Noisette

Nope....it's all the non-conforming fosses emptying out onto the fields, and the French men peeing absolutely anywhere but into a toilet cuve ?

Why failed dreams? Perhaps they realised their dreams, lived very happily and are buried in their local cemeteries? Or are stored in a local colombarium? Or their bodies were accepted by a local teaching hospital? Then there's always the compost heap ?

The article is behind a paywall/publicitywall but I get the gist. Another (temporary) option is to sell off belongings, until there are no more. It'll take a while for things to get that bad here, but it's on its way.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your family, ALBF, and fingers crossed that you escape the lurgy!

Alternatively, this comparateur was very helpful recently when I needed quotes for car and house insurance...https://www.lecomparateurassurance.com/ A lot depends on whether you're a 'pay the price and claim for everything' person, or a 'cheapest premium because you never claim' person ☺️

Agent provocateur sums it up, but a loveable one ?

Harvest or lay? ? Do you ever find, when you're chatting with yourself, that you both end up confused? ???

The 2.9m statistic includes domestic second home owners as well, yes? Ah...the Dutch ? God help the French if they have to rely on them to replace the Brit contribution to the economy!

I do hope you are able to get over here soon, HD. @ Gluestick...I appreciate the points you make, although the statistics in the link I posted are a little more up-to-date ?. But Brits aren't the only second-home owners to buy in France, either. Perhaps it's just this region, but the Dutch and Belgian part-timer presence is very high. I'm sure we're agreed that where there are holiday-home owners, there'll be family and friends visiting...all grist to the mill. Back to M Le Président....perhaps he's badly advised or simply doesn't realise how important the Brit input is/was? I wouldn't be surprised, because expecting someone in his position to be even remotely 'in touch' with the realities in France outside of Paris is laughable. Perhaps he considers the sabre-rattling and posturing for the benefit of Brussels to be more worthwhile (for him at least) than placating the potential bearers of Brit expenditure?

You're still not getting the point, despite the link. Foreign tourism isn't just about Brits. Granted, the Dutch probably aren't the highest-spending europeans to flock into France every year but neither, I suspect, were the Brits. I do know quite a few French directly involved in the tourist industry and they'd much rather have Belgian and German customers as they're more profitable. Not as profitable as Parisiens, though ? What on earth has my garden got to do with anything? As for mowing in January, nope.....downhill slalom possibly, aquaslide definitely, but not mowing ?

Are you perhaps exaggerating the importance of the British tourist to France's economy? Granted, it is a big slice, but not the only one. Best remember also that domestic tourism still accounts for a huge chunk. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourisme_en_France#:~:text=Une enquête publiée en juillet,la Suisse puis l'Espagne.

Ummm bonjour ? Coo the mornings aren't getting any lighter are they? Not quite the same thing here. The area I lived in in UK wasn't particularly insalubrious but at the start of the century, one third of all births recorded were to single 'mothers' under the age of 16. And they didn't stop at one offspring, or one father either, come to that. I am aware that breeding in France is profitable. I know a couple of medal-winners ?

Hello Pierre, the English equivalent is 'glug-glug' ? The Brits like to economise on ink ?

It's precisely because we are where we are that couples can choose to own a house instead of reproducing. Contraception and abortion have ensured that. Equally, when I left UK, it was a 'career choice' on the part of thousands of young, single girls to reproduce as a means to getting housed and fed at the expense of the State. It would be interesting to see what would happen to birth rates in both UK and France if child benefits were reduced or withdrawn altogether.

Ah but it's not just the religious leaders is it? Governments do their fair share of social engineering, according to the rise or fall of the national birth-rate. IIRC, women in France that produce 4 or more offspring are given a medal (as well as not needing to work thanks to the generous CAF).

I haven't had much interaction with Ken but from the little there has been, I found it amusing that he would have tried to be diplomatic. I also found his indignation with regard to the fixed views of his neighbours quite comical. His dogmatic bulldozing of other posters' knowledge of a subject, and/or their opinions is quite breathtaking, but as I don't have time to waste or any inclination for arguing the toss on forums, I'll let it go. So....my post was just the result of an irresistible urge to have a gentle dig. I do apologise if it confused you ?

The new road name has been up for some months, not that anyone is using it ? As for a number, I wonder just where they'll stick it? No gateposts or fences here, we live in the barn and sticking anything on the stonework isn't an option! If they fix it to the letterbox, it will probably collapse ? It couldn't be........a case of OH having to dust off his tools and (shock, horror) put up another post? I'd better start preparing him psychologically.....heehee.

You're generalising again, sweetie ? There's a whole swathe of people that have had a bellyfull of peace, quiet and restrictions!

??? Diplomatically?? Isn't it annoying when people aren't prepared to entertain any point of view but their own? ?

Happy New Year, EuroTr@sh ? Hope 2022 brings you happiness, health and all that you desire. P.S. I'm beginning to see what you mean ?

Hooooo Ken you're way off beam, there. The generalisations are verging on the comic. For a start, the definitions of 'fat' 'obese' or 'overweight' are entirely arbitrary, based on an ideal, one-size-fits-all standard that doesn't take any account of individual circumstances, ethnicity or genetics. They seem to be based on the current aesthetic model which is a nonsense. For a start, the height/weight/ body mass ratios don't take any account of bone density or muscle mass. As for greed being the main cause of obesity, that simply isn't true. Haven't we all known examples of people who could scoff vast amounts of all the 'wrong' foods and still stay stick-thin? And others who were by no means greedy but only have to look at a profiterole to gain 2 kgs ? I'd say the biggest factor is physical activity and a switched 'on' or 'off' metabolism. It's not necessarily a genetic thing, either. I've seen at first hand the 'programming' of French friends' children, from the age of 5, resulting in a sensible attitude to diet and a pattern for life that ensures an active, effective metabolism. Taken in conjunction with a fair amount of physical activity, I'm convinced that that is the key to the 'French paradox'.

That's easy to sort out ? A week in Eymet just before the big day will provide you with all the carol singers/services that you could wish for., as well as a couple of pubs that are probably more authentic than anything in UK. Then spend the big day in the Pyrénées. I believe that they have snow there ? As for your birthday, I do sympathise. I've had to organise everything myself for the last 40 years, if I wanted to mark the occasion. It's a straight choice, really. You either do organise it and enjoy yourself, or not ...and mope ? Life's too short for moping!

Why is that a problem? There are bars and restaurants for those that want to eat and drink outside the home. And before you start on about French bars not being like UK pubs, trust me, in several parts of France, enterprising Brits have created atypical bars that would do justice to Thame or Woking. But as you have a deep horror of Brit enclaves, you wouldn't go there.....? Just out of interest, what is your definition of 'the Christmas spirit'?

I am sorry, WB. Can only wish you a much happier one next year and that 'things' get sorted out asap so the travelling can be resumed ☺️

The commercialism was/is there if you seek it out, if you want it, but it was much easier to avoid it here if you didn't!