Has France become poorer ...

[David and Sally]

Try asking someone who lives there how it is rather than making assumptions from afar.

And please don’t shout to make your point . It isn’t polite .

Been to France many many times. I have seen it change a lot

I wasn't trying to shout, only matching words. What a mistaker to maker!!!

 

[Chris]

I find English expats living in France very protective of their adopted country. Even over protective.

Maybe they feel the need to justify their lifestyle choice, but they shouldn’t.

If they like it then fantastic

 

[Ingwe]

I toured France last year for 2 months as I thought I needed to discover the true France , I visited most areas and some beautiful places,a couple of points and no I didn't agrivate them and for information due to my work days speak good French.
1 . My wife needed emergency dental treatment inside the dentist refused to even look at her even though she was clearly in distress and the sarcastic smile she the dentist gave us didn't help.
2. In Coursseulles on a free aire was told to move my van as pitch reserved it was a bank holiday,I said no chance ,woke up to find human feces on the screen.
Any way thanks for your points .

Two very unfortunate incidents but it doesn't follow that this is representative of France or the French. The same things could have happened in any country.
The only point I'm making is that one should avoid generalisations.

 

[joka250]

I've met some extremely unpleasant French people over the years, same in Germany, Spain, Italy and elsewhere but the vast majority of people i meet are at least decent and civil even if first impressions are sometimes dubious. Oh, by the way this all applies just as much to Brits i meet. Probably true of forum members although i think mostly we are better than average.

 

[Chris]

I've met some extremely unpleasant French people over the years, same in Germany, Spain, Italy and elsewhere but the vast majority of people i meet are at least decent and civil even if first impressions are sometimes dubious. Oh, by the way this all applies just as much to Brits i meet. Probably true of forum members although i think mostly we are better than average.

I met some particularly unpleasant Germans on a site in Spain a few years ago.

We were paying top dollar for a beach side pitch ( as were they) but they decided that I should also endure their very loud dance music

They were 3 families with 3 blokes all over 6 feet and probably 20 years younger than me.

I just couldn’t back down and fronted them out( thank God).

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[Reallyretired]

We came across a very rude Belgian in France this year, but I would not denigrate a whole country because of one r sole.

 

[normanandsue]

We have lost postings from our French forum member yodeli for that very reason. She has helped many members of this forum when they needed help in French . So sad as she said when her country is constantly criticised compared to others .

I am sorry to hear this, Frankie is a lovely and hospitable lady, I shall miss her comments. If anyone is in touch with her please pass on our good wishes and try to encourage her back to Funsters

 

[ivorantony]

I am sorry to hear this, Frankie is a lovely and hospitable lady, I shall miss her comments. If anyone is in touch with her please pass on our good wishes and try to encourage her back to Funsters

I second that.

 

[Potty]

We also found France had got more expensive when we were there earlier this year. We seem to have spent twice as much on food as we did this time last year.

 

[HandyAndy]

Getting back on topic...
Wouldn't it have more to do with our plummeting pound against the Euro?

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[Coolcats]

Went shopping in lidl in france. €114 euros later. Could have fell through the floor!!!
I'm surprised the french can afford to eat.
Fuel I've seen as high as €1.65 litre. In Spain just over the border paid €1.15.
50 cents per litre difference on a 100 litre fuel tank.

Have you seen the price on our motorway service stations or maybe just off an A road prices fluctuate greatly here. Cheapest locally was Asda now Sainsburies, difficult to keep up last year I was in Germany filled up with fuel as I drive out the price dropped on the electronic sign......

 

[HandyAndy]

Have you seen the price on our motorway service stations or maybe just off an A road prices fluctuate greatly here. Cheapest locally was Asda now Sainsburies, difficult to keep up last year I was in Germany filled up with fuel as I drive out the price dropped on the electronic sign......

They saw you coming

 

[Coolcats]

They saw you coming

I know the give away was being right hand drive and a GB plate ?

 

[spitfire]

I second that.

She is still posting but less than before but if you check back her posts she said she was taking a break as she was upset by posts similar to those here about her home. And that is so sad that France takes such a beating .

 

[LesW]

Never found France much more expensive than other European countries.

Then again, we don't bother to much about prices (within reason), shop at Lidl's Aldi etc, occasionally eat out too.

As for the people, we don't speak enough French to hold a conversation, but always greet folk with a cheery 'Bonjour' and normally get a friendly reply.

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[spitfire]

I find English expats living in France very protective of their adopted country. Even over protective.

Maybe they feel the need to justify their lifestyle choice, but they shouldn’t.

If they like it then fantastic

Chris I feel no need to be overprotective of France anymore than the U.K. even though it has been my home for 15 years . However I do call out people making remarks which are either untrue or not based on fact but gleaned from the press or a visit to a country which is very different to living there.
I would do the same if it was about the U.K. As I have only visited there maybe once or twice a year since living here I accept you natives know more than me lol
I know your opinions of France and take your remarks in the lighthearted way they are written
However it is hard to hear France berated with one breath then boasting it is great for a FLT .

 

[Grianan]

Never found France much more expensive than other European countries.

Then again, we don't bother to much about prices (within reason), shop at Lidl's Aldi etc, occasionally eat out too.

As for the people, we don't speak enough French to hold a conversation, but always greet folk with a cheery 'Bonjour' and normally get a friendly reply.

You’re so right LesW .. if you say Bonjour you will almost always get a polite response. One thing I noticed in a supermarket in Montreuil (Carrefour?) was that every shop assistant/shelf stacker etc greeted us with a Bonjour. Lovely touch.

It is easier if you can hold a conversation, of course. From a primary teacher in the south (I was interested that the 10/11 year olds were having a Friday afternoon dinghy sailing lesson) to a couple who were in their second year running a restaurant in the Loire we had many lovely friendly conversations. People are people world over ... they (usually) match friendliness and a smile.

 

[bellabee]

We were in Germany earlier in the year ... it ‘felt’ better off. Not a very scientific measure, I know ?.

I think you said that this was your first time in Germany. If so, then it's no surprise that it felt to you to be more prosperous than France. It has felt like this to me over the 40 years that I have been regularly visiting both countries. However, with the exception of Berlin, I have never been to the old East Germany.

I think that one factor which can make parts of France feel poor, is the large number of rural villages, with few young inhabitants. Particularly outside of the summer season, this can lead to quite a dismal atmosphere. (Purely my opinion.)

I like both countries. We have met many lovely people in both and each country has its own qualities. However, if I could choose just one of the two, it would definitely be Germany.

 

[Paddywack]

Macron is a socialist and he is head of state. What is nonsensical about that? I was being a little dramatic and provocative too.

Macron is as much a socialist as Tony Blair was, he is a neo liberal who left the Socialist party in 2009.

 

[Grianan]

I think you said that this was your first time in Germany. If so, then it's no surprise that it felt to you to be more prosperous than France. It has felt like this to me over the 40 years that I have been regularly visiting both countries. However, with the exception of Berlin, I have never been to the old East Germany.

I think that one factor which can make parts of France feel poor, is the large number of rural villages, with few young inhabitants. Particularly outside of the summer season, this can lead to quite a dismal atmosphere. (Purely my opinion.)

I like both countries. We have met many lovely people in both and each country has its own qualities. However, if I could choose just one of the two, it would definitely be Germany.

Well, almost. I spent a week in Dortmund 5 years ago ... going back for another week there later this month. Our partner school is in Dortmund.

I would like to visit old East Germany. It has, I believe, had huge amounts of investment. Our friends in Dortmund tell me that West Germans pay an extra tax which is spent in the old East German areas to try to unify the country economically.

There are still many areas of France I would like to spend more time in ... areas of Germany Waiting to be discovered and visited in more depth.

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[romany]

I toured France last year for 2 months as I thought I needed to discover the true France , I visited most areas and some beautiful places,a couple of points and no I didn't agrivate them and for information due to my work days speak good French.
1 . My wife needed emergency dental treatment inside the dentist refused to even look at her even though she was clearly in distress and the sarcastic smile she the dentist gave us didn't help.
2. In Coursseulles on a free aire was told to move my van as pitch reserved it was a bank holiday,I said no chance ,woke up to find human feces on the screen.
Any way thanks for your points .

This is my problem with a post like this well I fully understand your speaking from experiences that were not nice at all, I have had near enough the exact same experience with a dentist in the uk my point is having traveled extensively and can say in my experience of all those countries is just like at home there are good and bad, awkward and rude everywhere but I find the good and friendly far out way the bad

 

[Sabino]

Socialist state. What did you expect.

Will happen here soon if JC has his way.

France is not a socialist state.
But I do hope JC is, but we are drifting very far down the Political route now, I'll leave it at that.

 

[Munchie]

Well having lived in France for almost 8 years in the Haute Vienne we have found the French to be friendly and helpful. My French is poor but i do try and this is appreciated. Cost? we think we are slightly better off overall than in the UK.

As for Frankie, a nicer more helpful person you could not meet!

 

[gus-lopez]

Getting back on topic...
Wouldn't it have more to do with our plummeting pound against the Euro?
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No.
I spend in euros & even I have noticed the sheer scale of the increases just over the last 5 or 6 years.

I would like to visit old East Germany. It has, I believe, had huge amounts of investment. Our friends in Dortmund tell me that West Germans pay an extra tax which is spent in the old East German areas to try to unify the country economically.

What they probably didn't mention was that it was introduced shortly after the wall came down & was a "reunification tax " of 1% for one year". As my brother , who lived & worked in Germany for 30+ years, said in 2010, " & here we are 21 years later still paying" . What he also omitted to say was it then changed around'95 into the "solidarity surcharge" known colloquially as "The Soli" & is currently around 5,5% surcharge on annual income tax amount.

 

[Grianan]

No.
I spend in euros & even I have noticed the sheer scale of the increases just over the last 5 or 6 years.

What they probably didn't mention was that it was introduced shortly after the wall came down & was a "reunification tax " of 1% for one year". As my brother , who lived & worked in Germany for 30+ years, said in 2010, " & here we are 21 years later still paying" . What he also omitted to say was it then changed around'95 into the "solidarity surcharge" known colloquially as "The Soli" & is currently around 5,5% surcharge on annual income tax amount.

They have said some of that ... am I correct that it’s still going to those areas?

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[gus-lopez]

They have said some of that ... am I correct that it’s still going to those areas?

Yes it is still going there but I believe that they have stopped it now for all bar the high rate tax payers & discounts for certain other criteria.

 

[Grianan]

Yes it is still going there but I believe that they have stopped it now for all bar the high rate tax payers & discounts for certain other criteria.

Consultant anaesthetologist and (part time) heart doctor ... I’m guessing they’re paying it ... ??

 

[Reallyretired]

I recently discovered that if you go into a shop in France, it is good manners to greet the shopkeeper and not just rummage through their stock. It gets a good response in the UK though.
My French is bad, O level taught by a Yorkshireman 50 odd years ago, the French will sometimes ask me to speak English as they can understand me better, but are always polite.

 

[gus-lopez]

Consultant anaesthetologist and (part time) heart doctor ... I’m guessing they’re paying it ... ??

I'd guess so.

 

[joka250]

I am sorry to hear this, Frankie is a lovely and hospitable lady, I shall miss her comments. If anyone is in touch with her please pass on our good wishes and try to encourage her back to Funsters

If that is the case I feel shamed to be associated with anyone offending a member who would appear to have given so much help and support in the past.

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