That's the French in me.

[Hill Wimp]

French weekender here in Sandwich.

Roads closed, parking charges suspended, the various markets around the town already busy. I think plenty of £££s will be whizzing over Le Manche tomorrow.

You may be right @gavroche

 

[Poacher]

Some people on here seems to enjoy distorting everything I say. They must be the same people who will vote to stay out of the EU due to their sheer ignorance of the real Europe, not the one describe by Boris and Co who are only after full power to themselves. Au revoir.

I really hope that wasn't a flounce. Adjudication required?

Ah, I see he's returned already and I cross-posted. Please ignore me.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

As you are aware, I like a good moan and it doesn't take much for me to get started. Just got back from having spent one week in the Ardeche region where the temperature was between 27 and 32 everyday. Whilst there, we visited many places and not a single one charged for parking the car. We also went to a couple of boot sales where entry was free. Back here, we are going to the Chester races today to celebrate my wife's daughter's 50th birthday and guess what? On top of paying the £15 entry charge, we also have to pay £8 for the privilege of parking the car in a muddy field!
Britain certainly deserves its reputation as a rip-off country.

I'm sticking with the sentiment of your post.

The other day I was musing about the 'squeeze some more money out of them' prices of parking here, especially the ever increasing National Trust charges which are now £8/day.

Recently, we (Lovely Wife & I) were thinking of going 'home' (London) for a long weekend to visit some friends and were amazed that it has now been turned into a gigantic Disney rivalling theme park. This fired our collective 'inner child' imaginations and we thought we might give it a bash.

Apparently, there is a suspended ride across the big brown river, a big dome thing that you can clamber over the top of, a big wheel, a Blackpool-esque glass floor walk and a big splinter thing from where you can see absolutely everything that is really worth seeing on the whole planet.

Also, so we are told, there is a Mickey Mouse and friends rivalling character sporting an unruly mop of white hair and riding a bike named after himself who will perform all sorts of stunts for you - as long as you post a pic' on Twitter/FB etc.

Blooming amazing we thought and our excitement levels went almost off the scale.

However, we crashed back to Earth with an almighty thud. We did the admission sums (inc' car parking charges) and decided we'd need to re-enter the mortgaged home club so gave it a miss - whilst at the same time realising that maybe £8/day is not such a bad deal after all for parking in glorious mostly free Cumbria.

Mind you, if it goes up to a Tenner we'll have to review the situation...

 

[Drago]

The French aren't all daft. Their armed forces are a third larger than ours yet cost a third less because of less political meddling and a simpler procurement system. That's why their carrier nuclear powered and carries proper fast jets, yet ours will be powered by fossil fuels (making it dependent on regular replenishment, a major weakness in a war) and will have a relatively tiny fleet of jets that don't work very well, and when they do are less combat effective than the 5 decade old Harrier design.

Kidnap a French citizen and the Legion or the AD go and get them back. Kidnap an elderly British couple off their yacht in Somali waters and we leave them to rot because British politicians crap their pants the moment the SBS locates them and keeps obs.

The French can be a pain, but when it comes to simply getting something done they're much less prone to pointless procrastination, and once the decision made they just do it.

 

[Crackle]

To be honest, all the time I was there their was no signs of any strikes. Airport was working properly, no queues for petrol, life was just as usual, so I suppose the strikes only affected big cities.

I used to work for a French company and had French colleagues. I enjoyed that but I very quickly honed in on the French psyche and began, when I knew them well enough, to wind them up. They knew I was winding them up and took it in good grace but they never quite got a handle on the British psyche. In turn, I knew, if I needed one of them, they'd be by the coffee machine or out for lunch.

 

[Drago]

In turn, I knew, if I needed one of them, they'd be by the coffee machine or out for lunch.

The more I hear, the more I like them!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

643,801 square kilometres vs 241,930 square kilometres with 64.5m folk vs 63.1m folk. Something's got to give France v UK wise.

And if you think Britain is a rip-off try a year in the Nordics.

 

[snorri]

but it is a fact that everything in the UK is based on money and that is the thing I don't like. .

You'll need to explain what you mean here.
I don't recall being overwhelmed with freebies in France?

 

[Oldbloke]

No-one has mentioned road tolls yet have they?

 

[Haitch]

I am pretty sure that I have had to pay to park a car various places in France.

On the autoroutes, although I didn´t think the car would be parked.

ETA: TMN to @Oldbloke

 

[gavroche]

You'll need to explain what you mean here.
I don't recall being overwhelmed with freebies in France?

Things like: " he lives in a £1M mansion. He drives a £150 000 Ferrari" and so on as we see and hear constantly in the media. Who really cares? Do we really want to know those personal details? People are judged by their wealth nowadays, not by who they really are. Sadly, it is becoming the norm all over the world.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Don't start me on toll roads. Only yesterday I paid good money to use the M6 Toll and it immediately started raining so heavily that it was impossible to see more than a few yards, forcing everyone to drive really slowly. I really feel that, having paid the money, I shouldn't have to put up with this sort of thing.

I think that's where France is better than the UK - every time I blitz down the E5 toll route to Bordeaux they turn on the sunshine.

 

[outlash]

Yeah - but it's still Northampton....

As long as it's not Raunds.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Some people on here seems to enjoy distorting everything I say. They must be the same people who will vote to stay out of the EU due to their sheer ignorance of the real Europe, not the one describe by Boris and Co who are only after full power to themselves. Au revoir.

I'll be voting to leave the EUSSR!

but that doesn't mean i hate/dislike the continent of Europe or Europeans. Boris after power for himself? So those campaigning to stay in like the Kinnocks for example aren't interested in power and feathering their own nests?

 

[subaqua]

the parking and entry for the races helps with the upkeep and development of the place. you know sustainable business models and the like.

30 years ago most of the course and its buildings were in a crap state and a huge amount has been spent by the new owners in updating and making it a nicer place to be.

if you want to do it on cheap. park car in park and ride at sealand road or wrexham road and then stand on walls avenue where the old cheshire police HQ was where you can see the whole course. or would that not give you the experience of being on the course having fun . which you want for free