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Just a point on the usefulness of forums (or fora):

I came (back) to France 6 years ago, after a stint of 3 decades of my life in the UK. Having been French before, I had no problem with the language. But the country I came back to was a very different country to the one I had left. I came back in rather difficult circumstances, having done very little research, as I kept thinking "But I am practically French, of course I will manage!" - and what a shock that was, and how long it lasted.

I only discovered this forum (and others) a year or so ago. How I wish I had known about them sooner: during the past year, I have found out so much about France and the way things are done! I am constantly impressed by the level of knowledge in all sorts of obscure and not so obscure areas, which is divulged on this forum. Of course, it is not all authentic or accurate information - some people are way off mark, but they are often put  right.

As for missing the UK, this is the 100,000 dollar question. Sometimes, even I wonder what it would be like to "go back" - Vicky's post actually made me quite nostalgic!!! Fortunately (or not) it is not an option, so I'd better love what I do now and where I am - which I mostly do.

The learning curve (for me, as a French citizen!!!) has been steep. For anyone from the UK who comes on this forum, make no mistake about it: here there is a wealth of information and knowledge about practically anything under the sun. Ah!!! The Sun. That is the one thing I did not need to be told about, having gone loopy in the North of England for lack of it...

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[quote user="5-element"]

Ah!!! The Sun. That is the one thing I did not need to be told about, having gone loopy in the North of England for lack of it...

[/quote]

As a native of the north east of England I take strong exception to this slur on a beautiful part of the country. 

The Sun is commonly available, along with The Star, The Mirror, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express ...

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[quote user="Bugbear"][quote user="vickybear"][quote user="Bugbear"]

That is all part of the fun, just enjoy the challenge, don't listen to the whingers and get on with it.

You're dead for a very long time............................................................[:D]

[/quote]

Bugbear........that's not fair.   I've just returned to the UK after 2 years in France and I don't consider myself a 'whinger'. I have been asked my views and expressed them. I have been positive about some aspects of both France and the UK.

It's a forum, I don't call you delusional because you love France, nor should you refer to the people it hasn't worked out for as whingers.

Bugbear....you're right, we are dead a very long time, but we're also alive a very long time too and being miserable with the life you are living can make it feel a lot, lot longer!!!!!!![Www]

[/quote]

 

 

Oh dear Vickybear.............Where exactly did I in any way refer to you?

Absolutely nowhere and any comments you have made were in no way being referred to by me. My reference was a general one about people who always see the negatives and from what I've seen from your posts, you don't fit that picture.

I will accept your apology, of course.

[/quote]

 

SORRY [kiss][kiss]    ( but not all whingers are whingeing.....they might just not be putting it very well. I didn't think you were directing it at me personally, just defending t'others! )

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[quote user="RumziGal"][quote user="Bugbear"]

Someone once said (I forget who) "That in life, you only regret things that you don't do"

[/quote]

Probably best forgotten altogether, because it's so obviously not true!  [:)]

[/quote]

It was Dr. Wayne Dyer. As in;

"You don’t regret what you do, you regret what you don’t do. When you do something and don’t like the result you produce, you have a choice. You can learn from the experience. You can make changes and in that sense, there’s no regret. There’s actually gratitude for the fall, because the falls provide you with the energy to propel yourself to higher and higher places in our lives. When you’d like to try something and you don’t because you’re afraid of failing or you’re afraid of somebody else’s opinion about it, then you can have regrets. You can go through your whole life wondering what would have happened if you had asked her to go out. There is also an aspect of regret after doing something harmful toward another person. When you feel regret, vow to change your behavior. In that sense, regret serves our evolution."

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[quote user="Deimos"]

[quote user="LanguedocGal"]

... the state of the French economy and the often ‘closed’ employment market (specialist sectors in particular) often proves the undoing of many.

[/quote]

Totally "off-topic" but there was a recent Royal Bank of Scotland economic report as to the reasons behind Germany's recent economic strength. It almost read like a critique of how things were organised in France. Sort of "Germany seems to have managed to weaken xxx practices..." where xxx practices are something France is trying to strengthen !!

Ian

[/quote]

 

[8-)]

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[quote user="Bugbear"]

Andy, your last post 'has hit the nail on the head' completely.

With the trauma I have both had and seen in life I am still an optimistic type.

On this thread the only point I was trying to make was simply 'if you fancy doing something, then just do it', if it all goes 'pearshaped' so what, at least you've had a go.

There is no nirvana, no magic place where problems don't exist. Its just that france, for us, is currently a nice place to live. If that changes then so will we.

That's all I was trying to say.

Someone once said (I forget who) "That in life, you only regret things that you don't do"

[/quote]

 

...........Anyway, just got back from the beach. It's sunny today in Devon. I sat on a bench and watched the boats sailing in and out of Brixman Harbour and pondered on my current big issue............will I ever get used to flushing anything I like down the loo again???!!!

I've also pondered the above statement. Is it true? If you look hard enough at any situation you can make the statement fit. For me, I don't regret my move to France as it has made me appreciate the UK more. If I feel more settled here for the forseeable future then the two years I could otherwise have regretted weren't wasted.

Right, just off t'chippie for a bit of Torbay Cod n Chips!

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[quote user="vickybear"]

 

 

Right, just off t'chippie for a bit of Torbay Cod n Chips!

[/quote]

 

Torbay ?!

Vickybear, the best haddock n chips I ever had were from the little chippie more or less opposite 'that' ship (The Pelican ?)

I sat on the harbour and had to fight off the seagulls and I want to eat them now [:(] (chips not seagulls!)

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[quote user="vickybear"]

 If you look hard enough at any situation you can make the statement fit. For me, I don't regret my move to France as it has made me appreciate the UK more. If I feel more settled here for the forseeable future then the two years I could otherwise have regretted weren't wasted.

[/quote]

I think that was what I was trying to say VB.

and why are you torturing me with that mention of Cod n chips...........................[:D][:D]

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[quote user="Bugbear"][quote user="RumziGal"][quote user="Bugbear"]

Someone once said (I forget who) "That in life, you only regret things that you don't do"

[/quote]

Probably best forgotten altogether, because it's so obviously not true!  [:)]

[/quote]

It was Dr. Wayne Dyer. As in;

"You don’t regret what you do, you regret what you don’t do. When you do something and don’t like the result you produce, you have a choice. You can learn from the experience. You can make changes and in that sense, there’s no regret. There’s actually gratitude for the fall, because the falls provide you with the energy to propel yourself to higher and higher places in our lives. When you’d like to try something and you don’t because you’re afraid of failing or you’re afraid of somebody else’s opinion about it, then you can have regrets. You can go through your whole life wondering what would have happened if you had asked her to go out. There is also an aspect of regret after doing something harmful toward another person. When you feel regret, vow to change your behavior. In that sense, regret serves our evolution."

[/quote]

I reserve my right to think that that is a load of self-righteous, pseudo-religious tommyrot.  Gratitude for the fall, indeed!  To whom should one be grateful?     

Would a bit of negative equity or a blocked septic tank propel you to a "higher place in your life"?

Non mais!  [:D]  

 

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Calm down RG, I didn't write it I merely quoted from it..........................[:D]

pas importante.....................................[:)]

Think about Cod n Chips, it's much more   Fish French Fries 2 interesing....................

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[quote user="Tony F Dordogne"]

I really don't miss the food in the UK at all ............. and then some smarty pants mentioned fish and chips ...............

From the fish shop in Kingsland High Road in Hackney or the small old chippie shop in Covent Garden ....................

[/quote]

Faulkner's, Kingsland Road - yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy and double yummmmmmmy.

Conversely, I didn't move to France for the food. As I can't cook, I love to have a huge variety of restaurants locally offering truly international cuisine (not adapted to French taste - bland Indian restaurant food etc) and France is really quite DULL on that front. I'm wearing my protective tin hat as I post this. [:)]

Cassis, I did, however, move here for the sun.  So to think that I came all this way when I could have got The Sun, daily in the north of Engand.  That's what I call terrible and inadequate research on my part [;-)]. No house points from Prof Smith, I'm afraid.[:(]

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Mmmmm, they were sooooooo nice!!!!

I can see I'm going to have some fun winding you all up with the occasional reminder of the UK's finer points!!

Husband had some chips on a slice of Warburtons medium white, so hot they melted the butter which ran out a little on his fingers........................ (ps the fish batter was crispy!!)

[;-)]

 

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[quote user="vickybear"]

Mmmmm, they were sooooooo nice!!!!

I can see I'm going to have some fun winding you all up with the occasional reminder of the UK's finer points!!

Husband had some chips on a slice of Warburtons medium white, so hot they melted the butter which ran out a little on his fingers........................ (ps the fish batter was crispy!!)

[;-)]

 

[/quote]

STOP IT, NOW...................................... Pouty 

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Grandma Pollards in Todmorden which is Lancashire or Yorkshire depending on which side of the argument you are on.

They're opposite the railway station, make their own pies and fry the chips in beef dripping!!   Truly the best I have ever tasted and one for the Northerners over the Southerners, let alone the Brits over the French.

On the subject of chips, has anyone else noticed the standard of crockery at most local French eateries???  It seems to be something to be proud of .........more chips equals a better meal?  AND, do they EVER warm the plates?

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LOL hubby is just on his way to get fish and chips - and I have a big pan of mushy peas simmering on the hob...mmmmmm.  If heaven is half as good as this.....

Kathie

Edit: we are northerners too vickybear and I agree we make, absolutely the best fish and chips - fried in beef dripping - non of this namby pamby low cholesterol stuff...

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[quote user="vickybear"]

I can see I'm going to have some fun winding you all up with the occasional reminder of the UK's finer points!!

[/quote]

Try harder then. [kiss] White bread, hot plates, chips and carpets aren't doing it for me. [:P]

... and definitely hold the mushy peas. [+o(]

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