Jump to content

Where to return to in UK?


David
 Share

Recommended Posts

Go back to the UK, you must be joking.

The choice, of course is down to the individual and may that always continue.

Anyone who has made the move only to find that it's not for them and decide to go back, well, good for them. There is no shame in doing this and it has to be better than being somewhere you don't want to be.

In our case, taking the overall picture,  we are happier now than we were in the UK and that, surely, is the deciding factor.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 80
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Gluey

Whilst you pause to draw breadth, may I pat you on the back for putting so well the things that I might have said?

Hope your health, etc now improving and that you and your OH will be out here for good in the near future.

Best regards

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote user="Gluestick"]

[quote user="heidi h"]I am so fed up with all the brit bashing that goes on in France. I am moving back to the UK next week for the simple reason that after 3 years I miss it. Shock horror I hear you all muttering. I have had a very nice time here and despite meeting some great people, I don't feel they will ever be friends like I have in the UK  - there is too much of a cultural difference. I miss cinema that isn't dubbed, a good coffee, a wide choice of good places to go and eat and drink( I think the UK now beats France hands down for food and bars), decent shops,  customer service (Uk is better than here where I don't think they have even heard of the phrase) a supermarket that sells a wide range of products from other countries too (so I can but lemon grass to make a thai curry or an Italian red!). As someone in her mid thirties it is also not a cheap place to live and I too pay much more in fonciere and habitation than I ever did council tax (Poll tax was a different decade!) Don't get me wrong I have enjoyed my time here but for me its time to go back. If I could transport my house with its land back to the south coast of england I would be made up - and space is not a reason to stay somewhere when lets face it, even the weather aint that good. I am originally from a rural staffs village and truely believe that the rual Uk is is not really different from rural France. Neighbours are friendly, they help you out, there are village fetes, morris dancing, real ale by a fire in a local pub, bonfire displays, a sense of community and there ARE farmers markets. The only real difference is the price of property. I don't know anything about new health laws as I have paid cotisations for health care for the last 18 months but if you do have to return I don't think its all that bad - certainly not as bad as the 'Daily Hysteria' would have you all believe![/quote]

When I read posts such as this, I do wonder precisely why the poster came to France in the first place. It's interesting to me, since as I still have to live in the UK most of the time - begrudingly - I can see both sides of the scenario. This is particularly so, after just returning after one month and five days in France.

[/quote]

Well they probably got caught up in all that anti-britain hysteria that so many people on sites like this espouse to justify their move above or their failings at home.  Why cant some of you people go quietly, i am sure the grass is greener where you are, and that good old britain is an awful place to be...or is it?  Don't get me wrong, i am all for people aspiring for something etc etc, i too intend to move abroad, France or Spain ( to hopefully run a motorbike touring company after much research etc etc), but it just never ceases to amaze me that some people here have an incessant need to rundown where they are from. maybe some of the talking in the press and through media such as this have a lot to do with the mistakes that people have made. Reality, every other country in the world will seem better than your own when you are not in a position to hear or witness the problems they have...different story when you arrive though....just my thoughts

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote user="sweet 17"]

Gluey

Whilst you pause to draw breadth, may I pat you on the back for putting so well the things that I might have said?

Hope your health, etc now improving and that you and your OH will be out here for good in the near future.

Best regards

[/quote]

Many thanks for your kind and valued words, Sweet 17: and I also very much appreciate your kind wishes: some distance to go with the physical recovery. Swimming starts next week after my last consultation on Friday with my specialist.

We have another year or two to go before we can pack up for good, maleheuresment: and I now have to catch up on three months lost in post-op recovery; and also lose the weight I gained lying around on my back for nearly four months! Call me GlueBlob![:D]

Chief: so, why not set your touring biz up in the UK?

Far easier to be self employed there; lots of wonderful scenic views left.

And, as those if us still living here and regularly driving on main roads know, there is no lane discipline requirement necessary for 'bikes anymore; they can undertake at will..................................................[Www]

Or base the business in the UK and only visit France/Spain when you have a tour?

Otherwise, it makes no sense???

Perhaps those of us, like myself, who value certain aspects in a society have come to realise, France, with all its faults, offers perhaps a greater quality of life and a far more rational and organised system. As I again realised when I visited my local Impôt to try and arrange a rendevous with the Bureau de Cadrast, as I urgently needed a local cadastral plan of my house and the road.

Not only was the receptionist charm itself, having established precisely what I required, he preceeded to print off a copy on his system, there and then, also printed me a copy of the road, larger scale and then went on to ask if I required them blown up to A3 size!

This was the receptionist, remember.

I asked about payment: and there wasn't any.

When I compare this to me frequent dealings with local Essex council officers and bureacrats and "Jobsworths", I thought I was on Mars, rather than my local region administrative town..........................................

When I recall how the ex Anderson Consultant, Patricia Hewitt was appointed  E-Minister by Teflon Tony and promised "Joined up government" etc, I can only larf; sadly.

For example.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[/quote][quote user="Gluestick"][quote user="sweet 17"]

Gluey

Chief: so, why not set your touring biz up in the UK?

Far easier to be self employed there; lots of wonderful scenic views left.

For example.

 

[/quote]

Aim is to setup in UK, develop business on the basis of a series of set tour dates, develop appropriate p[roperties abroad, and hopefully get the business to the point where staying in the UK is costing me money, and then move to either France or Spaim and manage the business full time. I fear though that with your comments you are missing my point. I am not saying here is better than there, or people should stay put, in fact i acknowledge peoples aspirations in my post. the point is to go wherever for your own reasons, not for reasons that someone else espouses. I think the UK is great, served me well and left me in a position to have my dreams, i just don't want to get old somewhere cold. I really do believe that perhaps having the sun on your back, and the opportunity to be outdoors an damned sigt more often, will extend my life and my good health. Hence the dream of moving on. Uk has its faults no doubt about it, but if i leave, it will be for my own reasons not someone elses. And thats my point in response to the comment i originally replied to.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did indeed understand the main thrust of your earlier post, Chief.

However, I do believe -  perhaps I am naive! -  that rather than "Whingeing", the majority of posters here who might express what appear to be negative postings about the UK are rather balanced individuals who have carefully weighed up the pros and cons of moving to France and for them, France comes out top.

During my house and area search, I met quite a number of Brits sharing similar ideals to myself, mainly at Chambre d'Hotes! It was like a sort of transit camp!

There are many, I'm sure, who simply love the UK and all it currently represents.

Sadly, I can no longer number myself amongst them.

There are certain other fora, where brits who have moved to france, wearing their rose tinted lorgnettes, constantly complain about such mundane things which are different to their expectations, it is quite obvious they failed to carry out any meaningful research.

Personally, for a while perhaps, I can recapture certain  aspects, valuable to me, of the England I grew up in during the early and mid 50s.

Unfortunately, it no longer exists: mores the pity.

I do wish you every success with your planned new business, meanwhile and also agree, growing old in the UK was not a tenable option for myself, sun or not.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Having read Gluestick's comment on Local Government. I did think how things have 'progressed' ,in the Democratic UK, you now have a P.M. that nobody voted for and a cabinet with members that most of the Electorate have never heard of. A bit like a banana rebublic,  if I'm allowed to say that!!

 As regards to where to live in UK .,we had a look at a few places a couple of weeks ago, with a view to an option for a family member. 3 towns we looked at and yes you might have the M&S/Asda/ and all the usual you find in every town and seem a necessity, but how scruffy and down at heel they all looked. The lauded Poundbury,of the dreaded Charlies fame, was also on route and what a soul less place it was. So it seems that planting next years veggies , here in Brittany,is the best route at the moment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's a very good subforum on www.britishexpats.com on "Moving back to the UK" where this is discussed a lot. It's important to remember that *you* have changed while being in France. I'd take your time, rent, try a few different places out and see what works now for you.

We moved back to the UK about 18 months ago - for family reasons - after 3 years in France and eventually went for Berks/Hampshire border, near Watership Down actually :-) We've kept our place in France, still love both countries and can luckily spend a lot of time in both too. The area round here fits the OPs list except for the particularly ferral youth who breed round here - much the same as anywhere in the SE though.

Good luck anyway!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I will probably move back one day..... not yet though.

If I do, then I would look at the northumberland coastline also.   Years ago I went to uni in Newcastle and it was fantastic to be in a large city and be able to get away to the coast so easily, and it was beautiful.   This time I would do it the other way around (age and all that !), live in the country but have easy access to a big city.     I would imagine house prices are still reasonable if you pick the right area.   Downside is the weather - windy windy and even more windy !!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe windy, but so healthy and bracing. Yes I love Newcastle and the fact that you can just jump on the Metro and be at the coast in half an hour. That area is where I was born and grew up and the only place I feel really at home. But don't tell everyone or they'll all want to go there then push up the prices.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote user="Patf"]Maybe windy, but so healthy and bracing. Yes I love Newcastle and the fact that you can just jump on the Metro and be at the coast in half an hour. That area is where I was born and grew up and the only place I feel really at home. But don't tell everyone or they'll all want to go there then push up the prices.[/quote]Agree, fabulous part of the world.  My Da' hailed from Pegswood and we spent most of our holidays up in Newbiggin when I was a child.  Happy memories.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote user="Will"]I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Isle of Wight. Lots in common with France: quiet, old-fashioned, comparatively cheap housing, expensive ferry fares...[/quote]I for one couldn't stand it. I'd get "island fever" inside a week and be screaming to get off.......[+o(]
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote user="Will"]I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Isle of Wight. Lots in common with France: quiet, old-fashioned, comparatively cheap housing, expensive ferry fares...[/quote]

As someone who used to live in Portsmouth, and spent many happy times staying in the IOW, I for one IF I had to return to the UK, would be straight across there.  I just could not go back to living in Portsmouth, too much noise, pollution, people, traffic, drugs, yobs etc, etc, etc.  I am quite pleased that most people on this forum wouldn't consider going there, as if we did all have to go back, it could get quite crowded![:D] 

HOWEVER, wild horses couldn't drag me from France back to the UK.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Me too, but I have to go back every so often for a reality check. I am not saying France is any better, in many ways it is lacking, but there is certainly more space, I get claustrophobia when I go to England now.  Also it's like being on a merry-go-round where you just have to keep moving, no time to "stand and stare".

Georgina

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good friends of mine "emmigrated" to the IOW two years ago as they spent many happy years of holidays there and thought that in retirement they would love it even more - WRONG. The initial first few months were OK, bit like being on a long holiday and then reality set in and as they said, only so many miles of island to explore by foot or car, the cost of the ferry hop was wicked and there just was no social life especially during the winter months. Even visitors to see them staying at nearby holiday camps fared better with entertainment whilst all they had was a village hall hop with record player. They soon returned after 18months and downsized back inthe same village they had left.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used to live in Malta, which is a similar size.  It was great and had a wonderful social life.  But I got incredibly stir crazy.  So nice now, to live on a large landmass where travelling from country to country is so easy - and you don't have to worry about paying a small fortune to cross a short stretch of water!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I liked Ventnor, however, I was told by a resident a few years ago that quite a number of DSS "Clients" had been moved there by Southampton Social Services etc.

Surprised to hear about the culture lack: I understood that in the Autumn/Winter the place was a Mecca for jazz musicians, writers, artists etc.

I do know that Johhny Dankworth and Cleo Lane established a Jazz school, workshop and festival: has it now died?

The guy who owned the large hotel we stayed in - the Ventnor Towers Hotel, a wonderful time warp in 4.5 acres with a nine hole Pitch and Putt course, driving net, swimming pool and tennis court, all free  - was a leading amateur modern jazz pianist of 74 years young, who had sadly suffered a brain tumour and we had the privilege of being there for his post-op debut with his combo. Fabulous!

Two evenings a week they had guest musicians and a sort of Open House: one evening we even had a most fantastic jazz singer from Georgia USA. She looked like a gypsy and had a very strange dress sense!

But sang like an angel!

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share


×
×
  • Create New...