General Chat

I used to want to live somewhere like France, Spain or Portugal, but the older I get, the more I want to stay in Britain. Love to travel, and hope I'll always be fit enough to, but I like to come home to Britain!

Been in Spain since November 2001 - no regrets - enjoy the simple life especially during the warmer months - breakfast on beach and a dip in the Med. BBQ's on roof terrace etc.
Still think it is cheaper in Spain than UK although prices are on the up - but it is the same worldwide. Would like to say never would go back and live in UK but you never know - hubby seen lots of older Brits having to go back because of ill health but whilst we are still ok we will still live in Spain.
Mary xx
ps hope your mom is ok Uzzi

To a certain extent I agree with other UK residents. We do manage to hang on to many of our eccentricities, and Sterling! Europe would be a boring place if we were all the same.

Several decades ago, there was some discussion in the media about our Bureaucrats imposing EU dictates on the population where as other EU States applied what they chose.

The problem could be that we as a nation tend to roll over too easily and accept with a bit of grumbling anything that ‘they’, at what ever level of government, impose.
Our government (of what ever persuasion) need to take a leaf out of America’s book and apply the principle of ‘In Britain’s best interest’.

I'm not very patriotic but on the other hand I do love Britain and wouldn't live anywhere else, much as I love travelling.

I think belonging to the EU has done us a lot of good and it's only if you read the papers too much it looks like it does us no good because only the silly stuff gets reported.

I love living in the UK, nothing would induce me to live in Euroland, although I do love France.

I love our eccentricities and age old customs that we don't let die. I love our villages and castles and parks. I love how green it is. I love our theatres and galleries and honesty boxes for egg money left at farm gates.

I love the diversity of our inner cities and the bleakness of our "satanic hills".

Not quite sure how living in another country in the EU makes any difference Uzzi? In the sense that none of the EU countries ( with the exception probably of Germany given its economic recovery and role ) have entirely their own say.

We ( Brits, though I use the word 'we' loosely because I am not overly patriotic lol) do have our own currency, can still measure in feet and inches, and generally I don't feel 'controlled' by the EU, though I think they interfere too much, cost too much and I am in two minds as to whether the UK should stay in it.

I wouldn't go to Spain if you paid me lol, but that's mostly because I wouldn't go anywhere hot.

I think as we get older and are on reasonable incomes from pensions and investments, people have always tended to go to the south (Bognor), the south west (Cornwall, Devon and Pembrokeshire) and the coast. For warmth and fresh air.

In my generation with cheap plane travel and a non hostile Europe, we have tended towards Spain, Portugal and South of France. Sun and sangria, and a place for children and friends to have a cheapish holiday. And cheaper homes, with no massive gas or heating oild bills every winter. And similar health facilities.

It is very sad that this is becoming less and less attractive. Speeding is bad, but we used to get a rap on knuckles, not a £1200 fine for a first minor offence. And you need plenty of nice local shops to buy your bread, meat, fruit and veg - wherever you live as an older person.

9 years ago I and my husband felt the same as Ussi and we have lived in Spain since then. It has been a good experience but now I want to return to zengland, husband has agreed but would prefer to stay here.
Why do I want to go back?
In no particular order:
Spain is in a dire financial situation and is closing money at any cost. Example, a friend was driving home and went over the the speed limit by 10 Killometers. The cost 1500 euros, this was taken directly from his bank in Spain! This was his first fine! He has had a home here for about 15 years and also homes in zengland and South Africa. He his so angry he has put his house up for sale, going back to SA ASAP.

The towns are becoming similar to ghost towns, we went to the next town last week and almost 40% of the shops were closed for good.

In Peniscola where I live about 50% of the shops, hotels are closed and up for sale or simply people have walked away.
Universities are loosing their staff and pupils

Do I need to say any more???

Spain has been a great experience but when our children and grandchildren are finding it expensive to visit re flights, etc and the cost as detailed above, a place becoming sad then it is time to go.
So how will we sell our house? We just have to wait but there is a lot of French people viewing as they wish to take their money out of France!!

Oh dear I have gone on a bit but it is all accurate.

Bridget in Spain :-) <3 :-) ;-) :-S

I was telling my next door neighbour, Mr Idwal Francois Ahmed, that Britain now belongs to the world :-)

I am so pleased that I have left the UK because I don´t feel like Britain belongs to the Brits anymore , it belongs to the EU and has no say, what is your take on this