The U.K. 2022

halfpint1

Maudie, not true in my region.
Some country villages in France have looked lijl

I'm in the Dordogne. Many of the villages have shops that are closed. We're lucky because we have an excellent baker and two restaurant/bars. Yesterday we had a delicious 3 course lunch, on a beautiful terrace, shaded with large trees and on the river. 17,50 euros per head. The day before we had another delicious lunch which was 14,50 euros for 3 courses, at a different brasserie.

Food has gone up in price, especially fresh food because of the long drought and the exchange rate will make a difference too.

Mollygo

In France, according to the newspapers, their health system is having much the same problems as we are, shortage of doctors, shortage of hospital spaces, delayed appointments. I don’t know overall about energy costs, but our gîte owner was ver apologetic about the increase in costs.

In France, we may have to wait for a bit but we will get to see someone fairly quickly.

I saw my doctor, by appointment, 5 days after calling. That included a weekend. 20 minute appointments. It is possible to see him without an appointment by turning up to the surgery and he stays until everyone has been seen, well into the evening sometimes.

I have been suffering from pain in my shoulders and upper arms. I saw an osteopath and whilst he was asking me had I done anything different and when did it start, I realised that it had started after the 4th jab and not gone away. After he treated me he said that he'd dealt with many patients suffering from bad effects after the covid jabs.

I didn't get better in the jabbed arm but I decided I probably needed a different treatment because I realise that it is the muscles or tendons not working properly. Anyway, the doc gave me an ordnance for xray and echogram and one for the physio, whom I'm seeing this pm. He also gave me a letter for a rheumatologist and told me to make an appointment now, just in case because sometimes there is a long wait. I could cancel it if necessary.

We can book on line with whoever we chose and, having done that, the system will email if there is a cancellation that you could take.

For serious/terminal cases people are seen fairly quickly. One friend, who died a few months ago, wanted to die at home and so it was arranged that a nurse would come in 3 times per day. She didn't get that many because of covid but every day one nurse came to her home.

Being of a certain age both my DH and I are developing many aches and pains and some other problems but in our experience, although there are some shortages now, the system is much better than in the UK, I'm sad to say.

varian

Boris Johnson might be called a "caretaker" PM. But he doesn't care. He's just a taker.

Where’s that ‘Like’ button when you need it?

maddyone

Richard Murphy is a very left wing person who has advised Corbyn according to Wikipedia, so it could be argued that he has an agenda.

I would accept your assertion, if you had a clear alternative argument showing how incorrect his article is.

However, you don’t and neither does the very right wing tory party.

So in the absence of anything sensible from the right, I will listen to those who have at least addressed and recognised the severe crises facing this country.

Richard Murphy is a very left wing person who has advised Corbyn according to Wikipedia, so it could be argued that he has an agenda.

Yes, much cheaper in France.

Those areas of France which have been deserted for decades as people left for the towns, became very touristy, as people from UK bought cheap because the French did not want to live there. Brexit has made it very hard for many, who have left. I avoid those regions, where shops and restaurants are British owned, and hardly anyone speaks French. And prices in proportion. Just depends where you go in France.

Sorry that was for mollygo

Looked like that for years

Maudie, not true in my region.
Some country villages in France have looked lijl

And France have capped energy price rises to 4%.

Maudi, They have reduced their fuel prices quicker in France. 1.70€ for diesel yesterday. We plan to fill up here before we come home. But you’re right about the rest of it and one place we went to yesterday, recommended for its lovely pedestrianised town centre was full of boarded-up shops, apart mostly, from vape shops, and bar presse tabac. Thankfully, the historic buildings were still standing.

Not true on fuel prices Maudi it is cheaper in France.
autotraveler.ru/en/spravka/fuel-price-in-europe.html

It's a fallacy that things are better in France. We toured France a month or so ago and I can tell you diesel was roughly the same price as here, food in the supermarkets was more expensive as was eating out. Clothes shops more expensive especially jeans and outdoor gear. One place we stayed Foy Le Grande was really run down with empty shops and boarded up cafes,previously a few years ago it was booming so similar to some places in the UK.

I’ve just read G Brown’s article in the Guardian and it makes a lot of sense, and stresses the urgency of the situation crises don’t take holidays. In addition to energy price cap suspension he suggests windfall profits taxed before the money exits the country, amongst other things.
No one can be secure when millions feel insecure and no one can be content when there is so much discontent.
Long article worth reading.

Gordon Brown

@GordonBrown
· Jul 30
I’ve seen a confidential document from Lynton Crosby’s lobbying firm which advises Boris Johnson to ride roughshod over every convention and standard of propriety to pack the House of Lords.

In France, according to the newspapers, their health system is having much the same problems as we are, shortage of doctors, shortage of hospital spaces, delayed appointments. I don’t know overall about energy costs, but our gîte owner was ver apologetic about the increase in costs.

Thank you for this post Whitewavemark, I could have written myself, word for word. This country is on the edge of the abyss, so many things are wrong, some unforseen but made much worse by being so badly handled by this government. I cannot watch either of the two candidates any more, the prospect of them running the country terrifies me. We have a very small family and I have some dear friends who I do not want to leave but take that away and I would sell up and move to France. Yes they have their problems too but not like here, we must be the laughing stock of Europe.

My daughter commented yesterday thst Martin Lewis used to be the go to person if you wanted to save on your holiday. Now, he’s the only person talking sense about the energy crisis. Since lockdown 1, She and her husband work from home. Their employers have closed offices, so there’s no option to return tow office based work.

Gordon Brown has also said that the price cap mechanism should be stopped and government put a complete stop now, on any further price rises.

Then look at temporary nationalisation whilst we get to grip with the crises, just as we did with the banks in order to help their customers from losing all their money.

An article written by Brown in the Guardian - which I haven’t yet read.

Good post, Iam64.

grumppa

Personally, I feel a sense of relief whenever Johnson is out of the country. He has never been of any real use when he was in it.

Good point grumpa, it does feel better when he isn’t here.

Except, we are paying his wages and the country is in crisis.

Is it too much to expect the PM acts and recalls Parliament? Sorry, of course it is too much to expect Johnson to put the country first

Fleurpepper

Rosalyn69

We are currently leaderless. I feel like I’m on the Titanic.

Well he did say it would be a Titanic success!

Probably the only truthful thing he’s ever said!

Rosalyn69

We are currently leaderless. I feel like I’m on the Titanic.

Well he did say it would be a Titanic success!

Personally, I feel a sense of relief whenever Johnson is out of the country. He has never been of any real use when he was in it.

Just remind me how much energy costs have gone up in France compared to the UK?
Yes, I am fully aware of that, and was just saying that Johnson could have taken a leaf out of Macron's book and found a compromise before the prospect of a cold cold winter.
It's les feuilles mortes in more than one sense this year.