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Post by dixinormus on Sept 15, 2021 9:25:06 GMT
France has everything going for it, but it’s a miserable place. Beautiful towns and villages dying from depopulation and economic collapse. An almost irrational suspicion of the private sector. Frequent industrial action. I could go on. A real shame.
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Post by Alanović on Sept 15, 2021 9:25:23 GMT
I like France too. But I’ve loved our end-of-trip detours into Germany. A German bakery is a treat even after two weeks of the French kind. Yes I think I would like Germany, I have been a few times but not very extensively, and not for very long. I suppose that's why it has become far, far weaker than my French, despite doing A Level in both. Practice, innit.
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Post by Alanović on Sept 15, 2021 9:26:23 GMT
France has everything going for it, but it’s a miserable place. Beautiful towns and villages dying from depopulation and economic collapse. An almost irrational suspicion of the private sector. Frequent industrial action. I could go on. A real shame. I must be visiting a different France...
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Post by Alanović on Sept 15, 2021 9:27:40 GMT
I really want to make a long road trip again next summer. If we're spared etc... Yes I think we'll probably do a tour of former Yugo. If poss. Maybe I need to replace the Civic with a diesel Superb.
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Post by dixinormus on Sept 15, 2021 9:31:00 GMT
Beautiful countryside, pretty towns and villages, half decent weather, and food if you can find it. Yes. But live in rural France for a few months and you’ll see what I mean.
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Post by EspadaIII on Sept 15, 2021 9:38:13 GMT
The problem with France is the French. The best thing about Italy is the Italians.
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Post by Alanović on Sept 15, 2021 10:13:08 GMT
The French are a delight. Maybe I find that because I speak the language reasonably well though.
If I were to say the problem with the north of England is Northerners...would that be an OK opinion to assert as a universal truth?
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WDB
Full Member
Posts: 7,352
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Post by WDB on Sept 15, 2021 10:17:12 GMT
Esp is wrong about the French — even in Paris, which gets the worst reports from monoglot visitors, I’ve seldom failed to enjoy being among them. (My French is serviceable too, which helps.)
But Norm is right about the hollowing out of the French countryside. Very hard for many people, especially young ones, to make a living there. True in much of England too, of course.
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Post by Alanović on Sept 15, 2021 10:29:16 GMT
From a purely selfish persective, I don't mind if parts of the French contryside are denuded of people. So long as I'm within striking distance of a food and drink supply, I'm happy to enjoy the silence. It's one of the positive attractions.
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Post by EspadaIII on Sept 15, 2021 10:47:34 GMT
The real problem with France and the UK for young people is that the capital cities are too large, so suck in all the talent and business. The rural areas of Germany don't suffer so much because the business community is spread across the country. The low income and lack of affordable housing in parts of the UK is a national disgrace, especially in areas which are in demand from holidaymakers seeking a scond home. Cornwall is a classic example.
I would be very tempted to restrict home ownership in certain areas to those people who work within a defined geographical area of the property. BUt policing it and making it work would be fraught with difficulty.
Sorry WDB - I do prefer the Italians to the French. Maybe it's just that I grew up listening to Verdi and Puccini...
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WDB
Full Member
Posts: 7,352
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Post by WDB on Sept 15, 2021 10:54:59 GMT
Not suggesting there’s anything wrong with the Italians either. We’re not in the Flanders and Swann song here (not that that was anything but ironic.)
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bpg
Full Member
Posts: 2,731
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Post by bpg on Sept 15, 2021 11:38:58 GMT
Germany has spread the opportunities out. Munich tech, Frankfurt finance, Berlin government etc...
From what I recall of the UK a presence had to be maintained in or around London regardless of where the business is located.
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Post by Alanović on Sept 15, 2021 12:31:01 GMT
Bloke up the road who owns a Maserati SUV (has had it from new) must be doing OK as he's evidently dipped his toe in the used car market as a buyer, a lorry just delivered a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti to his house.
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Post by Humph on Sept 15, 2021 13:12:43 GMT
I really want to make a long road trip again next summer. If we're spared etc... Yes I think we'll probably do a tour of former Yugo. If poss. Maybe I need to replace the Civic with a diesel Superb. Nice, brown-ish diesel E Class estate coming up for sale later this year in Manchester I believe. Can't say if it's been previously owned by any kind of dodgy geezer mind, you'd need to check all that for yourself...
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Post by Alanović on Sept 15, 2021 13:35:47 GMT
Yeah, he wants too much money for it. Covid, innit bruv.
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