Where does it leave us??

mint · December 10, 2011

So....there are "young" people who can't make a living in France and have to return to the UK.

Why make it sound as though it's only OAPs who "would have the most problems" (and I'm still quoting)

I resent being patronised, that's all.

Quillan · December 10, 2011

Come on, nobody is patronising you,, nobody has pointed a figure directly at you at all they are just general comments and do not refer to just UK citizens in France. According to the BBC there are approximately 200,000 British living in France who are at or over retirement age although in fairness they don't say where their data comes from. The biggest group is in Spain, some 761,000 of them but again they don't say where that data comes from. I would have thought the obvious place to look for the information would be the DWP. I should add that I had a little 'poke' around on their website but can't find any figures to back this up, in fact I can't find any figures at all.

NormanH · December 11, 2011

[quote user="Bugsy"][quote user="NormanH"]It might not be a bad thing if the UK were to leave, forcing British immigrants to wake up to their real status.

[/quote]

So predictable Norman, talking out of your a r s e again.

.

[/quote]

The point is that for a few years British and other European immigrants to France have had a privileged status with respect to other non-European immigrants, and been sheltered from some of the difficulties that these people face.

This has included the fact that no 'carte de séjour' is required, that British people can vote in local elections, that their health care is often paid for by those working in Britain, and that no test of language ability or knowledge of France is required.

There are also double taxation treaties, and OAP increases are paid.

These things are because of membership of Europe, not because the French particularly want these concessions.

They create a belief that Brits are not really immigrants, more 'ex-pats' and that they are somehow on a higher plane than other groups.

If the UK were no longer part of the EU this might well all change, forcing British immigrants to wake up to their real status...as immigrants.

While I am always open to reasoned argument I fail to see why stating the obvious is synonymous with uttering from my nether regions

Bugsy · December 11, 2011

[quote user="NormanH"]

The point is that for a few years British and other European immigrants to France have had a privileged status with respect to other non-European immigrants, and been sheltered from some of the difficulties that these people face.

This has included the fact that no 'carte de séjour' is required, that British people can vote in local elections, that their health care is often paid for by those working in Britain, and that no test of language ability or knowledge of France is required.

There are also double taxation treaties, and OAP increases are paid.

These things are because of membership of Europe, not because the French particularly want these concessions.

They create a belief that Brits are not really immigrants, more 'ex-pats' and that they are somehow on a higher plane than other groups.
[/quote]

There is, of course, another reason for the differences which you always omit in your ramblings about the plight of non-european immigrants.

We pay our way.

.

Chezstevens · December 11, 2011

Bugsy,

Almost right .... Most of us pay our way :) There are some slippery folk amongst the British community as well.

woolybanana · December 11, 2011

The present coalition would break up very quickly if there was the merest hint of discussing British withdrawal and I doubt there is a majority in parliament for it. But if it were to happen, I doubt that it would be quick or that any of us can foresee what the consequences would be at an individual level.

Bugsy · December 11, 2011

[quote user="Chezstevens"]Bugsy,

Almost right .... Most of us pay our way :) There are some slippery folk amongst the British community as well.[/quote]

I was, of course, as was Norman, generalising [Www][:)]

.

NickP · December 11, 2011

Norman talking out of his nether regions again:

"that their health care is often paid for by those working in Britain, and that no test of language ability or knowledge of France is required.
There are also double taxation treaties, and OAP increases are paid."

Absolute Rollox Norman, the majority of us worked all our working lives and paid our share of dues and anything we get is what we're entitled to, and what WE paid in for. By the way; how's your UK pension you were asking advice about a little while ago?

mint · December 11, 2011

[quote user="Quillan"]Come on, nobody is patronising you,, nobody has pointed a figure directly at you at all they are just general comments and do not refer to just UK citizens in France. According to the BBC there are approximately 200,000 British living in France who are at or over retirement age although in fairness they don't say where their data comes from. The biggest group is in Spain, some 761,000 of them but again they don't say where that data comes from. I would have thought the obvious place to look for the information would be the DWP. I should add that I had a little 'poke' around on their website but can't find any figures to back this up, in fact I can't find any figures at all.[/quote]

Now who's generalising and, yes, generally talking down to others?

Did I say that somebody is patronising me? Goodness, there are people who can't open their mouths without first engaging their brains!

And please do not try to blind me with science or indeed figures for which you have no means of checking.

Of course, nobody patronises me...............and if they tried, I am still perfectly capable of seeing them off with a flea in their ear.

I don't like this talk of OAPs as though they (we) are some group of aliens who leech off others and are too gaga to work things out for themselves.

Why ASSUME that it would be OAPs who are going to have the "worst problems". We have moved to France because we have chosen to and if circumstances for our residence change, we are able to resolve things ourselves.

Put another way, none of your so-called concern and thrashing about with regards to our "situation" is required. Thank you very much.

pachapapa · December 11, 2011

[quote user="NickP"]

Norman talking out of his nether regions again:

"that their health care is often paid for by those working in Britain, and that no test of language ability or knowledge of France is required.
There are also double taxation treaties, and OAP increases are paid."

Absolute Rollox Norman, the majority of us worked all our working lives and paid our share of dues and anything we get is what we're entitled to, and what WE paid in for. By the way; how's your UK pension you were asking advice about a little while ago?

[/quote]

Not true in fact you had no choice but to sign in to a glorified government "ponzi" scheme where no vested interest is ever obtained.

You are hanging on the string of a "puppet" dependent on the roll over of government debt and taxation; the day it all collapses you'll be first in the queue at the "Restos du Coeur".

woolybanana · December 11, 2011

Ouch, that hurt!

Anyway, I really don't think the UK govt would be too keen to have up to a million OAPs suddenly returning to the UK and blocking up the system with their demands for heating and other allowances, medical care and housing, many too gaga to know what is going on, wandering the streets wearing sombreros and clutching chains of garlic! Is that leeching?

NickP · December 11, 2011

Shame that you can't express yourself in English PPP, as if you did; we would understand what you mean. [:D]

Russethouse · December 11, 2011

[quote user="woolybanana"]

Ouch, that hurt!

Anyway, I really don't think the UK govt would be too keen to have up to a million OAPs suddenly returning to the UK and blocking up the system with their demands for heating and other allowances, medical care and housing, many too gaga to know what is going on, wandering the streets wearing sombreros and clutching chains of garlic! Is that leeching?

[/quote]

Lots of them already get heating allowance !!!

pachapapa · December 11, 2011

[quote user="NickP"]Shame that you can't express yourself in English PPP, as if you did; we would understand what you mean. [:D][/quote]

Just click on your department and follow the links.

Bookmark for when the giro from newcastle does not turn up.

http://www.restosducoeur.org/francemap

pachapapa · December 11, 2011

[quote user="Russethouse"][quote user="woolybanana"]

Ouch, that hurt!

Anyway, I really don't think the UK govt would be too keen to have up to a million OAPs suddenly returning to the UK and blocking up the system with their demands for heating and other allowances, medical care and housing, many too gaga to know what is going on, wandering the streets wearing sombreros and clutching chains of garlic! Is that leeching?

[/quote]

Lots of them already get heating allowance !!!

[/quote]

My interpretation of W's post was that he referred to refugee OAPs with their cold arthritic feet already affected by the cool welcome of the "insular" soil.

P.S There have been long boring threads on forums throughout the expatriate "brit" diaspora all over the world on this topic; a rehash, yet again, on this thread would be time wasting and unproductive.

ebaynut · December 11, 2011

Norman wrote,

The point is that for a few years British and other European immigrants to France have had a privileged status with respect to other non-European immigrants, and been sheltered from some of the difficulties that these people face.
This has included the fact that no 'carte de séjour' is required, that British people can vote in local elections, that their health care is often paid for by those working in Britain, and that no test of language ability or knowledge of France is required.
There are also double taxation treaties, and OAP increases are paid.
These things are because of membership of Europe, not because the French particularly want these concessions.
They create a belief that Brits are not really immigrants, more 'ex-pats' and that they are somehow on a higher plane than other groups.

If the UK were no longer part of the EU this might well all change, forcing British immigrants to wake up to their real status...as immigrants.

While I am always open to reasoned argument I fail to see why stating the obvious is synonymous with uttering from my nether regions

But surely when the French go to live in the UK, they also receive an even more "privileged status". They receive TOTALLY free healthcare, no one is asking them to take out top up cover, which may weed out the sick ones and stop them moving to the UK. No, the UK will pay the lot, all they have to do is decide to live here.

No CDS or its equivalent is required by them, all they have to do is decide to live here. The UK lets them vote in its elections, allows double tax treaties.

These things are possible because the UK is a richer country than France, people in the UK work harder and longer than the average French person, and have of course enjoyed the spoils of war over the centuries, but of course to do this you must first win the war, not something the French have a lot of knowledge about. :-)

just john · December 11, 2011

[quote user="NormanH"]The point is that for a few years British and other European immigrants to France have had a privileged status with respect to other non-European immigrants, and been sheltered from some of the difficulties that these people face.
This has included the fact that no 'carte de séjour' is required, that British people can vote in local elections, that their health care is often paid for by those working in Britain, and that no test of language ability or knowledge of France is required.
There are also double taxation treaties, and OAP increases are paid.
These things are because of membership of Europe, not because the French particularly want these concessions.
They create a belief that Brits are not really immigrants, more 'ex-pats' and that they are somehow on a higher plane than other groups.
If the UK were no longer part of the EU this might well all change, forcing British immigrants to wake up to their real status...as immigrants.
While I am always open to reasoned argument I fail to see why stating the obvious is synonymous with uttering from my nether regions
[/quote]

Despite Normy's provocative vituperative bias and inverted snobbery comments with regard to Brits in France may I remind him (stats on the forum) there are more French in the UK, who come the day Brits are obliged to leave, no doubt would see the necessity to return to France; - Along with all the eastern European immigrants France was happy enough to extend passage to Britain for our benefits (Czas nauczyć się francuskiego facetów). Changes even perhaps (at last) to ownership of the English utilities the French national companies were happy to snaffle up. Perhaps ex BAE & RR development technicians no longer required on Aerobus development would find gainful employment working for Boeing or Embraer, etc, etc. In short Britain is giving more than it receives, not to mention what goes around comes around.

Come the next aggrandisement of Germany and fall (yet again) of France, perhaps the saviours might just hang on to it next time, they might even rename it Aquitaine.

Up yours with a wa-wa brush Normy[:D][:P]

Quillan · December 11, 2011

[quote user="sweet 17"]

[quote user="Quillan"]Come on, nobody is patronising you,, nobody has pointed a figure directly at you at all they are just general comments and do not refer to just UK citizens in France. According to the BBC there are approximately 200,000 British living in France who are at or over retirement age although in fairness they don't say where their data comes from. The biggest group is in Spain, some 761,000 of them but again they don't say where that data comes from. I would have thought the obvious place to look for the information would be the DWP. I should add that I had a little 'poke' around on their website but can't find any figures to back this up, in fact I can't find any figures at all.[/quote]

Now who's generalising and, yes, generally talking down to others?

Did I say that somebody is patronising me? Goodness, there are people who can't open their mouths without first engaging their brains!

And please do not try to blind me with science or indeed figures for which you have no means of checking.

Of course, nobody patronises me...............and if they tried, I am still perfectly capable of seeing them off with a flea in their ear.

I don't like this talk of OAPs as though they (we) are some group of aliens who leech off others and are too gaga to work things out for themselves.

Why ASSUME that it would be OAPs who are going to have the "worst problems". We have moved to France because we have chosen to and if circumstances for our residence change, we are able to resolve things ourselves.

Put another way, none of your so-called concern and thrashing about with regards to our "situation" is required. Thank you very much.

[/quote]

Exactly and some can't even write without insulting somebody.

We will all be OAP's one day, if not already, and yes you might be smug being able to support yourselves but there are many who may not be able to do so but then your attitude appears to be I'm all right Jack and sod the rest. Wonderful, shows exactly where you are coming from.

Believe me if I wanted to put my nasty hat on and be condescending there wouldn't' be any flees in my ears but at least there would be half a brain between them.

mint · December 11, 2011

[quote user="Quillan"][quote user="sweet 17"]