Escape to the continent

Funny how views differ....me, I see it as a bit of escapist fun. Enjoyable to see pretty parts of the continent and wonder idly just how these people will really cope with living there often without any real idea as to culture differences and language. We relocated from Thames Valley to deepest Herefordshire.....and that's been quite a big enough shock to the system

It's a bit of froth - and half of them won't actually make the move, when they delve more deeply into all the implications. They get a free holiday and a chance to be on TV - whatever turns you on!

Watched the couple looking at places in the Algarve last night and really felt that I would pay good money NOT to live in the places that they raved over!

I have quite a few friends who have done it, so I am interested to see what they have had to face. Many of them have had quite a few hair-raising experiences, but few have returned. A friend moved to the Algarve a couple of months ago - and his bottle gas supplier went out of business last month! The neighbours still aren't talking to them, so in the meantime, they have been to an animal rescue centre and acquired some puppies for company and to get them out of the house.

It's not for me, but the reason they did it was because houses are so much cheaper there that they have released a large amount of equity from their old house, so can afford to retire while in their mid-sixties. I think they must be settling in now though, I haven't heard from them as frequently for the past couple of weeks.

I would hate to live where they are, though. It looks far too hot already. I would miss the grass and trees.

I used to live and work there, it is not an easy place to live and quite expensive too. It is also very cold and wet in the winter, a lot of people do not seem to realise that Portugal is not a mediterranean country, and the Atlantic winds are very very cold.
I used to have a supply of old childrens jumpers behind the bar on the complex we ran to lend to parents Who had only brought T shirts, even in the summer. It gets cold in the evenings .

As far as I'm concerned, the Continent is fine for holidays and once I used to pore over ads for properties in France. Then the GC came along and my joints started disintegrating. No contest! Britain wins every time.

I know that area in the Algarve very well. The storms in winter can be horrendous, look at where it is. Same with the heat in August.
She couldn't understand why the kitchen in one of the properties was dark, it's the heat, stupid.

Forgot to mention the language, really hard. I think some people think because it's next to Spain it's not much different. Oh yes it is.

Having just driven back from Longueil in Normandy, I'm mightily pleased my brother has escaped to the Continent so we can enjoy free holidays.

My brother lives on Lanzarote. He's had to put up with Cameron on holiday, and jellyfish this week.

Why did he have to 'put up with Cameron and the jellyfish'? Does he live next door to where Cameron is staying? Could he not stay indoors and polish the silver or do something else useful or go out and avoid the Cameron entourage? Is he involved with Cameron and his holidays? Strange thing to say I have to 'put up' with Gordon Brown living near me - but I never see him - my choice

A friend of ours moved to the South of France about 20 years ago and, now that he is no longer in the first flush of youth, he has nothing but praise for their health service. He's had 2 knee replacements and surgery on a fairly catastrophic broken leg with brilliant results.

They still seem to have a tendency to show properties that are way above the buyers' budgets. Then they get very smug about the way the couple love the really expensive house. Well I would love quite a lot of houses I can't afford - the skill would be finding something I liked that might possibly be within my reach!

Fat cats with loadsa dosh to splosh. As irritating as the UK version. Not my cuppa cocoa!