Relationship between France and UK

Gosh UG you're quite a comedian.

A loveable chancer is all very well, Josianne, in some circumstances but not pretending to run the UK.

By the way, Google told me - The Pacific Tilt Square Hitch 4 Bike is a hitch rack for easily transporting up to four bikes. It has been designed for use with Hayman Reese style square hitch tow bars.

Of course the whole world isn’t watching the UK and politics here, am guessing the average person in France is supremely uninterested ( as the average person here is supremely uninterested in French politics.)?

I think you have touched a nerve Urmston ?
Certainly AUKUS has enraged Macron and he doesn’t take slights easily, an over proud man I think.

I'm watching Strictly. Is the Pacific Tilt a move in the tango?? ?

Urmstongran ????

Oh I do like a good laugh on a Saturday night ???

I think when the UK was within the EU, France could keep up the pretence of having equal weight as Britain. But now we are out and starting to do stuff, successful vaccination procurement and roll out, free trade deals, AUKUS, pacific tilt, a faster growing economy, far less youth unemployment, companies like Nissan, Unilever & Shell locating to Uk rather than staying in the EU, they cannot hide their reduced stature. It must make Macron smart. And his election is sooner than Boris’. - Hence the tub thumping.

I suppose it might work in persuading people to vote for him Josianne, but the serious business of government? I think not.

Excuse me if I dwell a bit on the clown imagery, as used by Macron about Boris, and in Kali's acquaintances' comments.
Clowning about is obviously a concept which is totally alien to the French and they dislike it. Maizie is right to say that on the other hand many in the UK actually like Johnson for it. It intrigues me. I believe that Boris is actually winging it and flying by the seat of his pants, (I don't know if the French have an expression fir this?) It is madness, sheer folly, but it pulls people in and somehow it works. It's that weird ability he has to fall down, laugh at himself, then get up again and dust himself off, only to start all over again. French people prefer to be dead serious, and if that works for them, so be it.
As the lady in the video hinted, the two are not really compatible and never will be.

FarNorth

^I don't think that the English have yet got over the Napoleonic wars...^

Oh, is that what it is? - dawning realisation for this confused Scottish person.

I recently heard a 'joke' about the French, told by an English character in an audiobook.
The other character didn't see the joke and neither did I.

But there's a centuries-old animosity? Okay.

Johnson as PM, unfortunately, means the joke is now on the whole UK.

I expect there are one or two English who still have a bit of a crow about Flodden, or Culloden...

Mea culpa, mea culpa, for making a throwaway remark in my earlier post...

I don't think that the English have yet got over the Napoleonic wars...

Oh, is that what it is? - dawning realisation for this confused Scottish person.

I recently heard a 'joke' about the French, told by an English character in an audiobook.
The other character didn't see the joke and neither did I.

But there's a centuries-old animosity? Okay.

Johnson as PM, unfortunately, means the joke is now on the whole UK.

Shortly after the Referendum we mentioned the result to some French friends. The first response was " we thought that the English don't like talking about politics" and were surprised when told that we often did. Hearing and reading some of the comments concerning the Bexley by election it seems that many English just aren't interested and I just don't get it. To me politics and who is in power can affect our lives for many years.

The French, certainly the ones that we know, are more knowledgeable about UK politics than many Brits are. They were very fond of imitating the lamented Speaker John Bercow. They do think that Johnson is an idiot and/or clown but, short of agreeing with them, there is not much that we can say. Better things to talk about.

The only thing that really gets up their noses are the resident Brits who voted for Brexit - there are a few couples in our commune and they don't speak to the pro Europeans. One lady said that the pro Brexit Brits made her angry with their talk about the quality of life, how much land they have and how big their houses are.

A European army would be the perfect way to solve the issues in Calais and Dunkirk and crossings, no? Brilliant idea.

No Josianne, I did mean 'the whole world' not 'tout le monde?.

Yes, Maizie and of course his name is very close to that of Bozo the most famous clown ever.

Josianne

Maybe we use the term "a clown" universally to describe so many politicians, because politics itself is very much like a circus?

I wouldn't use 'clown' to describe any politicians other than Johnson. There are far more appropriate ways to describe other politicians.

The big problem is that Johnson has always had a clown persona and people in the UK actually like him for it.

I think it's a good/politer way to describe a flamborant/useless leader

Maybe we use the term "a clown" universally to describe so many politicians, because politics itself is very much like a circus?

I’m just amazed that anyone is surprised that the EU rules have to be complied with, we decided to leave their system and invent our own rules.
It’s going to get worse as we diverge, we now have a new UK safety system to replace the “CE” standard, that’s a total waste of time. Because nothing will be legal in EU, in practice all manufacturers will use the CE standard, madness.

Yes, they call him a lot more than a fool- cover their eyes, tap their head and say 'vraiment toc toc' - a 'cloon' (as it is pronounced) is the most polite term they use- I wouldn't dare print the others (2 of them start with 'c' too).

know a clown when they see one.
Actually Kali the French press and other French publications are often obsessed with applying the word "clown" to prominent figures across The Channel. Maybe that is where your neighbours are picking up the idea. From my own reading I know that Prince Charles has occasionally been referred to as a clown by the French. Likewise Biden called Trump a clown, Angela Merkel used the word too I think to describe an incompetent Italian politician. Maybe it's just the "in" word, I wouldn't get too hung up on Boris being given that label.
Oh, and not all clowns are fools.

Urmstongran

The world loves a trier.
Kali2 you are obsessed by Brexit & Boris. ?

You do make me chuckle with your intensity. Are you sure your friends discuss it constantly or is it you who brings up the topic to which they very politely respond?

My money’s on the latter!

You can put your money where you like ...

Yes, they know how much it means to us, and how it affects us in so many ways- and probably the reason why they always mention it. As said, people from very very different backgrounds, some who are interested and knowledgeable,, and others, like my neighbours, who don't understand all the issues, but know a clown when they see one.

Seems like you are totally obsessed with supporting Brexit and Johnson - but do not have any good points to list about either of them. Still never seen any list from any of you Brexiters re positives about Brexit- apart from 'he got Brexit done' (even if we go to hell with it).

Hastings always make me laugh- as it was never about the 'French and the English' but about ruling over England by a Viking who had settled in France, and another Viking cousin in England.

paddyann54

for "UK " read England ,I dont know any Scot ,Irish or Welsh person who complains about "the French" not now or any time in my 67 years

Well I was referring to those with skin in the game.
Not those of us on the side lines. Hence the 'column inches' expression. Meaning those who look to gain attention through the media.

The world loves a trier.
Kali2 you are obsessed by Brexit & Boris. ?

You do make me chuckle with your intensity. Are you sure your friends discuss it constantly or is it you who brings up the topic to which they very politely respond?

My money’s on the latter!

Strangely enough JRM seemed not to have heard of Hastings. Funny that.

Smileless2012

It was as important to me as it was to you to mention it to begin with Maizie and it would appear, also important to you to mention that it was "an Allied army, of which the British was not a major component".

I've told you why I mentioned it.

I'm very curious as to why you thought it necessary to point out that the British were on the 'winning' side?

Had to laugh at the JRM tweet that Coastpath linked to. Some Brits have indeed never got over the Napoleonic wars. And Agincourt, FGS