Are There Too Many English In Our Hamlet !

[cooperlola]

Looking at this topic subject, it's hard to remember how we ended up at Walmart!  However, dragging the subject slightly back to France, what's the view on the French supermarket chains, bearing all this in mind?  In the UK you can rely on the good old Co-op to behave relatively well.  None of those round here makes anything of ethical policies (apart from no longer giving away millions of carrier bags each day!) but do any of them have any?

[Tag]

The carrier bag thing was a cynical ploy anyway. They have done ziltch to reduce packaging materials. My local Super U is lovely 'n clean and tidy and shiny and bright but I think it is a real rip off pricewise. Even down to making the prices per kilo so small you can't read them. No real competition that's the trouble locally.

[WJT]

[quote user="J.R."]

I concur with a lot of what Charlotte has said, I do the same things myself  but usually for selfish rather than ethical reasons.

I cannot see that she has said anything to raise the question about how she supports her family, only the choices she makes.

Even in the current commercial world one can support a family without Adidas, Macdonalds and designer labels.

Or have I missed the point?

[/quote]

Thank you Cooperlola, you did sum up what I was thinking. However J.R. I really wasn't trying to imply anything, I was genuinely interested in how someone that feels this strongly actually made a living assuming that she and her husband work here and aren't retired. I know it is a personal question so perhaps I should have worded it differently for example what area of work.  I find some of the things she says very commendable. However, I do feel that unfortunately not everyone has the time if you work or can afford to make such altruistic choices such as buying only from small shops etc.. 

The only comment that I feel I must pick up on is of her not knowing anyone from 25-50 other than Brits going to McDonald's. I personally don't eat at McDonald's, I don't eat meat anyway but have grabbed a cup of coffee now and again while travelling through France and I have always found them to be the reliable decent loo break which is very hard to find in France at the best of times. They are always not sometimes but every time I have entered anytime on a weekend packed with French families. Unlike Leclerc where I hear English spoken, I have never heard English spoken in a McDonald's.

An interesting point Tag made about the computer as well. [8-)]

[Charlotte3]

Yeah, got several computers actually. Hubbys was new perhaps 3 years ago, mine is now oh, 9 years old, kids is so old we've forgotten when we bought it!  Mr Gates developed a system and others are jealous. Why should he share his technology with others? Cost him an arm and a leg to develop AND he gives a huge amount of his personal money to charity...sorry, can't find much fault with him.

Teflon, American stuff, artificial fibres... not in our house.

Big labels made accountable?  Don't make me laugh!

France paying low wages.... tell me about it!  By the way France needs the work, never mind Romania, lots of unemployment here!

The clapped out old car (recycled)....I don't worry about my "carbon footprint" to be honest, I don't use it enough! 26kms per day total, ok? I don't pop across the channel every two minutes!  The 2 motos... well you have me there. One was bought brand new, threw me off.  Second (my personal favourite) is 14 years old, recycled if you like, and lovely. Seeing as how I work b....y hard for minimum wage ( you know, to keep the Romanians out), we reckon we deserve them both.

It's not hard to do really, with a little thought anyone could to it. 

When my daughter was born I was a single parent (you all know the type, on social security in council housing etc etc). She was allergic to both milk and wheat flour and was diagnosed hyperactive. Because I avoid drugs (American) I searched for alternatives. We were recommended a wholefood diet, cutting out all processed foods. It worked, it was very difficult , being on benefits but it was worth it to see my little girl so healthy. Everything else took off from there. I'm a great believer in not wasting resources, recycling and saving money at the same time, well on my wages and with a family to support I have no choice!

Don't get me wrong, I love my life here in France. Personally if I hadn't a challenge I'd just curl up and die. I do love the fact that we do all this without the false props of Family Credit etc.

I know this is dead soppy, but I genuinely do get up each morning thinking how lucky I am and how much I have compared to some others. I was watching a report from the Sudan, and I thought well, at least we have hope. Those poor people had their incredibly difficult life and no hope whatsoever. That must be terrible.

In closing, I must say that for many years we have had the ability to look as if we were affluent, when actually averything we have is dead old, and cost very little. We do have some nice things, but they are ancient and rarely bought first hand. (Vintage, you might say!)

I love my life and I wouldn't swap it for anyone's.Who ever said money makes you happy.....it certanily didn't do it for me!

I know what it is Tag.......your'e just jealous, come on admit it!

Aly

 

 

 

 

[Charlotte3]

Well, Tag?

[Panda]

Hi

Have to agree on the 'Macdo' front, every macdonalds I've been in in France is packed to the rafters with young french families.  The adults are drinking wine with their meal, that's the only difference.  I also read somewhere that the total of Macdonalds turnover in France is higher than in the UK.. I personlly think you are less likely to see a Brit in a Macdonalds (unless they are on holiday) because the majority of Brits who chose to live here with kids are making the choice to live a healthier life, it's part of why we came here.

Panda

[Tag]

I'm not really sure what you are trying to say now Aly. That you have no American products is doubtful - we should include fridge, washing machine, TV technology of course, and the fact you do not speak German as a first language. That you have decided to live without being an ostentatious consumer is not an anti-American statement either and is to be congratulated. I just don't think you can make blanket statements about one country as you did about the USA. After all, why not apply this to the Germans or the Chinese. That you were able to find an alternative route for your daughter's health is to be applauded but in no way repudiates my basic point.

As to low wages, it is precisely because alternative industries cannot develop that people are forced to work in such places a clothes and furniture making and food processing, caused by the stupid socialist governments of France. As for food subsidies, hang on a bit there. If you take off the subsidies (and I am not really in favour of them), then many French farmers would be bust. And do you really think that African farmers should be growing food for Western markets when the food is needed in their own countries.

You seem to be blaming the USA for all the perceived ills you were railing about in your message. They are hardly that. More that prosperity brings demands, a prosperity largely based on two wage households, women having the same rights as men. But I mustn't mention that as American women had the vote long before British and French women, as well as greater rights before the law.

But no, I ain't jealous. I have my books, many brought new, DVDs, mostly bought new and a relatively modest lifestyle which includes a happy, happy, mongrel dog and a little car to carry him in when he needs. But I am also conscious that new and bright is sometimes better that old.

[WJT]

Tag, until now I had always assumed you to be a man. There really are one or two smart cookies here. Well said. [:D]

[Tag]

Ah's a guy honey. Hetero as they cummmmmmmmm!

[Mme poivre]

 

 

[WJT]

Well, what can I say, my sort of man. Still say you are a smart cookie though. [:)]

[Tresco]

[quote user="Tag"] But I mustn't mention that as American women had the vote long before British and French women, as well as greater rights before the law.[/quote]

It wasn't that long before!

Also in some of the southern States African-American women (and men) were prevented from voting until 1965. Picky, aren't I?[:-))]

[Tag]

I thought it was later than that

[Iceni]

I didn't realise that African-Americans existed in 1965 but thanks to LF I learn something new every day.

John

not

[WJT]

[quote user="Tresco"]

[quote user="Tag"] But I mustn't mention that as American women had the vote long before British and French women, as well as greater rights before the law.[/quote]

It wasn't that long before!

Also in some of the southern States African-American women (and men) were prevented from voting until 1965. Picky, aren't I?[:-))]

[/quote]

 

And another one. [:)]

I had no idea it was that recent it is just so hard to imagine. [:(] There are quite a few successful and some very powerful African Americans from the southern states and that era, it is incredible how they were able to overcome that sort of disadvantage.

[Tag]

Yes I think we tend to think that when something exists it has been there forever. It is too easy to forget the struggles and the pain.

[Tresco]

[quote user="Iceni"]

I didn't realise that African-Americans existed in 1965 but thanks to LF I learn something new every day. [/quote]

Would 'people of African ancestry born in America' suit you better John?

 

[andyh4]

Tag

you rail Ali about some of her sweeping statements against the US, but I suggest you do some research about some of your supposed American sourced products.

TV - invented by a European

Drugs - many basic drugs invented in Europe

Plastics - Most invented in Europe

etc..

 

 

[Tag]

Yes Andy, it was a scatter gun approach, I could have found better examples and I was oversimplifying. But then it is very often impossible to distinguish between inventor and developer or to decide who can 'claim' a complex piece of technology which uses patents from several national sources. Look at rocket  technology, developed by the Germans and then by a German in the USA with American money. But this I think reinforces my point that one cannot say 'nothing from the USA or China or whatever in my house.' It doesn't work, except at a very simplified level, eg wines, though I suspect Gallo might own vineyards in Europe.

Tim

[Alan Zoff]

I've seen through your plot Colandhelinfrance. You post a question which appears to be about English in French hamlets but your intention is clearly to provoke a war between Europe and America.

[TreizeVents]

[quote user="Tresco"][quote user="Iceni"]

I didn't realise that African-Americans existed in 1965 but thanks to LF I learn something new every day. [/quote]

Would 'people of African ancestry born in America' suit you better John?

 [/quote]

Actually, at that precise time they were often "Afro-Americans".  But to this day, ni***rs, blacks, coloureds, jig***os, negroes, african americans, Americans of Sub Saharan African ancestry, people of colour ... all those exist.  The problem is for each person, in each situation to decide what term to use.  And which ones to make a joke about.  Then you see how apt your choice is.  Perhaps you also see what the others present in the situation think of your choice.   I myself, in my own history have used at least negro, black, african-american and person of colour.  I expect there might be another one before I die.

Oh dear, isn't life complicated.  On the other hand, I am sure there are people who have use "coloured" and "ni**er" all their lives with no trouble at all.

[Tag]

Ali, don't you just love them,

http://www.express.co.uk/features/view/6573

[monaco]

I have come late to this forum but I will return to the original thread.  I lived in Wales for several years (I am English) and my Welsh neighbour fulminated against all the damn English comers-in, until he wanted to sell his house and found he could get a better  price from the hated English.  Presumably there are several English families in the village because they bought houses from French owners who didn't give a damn who they were as long as they paid the asking price.

When I retired to France five years ago, on my very limited pension income, I bought a ruined chalet high in the Pyrenees and asked around locally for tradesmen to renovate it.  Nobody spoke English - my French improved rapidly.  I was invited to every event in the village and never heard one word of hostile comment about the English.  There were many empty houses in the village - there was no work and all the young people had moved to the nearby towns.  The villagers were very glad to welcome me as a permanent and obviously non-rich resident.

I have lived in England, Wales, Monaco, Belgium and France and Wales was the only place where I encountered open hostility.

[Chief]

[quote user="monaco"]  Presumably there are several English families in the village because they bought houses from French owners who didn't give a damn who they were as long as they paid the asking price.
[/quote]

And therein lies the real issue.  As i alluded to in a previous post, they openly profess to hate the english, the spanish, etc etc, but their thinking soon changes when it comes to selling up.  Suddenly, the english etc are okay as they have the money to spend.  Hypocritical stance in every sense.  If they relly want to keep their villages french, solution is simply...stop selling your houses, or reduce your asking prices to levels affordable by your kids, and fellow countrymen.

[LanguedocGal]

[quote user="Chief"]

[quote user="monaco"]  Presumably there are several English families in the village because they bought houses from French owners who didn't give a damn who they were as long as they paid the asking price.
[/quote]

And therein lies the real issue.  As i alluded to in a previous post, they openly profess to hate the english, the spanish, etc etc, but their thinking soon changes when it comes to selling up.  Suddenly, the english etc are okay as they have the money to spend.  Hypocritical stance in every sense.  If they relly want to keep their villages french, solution is simply...stop selling your houses, or reduce your asking prices to levels affordable by your kids, and fellow countrymen.

[/quote]

Very true, Chief.

Another point is that if the foreigners didn’t buy the properties, I doubt the young French would in sufficient numbers, even with the present housing crisis in France. I have friends in their 30s/early 40s, whose family own an entire hamlet with sufficient houses and more than enough land for the 3 boys, in a truly beautiful part of Languedoc. However, the houses are only ever used as holiday/weekend homes as the sons and their partners prefer to live in towns/lively villages, where there is life and work. I also have two friends in Paris who will inherit a large house in the Vendee but they don’t even want to go there for their holidays (they did as children) because it’s too rural for them.

The reason these properties in rural France were available at such knock down prices in the first place, was because the young had moved away due to lack of opportunities; high property prices had ZILCH to do with it initially. It seems clear to me that most would much rather, for example, pay 200,000 euros for a 2/3 bedroom flat (70-80sqm) in a lively town with opportunities, than live in large old houses, available for nothing except maintenance, that are situated in the middle of nowhere. As we all know, many of the rural communities were dying and quite a few owe their regeneration to foreigners moving in. So, if you move into a hamlet/quiet village, you should not be surprised that the French are not rushing to buy the empty properties near you.

It’s always easier to blame the immigrants for woes and changes, and to read some of the posters here when talking about immigrants in the UK (or the number in their hamlets), the French are not unique in that.

A few suggestions: For those who don’t like hamlets with too many non French residents, buy an entire hamlet and determine who moves in as tenants - simply discriminate[:(]

For those who complain about the culture/traditions of these hamlets/villages changing because of too many foreigners, I would suggest that without the immigrants, the culture and traditions would change in any case; mainly from alive to dead.