I think, and I hope, that my children all have wonderful memories of their upbringings in rural France.
Never have they been so free, so happy, and so healthy, as when they bathed in those long hot Summer days, ran bare-footed through the fields with Hamlet their dog, and had numerous hay barns and outbuildings to play in. Life was really good and problems were still unknown.
Here are a young Kimbo, Tenpin, and their good friend Nelly, under the shade of a vine on the terrace. It looks as if it was hot. I expect Wills was yet to be born, or was a tiny baby elsewhere.
Very few young families do such things these days. New Brexit rules have made it more difficult, although it was bloody difficult when I moved South in pre-EU days; I don't think the will is there either. Certainly in the EU, non-EU citizens are not looked upon kindly.
Back in the late 70's when the above was taken, there was still a healthy exodus to Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, but I think this has now all but dried-up, or at least has been made far more difficult.
In my particular case, I am certain that my children loved the long hot Summers, the freedom of open countryside, and of course the fact that they all ended-up being bi-lingual. I'm sure they'd all say the same. One of them is with me now, and his French is as good as ever.
I am sure their memories are happy and equally sure they will one day tell their own children how they spent their youthful summers running free.
ReplyDeleteTwo of my grandsons are also with us, and they love it here.
DeleteI hope that your grandsons' children also have the opportunity to enjoy the same freedom.
ReplyDeleteThat remains to be seen. I'm not over confident. Times change. If the UK was to join the Schengen Group I would be more optimistic.
DeleteI have just deleted a comment here, and now rather regret it. It was a perfect example of how people misread a page, and make silly comments. I was accused of always going on about how awful Brexit was. All I said was that very few young families come here these days. It is more complicated, and probably far more expensive than when I came. When we were EU members, moving to a mainland Europe country was no more difficult than moving to your nearest village. That sadly is a fact.
ReplyDeleteDidn't see the comment, so can't comment.
ReplyDeleteHowever, regardless, Brexit WAS not only "awful", it IS. And will be for a long time.
It's a shitfest on so many levels, financial, personal, logistical, you name it. I'll spare you and your readers personal examples as they will be poo pooed as "anecdotal". Yeah, well, whatever. It's my life. Those whom Brexit doesn't touch, Brexit doesn't have an impact on may well shrug their shoulder. All I can say, and I hope it applies to your children, Cro, that my son isn't (much) touched by Brexshite because he has dual nationality.
Anyway, hope you'll enjoy the rest of your ninety day stay in what was your home for over forty years. And, yes, remembering my own childhood, your children will have happy memories. Oh, the freedom to roam!
U
I have 50 years of experience living in France, but I don't think the person I deleted ever has. She doesn't have the first-hand experience that I do; and now never will. I am not anti-Brexit, just anti my new lack of freedom.
DeleteCro pretty much changed the emphasis of my comment to his own ends, which is understandable. Children will still play in holiday homes barefoot regardless of Brexit and I went on from there a little bit deeper that probably hurt. But never mind, blogs are like that, there is always stuff reading between the lines that I guess many of us miss and I did that as much to his post as he did to my comment, intentionally or unintentionally, that is the way we defend ourselves on blogs I suppose.
DeleteI have not changed the wording on my blog by even one word. I cannot see what you're complaining about.
DeleteRachel, Cro, hi. I have learned, over the years, that misunderstandings and misinterpretations are ripe in blogland and its comment boxes. Comes with the territory. Let that not dishearten either of you.
DeleteU
I said nothing of the sort Cro, no accusation of changing anything on your blog. I said that your interpretation/emphasis of the nature of my comment in your reply was not addressing the content of my comment that you deleted. . That's fine by me. You may have misinterpreted my comment in much the same way that I misinterpreted your blog post. Relax.and read my reply here again, no accusations at all and in fact I thought I was being rather light and understanding about the whole thing.
DeleteThere you go again. I didn't say that you'd said I'd changed it. I simply recommend that you read it again carefully, and maybe you'd understand that there is nothing to complain about. I don't understand why you're getting so angry recently.
Delete"I have not changed the wording on my blog". What else am I to take that to mean? You are becoming an old fool.
DeleteAu contraire. Our highest numbers of immigrants come from Great Britain. Thankfully the tv show Neighbours has ended and that should stop the flood of people to the Land of Permanent Sunshine.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, as I'm sure you know, time was when the Aussies would pay your passage to go to OZ, these days there is a very strict points system to pass. It's not the same at all to how it was.
DeleteTimes have changed everywhere. Your children were fortunate to be brought up in rural France and learn the language at a young age. Children today live very differently and this is not entirely good. For example, in my rural community (a bedroom community of Boston, MA comprised of Banking, high tech, pharma, biomedical... execs) our youth do not roam freely. The latest rage is TicTok competitions removing insignia from BMW, Jag, Benz, Tesla... cars. Some parents view this humorously and say it will pass. I was recently horrified by this revelation.
ReplyDeleteI would say that as a retired teacher if you are in a position to bring your children up to be bilingual you owe it tp them to do so.
ReplyDeleteDo your grands speak French?
ReplyDelete