Has the penny dropped (as fast as the Pound)- Brexit is a disaster

Greta

There's quite a bit of "I'm alright Jack" here. If Brexit doesn't affect you at all - so far - I can well understand that you never give it a thought. Others haven't got that luxury.

I'm not keen on the expression "I'm alright Jack" as it carries negative vibes. I don't think anyone from the UK on this thread is exhibiting self-centered complacency or one-upmanship here. On the contrary, many of us are unhappy and disappointed with the way Brexit has turned out, and I don’t think anyone is saying that life is cushy for them. (I know I am severely out of pocket every trip abroad to the tune of a few hundred £s over the stupid dog travel certificate, I know I have to wait an age these days to get my own passport checked and stamped, I know my DS experiences difficulty in finding enough engineers to fill the vacancies on his team), and yes, I agree that all these issues are due to Brexit.

BUT, my own situation in the bigger picture is good, and I refuse to spend every day moaning about a few inconveniences or getting vexed about problems which are worldwide and nothing to do with Brexit.

Greta

There's quite a bit of "I'm alright Jack" here. If Brexit doesn't affect you at all - so far - I can well understand that you never give it a thought. Others haven't got that luxury.

Apart from the “luxury” of criticising and damning from a “safe distance”.?

There’s being realistic and there’s catastrophising. .
Our present day issues doubtless have myriad causes - who is to say how things would have been
IF Brexit hadn’t happened
IF the pandemic hadn’t happened
IF Putin hadn’t started a war in Ukraine
IF there wasn’t a global recession
IF Boris Johnson hadn’t stuck to his previous day job - only wishing.

There's quite a bit of "I'm alright Jack" here. If Brexit doesn't affect you at all - so far - I can well understand that you never give it a thought. Others haven't got that luxury.

Germanshepherdsmum

Yes, the donkey …

I am perfectly happy here near the coast in England and Brexit has not torn my peaceful retirement asunder. I’m not remotely jealous of someone who decides to live in Switzerland and lose a hefty chunk of their pension courtesy of the exchange rate. I have no idea why anyone would be jealous of that. I don’t fear for the futures of my child and grandchild either - I have no reason whatsoever to do so. Strange notion. I can honestly say that I never think about Brexit. I have far more absorbing interests.

I agree with all of that.

fp, you used the words "deflection from reality".
A strange thought and strange phrase.
Is that what you might be doing too?

If you do have these problems, I do think there will be at least some GNs who would try and help.

There is a lot to be said for contentment in life. And personal peace.

And young people who made the huge mistake not to vote, are truly hacked off, and won't make that mistake again.

Yes! I've just found the first positive of the Brexit vote!

Dinahmo

It seems to me that the more one tries to explain one's situation, the more many of think that there is a problem with our lives for some reason. Reading a lot into a few words.

I have only ever once, or maybe twice, met someone on GN being purposely obtuse when I tried to explain a particular situation of mine.

The final comment of Fleurpepper's, in a few words, about jealousy is enough to make things abundantly clear to people.

Fleurpepper

Calli 'I know that their cattle are far more free-range than any cattle in Europe.'

oh this made me laugh out loud - come and have a look, I say. LOL!

🤔

Why is that funny?

Yes, the donkey …

I am perfectly happy here near the coast in England and Brexit has not torn my peaceful retirement asunder. I’m not remotely jealous of someone who decides to live in Switzerland and lose a hefty chunk of their pension courtesy of the exchange rate. I have no idea why anyone would be jealous of that. I don’t fear for the futures of my child and grandchild either - I have no reason whatsoever to do so. Strange notion. I can honestly say that I never think about Brexit. I have far more absorbing interests.

green eyed monster, go figure

What is that supposed to mean? 🤔


why in the name of Jesus, Mary and the wee donkey should anybody here be jealous of you?
No reason at all!

But that reminded me - has the donkey arrived yet?
Now, that was interesting, hearing about the donkey 🙂
Any news?

Of course, and many reasons probably, Deflection from reality, green eyed monster, go figure
This is totally out of order.
Are you seriously accusing members of GN of “the green-eyed monster” - why in the name of Jesus, Mary and the wee donkey should anybody here be jealous of you?
Shame on you for this arrogant and totally unfounded accusation. In the words of Mr Knightley, chastising Emma “This was badly done”

green eyed monster are you for real?
You’ve been informing us for I don’t know how long that you’ve lost 60% of your income. That’s not something to envy.
Your children and grandchildren might have to escape from the country of their birth. Again, not something to be envious of.

Just ignore- and leave well alone if it bothers you.

Please do leave us in peace!

Dinahmo

It seems to me that the more one tries to explain one's situation, the more many of think that there is a problem with our lives for some reason. Reading a lot into a few words.

Of course, and many reasons probably, Deflection from reality, green eyed monster, go figure.

This thread is not about anyone who has chosen, or had to, for any reason, leave the UK. It is about the UK and its citizens, who have been lied to and been deceived- and who are suffering the consequences. And about their children and grand-children who will pay a much heavier price.

Snap election coming up? Or just 1 year to wait- and big changes will be afoot. I believe Starmer will try and improve the relationship with the EU, and will probably fail. And then? When the % of the electorate who is clearly very unhappy with the hard Brexit we ended up with, and the massive damage inflicted on the country and individuals, will request a re-think.

The generation that voted for Brexit is dying off, slowly but surely. And young people who made the huge mistake not to vote, are truly hacked off, and won't make that mistake again.

As you say, it will be time to go forwards, and find ways to sort this mess out.

Just as 'project fear' has become 'project reality', this will come to pass too.

In the meantime, leave you to it.

Dinahmo

Many of our friends who have Irish grandparents have obtained Irish passports - just in case they want to leave the UK.

Yes, the number has rocketed since Brexit, I wonder why? What is really appalling, is that many actually voted for Brexit, knowing they could opt out. Farage applied for German nationality (and was refused as he lied), and Johnson's father for French nationality.

Two of my siblings are entitled to a passport from an EU Country, they are content in the U.K.

(One is far wealthier than the other, totally different careers and situations)

Many of our friends who have Irish grandparents have obtained Irish passports - just in case they want to leave the UK.

It seems to me that the more one tries to explain one's situation, the more many of think that there is a problem with our lives for some reason. Reading a lot into a few words.

Switzerland is an expensive country to live in, but salaries and pensions are very high. But this it totally irrelevant to this discussion. Why are some of you obsessing about it, I wonder.

I'm not obsessing at all, but you seem upset because of the exchange rate between the GBP and the Swiss Franc and, most importantly, mentioned that to your family Fortunately, ours have access to other passports, and will always have two escape routes so presumably triple nationality, presumably one Swiss.
I am only presuming here, I could be wrong.

However, I am puzzled by the term "escape routes".
As if this is a country which threatens its citizens and they need to escape. 🤔

The UK has to import a lot of stuff that can't be produced in the UK
As do so many countries and exchange rates do fluctuate.

Some of my family have dual nationality so I do understand, but the cost of living has soared in many countries so Brexit cannot be the sole cause.

Fleurpepper

why be so obsessed about making this about my situation?

'it all makes sense now' - well, Brexit certainly does not.

Seems to me that you are obsessed with something in the past. Perhaps it's time to move on and find a new obsession?

Isn’t your obsession all about your situation? I believe it is.

why be so obsessed about making this about my situation?

'it all makes sense now' - well, Brexit certainly does not.

Foxygloves

^Switzerland is an expensive country to live in, but salaries and pensions are very high. But this it totally irrelevant to this discussion. Why are some of you obsessing about it, I wonder^

I think this may be at the root of your own obsession OP.
Your UK pensions while perfectly adequate or even generous at " home" - we have retired doctors and teachers in the family too- don't look as impressive compared to your Swiss counterparts.
It all makes sense now!

I believe Foxygloves is spot on.

For example: My brother is bringing, from USA very sizable pensions, by UK standards, the exchange rate is bad - however he's content because the deposits to his accounts please him here.

Switzerland is an expensive country to live in, but salaries and pensions are very high. But this it totally irrelevant to this discussion. Why are some of you obsessing about it, I wonder

I think this may be at the root of your own obsession OP.
Your UK pensions while perfectly adequate or even generous at " home" - we have retired doctors and teachers in the family too- don't look as impressive compared to your Swiss counterparts.
It all makes sense now!

Just ignore it. I can assure ou, I am not the only one who is totally fed up about 'this one' aka Brexit.

And no, I am not... fancy that!