Saturday 19 November 2016

Life post-Brexit.



It was foul yesterday, but late Autumn/early Winter, does have some advantages.

I light the fire, place a couple of foil-wrapped spuds in the ash pan to bake, settle down with a crossword or two, and listen to the glorious silence.

Bok lies by the fire, Lady M is possibly baking some biscuits, and there is a Coq au Vin gently bubbling away in the kitchen.

OK, there are no taxis or double-deckers in the high street, no fancy theatres or cinemas, and no frantic crowds of pre-Christmas shoppers in the stores, but that's how I like it. Leave me alone, don't annoy me, and let me live how I want to live. I like it here just as it is.

But, if the ramifications of Brexit force me back to the UK (which I don't think they will), I shall easily adapt. I shall once again dodge the crowds of loonies on the pavements, get used to car alarms permanently screaming, and be prepared to swash-buckle with burglars.

I would also once again frequent the best Asian foods store in the whole world (Brighton's Taj Mahal), eat in some of the most diverse ethnic restaurants anywhere on earth, and have the pleasure of stepping into Waitrose and Marks for all those wee pleasures that are unavailable over here.

Our heat would arrive by pressing a button. 

Life is pretty good, but whatever Brexit holds for us Brexpats, we will go with the flow, and enjoy whatever life brings.






45 comments:

  1. Think I'd stick with the rustic.

    I spent 2 years living in Manchester and the thought of returning to some great metropolis fills me with dread.

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    Replies
    1. We would return to Brighton, which is a great city. Very cosmopolitan.

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  2. I think that both have their merits ...... XXXX

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    Replies
    1. Indeed they do, and I'm not really expecting to be booted out.

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  3. Like it.

    I sense that we Brexit ex-pats are pioneers of "going with the flow."

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  4. It's having to be on 20% less cash than before that is the current bugbear. Longterm I still think we will still be here enjoying France while the UK goes from strenght to strenght.

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    Replies
    1. I'm certain that that will be the case; all these fears are just that, fears.

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    2. One hopes that the UK will go from strength to strength and the current financial crisis is merely a blip.

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  5. That sounds like a very healthy attitude.

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    Replies
    1. It's also the only one that we can entertain.

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  6. I had to spend a week in a flat in the middle of Southampton on my own (visiting a sick relative in hospital) recently, and quite honestly, I could feel myself declining by the minute, it was ghastly. I didn't see another soul, and when I went out it was into traffic fume-filled streets. My other half used to talk about 'when we get old and move into a flat'. Having had to join me a few days later at this flat, he now knows, (as I always did) that it'll be over my dead body! Give me the countryside every time, you stay where you are Cro, it's good for your health and sanity! And if you can't, go to the English countryside.

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    Replies
    1. WE have been toying with the idea of buying a small cottage on the other side of the South Downs, which would be the best of both worlds.

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  7. I go to town for the bank, library, and arts centre. I scoot round the shops in no time at all, and can't get out quick enough.

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    Replies
    1. I'm a bit the same. I have a very precise list of things to do, and get everything done a.s.a.p.

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  8. What is it in particular that would force you back to the UK Cro ?

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    1. I don't suppose it'll happen, but they are talking of limiting ex-pat residency to x amount of weeks a year. Personally I think it's just scaremongering.

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    2. Very likely is. After all scaremongering is wot sells news papers.

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  9. I think a country residence several miles from a city would be great. There would be infastructure, jobs, shops, theatres..

    Think it's time they told us expats where we stand with Brexit.

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    1. I'm not sure there's anything to tell yet. We'll see soon enough.

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    2. If "they" have no plans for the UK, "they are unlikely to have anything positive for us expats. The more I read about it, the more I'm convinced that no-one - including those who are supposed to be sorting it all out, has a clue what will happen.

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  10. Replies
    1. Not much else we can do Weave. It's in the hands of the gods.

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  11. Fantastic attitude! I love my quiet life in a tiny village. I've lived in cities all over the world, but never again. The simple pleasures of growing your own veg, being free to pursue your hobbies, a leisurely trip to the village pub for lunch, my favourite wines waiting at home for me, I couldn't ask for anything more. Blessings

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    Replies
    1. That sounds to me like the perfect life. What more could one want?

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  12. They would have to drag me out feet first to make me leave your idyllic rustic retreat.

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  13. I can't imagine that you would be happy anywhere than where you are now. As I do not know about the ramifications of Brexit, can you tell me the reason that you would have to consider moving from your lovely home? With the election of Trump, I listen to no news in order to spare myself from his name and actions invading my space and ruining my day.

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    Replies
    1. Part of the rules for free trade across Europe is the free movement of citizens. The UK wishes to preserve the free trade but without the free movement. At present they are all exchanging insults, and no indications of how it will all end have been offered. It will probably take years to sort it all out.

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  14. My selfish wish is that you and yours will be able to continue to live where and how you do. It is a continuing pleasure to read your posts and gain some idea of what goes on day by day in your beautiful area of France.

    It is my current guess that any brexit sorting out will take a very long time.

    Best wishes.

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    Replies
    1. I think you're right, I reckon we're safe for a good while yet!

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  15. Personally we have no desire to go back to the UK, having become used, over the past 20 years, to living alongside people from many different countries.
    At the end of the day, no matter how much we try to second guess the terms the UK and the EU may (or may not) agree, we'll just have to wait and see. Until then we might as well carry on and continue enjoying life to the full.

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    Replies
    1. My thoughts exactly. I try not to think about it.

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  16. Hello Cro, I'd be hanging onto the door/gate posts while they tried to drag me away from the idyllic place you live in now. I hope that you will continue to live in France and share this life here with us.

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    Replies
    1. It would take a lot to drag me away from here; I wouldn't go easily.

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  17. I think I must have missed something here. I know you have mentioned that you don't get a U.K. pension so I would have thought you were in the same position as me. Surely one can live where one wants.

    You do have a wonderful life over there.

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    1. When I first came here in '72 we had to have residency papers etc. Then after we became members of the EU all that changed. Now that we are to quit the EU it might all start up again.

      Yes that is the blanket. Still going strong, and still very warm.

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  19. Is that the lovely soft New Zealand blanket I gave Dad on your settee?

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  20. Less car alarms now but more police/ambulance sirens.
    I hope you get to stay in your wonderful home for as long as possible

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    Replies
    1. It was the alarms in the middle of the night that I hated the most; that and Seagulls dancing on our roof.

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  21. I always think that I could never live in a town again and certainly not in one in the South of England. But at the end of the day I just count myself lucky that I have a choice of some sort at least. I'm not a refugee.

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