Little Britain - the state of England today

Not if it’s the British shorthair I had that wee’d and poo’d everywhere and exuded huge balls of fur everywhere she moved. And killed every bird that set foot in the garden.
I can beat that Maybee. My French moggies came to live in London and took on any foxes and rats that came off the tube line into our garden. They lived the life of Riley, or should that be the life of Louis or François?

Kali2

Callimston '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.''

Goodness, did you have the same geography teacher as Dominic Raab, perhaps?

Some people moved to France for the very reason they wanted to keep a foot in each camp. be close to family and grandchildren, and visit the country where they grew up, worked and loved... until they retired. And know they can jump in the car, a train or plane, to be home in a few hours if needed or desired.

Who would never ever xonsidered going to NZ or OZ, or even USA, for the very reason mentionned.

By precising my post you have altered the meaning, Kali2

I said
We've got family living in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, America and France.
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.

I said that is my experience in our family - and some Gransnetters who post on here too.

I suspect my geography is as good or perhaps better than most.

Who would never ever xonsidered going to NZ or OZ, or even USA, for the very reason mentionned.

A very underhand remark to make knowing how many Gransnetters who have family living in farflung places whom they are missing very much at the moment.

But not unexpected.

Flags for everyone! Take you pick....????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

?????????

Work that one out * Chewbacca*!!

''Who would never ever xonsidered going to NZ or OZ, or even USA, for the very reason mentionned.

A very underhand remark to make knowing how many Gransnetters who have family living in farflung places whom they are missing very much at the moment.'

you miss the massive difference here- truly. It depends who made the decision. If children move their family so far away, it is their choice, not yours. And oh yes, I feel the pain- I am not sure I would deal with this very well, especially if for health, or even financial reasons- visits would be very rare or impossible.

Very different if the parents/grandparents decide to move to nearby France or short flight away from UK- because they want to stay close and have very regular contact and visits, and also host children/grandchildren in their abroad home- to share the adventure and joy with them.

Callimston
I may need to apologise, Kali2 your post was addressed to another poster, not me!

It was a typo, I am afraid, and will apologise for that ;)

Friends who moved to Eastern France spent months discussing all the ins and outs, pros and cons, with their children and grand-children, and the move was a joint decision.

Oh, so it was to me?

MayBee70

mokryna

I did breed cats many many yonks ago which the offspring must have kept many people company in recent times. Will that count?

Not if it’s the British shorthair I had that wee’d and poo’d everywhere and exuded huge balls of fur everywhere she moved. And killed every bird that set foot in the garden.

Even British cats are coming in for it now! Try a French one, I expect it’s house trained and ever so chic.?

I suspect Dinahmo you are now regretting starting this thread.?

Perhaps we should all clasp hands and have a rousing chorus of Land Of Hope And Glory at this point.....

What is that strange flag Ellianne ?

Ellianne

Work that one out * Chewbacca*!!

I know!

Should I tell - is there a prize for the winner?

Yes, tell, tell!
We can work out some sort of prize later....

Bretagne!

(The little one)

Brittany Ellianne?

Black and white, like the Cornish flag.

Dinahmo

I have picked upon England since I am not as aware of what is going on in the other countries of the Union with regard to the state of the nation.

I've been sitting in my home in France, with tempests outside, watching the Channel 4 News. It was so depressing.

90,000 families living in sub-standard temporary accommodation.

Racism

Water companies deliberately releasing sewage into rivers and sea, despite all the rules and regs and heavy fines.

Cuts to overseas aid - by one of the richest nations.

30,000 children in care moved last year away from their local area, schools, support networks etc, often without prior warning (not on Channel 4)

Cuts in the arts lessons in schools.

Football

We came to France, bought a plot of land and built a house. I guess we were lucky to do so. It was an adventure, something to stop us getting bogged down in our retirement. At the time we didn't intend to stay here but now I'm not so sure. The England that I loved has disappeared.

In the early fifties we moved to Dorset. Parents under 30 with 3 children. We got a council house, possibly because of my Father's job - I don't know. In those days we had one bath a week and didn't have individual towels. The loo was in the bathroom. in the early sixties we moved to a brand new house, with, joy o joy, a second separate loo. Today my house has 3 bedrooms and 3 bath/shower rooms. And at the same time there are tens of thousands of families living in sub standard housing. WHY?

The govt is picking on subjects like Voter ID. statues and BLM because they know that it will stir up a large proportion of the population. But they're not as important as other things that are happening, like the slow but sure privatisation of the NHS. How many of you have only been able to access your GP (if you have one, as we did in times gone by, who knew oneself) by video calls or Zoom or whatever?

The water companies are privately owned so they don't give a toss. Southern Water has been fined £90 million - so much but yet not enough to prevent them from continuing to release sewage into the sea. Channel had a map showing where there were releases along the south coast today. At least a dozen. it's lucky it's raining and there are heavy seas so people won't be swimming there any time soon.

The behaviour of football fans towards supporters of the opposition. Forcing their way into the stands reserved for the Danes and being abusive. Pulling a Danish mother's hair and calling her a whore and spitting at people.

I care about these things and yet I don't live in the UK at the moment. Why aren't you all caring about the wrongs? And, if you do, why aren't you doing something about it?

You can tell me that it's always been like this but I've been on this earth for 74 years and it's about times things changed.

Who says people aren't doing anything about it. Just because you don't hear about it there are millions of us who actively work behind the scenes on the major problems going on today

I am glad you have a nice life however there is many of us me included who object to you saying no one does anything because they do.

Not everyone needs plaudits and honours for what they do. If it isn't sensational and newsworthy drama then the media don't want it as it doesn't sell

Correct Bretagne, not Grande!
Even many a Breton doesn't consider themselves French!

Different language - rather more like Welsh!

Ah but Keffie Dinahmo qualified that observation by saying I accept that many of you are doing as much as you can but many aren't So, it's all hands to the pumps.....

Never forget -

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

For any favour yet another thread where England is referred to as the UK or Britain it's not it's England ! The UK is Northern Ireland Wales Scotland and England and Britain is the UK minus Northern Ireland #gladtobeinScotland

I blame David Walliams and Matt Lucas.

Yeah but, no but, yeah but no but, don't say it's not a thing cos it is a thing!
And stop giving me evils!