3rd July 2016

A week of Shakespearean tragedy. Cameron stabbed Britain in the back by calling a referendum for internal party reasons, Boris stabbed Cameron in the back by voting Leave, and a man called Gove stabbed Boris to further his own PM ambitions.  The result? Pretty much 50:50 in the end. Hardly a clarion call by the people. All I've met who voted Leave are now regretting their decision! Such chaos. The very reason people don't like the EU is because they're unelected by the public. An oxymoron democracy! Yet, come October, Britain will have a new PM and guess what? That person will be unelected by the public! If only everyone had read Sarkozy's views on how to stop non-EU immigration:  restrict Schengen free movement to EU nationals only. Come back Nicolas, we need you! Widening the scope globally, the only interesting thing is the emergence of so many women leaders. Joining Merkel we could soon have Theresa May (UK), Hillary Clinton (US), and frighteningly Marine Le Pen (France).  The witches of Cawdor stirring a political broth, or at last women coming to the rescue of a stupid world? I'm out of here. Brexit? No simply the views of an ex-Brit!

3rd April 2016

The media has been slow to report on British expat anxiety. You have to wonder at the PM's commitment to staying in the EU when he has done little to facilitate the promised end of 'no votes for nationals outside the UK for 15+ years'. Of the 13 million UK people with state pensions, a full 10% live abroad - most of whom would vote In if they were given a vote. The build up to the June referendum is having a huge impact on currency markets too. The pound has fallen to its lowest in more than a year against the euro. It's social media that's reflecting the panic the most. There's a closed group cataloguing the miseries of those wanting to go back to the UK. Such high hopes when they first set out, enjoying the sunshine and retirement, then petit a petit - usually after 10 years - the dawning realisation that 'real' life had been put on hold and it was time to go home. Will everyone sell in time to benefit from the current 1.24 euros:pound exchange rate? Or, in the event of a June Brexit, will they suffer frozen pensions and no state health care? Current poll of polls: In: 44%, Out: 42%. Too close to call. No nails left here.

21 February 2016

So, it's confirmed. The referendum for a potential Brexit is 23rd June. No worries there then! As Cameron was ducking and diving around today's Germany, my new blockbuster Lamplight reminds us of another C, Churchill, defending the realm against the same country some 70 years ago!  What's history all about if we don't learn from the calamities of the past - so they never happen again? In Lamplight and its successor Vichyssoise, I've attempted to show all the stupidities of the lead-up to WW2, both in Britain, Germany and the horrors of Vichy France.  Do come to my online Facebook Launch Party this Thursday. It's free entertainment all day, including historic pictures of old Birmingham, film clips and wonderful music of the era - from ragtime to swing to jazz. Quizzes and prizes too.  Simply click on the Lamplight picture on the right on Thursday and it'll take you to the event page. Enjoy it all on the day and type Hi to let me know you're there.  See you Thursday! a bientot.

24th January 2016

What's yours?  Him indoors says 'a double whisky'. Understandable, but no. What I mean is: what's your plan B?  The question's aimed at other British expats currently living in France. All hinges on David Cameron's risky ploy at the Feb. 18th EU council meeting to convince the other EU countries to agree to the UK being treated differently to everyone else. If yes, then the looming referendum is likely to be held on June 23rd; if no, probably in September. Cameron doesn't want to choose 2017 because that clashes with the French and German general elections, in France pitting Alan Juppe against Sarkozy in the Republicain race!  For some of us, Plan B will entail taking out French citizenship. Others plan to go back to the UK, with all that entails. Trouble is, many of the latter find they've fallen off the UK housing ladder and must consider a flat. But, but, you say, what about the mechant, naughty Bruno? Yes indeed. Although 13 this year, he's the fittest of all of us, and certainly couldn't go to a flat, but if we took him to a kennel (which we won't) that would cause a major rift in the family. So, for us, it'd need plan Z.  What's that?  Him indoors was right all along. Time to hit the bottle.

10th May 2015

A week of victories.  First, personal: Sunday I signed a book contract. 'Third Degree Murder' by Olga Swan will be out later this year (crookedcatpublishing.com). Second: Thursday, I believe the best man for the job was elected in Britain. Third, Friday was the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Forget the 'luxury' of domestic policies for a moment. Every democracy needs an educated, balanced leader who is a safe pair of hands. National security and negotiating skills with other nations are vital.  To do that you need someone who is supremely capable, has stature, and in whom you can trust to represent your nation correctly. Watching the VE day celebrations last night I realised just how important our tactful liaisons with other nations are. Nothing is as important as avoiding war with other nations, but with honour (unlike Petain in 1940 in France). Churchill knew that. Cameron knows that.  So, Mr. Cameron, before discussing domestic policies, make sure we are free from war.  Do not cut yourself off from the rest of Europe. Remember:  it's been 70 years without war in Europe.  Peace in our time.  Don't ruin it by retreating back into the trenches of isolationism or you'll have 'third degree murder' on your hands!

19 April 2015

Man never learns.  Three weeks away from a General Election and what are the British concerned about?  Domestic policies. Full stop.  It's the 21st century and, despite all that warring history to learn from, still each country only thinks about themselves. The English in particular have an incredibly insular mindset. I'm disappointed in Cameron. He's made 2 big errors: one he escaped from by the skin of his teeth - the referendum to separate from Scotland - and the second agreeing to a referendum on the EU. Globally, who're still killing each other? Undemocratic, uncivilised, insular people. National security and immigration can only be seriously addressed if all nations act together. France knows that, Merkel knows that. The only way to alleviate tensions and negotiate seriously with uncivilised warring factions is from a position of collective strength. A Brexit will only make Britain weaker. Since the EU was formed: no wars in Europe. It eliminated extreme forms of lethal nationalism. Where's a Gorbachev now to break down walls when you need him?

27th January 2013

Message to all British expats in France:  be very afraid.  The thing that we all feared has come to pass. a threatened in:out referendum on Europe.
O.K. Let's think what would happen if the man in the street votes to pull Britain out of the EU - and he might. Here's a quick list: All rights accorded to us under EU law would stop. The 4 freedoms of movement of people, goods, services and capital would stop. No longer would we be EU citizens – passports would have to be changed. We'd all  need Carte-de-Séjours and these demand a minimum level of income. No British citizen would have the automatic right to live in France. Those with little capital could be asked to leave. All the 500,000 British Pensioners here would be most severely affected. Medical subsidy support would cease - no carte vitale. We would no longer have the vote for local commune councils, nor the right to be a local councillor. Cross border trade would be affected. Goods from abroad would revert to pre-1973 practice.  The purchase of goods on the internet (such a boon) could be taxed and subject to import duties. The current relaxation of inheritance laws for EU Citizens (although confused) would not operate for the British citizen.
And remember: at one time the French imposed taxes on the import of money. I foresee a mass re-migration back to Blighty - over a million if you include those in Spain. And, that's if we all manage to sell our houses. But, many won't have enough to get back onto the English property market. 
For me and Him indoors, maybe something radical needs to be done.....

13th January 2013

I'm feeling unsettled. And the British news doesn't help.  Half the British public believe that the UK should withdraw from the EU if Cameron can't negotiate things in his favour.  But Merkel and Hollande would never agree to opening up this Pandora's box:  every EU member would then want to tinker in their favour also.  Cameron received quite a shock this week when his greatest ally, the US, told him not to be so silly and to stick to the status quo in the EU.  So, Cameron's stuck between a rock and a hard place:  should he pander to the man in the street (i.e. the voter) and have a national referendum (probably the biggest gamble of his life and which would cause we expats to shiver in our beds), or heed wise old owls like Lord Heseltine and even Obama by pledging to stay in the EU. Either way Labour are odds-on to win the next general election.
Yet more news arrives to make us expat pensioners in France clutch at our purse-strings. A wonderful, bigger flat-rate pension is being unrolled tomorrow by Cameron. At last, the full amount for all pensioners including expats. Hurrah? Well, not for us. Those already in receipt of a British pension won't benefit and must stick with their original, smaller, payment - the lowest in the EU! Him indoors says all this is a mere EUphamism.
Hurry up sun - this is supposed to be the south of France. In every sense I'm feeling chilled.

5th August 2012

So, team GB's habitual 4th has now moved up to 1st  Cycling, rowing, long-jump, heptathlon, 10000 m....don't know whether I can cope with all this success. Much more comfortable with losing, unlike the Americans whose dreams of winning are built into their DNA - chests puffed out, muscles bulging, eyes glaring - and that's just the women. In the opening events even the visiting French president, Hollande, gloried in team France's then-superior medal position, sarcastically thanking Cameron for laying out the red carpet for his athletes. Hollande even seems to have introduced new French words to the Olympics like Repechage and Domestique, but don't even think of introducing any more English words to the sacred francais! And what's with all these 'new' English verbs like 'to medal'?
All this excitement too much for me, but Him indoors is literally having a field day. From the opening Korean flag gaffe (don't make a Korea out of it), to the 'oarsome' display of the GB rowers, when will it all end? And, I'm sure his sideburns looked longer when 'Wiggo indoors' cycled to the boulangerie this morning!

1st July 2012

July. Hot and sultry here.  Sometimes all you can do is close the shutters, switch on the air-con and watch TV. And for sport lovers, what a spectacle.  Yesterday at Wimbledon - at last a worthy British player in Murray. And today's the Euro football final between Spain and Italy.  Looks like it was their week too in politics. Not only did they get together to scupper Angela Merkel by threatening to block everything unless she agreed to do something re all that financial pain, but it actually worked without a drop of blood being spilt.  Ah, what would Churchill have said?  To jaw jaw is always better than to war war.  Yes, yes, yes! No more ridiculous bloody wars like the 100 year war between England and France.
So, as Cameron deliberates whether to agree to a UK referendum on the EU, he should think long and hard.  Joe Bloggs on the red double-decker will undoubtedly vote to come out of the EU. But, the common man doesn't always see the wider picture.  Whether it's tennis, football or summits between european nations, all that democratic aggression joined together peacefully in contained settings is far better for settling differences.   Ultimately that's the test. Why else has Europe been without war for so long?

10th April 2011

Some time ago, amidst the furore of the pre-General Elections in the UK, I bravely sent an email to David Cameron's office stating that if he were to change the then overly-complicated system of means-testing pensioners to allow for top-up pension credits and, instead, consolidate all the benefits into one larger pension for all, this could be cost-effective as it would cut out unnecessary admin costs.  Of course, this would have benefited me and all other expat pensioners who currently cannot claim the extra top-ups.   So, I was particularly pleased to read recently that there's a new Green Paper that says the UK State Pension is to rise to around 150 pounds sterling a week.  Hooray!  But, wait a minute, what's this:  '...current pensioners will not benefit....'  Typical!   You work all your life, paying c.40 years of National Insurance (tax) payments, only to find the government moving the goal posts just when you get there.  It's particularly galling to read that those who will, in the future, qualify for the new much higher UK pension, won't have paid nearly so much - even if they do have to wait a bit longer to get it.
As I've always said, would have been much better to have deposited all those 40 years of payments under the mattress, then I could have used them as I wanted.
Is that a government cuckoo I heard just now?  Aren't they known to rob everyone else to feather their own nests?

20th March 2011

Normally English TV is a good antidote for my depression. However, I've learned to restrict news bulletins to one a day. 
Yesterday my football team lost, so I watched the Rugby, only to see England lose to Ireland. Then, flicking through the channels - typical Saturday night rubbish - left me watching Dad's Army. I dozed off, only to wake suddenly and think I was still in war-time.  I blinked and struggled to wake up my senses as I scrabbled myopically for my glasses. In the foreground was undoubtedly the Elysee Palace in Paris, but there seemed to be a mix of historical figures standing on the steps between the gothic pillars.  The tall fellow to the left looked like the stately Charles de Gaulle, back erect, weak chin and sharp nose.  In the middle was, strangely, Napoleon!  Very short, arrogant stance, tiny feet, dark-haired and well turned out. Standing behind was none other than Winston Churchill.  Must have been him with that shiny bald head, short stature - and I'd know that voice anywhere.  I strained to hear him say '..we'll fight 'em on the beaches...' but the sound was too low for me to hear.  And, standing next to de Gaulle, was that Margaret Thatcher in the pink jacket and handbag, being wooed by that small 75-year old Italian Casanova?
Clearly I must cut back on all that Gaillac wine!

16th May 2010

What a week. The UK has the youngest PM for over 100 years and the first coalition government since 1945. The good news, already, is that UK state pensions are to have a bigger guaranteed increase each April whichever of incomes or 2.5% are the greater.
And what's this I read in the news? Sarkozy threatens to leave the euro, and German savers hoard gold. Nothing new there then! The Greeks are rioting and can't understand why they can't continue to retire at 45 with full pensions, even though their government has debts of billions. And what does the EU do? It responds in the same way world leaders responded to their bankrupt banks – lends them more money. The road to ruin, I say. All the while, across Europe, voters are asking why they should be asked to pay for the rescue package, worrying they might be next. And don't forget the on-going bankrupt state of the US housing market.
It's all getting worse. If the euro breaks up and others try to devalue their currencies, we'll be back to the economics, or even the governments, of the '30s! Beware another Hitler knocking on the door!
What was it my mother used to say? If you haven't got it, don't spend it.

25th April 2010

Everybody's watching it. No, not American Idol. The British election race! I can't remember one being this close, ever. From the innovative TV debates to the opinion polls, it's riveting. However don't look at the superficial things: which one looks the best, which wife is the most stylish etc. No, no, no! It's too important for that. If I had my way, every voter should take a test on the policies and leaders of the country before being let loose at the polling booth.
A leader should have the essential gravitas to be able to act on the world stage. A wishy-washy style just won't do. The job requires strength and above all a superior education and intelligence to deal with the difficult tasks ahead. Let's not return to the old class-wars in Britain. In the US, if you see someone with a high style of living, you try to emulate them. That's how it should be, not trying to knock everyone down to the same low level as everyone else.
Why am I interested? I live in France but British policies like pensions still affect me. I do hope that on May 6, the 'best' party wins: the most intelligent leader, with the best back-up team. A 'hung parliament' is no good to anyone. When such a committee meets to discuss a horse, you end up with a camel (an attempt to please everyone, but which in fact pleases no-one).
Whatever you think of Sarkozy, he shot to power saying "The mark of a statesman is to change the course of events, not just to describe them". Blair: please note.
Let the race begin.