NormanH

Nice to read some facts. Here in Béziers you could add Turkish and Middle eastern to the list but it makes an uneasy mix with the large 'pied noir' contingent, one of whom is the Maire.

I am referring to France. What may or may not be the case in the UK is not relevant

"I can tell you in France the situation is much the same as the UK in terms of healthcare. " A generalisation with nothing to support it except your assertion that " I can tell you" Can you give some specific examples?

The French use a 'capote anglaise' in situations where an Englishman might use a 'French letter' 😈

I am afraid that here in town the post is unfailingly UNreliable. When I had a flat in a village where the post lady knew everybody it was a different story.

I don't think retired people with a pension are included..

I don't see any distiction being made here between 'nice' EXPATS (spit) and nasty immigrants.. En 2024, la « préférence nationale », théorisée par les fascistes dans les années 1980, reste plus que jamais l’élément central du programme du RN. « C’est la raison d’être de ce parti, s’il abandonne ça, il n’est plus rien », résume Jean-Yves Camus, politologue spécialiste de l’extrême droite. D’après son programme présidentiel, Marine Le Pen souhaite ainsi introduire dans la Constitution « la priorité nationale dans certains domaines, notamment pour l’accès à l’emploi et au logement » en y ajoutant « l’institution de sanctions pénales ou administratives ». Un employeur, un propriétaire et un bailleur social seraient donc contraints de choisir le dossier d’un Français, sous peine de sanctions. Une menace couplée à d’autres mesures, dont le durcissement des conditions d’accès à la nationalité française et « l’expulsion des étrangers sans emploi depuis un an », pour vider la France de ses immigrés. Des arguments qui n’ont aucune valeur économique Concernant le logement social, Marine Le Pen a même sous-entendu qu’il fallait expulser les familles étrangères, en émettant le vœu, en 2022, de « remettre sur le marché les 620 000 logements sociaux occupés par des étrangers

En 2024, la « préférence nationale », théorisée par les fascistes dans les années 1980, reste plus que jamais l’élément central du programme du RN. « C’est la raison d’être de ce parti, s’il abandonne ça, il n’est plus rien », résume Jean-Yves Camus, politologue spécialiste de l’extrême droite. D’après son programme présidentiel, Marine Le Pen souhaite ainsi introduire dans la Constitution « la priorité nationale dans certains domaines, notamment pour l’accès à l’emploi et au logement » en y ajoutant « l’institution de sanctions pénales ou administratives ». Un employeur, un propriétaire et un bailleur social seraient donc contraints de choisir le dossier d’un Français, sous peine de sanctions. Une menace couplée à d’autres mesures, dont le durcissement des conditions d’accès à la nationalité française et « l’expulsion des étrangers sans emploi depuis un an », pour vider la France de ses immigrés. Des arguments qui n’ont aucune valeur économique Concernant le logement social, Marine Le Pen a même sous-entendu qu’il fallait expulser les familles étrangères, en émettant le vœu, en 2022, de « remettre sur le marché les 620 000 logements sociaux occupés par des étrangers

Des centaines de milliers de travailleurs potentiellement privés d’emplois Ce texte vise même à « interdire l’accès à des emplois dans l’administration, des entreprises publiques et des personnes morales chargées d’une mission de service public aux personnes qui possèdent la nationalité d’un autre État ». Cet extrait en dit long sur le projet du RN qui vise non seulement les étrangers, mais aussi les binationaux, soit 3,5 millions de personnes. L’extrême droite discrimine encore et toujours les citoyens selon leurs origines, ce qui finit toujours par se retourner contre tout le monde. « Les étrangers, et donc les binationaux, sont considérés comme déloyaux d’office, et à ce titre il faudrait leur interdire l’emploi public. Bon courage ! Que ce soit pour les médecins, les professeurs ou encore les éboueurs, l’emploi public repose en grande partie sur des travailleurs de nationalité étrangère ou de double nationalité », souligne Ian Brossat

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/frances-le-pen-expects-clear-far-right-win-power-over-macron-2024-06-27/

I have still not received anything in the post

I doubt that this proposal would get past the Conseil constitutionnel, but of course that is an obstacle that the RN will try to abolish.

They are now also demanding the details of the SI... I sent a copy of that but they want the Attestation de Droits of the Sécu

In my case I have a P60 issued by the Teacher's Pension Agency which shows both the gross and net figures. If you have something similar from the Military Pension you could try that. I gave the gross figure on my original declaration

For the first time in 25 years I have been asked to prove that I have paid tax on my Teachers' pension. This is taxed at source in the UK but taken into account for the band in which my OAP (which IS taxable in France ) comes. Until now the Teachers' was simply entered on the 2047 and a carried across to 8TI on the 2042. I did the same this year and have had a phone call asking for proof that I have actually paid the tax, followed by a message in the secure messaging of les Impots asking the same thing. I have sent my p60 explaining that that is what we receive as proof

This is a shortened version of an excellent article by an Australian oncologist: For my patients, life continues to unfold in all its enormity and mundanity. Parking is hard to find, specialists even harder. Tracking appointments is a full-time job. Absorbing good news and swallowing bad news – and having the stomach for both at every visit – demands equanimity. Then, beyond the heavy logistics, there is the sheer emotional fatigue of carrying a diagnosis that everyone feels entitled to weigh in on. The initial shock of a cancer diagnosis takes the wind out of everyone’s sails. What will I do now? Did I ignore the signs? What does my future hold? It doesn’t help that the usual narrative about cancer takes two forms: miracles and disasters. Either people defy the statistics or face an abject death. Of course, the truth lies in between: many cancer experiences have been transformed through modern medicine, agile technology and compassionate palliation. But surrounded by well-wishers, my patients describe feeling alone in the moment of discovery; they know that the weightiest implications will be theirs to negotiate in the silences between the noise. Unlike any other illness I can think of, cancer is a communal diagnosis. The flipside of a flood of sympathy is a tsunami of advice. Try this; eat that; go here; look there Ironically, some of society’s sickest patients face the greatest pressure to make the well among us feel better. So, while their public-facing side valorises positivity and “beating” cancer, inside they are scared and unsettled, as anyone would be. Cancer is synonymous with uncertainty; true success involves treating the body and mind. I rue how little we do of the latter. Patients explain that the way to help is to neither demand optimism nor let them drown in pessimism. Like so much in life, our response to those who have cancer requires moderation Whether treated, cured, palliated or somewhere in between, everyone wants human connection. Even the grumpy patients who scold us to “let me be” and especially the proud ones who insist they are “just fine”. There is a distinction between needing space and being alone – no one who is alone is truly fine.

I have one of their cards which lets me have an account in Euros, Sterling or Dollars. It also has the very useful function that you can create a virtual card, use it for a transaction, then immediately freeze or delete it. It's useful with any site that you are not 100% sure of..

https://www.20minutes.fr/sante/4074786-20240206-sante-sait-piratages-geants-vol-donnees-millions-francais

More generally I sympathise with ANYONE who has a cancer diagnosis. To quote John Donne "If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. Each man's death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind" .. .and the same can be said of illnesses such as Cancer. Would that the same concern as is being expressed at the State of the King's health, were given to his subjects.

Thanks for that information. That is how it should be.

I would hope so. You have a good point about the effect of the publicity. I had regular checks for both prostate and bowel cancer from the age of 50, and one after another they came up positive well before the symptoms were obvious, which meant that both could be caught early

That would be a very good thing, but the fact that those who govern have access to private medicine means that pay only lip service to the NHS. The same applies to private education. Until the day (which I very much doubt will ever come) when those in power have to use the facilities that they provide for the plebs, or in King Charles's case his subjects, there is little incentive for improvement.

Cancer is not necessarily a death sentence, nor is immediate as several of us are aware. My first diagnosis was in 2006..... I would imagine with the superb and constant medical attention that members of the Royal Family have that whatever it is it will have been spotted early.

You could almost say that they had lost because if the Italian kicker had succeeded with the penalty which just swerved wide of the post at the end of the trajectory Italy would have won

The rot set in when Tony Blair affected an accent to appear a 'man of the people' I don't watch UK TV very often but I certainly notice it when I see films.