where it could be understood as to why half the country may take issue with the authorities in Spain.
what about here? i know several and they are all mad as fug. great craic Lee on Twitter: "Reykjavík tonight ❤️ https://t.co/2pYgyS3HtE" / Twitter
Good point, but history... a lot went on during the Franco regime without any doubt. It wasn’t only the Catalans who suffered though. He divided a whole nation. Do we still hold it against the Germans, French or Italians?
i think it's more personality rather than nationality that gets folk animated these days. some places/folk are just more likely to call out loud mouthed gobshites these days. calling a spade a spade aint necessarily a bad thing.
I don't think the comparison with nations bearing grudges against previous enemies is quite the same as being attacked and persecuted by your own countrymen? Re France Germany & Italy I don't have any problems, but there's no shortage of people who do.
There’s a certain element in British/English culture who very much do and they like nothing more than bringing up WW2 as a stick with which to beat them. The recent unpleasantness in Jersey which had the Mail/Express and their readership w@nking themselves into a frenzy being an example. I think the relationship between Spaniards and Catalans is more akin to that between the U.K. and northern Irish catholics.
Mate of mine leaving near to Brum and moving to Dumfries. When wifey retires in a few years I'm looking at Mablethorpe as I want to be near the coast and also be able to afford house in Florida. Been all over Europe, no places there I'd like to call home, except perhaps Hermeskill I think it was, Rhineland in Germany. Lovely part of the world. (great aviation museum).
I have a good friend who lives in Carpentras who would agree with you about the locals, she is French. Apparently the locals in the south of France have a tendency to be like that. Not all of France is like that however. I live in Nantes and would describe it as the Melbourne of France, however like any big city it has its issues, so I wouldn’t suggest living here unless you like city life. If you are in your 20s it’s probably a great place to live, unfortunately I’m 30 years too old, so I’ll be moving to the countryside, and probably near the sea, in the next year. France is not a bad place to be you just have to find the right part of it for you. For me it’s probably Charente-Maritime. Unless you like the cold and rain I wouldn’t suggest Edinburgh. My dad used to live there for many years and one of my friends worked at the university there for a few years. Having lived a lot of my life in the south of England I just find Scotland too cold. My dad now lives near Aviemore and it is beautiful and the biking is great, but it’s too cold and wet for me.
not with standing or discounting alot of whats been said already, but speaking as a biker and a human being, north eastern Spain/Catalunya is a pretty fucking fantastic place to live
New Zealand....but I am biased. Australia is busier ...they are BOTH a loooong way away, but do fit your bill.
Visited Fowlers of Bristol today to mooch and eat. You still can't eat inside in the café, but you can outside. It will be fine for the Summer. Looked at KTMS but I didn't know that Bristol Kawasaki are no more and the business was acquired by Fowlers. Now Mr. Confused here has gone back to being interested in Kawasakis! I hope by the time that I get my license back and the compensation money, my head can work out what to do! And this is before visiting a Ducati dealer!!!
Kawasaki is not going to happen. As before: KTM, Ducati, or Aprilia. KTM will be from Fowlers, Ducati from Riders, or Aprilia from Frasers. Just have to decide which. But not for ages as will be need license back and compensation pay-out. Today has been helpful though in clearing my mind and deciding to only use local dealers. First thing to do is get my Ducatis road-worthy and legal and then buy new kit. Then I can travel around and choose.
If you have no real need or desire to return to Europe regularly, without a doubt Australia. I've spent plenty time in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne. They are all unquestionably Australian - Perth a tad quiet (I'm not saying boring, but..), Sydney is just too much like London for me (I am saying it's up it's own arse and full of w@ankers (yes, I am generalising)). But Melbourne I think is probably one of, if not the best city in the world. I've been to a few. It has an amazing mix of people, cultures and culture, food and drink. The city generally is very modern, experiencing lots of investment in infrastructure and construction, but has some amazing parks, recreational places and great beaches. The city defiantly has a buzz about it, but it's not mental and I'd say the people are very open minded. A trip to St. Kilda at the weekend will confirm that!! Plus, Asia is on your doorstep(ish). Amazing travel opportunities!! The question would be, can you get the right to live there?? The only other place I've seen that comes close to Melbourne in terms of ticking your boxes like Melbourne does, is Southern California, specifically Dana Point or Laguna Beach. Both are very chilled out places to live, generally the people are wealthy and the housing stock is good, but expensive. Taxes in Cali are also an issue these days. Maybe Vancouver or Seattle is worth more research? A lot of people mention Edinburgh.. I'm from Edinburgh, well from the age of 4 until my late 20's. I've seen it change over the years and I feel it is slowly losing it's appeal to the locals. Tourists love it and that's the problem. I'm not fan of the UK having lived in the Middle East for almost 12 years, but we have settled in Aberdeen and I have to say, it's a nice place. Plenty to do within a 1hr drive and the natives are friendly enough - but will I be here for the rest of my days? I doubt it. Good luck!
Parameters for where you would like to live I would think change as you age, I’m sorry to say. Places that you find exciting and interesting at one stage, could become an albatross around your neck should you want something like decent healthcare at a later stage. Good luck with your decision @The Royal Maharaja p.s. my younger brother has, so far, not regretted moving to Ozz and thoroughly enjoyed living in Melbourne. But has now had a house built in the snow line in the Victoria mountains (he’s got old 62)
Isn't that the truth! At one time I was blissfully happy right where I am now! Like really happy..in tune with everything. Maybe I'm just older and grumpier! Thanks to everyone for all the rich responses, they've really got me thinking. Cheers! Grant
If i could pick anywhere, I'd live in Tuscany...... Great climate Fantastic roads Great people Superb, laid back, relaxed lifestyle
New state-run body to be responsible for making up excuses as to why trains are late https://newsthump.com/2021/05/20/new-state-run-body-to-be-responsible-for-making-up-excuses-as-to-why-trains-are-late/
Well, our govt does seem to be adopting the trappings of a facist regime with gleeful enthusiasm (see eg: Priti Patel today warning quarantinees to expect “a knock on the door”) so why can’t they also get the trains to run on time? Joking aside though, if other countries manage it then why can’t the uk? It very much seems to me that since the demise of our manufacturing base and given that the British approach to service is generally somewhere between “grudging mediocrity” and “gross incompetence”, our only growth industries are working out ever more inventive ways to fine one another, sAfEtY/sEcUriTeE and coming up with excuses for the aforementioned incompetence (rant about MCE insurance to follow in another thread)
