MrCanary

suein56 - that thought did cross my mind... (asperic means 'harsh or rough')

Until recently, quite similar and comparable locations. Both houses were on the edge of villages and Norfolk is one of the more rural counties in England - quite similar (even in landscape) to our French village.

Sorry, wasn't meaning to get nasty, but it does seem to be a regular occurence on here that whenever I say something good about France or about coming to live here, I am accused of wearing rose-tinted glasses... I am actually a very positive person. And whilst I am certainly not after the sympathy vote, speaking as somebody who has been making very steady progress since a major cancer operation, I have every right to be positive! My initial post stated nothing but actual facts about my city of birth, Norwich. None of the problems I have experienced in Norwich exist in any way shape or form in or anywhere near our lovely French home. With all these facts, there are no spectacles of any colour involved. So, I think you will find it was you who raised the bar, Polly! And I would still prefer to live in France...

Polly said, "Really Mel, it's time you took off those rose-tinted glasses!" Not sure where in my previous post I gave any indication of wearing those specs? I only stated the facts that I know and, not being as clever as some on here, I do not have the ability to talk about the things I do not know. So, just because everything in my post is fact, but I was not aware of the facts subsequently listed by Polly and others, does that make anything I said, wrong? Perhaps the one thing that ought to put me off moving to France permanently is the desire not to become one of the bored ex-pat vultures who seem to circle this forum waiting for an opportunity to get their claws into somebody who says something different to them!

Interesting reading the different viewpoints... We have owned our French house for six years and would dearly love to move to France permanently. When (and if) we do, it will be for retirement, no kids to educate and no jobs to find. We already know our French village very well. We know the locals from the out-of-work families to the farmers and the Maire. We are made to feel welcome by everybody without exception. In England (Norwich), the same thing applies, all the locals and councillors know us, but not everybody makes us feel welcome. We live in a quiet, good-quality residential area, but suffer motorbikes ripping along the footpaths, screws in our car tyres overnight (13 of us have suffered up-to-date), we suffer the drunks staggering home at any time up until about 2.30am, bangs on our doors and windows, dog crap on our grass and the sound of sirens at any time during the night. The roads are full of potholes, traffic is unbearable and, wherever we go, the English 'culture' has become one of extreme selfishness. Perhaps I am turning into Victor Meldrew when in the UK, but I long to move to our village in France!

Well done Pauline... I am very envious as our planned move to France, which started nearly six years ago, is still stuttering because of health issues. But we will be there eventually and it gives us encouragement to hear the enthusiasm of others!

Spill the beans, Norman, what's that about?

Shame they don't allow longer stays - they would get a lot more customers if they did!

Swissie - thanks for your good wishes... You have hit the nail on the head and that is exactly what the charity will be for - to raise the profile of male cancers. I had a major, but successful, operation for prostate cancer which had been detected very much at the eleventh hour. It was a miracle that I went for a check-up when I did. In the UK, 30,000+ men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year and 10,000 of them die. Early detection can save lots and lots of those lives.

Bit of a long shot this, because I don't suppose there is anyone on this forum within a hundred miles of Norwich, but here goes... This is what I am currently working on... TICKETS NOW ON SALE... BIG CHARITY CONCERT AT UEA STARRING 'HOLLOW EARTH' & 'THE HARVS'. FRIDAY 16 APRIL 2010, 7.30pm at the LCR, UEA, NORWICH... Tickets only £10 each and all takings go to a new male cancer charity. For more info & tickets: www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk/ or: [email protected] (UEA = University of East Anglia)

Hi Deb - I knew what you meant, I was just trying to narrow it down a bit more...

Interestingly, my first sight of this awful storm was on the UK media and I have followed it ever since on Sky, BBC and the European channels, France24 and EuroNews... NormanH said, "Of course for well heeled second home owners, or immigrants shielded by temporary wealth something like this is shocking, because it could have happened to them, whereas frequent reports of death and disaster that affect 'lesser breeds' in other continents don't count..." What a sad, miserable attitude. And as Russethouse has asked, why did you not start a thread on the subjects that concern you so much? And how much have you personally donated to them?

Since I got my Alis Doofer, I am yet to have a trouble-free trip using it... It always seems to fail at at least one barrier - but not the same one all the time. Is this relatively common, or have I got a dodgy Doofer?

What a tragedy... I really feel for everyone in France who has suffered in this awful weather. So many lives lost and so many of them apparaently all in one place. very, very sad. In dept 37, my wonderful 82-year-old French next-door-neighbour has checked out our house and assured me all is well. He did make an attempt at propping up our Eucalyptus tree, but lost the battle and it has gone for it. But what a small price to pay compared with so many folk...

We bought our house in November 2003 and for a couple of years, we used to fly to Tours. At that time there were daily flights and usually full...

So, in simple terms, is it the case that French people living in the UK get free healthcare based purely on being resident there without any requirement to actually work? And before anybody jumps down my throat, I am asking the question - not making a statement...

Love it!! LOL

Bugbear - I can see the irony you are alluding to which is amusing... Similar - yesterday evening on BBC's local news programme for East Anglia, 'Look East' was doing a live interview with people in a village pub. One old country boy was questioned by the smart young interviewer - something like this... "So, have you been able to work today?" "No" "Why is that?" "Because of the snow" "When do you hope to get back to work?" "When the snow goes..."

Sadly, that is right Sweet, but don't stop that discreet monitoring because one day the 'victim' may come to you and 'tis good to be prepared!

"But to accuse /suggest that someone is suffering domestic violence based on rumour and innuendo is equally as bad..." I agree BaF, to accuse and/or openly and publicly comment based on hearsay can often cause a greater problem than one that may not exist. However, it does no harm to suspect and discreetly observe in case there is a victim who may need help.

Pat HCA - you are quite right... But where men often go wrong is if they believe they are losing an argument, temper takes over and they hit out and that is usually when the police get called in...

"Somebody should explain to that poor woman what dipping your headlights really means..."

"Strange to say what delight we married people have, to see these poor fools decoyed into our condition..."

Here in Norwich, temperature bobbles about between just 'plus' to mostly 'minus'... Gas central heating, cavity insulation and double glazing keeps me cosy... Warburton's bread and Sainsbury's margarine... Oh, how I want to be like Bugbear!!

Thanks Kathy (and Christine) I will use the 'lacking' as the way of remembering. (It took a while for the coin to drop!)