'That is no country for old men....Caught in that sensual music all neglect Monuments of unageing intellect.' W.B.Yeats 'Sailing To Byzantium.' 1926
Thursday, 2 September 2010
If Britain is no country for old men, then perhaps they should move to France
I found an article published in 'The Daily Mail' in May last year entitled :
Expats living the good life say there is less crime and more respect in France.
It made the following points, that :
* they found the French to be sexier and better dressed than the British, but also that France has much higher standards of behaviour, with stronger family values.
* they were less worried about crime and less stressed than they were in Britain. In addition, 95 per cent linked their new home in France with better manners in offspring and the retention of childhood innocence.
* 87% of the 1000 questioned, felt 'happier' since moving and 94% felt 'healthier', with the majority eating better, cooking more, and getting more exercise.
* there were one or two things they missed from home, with many finding the French not to be as 'witty' or as 'good company' as their British friends. However, on the whole, a newly discovered 'joie de vivre' ran through the findings of the survey.
* 92% said their 'quality of life' in France was 'good' or 'excellent' and only 49% said the same was true when they were living in the UK, citing high crime rates, aggressive behaviour, drunkenness and dirty streets as things they missed least about home.
* Michael Streeter, the British editor of 'The-FrenchPaper', said: 'One of the striking features of these findings is that so many Britons have come to France searching for their dream and they have found that the grass really is greener on the other side. For many Britons who come over, France also reminds them of what life in their childhood was like, when people had more time for you and the pace of life was more relaxed.'
* The experience of living in France was best illustrated by Peter Mayle's book, 'A Year In Provence which was later turned into a TV series starring John Thaw and Lindsay Duncan.
Episode 1 :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AkeFo7TcRA
And later,when Brits come to visit :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_91s3i9Wvzg
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