Relationship between France and UK

Agreed Mamie and Josianne - depends also a lot on the attitude and effort made by the newcomers. Anyone who tries to speak French (or any other local language all around the world), even if they make lots of mistakes, try and buy some stuff locally and give some work to local artisans, etc, rarely has any issues.

Resentment tends to be about those who live 'parrallel' expat lives, and make little effort about the above. And this is not surprising, really.

The only negative comments I've heard French people say are about our cooking. Once they've tried it they're pleasantly surprised.

We found that the people there were a bit reserved and slow to approach us, but when they got to know us they became the most loyal friends we have ever had.
Well put Mamie, it doesn't take long after those initial early days, n'est-ce pas?

Katie59 ''There has been widespread flouting of the EU rules by the Swiss which the EU are threatening to clamp down on, they have been having their “cake and eat it” for a long time'' - I would be really grateful for examples of this. What are you talking about???

Switzerland, after 7 years of negotiations, have rejected the new framework for the formal agreement with the EU- and this is causing no end of problems. The geographical situation of Switzerland, is just as significant as that of the UK.

But this does NOT belong on this thread, as a discussion, which is about relations between France and UK.

MaggsMcG

It would help if the French would stop assisting or at least not trying to stop illegals to get on board unseaworthy vessels just to get them out of France. The fishing rights were agreed and France now decide they don't like it.

What's "an illegal"? There's no such thing.

We moved sixteen years ago to a tiny, rural village in Normandy. We found that the people there were a bit reserved and slow to approach us, but when they got to know us they became the most loyal friends we have ever had. In the more urban areas people have mostly been friendly and welcoming from the start (apart from a drunk in Lidl's who said something rude and then apologised after I replied in French ?).
I have no idea where people get these bizarre ideas about horrible French people. There never seems to be much first-hand evidence attached to their views.
We love living here and feel absolutely at home.

Josianne

The irony is, Alegrias, that these same suspicious French minds are usually delighted to parade us amongst their circle of friends and seat us at the top table, so I'm happy about the perceived differences. Maybe it's all an act to perpetuate a myth, not really worth getting wound up about.

Bien sûr.

It would help if the French would stop assisting or at least not trying to stop illegals to get on board unseaworthy vessels just to get them out of France. The fishing rights were agreed and France now decide they don't like it.

The irony is, Alegrias, that these same suspicious French minds are usually delighted to parade us amongst their circle of friends and seat us at the top table, so I'm happy about the perceived differences. Maybe it's all an act to perpetuate a myth, not really worth getting wound up about.

Kali2

MerylStreep

Maggiemaybe
Maybe it’s just in the Swiss press. ?

Not at all. Although it is particularly relevant in Switzerland now- as they are in the middle of making a similar, terrible, mistake. Geography is also massively important in this case, just as, but totally differently, as for the UK.

Switzerland has never been formally an EEA member, it has had a very soft association, where goods are supposed to go through customs but there are usually no border checks for personal travel. However checks can and are made by the Swiss at least.
There has been widespread flouting of the EU rules by the Swiss which the EU are threatening to clamp down on, they have been having their “cake and eat it” for a long time

Not in my experience Josianne, not at all. I did all the things on my list except own property there. Nobody ever made any sort of comment about us being OK when you get to know us. There was no mistrust, nothing like it.

Are we different? Possibly. But adult people don't think that being different is a reason to be at loggerheads with anybody.

What I'm going to say I mean quite sincerely - I really think some people need to get the chip off their shoulder.

I don't think there is anything wrong with anyone on either side Alegrias, just a soupçon of mistrust that is difficult to put a finger on. I have done all the above you mention, even falling in love, and getting married under French law, but the comments that stick forever are, "you British are ok, once we get to know you!" as though we somehow have to earn their approval and respect. We are each very different, which for me is fine, but for others maybe not so much.

That would be a first.

I think URMSTONGRAM needs a bit of support here. You've all done a good job of silencing her.

Been reading the Daily Mail again, probably.

Kamiso ''Probably more correct to say that everyone in your world is as obsessed as you are and desperate for the uk to flounder!''

you obviously have not read my posts about my neighbours- they are people who have no vested interests in the issues, and are not interested in politics at all. But they are now fully aware of Johnson's crazy, lying, and worse behaviour. And that truly says something!

Fernhillnana

Haven’t the French always been at loggerheads with us? There is such a lot of bad blood and horrible history between our countries. I think they thoroughly dislike us and the feeling is often mutual. We have nothing in common…

No. No. NO.

What is wrong with people that makes them say that? Really?

How many French people do your know? Have you lived there? Worked for a French company? Owned property there?

What are you basing this outlandish claim on? Allo Allo?

Haven’t the French always been at loggerheads with us? There is such a lot of bad blood and horrible history between our countries. I think they thoroughly dislike us and the feeling is often mutual. We have nothing in common…

Well I must be going around wearing ear muffs because only time anyone mentions wars etc is in history classes at school. Obviously us adults have better things to talk about not two grown men fighting over there toys they are both as bad has each other.

katy1950

I think the problem here is both macron and Johnson have big egos but the everyday English man or woman and the French man or woman couldn't really give a dam about either we all just want to get on with our lives

You're right there katy1950, the everyday English man or woman seems more interested in voting for David Ginola to be crowned "roi du jungle." Now that would be a turn up for the books.

katy1950

I think the problem here is both macron and Johnson have big egos but the everyday English man or woman and the French man or woman couldn't really give a dam about either we all just want to get on with our lives

And the Scots and the Welsh are left wondering how they got into this mess in the first place...

Macron is electioneering.

I think the problem here is both macron and Johnson have big egos but the everyday English man or woman and the French man or woman couldn't really give a dam about either we all just want to get on with our lives

There was the time he referred to a frog at a climate conference, people in the UK may have understood immediately but living in another country I didn’t. He thinks it’s funny, others are just left mystified.

As someone who, following the disaster of Brexit decided to move back to the UK after 21 years, I agree with M Macron ...how on earth does an international 'leader' and PM utter such total rubbish when he forgot his lines at an international conference and went on about PEPPA PIG......no wonder France and most of Europe think he is a clown ....I cannot believe he is still our Prime Minister,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,surely there must be another role for him somewhere (LaLaLand springs to mind ,,,,,,,,,,,,,Send in the Clowns ...or maybe they're here ............

Kali2

Josianne

his cake and eat it
Another difference on the subject of taste between us, the French say have his butter.

Seriously I can't see the whole world watching what Boris is up to. My Breton farming friends really don't give a stuff. Maybe they are too busy eating Brittany butter and just take it all with a pinch of salt (Guérande, of course).

le beurre et le prix du beurre ... et la laitière aussi

Butter and the butter money... and the milkmaid too)

I can assure you the whole world IS watching. I have coffee with my neighbours a couple of time a week, 2 are farmers and 1 a cleaning lady. And each time they say 'il est complètement tarré votre Johnson, totalement gaga' tapping the side of their head, toc toc.

They are not at all interested in politics- but they know about Johnson. And they regularly say he is even worse than Trump.

Same with all our friends- from Uni Professors, business men and women, farmers, engineers, butchers, bakers, builders, CEOs of major companies ... they all know what he is up to- and they all say he is mad as a hatter!

Probably more correct to say that everyone in your world is as obsessed as you are and desperate for the uk to flounder!

Don’t you bore yourself?