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I love this country and I love France

No "proper" mountains (for cycling and skiing) or Mediterranean coastline in the UK though

Quote:

I can't really see how France would be better, different yes, but better – really?

I could make a long list of what IMHO is “better” here (I’d start with the weather), but it’s all a matter of taste and personal preferences. It suits me, it won’t suit others.

The only thing I might possibly say I miss about the old country is not being able to go to a cosy pub and having an excellent pint of ale and a natter!
But then I read about the rate at which pubs are closing in the UK …

Would I ever go back to the GB? No, except to visit. I’m even thinking about taking (dual) French citizenship – my wife is French – for practical reasons and just in case the UK leaves the EU and the Brits in France get kicked out.
Traitor? Who, me?  It's "bébéchoon", ackcherly, with accents. 'Steve' to my chums.
20 years ownership of Solihull products, ALL GONE NOW, sniff!
Current motor: Suzuki S-Cross 4WD auto, 1.4 petrol. Oh so reliable! 7 years now and no problems. Oh, all right then, a leaking shocker replaced under guarantee.
Previous:
TD6 HSE L322 Auto FF
2.5 TDi 4-door Classic
Disco II
And my 1st Rangie: in 1995, a 2-door VM 2.5 diesel Classic
Not to mention the Lada Niva before those. (I said not to mention it!)

i think a lot of us know the underlying problems of the great UK, because we know it inside out! We look at pictures and properties in euro countysides and conjour up an idyllic lifestyle, and lay in the bath dreaming of what life could be like.
and then sort of wake up in cold water, and remember all the things you didnt realise were so different. like tax, strikes, healthcare, heat, customer service, reliabilty of people,

....manyana-manyana...

ensure you are not laying in a hot bath, with rose coloured specs steaming up...

no county is perfect, how much better is another country than the good old UK?

Oh, and people in spain still read the Daily Mail. -you do get value for money, its a thick paper!
roll the dice, and its either Cancer Warning../house prices, freeze or heatwave looming. or migrant invasion.

it's just 'bus stop queue moaning' ammunition..

As a long time francophile, I came to France because I have always felt at home here. Having said that, I have always been pretty settled wherever I have lived. I lived and worked in England for 34 years and I am not anti UK.

Many people who move abroad seem to do it because they want to get away from UK. It is often a recipe for disaster. The last thing one should do is move to get away from anything. You are probably only going to bring your problems with you. John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

Well, France does look pretty nice. Then so does the UK (and the other countries posters have listed). Other than the very obvious improvement in the weather, what's the draw?

I have my own reasons for loving the country, but there are many people more articulate than me who have summed up the attractions of living here. Just type something like “why live in France” into that nice Mr Google; I got a whole host of hits including, for example, the following:
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle...esome.html
http://www.buzzfeed.com/sirajdatoo/moving-...od-culture
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/0...lity.life/
http://internationalliving.com/countries/france/why-france/
I’m sure you’ll soon get the picture!  It's "bébéchoon", ackcherly, with accents. 'Steve' to my chums.
20 years ownership of Solihull products, ALL GONE NOW, sniff!
Current motor: Suzuki S-Cross 4WD auto, 1.4 petrol. Oh so reliable! 7 years now and no problems. Oh, all right then, a leaking shocker replaced under guarantee.
Previous:
TD6 HSE L322 Auto FF
2.5 TDi 4-door Classic
Disco II
And my 1st Rangie: in 1995, a 2-door VM 2.5 diesel Classic
Not to mention the Lada Niva before those. (I said not to mention it!)

Or Google "reasons not to live in France".

Obviously marrying a French girl trumps all as she is still SWMBO in any country or language.  Geoff

Good point, Geoff (supershuttle). Or at least so I thought until I did as you suggest.
Of the sites listed when I searched on “reasons not to live in France”, the first one: http://mymelange.net/mymelange/2012/08/france-travel-advice.html “17 Reasons France May Not Be For You” was more of a check-list to make sure you were doing the right thing and wouldn’t regret the move, rather than reasons not to be thinking about moving there in the first place!
As for the second, http://www.buzzfeed.com/marietelling/42-re...sit-france, well … actually if you look at it you’ll find that the title "42 Reasons To Never Visit France" is a misnomer – it’s actually a tongue-in-cheek opposite to its title.
Then http://www.movetofranceblog.co.uk/move-to-...-why-nots/ again is not a solid argument about what’s not good with France, but more a “Will I like it? Will I be able to learn the language? Should I buy or rent?” and so on.
And that’s about it!
Sorry, but that exercise sort of proves my point …
But your argument about SWMBO is, oeuf Corse, 100% valid! Now, all I need to do is find a suitable acronym for SWMBO in French ...  It's "bébéchoon", ackcherly, with accents. 'Steve' to my chums.
20 years ownership of Solihull products, ALL GONE NOW, sniff!
Current motor: Suzuki S-Cross 4WD auto, 1.4 petrol. Oh so reliable! 7 years now and no problems. Oh, all right then, a leaking shocker replaced under guarantee.
Previous:
TD6 HSE L322 Auto FF
2.5 TDi 4-door Classic
Disco II
And my 1st Rangie: in 1995, a 2-door VM 2.5 diesel Classic
Not to mention the Lada Niva before those. (I said not to mention it!)

I didn't read any of the articles in question as I said earlier I've been to France and a few other countries on the continent a few times but I still prefer the UK but thats just my preference and I wouldn't seek to persuade anyone one way or the other. I guess I was just making the point that if you use Google you'll find stuff that supports both sides of any argument - except of course the SWMBO argument in which the male is invariably wrong

I think I'll leave this thread alone now as, as with lots of issues (generally about Politics or Religion), it may deteriorate into an argument rather than the light hearted banter it started out as. Geoff

Well said, Geoff.
Me too - I've said my bit, the sole purpose of which was to try to be of help to others. I respect everyone's right to have a different opinion; what suits me could well be anathema to others and vice versa. And long may it stay that way! (Except that I agree with everything SWMBO says ...) It's "bébéchoon", ackcherly, with accents. 'Steve' to my chums.
20 years ownership of Solihull products, ALL GONE NOW, sniff!
Current motor: Suzuki S-Cross 4WD auto, 1.4 petrol. Oh so reliable! 7 years now and no problems. Oh, all right then, a leaking shocker replaced under guarantee.
Previous:
TD6 HSE L322 Auto FF
2.5 TDi 4-door Classic
Disco II
And my 1st Rangie: in 1995, a 2-door VM 2.5 diesel Classic
Not to mention the Lada Niva before those. (I said not to mention it!)

Thanks, benechoon.

Sounds great. Rather pleased I studied a good bit of French while at school.

I've just popped back to this thread and didn't realise what I started.
Anyway the Daily Mail has been consigned to the bin, it will never be bought again and I'm still off to the Dordogne.
I'll be an immigrant not an ex pat. I'll pay my French taxes without complaint and enjoy what is hopefully going to be overall better weather and a more relaxed lifestyle.
I'll still be a proud Brit; I don't see my self as English, I'm a citizen of the U.K. I'm British.

France is a better economical and practical choice for our future plans so its time to go. The sad part is the fact that I have to emigrate in order to obtain/achieve our next set of plans.

Anyway I'm off to buy a copy of Vizz now.