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[5thelement]

If there where any provable benefits from Brexit you would think that the politicians in charge and Farage would be patting themselves on the back, banging their drums and saying “I told you so”. 
The silence is deafening.

[Sutton]

12 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.

 

10 minutes ago, 5thelement said:

If there where any provable benefits from Brexit you would think that the politicians in charge and Farage would be patting themselves on the back, banging their drums and saying “I told you so”. 
The silence is deafening.

What citizenship are you likely to have in the next year or so?

[5thelement]

3 minutes ago, Sutton said:

 

What citizenship are you likely to have in the next year or so?

I have a British passport and a French residency card. I can apply for a French passport in 10 years if I passed the examination requirements.

[Sutton]

5 minutes ago, 5thelement said:

I have a British passport and a French residency card. I can apply for a French passport in 10 years if I passed the examination requirements.

Brexit is fait accomplis. I'm personally only interested in local politics (and non-corporate international economics) but was curious why you expats are bringing it up again, that's all.

[5thelement]

1 minute ago, Sutton said:

Brexit is fait accomplis. I'm personally only interested in local politics (and non-corporate international economics) but was curious why you expats are bringing it up again, that's all.

I’m not an Expat, I’m an immigrant living and working in France.

Perhaps we experience some of the difficulties that Brexit has caused an see it little clearer from our side. 
I certainly thought that there would be something to shout about after this length of time, it doesn’t appear so.

[Sutton]

2 minutes ago, 5thelement said:

I’m not an Expat, I’m an immigrant living and working in France.

Perhaps we experience some of the difficulties that Brexit has caused an see it little clearer from our side. 
I certainly thought that there would be something to shout about after this length of time, it doesn’t appear so.

French politics is not a pantomine like the UK. But then, I don't subscribe to the 5th Republic and haven't had a passport in over 25 years. Local issues are all that matter. Family, friends, landscape, culture. What can lowly citizens do about the Ukraine, currency traders, corporate greed and tax avoidance?

[5thelement]

6 minutes ago, Sutton said:

What can lowly citizens do about the Ukraine, currency traders, corporate greed and tax avoidance?

Individualy, not very much.

Its hard enough trying to get Greenmech to export me a 6” chipper at the minute.

[Sutton]

Just now, 5thelement said:

Individualy, not very much.

Its hard enough trying to get Greenmech to export me a 6” chipper at the minute.

Come and get it? Bring your family, make a week of it, spend some hard earned Euros here in good old Blighty 🤣

[Sutton]

2 minutes ago, Big J said:

 

I really don't understand that perspective at all. 

 

It's only through seeing a variety of cultures, meeting a variety of people can one ever develop a broader understanding of (to some degree) and empathy for other people. 

 

I really feel that this would be no bad thing for everyone to aspire to. 

 

Our village here in Sweden is a real melting pot of people from all around the world. We're dog sitting for an Austrian/Indian couple over winter. I've been at the table tennis club this evening with my girls. Some of the kids were Syrian. I was chatting to a mum whose daughter was at the same gym class as my daughter. She's Swedish, but they lived in Dallas (he's American). On the way back from table tennis I picked up two massive bags of apples from a neighbour. He's Croatian, but used to live in London. I had tea and we waffled on a bit. My forestry business here is in partnership with a German friend. The list goes on...

 

My point is that diversity of culture and experience makes life truly interesting. You don't have to travel the world, but to say that only local issues matter seems rather like burying your head in the sand.

For a young family with an EU outlook agreed. In my youth we travelled round the EU many times and the US for 6 months. For the last six years we've had or teenage grand daughter living us so being on the edge of a vibrant but lowkey city is important. It  doesn't mean we're dead to difference and variety. You wait till you get into late middle age 🤣

[5thelement]

32 minutes ago, Sutton said:

Come and get it? Bring your family, make a week of it, spend some hard earned Euros here in good old Blighty 🤣

That isn’t possible post Brexit without reems of documentation/import duty paperwork, a total ball ache.

When I contacted Greenmech to import a refurbed Evo they basically said it would be simpler and easier to just buy one in France.