jon
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Posts posted by jon
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"The Poles fit in well" ....because they drink beer!They came to London in droves....as I explained...they never ever seemed to be really happy because they came to the streets which were paved with gold.However even in UK you have to work for some of the gold!
Many of them are returning now from Ireland and UK...they are very family orientated, and of course home is where your family are..{.even though many of these fathers would work in Uk and send money home].It is not an easy world.Was easier when we had less materialistic cravings.Please do not think that all the Polish people who came to London and worked with us were poor....not at all!
Why do so many people run a B and B when they come to France.....they think that catering and the public are easy.Oh no!.....but I still enjoy the hotel like situation.The only difference here is that I have punctuation;I do not work every day and 16 hours per day.There are other assets involvolved but that will create war as it highlights my appreciation of my region.That, of course is dangerous!
Off to cook.
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I have to laugh!Thank goodness because you lot are far from cheery!
In London I employed several people from Poland and Slavinia[and other places]They were never happy,never satisfied...always gossiping in corners about everyone around them...."how they were being exploited" by the British.They were paid the same as all other employees and taxed in the same manner.At xmas time we all exchanged seasonal greetings and gifts...but in their hearts they still seemed to feel used.I believe that it is because they felt and still feel that they needed to move away from their mother country in order to find a new life [and perhaps themselves]
Yes of course many French people will question our existance here.But so many have reason to welcome us.
We were invited to a meeting a couple of months ago at the Maires' office.We were all asked to help in creating activities and ideas for the summer events.One of the people stood up and announced that he thought that the village was benefiting from our activity.I had hoped to find a band/group for our celebrations in July but everyone was booked.Each band member earns 250. euros per gig.I know that some of these bands work as much as 4 times each week in the season.Our season here begins in April and goes through untill some time in Oct.
I can only report as I find.In time I feel that life should improve;friendships made may strengthen and the credit crunch may subside a little...people will lighten-up and maybe feel that they can spend more freely.We are having a very reasonable begining to our buisness and support from neighbours etc.So there we are....
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Morning....I agree with you....command of French is important.
Being in hospital.....very ill...is awfull.Hope all is well now.Sadly my experences in full English in UK was not very pleasant.Being able to understand every aspect of my medical problems did not lead to an acceptable way of being cared for.All memories of the NHS are better forgotten in every way .........................[ in relation to treatment of several people dear to me.]
A close friend of ours who has lived here for 5 years has recently praised his doctors and every aspect of his care at the Bordeaux hospital and all the ongoing attention from the health service.
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Well I must say....I am sure that you are all wonderfull people but if someone was contenplating coming to France and listiened to what you are all saying they would probably jump off the nearest bridge!
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Let us make it clear Dave and co.
I do not believe that all the French are wealthy and that there are no poor French people.
2.My area is has a lot of "COMFORTABLE" people living in it...yes and that is why there are nice organic markets,chateaux and people are chooseing this area to hold lavish wedding receptions and tour the vineyards
3.I do believe that opportunities come to those who venture towards them.....I have said this in many ways on several occassions and I am sticking to it.Not everyone succeeds...sadly.
4If you have children to concider then you need to think carefully before you leave uK......very carefully.
5.There is no point coming to France.....or any other country without plans, work or means of creating an income.Do not come without funds....it is not a good idea.
6 I researched for many years and owned property in two other regions which I sold[without an agent]
7 I had a succesful buisness in Uk which was started from nothing.....the only assets I had were hard work,dertmination and stamina.
8 It is not perfect here
9 I found it impossible to stay in London any longer the scenery was unattractive and the opportunity to work was no longer in view.Tescos was not an option for me at this stage in my life.For many years I had planned to be here in France....doing what I am doing.
IT has been a long passage of comments...mainly with people unable to accept my points......and in a different region with different circumstances.
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Yes I thought so.
Not very touristic.thanks
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I was told the same thing.I had to cahnge my plastic bag!
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We had a property just outside Cognac.
We fell in love with a beautifull convent in Duex-sevres but decided that it was important to be in the Entre-duex-mers.
But if you have children to think of...well they come first.
Plus, of course people do miss their families back in UK.
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Panda....Of course I defend my view because it is beeing attacked!
What is the point of having a view if it is not expressed!
We are 20km from St Emilion......which is not too close to charente.....but if you are happy to make a detour I will welcome you.What do you do when you go back to UK? -
Oh Dave what a drama queen you are.No tower blocks around here....I left them behind in London....7 mins up the road people slept in door ways and on the Shepherds Bush Green leaving there rubbish behind.....[rubbish was still left there a few onths later when I left...the refuse people obvious declined to remove it]There were people selling drugs all around me.....inflicting their concept of crime and intimidating my well being and that of my buisness.Had enough of that Rough trade!
Graffiti ...around Bordeaux for sure and in London.But I am not chooseing to live amongst grafiti.Yes I do remember tower blocks in London....lived in one....hated it but worked towards changing my destiny.Lived next door to a well known gangster.Went to a school which I hated but endured the situation as there was no choice offered to me.
Put your idea about rose tinted glasses back in your pocket because that is not the way I view life!Sorry that some of you have not made happy choices.Hopefully you will all be back home and contented very soon.
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So everyone is still chatting away!
I am awaiting Pandas appointement regarding our coffee and chat here.Maybe when she visits she will decide that she will, eventually retire to this region.We shall see.When we first thought of moving to France I had serious thoughts about Normandy which I love.However lovely it does not have the wine industry...which is very valuable to my buisness.Very important too are the big wedding venues in the chateaux surrounding us.Suprisingly this is a growing industry developing and bringing clients from May to our warm Octobers.
I am assured that Fairytale castles are very romantic and the French are just bas enchanted as the British.
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Do I have to keep reminding you of the people in UK who live for the next pay cheque....not you or your pals but the people are out there who have count each penny.
Never been one to listien to lists of numbers...statistics..But I look around me and I see the trollies in the supermarket with goodies....queues at the fish counter and cakes flying[almost]off the shelves.The market[full of organic and wholesome goodies] always busy....strawberries sell out....people drinking coffee in large crowds at the caffees.Everyone appears to have a car...and not a wreck either.The restaurants seem to do well.....especially when they are good[some are and some are not]Maybe there is poverty here but there are no signs of it.It is an area where wine is produced....loved and respected...so everything around it which is worthy of working does work.
And yes it does matter about what you did not have when you were a kid.....because I still believe you have to strive to achieve.Inheritance is not on everyones horizon.I also maintain that most people who go "back home" have not chosen the right area or they are missing relatives.I am still getting stories every day that Uk buisnesses are making losses and laying off staff.....is that a great prospect to go back to?Time to sell the maison secondaire.....for a song...great for the French people.....flooding their market with properties....lowering the value of their houses!
Just finished working....
Thought that I would give you food for thought...surely you will all be conjuering up more woe and reflect upon the terrible delemia of life with Mr Sarkozy and his population;stamping your feet as you waiver your omnisience!
Panda....by the way you are welcome for coffee....even though we will be kept busy next week.Where will you be coming from?
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Many of the people I meet in the village and surrounding seem to be making a living ...do not know about the exact weekly figure...but they get from 10 euros per hour to 25 depending on what they do....by cheque employ.They seem to be working a good part of the working week.You see unhappiness....I do not.Then there are the numerous artisans who have been working around the area....they get paid rather well.The people in buisness seem to be ok too.Maybe this area is slightly more affulent than others......but I live here and chose to live here.It feels like some of you are creating a dramatic view of the way the French live.Most of them have more than I ever did as a child....but that does not bother me.
Maybe some of you have not been successful in making life work for you here....perhaps the schooling is not adequate or "YOUR CUP OF TEA" .Maybe you did not research the schools too well....or even the area where you chose.But for some of you ...alll will be well when your are back in UK.I have clients arriving.
If I want to make myself depressed by the attitude of others.....I know where to go.But no need to be so gloomy....others may be happy here.
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Kathy I think you know exactly what I mean!
We are discussing the vertues of moving from UK to France and that most people have an opportunity to learn a skill or develope a quality which is alllrelady within them.Please refrain for this almost hostile attitude.
THE subject in matter envelopes the idea of someone wanting/contenplaiting a move to France from Uk.
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Not too sure how individuals classify "poor." Having a maison secondaire does not equate.
But I am sure that you have created a cosy life-style by moving in a positive direction....which proves another point...that the poor do not need to stay poor forever.
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Our journey three weeks ago amounted to around 350 pounds for two...booked around 6 weeks before departure.So not that cheap[of course was not flying to America!]Normally happy with the system....but the agression related to bagage and handbags going inside the bag was dramatic.
Of course if you fly for 100 pounds ...out for a 2 day business trip yes what can you expect.....but perhaps Ryanair needs to address full price paying passengers as 1st class?
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On the subject of Chef Boutonne...Is it a good place to settle...could it be reasonable to expect some buisness as a chambre dhote?A young couple no children..husband with a job.
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There are somany things in life which WE have to do in order to live.For those who stack shelves in Tesco[if they an get the jobs1] is that so inviting?
My sister in law stacks food products for M and S works through the night in order to achieve a more feesable salary and in her spare time is studying and looking after her children.So what is wrong with growing fruit and vegetables?
I understand how that most of you are pre conditioned and believe that life is clearly definde and every puzzle fits together as if by magic.So how many of you orginate from poor homes and understand peverty?
H ow many of you can truely compare YOUR poverty in UK to your neigbours poverty in France?
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Russethouse...how partronising!
Not at all...I would say that we all have to make an effort!Use our own tools;our energy and our imagination!We are not all born from the same stock.Not everyone is the child of a lawyer,ex army official with the knowledge that if something goes wrong with our financial welfare that we can go to daddy asky for a peice of his estate or a 100k.
Everything I ever had and have has been created by me.Coming from a background which you all have described so vividly as just about providing meals [MY paprents where in their rented council property at the mercy of a very undesireable and sordid hospital in London.]More than many of you I know about reality as much as I.
But this just underpins what I say.We make our own life....especially if we come from poorer backgrounds.
By the way....I am living here ...actually living here ...not with a maison secondaire.
Will I ever live in UK again....who knows.
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PS..................I note that you constantly make reference to low earners in France!!!!!
And fail to reflect on what goes on in other countries!!!!
There are and always will be people who will make things work and others who will expect things to work for them.Making Uk look so glam as it offers housing and benefits to everyone who embarks on its shores.If you are a self made person in Uk.....struggling to make ends meet because your savings are not yielding.....have a good look and see what sort of help is on offer in this situation. -
I kn ow all sorts of people Cerise and I can see that they are managing.
I watched people in London struggling with their overdfrafts which sat unsteadily on top of their mortgages[borrowing way above their power of paying back] on top of that came numerous credit cards been juggled like a performance in a circus act.Some people looked rather wealthy with their 2 smart cars,large \cars and kids in private schools......wives in dressess from London designers.But suthering from a new virus called "greed"
French people can join in on that life style if they so wish.It is all mind over matter!Here the poor...and those who like good food grow a lot of their own fruit and veg....a great activity.We inherited cherry,apples,pears,mirabells,figs and we have raspberries,redcurrants and blackberries.We are hoping that lots of our planatations will bare fruit....but our soil is really in tune with grapes.....and roses.So most of the year I have lovely flowers for the rooms and tables.
So how I see things is how I find them.Even though much of the farmework of British society is crumbling it is the British attitude to expect;greatness and godliness from the politicians and everlasting prosperity.Look to friends for the comfort of conversation and shareing....look at yourself to define your life.
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In my area no one works for less than 10 euros per hr...by cheque emploi.
My cousin in Lincolnshire earns min wage per hour and her "boss" is not paying any tax.She has tried to find a different job but [she is a chambermaid]and everyone is taking-on the young polish ladies.So my cousin brings home around 100 pounds per week.Her son is a builder who earns around 10 pounds per hour.
I have two french friends who own vineyards and they get up at 6.30 every week day.....but we managed to have dinner together on Mon night and enjoy ourselves untill about 12...pm.It is called puntuation of life.Are they happy?They seem very contented
The artisan builders in my area are very busy and earning well!Dissapointed that British people are around?When people enter the community with interest and stimulating ideas which focus on local economy that can only be positive!The Brits raised the house prices?And the FRENCH from other regions,The Dutch,the South Africans.....the Italians[half of my village is from Italian descent]and so on.It is all in the nature of the property market.
I will say once more;life is related to motivation and all the choices are ours.Running/operating a chambre d hote is not everyones dream job but choose the RIGHT area and do it well then it can create an acceptable life style.Not a 3.000 pounds a week job in the city of London.But those jobs are not as cosy as they seem
The French do go to UK...but most of them return to France!
Time to serve breakfast to my group of people from Rheims.
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I understand what you are saying....I here it.
Agree in some ways....yes you are responsible.
But each child has his or own destiny and it does not begin in one place and end in the same.
Take a look at the career of Michael Cain....his father was a wlorking in the Fish market!
A bank clerk will remain a bank clerk if that is in there path.Straight thoughts without any spirit of adventure!
The poor do not have to stay poor......and the rich can loose their wealth....we follow a path carved out with our thoughts.ALL the things which I have done in my life are not related to the way my parents directed me.I took a walk towards my own garden.
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Will reminde everyone that I feel that we all have a chance to be happy in France.
When I first came to this Forum most people tried desperatly hard to tarn ish my dream and say that I was in the "HONEY-MOON PERIOD"....so terribly sorry but I felt that France was a better place for me!My own country is behaving like a reckless school boy;so many difficulties and very difficult for me to carry on with my profession.
I found that being good at something was not good enough.
I never crush peoples dreams. We never know an individuals circumstances and qualities.It appears to me that people who are proficient and gifted are apprecieted here.Those who are lazy and without motivation will find it very hard.Perhpas in Uk some such people will slip through the net.
Online checkin Ryanair
in Travelling to/from France
Posted
There are ususally no problems at Bergerac airport!
They do check weight and number of Bags at Bergerac so something was astray !
Bergerac airport is a very important DESTINATION.....for Ryanair and one of the busiest.So maybe the choice is related to need and relevance and not to it's facilities.