they have been caught out and have had to scramble for tax and health official status and documentation to get residency cards. I have always thought it totally wrong, but happily you don't get many of those in Normandy, it isn't exactly a life in the sun. ☔️

MayBee70
I put demanding ( because that’s what your doing) that posters inform you of what they do for charities and volunteering is just as rude as asking someone what they earn or how much they have in the bank.

I refer you to MissAdventures answer to you.

Mamie

I think some people keep a flat in the UK as an investment / somewhere to live if they need to return. We would never have been able to afford to do that! Bit like having a second home abroad I suppose. I think it is fine - just a different way of living your life.

Interesting Mamie. I think if you are moving abroad you should be prepared to go the whole hog and not keep a home back at home. It's almost like you're hanging on to it as a possible future escape route let alone as an investment.
The other thing, touched on by the OP, is the difference in property values in France. Most French people buy a house to live in, not as an investment, not to make them richer. I dislike the way property ownership in the UK is often about greed and making money. French house prices do not increase at an alarming pace like in the UK and I think this helps young French people who might want to stay in the area to buy a home.

MaizieD

Chewbacca

By 'here', didn't you mean the country you're living in, mokryna? Not the UK?

Oh! Following mokryna's posts @ 21.43 and 22.34 I understood it that she is resident in the UK MaisieD. Maybe not......

Try re-reading 21.43.

I have lived here for over 40 years with some time in China. But my heart is in England and I want my ashes scattered on a Surrey hill. Some of the family is in the UK and the rest in France. I stay here because of family and the health system.

Callistemon

^I’m still waiting to hear about what people on this thread have personally done to make this country a better place.^

Perhaps we could start with you, MaizieD

You'll just have to wait. This is not a virtue contest and I'm not joining in.

If people can't see that change needs to come from the top, from the government (that means voting for a party that cares about the country and its citizens) there's a big problem.

Oh and I don’t like the school system here and officialdom.

MaizieD

Callistemon

I’m still waiting to hear about what people on this thread have personally done to make this country a better place.

Perhaps we could start with you, MaizieD

You'll just have to wait. This is not a virtue contest and I'm not joining in.

If people can't see that change needs to come from the top, from the government (that means voting for a party that cares about the country and its citizens) there's a big problem.

So if we answered your demands to hear about what people on this thread have personally done to make this country a better place. we'd be entering a virtue contest?

Be warned - best not fall in the trap, folks!

Hmmm

I accept that many of you are doing as much as you can but many aren't breathtaking arrogance and self importance

Do you want an annotated list? How far back do you want us to go? Does doing a litter pick count? Does an email to an MP count or only if we chained ourselves to the underpass railings? What about volunteering at the dog's home? In? Or out? Give us an idea and we'll get back to.

It left me

Should I prepare an acceptance speech?
Cough cough... firstly I'd like to thank my mother...

You'll just have to wait. This is not a virtue contest and I'm not joining in.

Oh the irony!

MissAdventure

Should I prepare an acceptance speech?
Cough cough... firstly I'd like to thank my mother...

I've got the champage English sparkling wine on ice ready for you to throw around, MissAdventure

MayBee70
By your own admittance you’ve hardly left the house for the past 14 months.
So perhaps you could tell us what practical help you have been to anyone /organisation/ charity.

I would like to thank Majestic Wines for keeping me well oiled during the last few years…

MaizieD ??????????