The Irish Government turned over control of land fill to the county councils who in turn sold them off to privet contractors all land fill sites are closed to the public and you must have a licence to move rubbish be it scrap or white goods,we have a general waste bin which is collected every week and a green bin every other week they don't take glass that goes to the bottle bank, I compost all my kitchen waste and the cooked food that's not eaten will go to feed the dogs and cats in some ways I envy the French when Brussels says we have to do this or that the Irish and the British roll over but the French give two fingers to the bureaucrats for example when Mrs thatcher was told to sell off the Railways and the water and power companies she did so but claimed it was her idea ,maybe it was but the fact is they are owned by private companies and the British tax payer is still funding them ,the Irish Gov' followed in the wake of Britain , when S,N,C,F was mentioned in Brussels to be sold the French said NO NO NO it is still a state owned railway ,in Ireland the motor industry were told to modernise their forecourts at their own expense but this did not apply to the rest of Europe which is one reason why cars are more expensive here +vat +vrt+excise duty+delivery .
Cilmeri, my tongue was firmly in my cheek when i wrote the last rant.
Enjoyed your rant, Derek, and I'm surprised that car are more expensive in France, since we all have the idea they are cheaper. You live and learn. I have found that, in general, France is quite expensive - the more so, of course, since the fall in the value of the pound.
Lizzie, I sympathise deeply. You made me shed a tear or two. My heart is in Wales, too. Just love those mountains and the ride over the Beacons to Brecon is breathtaking. (Some people walk - I ride ).
Lizzie, having travelled, endured, had homesickness (definitely not a nice thing to have) my heart always lifted to see the green fields of England again and started singing when I reached Thirsk in Yorkshire by train car or plane as I was thirty minutes from home. I was telling my Daughter Stockton is born into us not us born in Stockton, I am now settled for good, my passport ran out, my travel insurance ran out, my Visas are scrap and none will be renewed, seen it done it home is best. Joan was not a lover of France the French or the Food, she did love the small shops full of drawers and cupboards full of sewing cottons and material, she once talked for nearly an hour to a French Lady shop owner about tapestry sewing knitting and came out with all the things she could not get in England, she could not speak French the lady could not speak English and I just listened to the animated conversation and paid at the end. We both loved Austria and saw it from all angles but two weeks and Joan was hankering for home. I once did suggest going somewhere warm for the winter and she told me two weeks only which we did, left here in a snowstorm had two weeks sun came back in a snowstorm but she was happy. My rant then is people run down this little "septic Isle" OK I know not as written, yet once we leave its shores we find there is nowhere better, plus what on earth do you talk about when it is constant sunshine, dull dull dull.
I love Thirsk and all the surrounding area. I have friends in Ripon and an uncle near York. My heart always lifts when I get back to England too. But I grew up in Surrey and lived in Kent when married.
I only know of one shop here where they sell cottons and tapestry things, but they hadn't got the right canvas so I bought it in Battle, East Sussex!
The English don't know how to praise themselves. The French think the only English cheese is Cheddar and that English food is like school dinners after the war. English sparkling wine won a world prize, beating French Champagne, but the French think that wine isn't made in England. English fashion is way above French, the French are just beginning to realise it. But all they see are retired English women on holiday wearing baggy Tshirts with baggy shorts. English architecture is wonderful - look at the Houses of Parliament, Lincoln Cathedral, thatched cottages and Cotswold stone houses. French men have a reputation for being good lovers, but they can be bossy and rude, the English men I know are far more considerate. And so on ..............
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I've just read the recent posts and I've got a lump in my throat. Travelling to other countries is wonderful but it often makes us happy to come back, and what comes across here is that whether we're from Scotland, England,Ireland or Wales, underneath we have a great sense of belonging to this little island we all call home. As we say here in Scotland 'wha's like us'. I have a foot in both camps as my dad was English. He came up here, met and married my Scottish mum, and never went back. He loved it up here- the scenery, the peace and- yes -even the rain! I lost them both a few years ago and I miss them but they had good long lives and were together 60 years in all. I scattered their ashes up in Ullapool where we spent many childhood holidays. A beautiful quiet place. They can spend forever looking out across the little bay. I've had a troubled few years but I know how lucky I am here and, like most people, guilty of not appreciating it often enough. Sorry but tears coming now so in the spirit of this thread I'll finish with a rant! Those *%$"* ing call centres!!!!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I know this seems strange but for years every time we went up and down the M5 and saw the Malvern Hills I had a hankering, then with caravan we used them or this area as a weekend retreat. We began to dislike where we lived and in the last few years there never felt settled although OH had lived there all his life and me most of it. With a serious health scare wirth OH we made adecision to put house up for sale (we lived in Staffs) and move south. Did not know where. Then evrything fitted into place. OH was made redundant so being near B'rum was no longer necessary, Daughter met someone from Worcs who she now lives with and loves dearly, and then someone stopped me in the street when walking the dog and offered me a cash sale on the house, Didn't believe them at first, they wanted a 6 week turn around. We potentially were going to be homeless. I contacted estate agent on S. Worcs and one phoned up and said we have these ex-MOD houses, last open day is Saturday, bids for them to be in by Mid day on Monday. Malvern. Came down, loved the houses despite the amount of work they needed and especially what looked as if it may be a large garden. the house seemed full of light. Faxed bid through with 20 mns to go for the dead line. Next day we found we had a house. Love it. The trips up and down the M5 still stir my soul when I see the hills. It feels like coming home and yet no connection to area. Or so I thought until in an old wartime address book of M's I found the address of my grandfather and yes it was in Malvern.
Everyhting fitted into place so quickly, right down to getting caravan storage in a very secure place.
Love it here. Not a rant but it fits with lizzie and like GG said it's where your heart is
And to add now the garden is cleared we have the most amazing views of the hills and every morning I lay in bed looking at the ever changing picture before me.
Alas my M moved with us but never really was able to enjoy it. She became ill, which set off a rapid dementia and is now in a home, fortunately within walkng distance.
I live a mile from where I was born. When I married lived in Surrey but always felt homesick. Silly really but just could not settle. Have lived in present house for 47 years and have never wanted to move. In the suburbs, but a 5 minute drive or 30 minute walk and you have open spaces, woodland and, best of all, the place I spent most of my Summer holidays when a child, paddling in the stream or swinging on a tyre hanging from a tree. Never hankered to go abroad, much to the amazement of anyone I mention it to. Furthest I have ever been is Land's End. I don't mind if people think we odd or tell me how much I am/have missed as I don't feel I have missed a thing.
Tina - I understand you totally. My mum never went abroad. We have family in Vancouver, Canada (on my Dad's side) and they were always asking my parents to visit but they never did. It's a stunning place too - like Scotland but on a bigger scale! When you love where you are what else do you need? I'm lucky to have visited some beautiful places but I love my home country more and more. Maybe it's my age!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
The Irish Government turned over control of land fill to the county councils who in turn sold them off to privet contractors all land fill sites are closed to the public and you must have a licence to move rubbish be it scrap or white goods,we have a general waste bin which is collected every week and a green bin every other week they don't take glass that goes to the bottle bank, I compost all my kitchen waste and the cooked food that's not eaten will go to feed the dogs and cats in some ways I envy the French when Brussels says we have to do this or that the Irish and the British roll over but the French give two fingers to the bureaucrats for example when Mrs thatcher was told to sell off the Railways and the water and power companies she did so but claimed it was her idea ,maybe it was but the fact is they are owned by private companies and the British tax payer is still funding them ,the Irish Gov' followed in the wake of Britain , when S,N,C,F was mentioned in Brussels to be sold the French said NO NO NO it is still a state owned railway ,in Ireland the motor industry were told to modernise their forecourts at their own expense but this did not apply to the rest of Europe which is one reason why cars are more expensive here +vat +vrt+excise duty+delivery .
Derek
ps since when is HRH Charles ,. Common
Derek, 2nd hand cars are much more expensive here! (France)
Cilmeri, my tongue was firmly in my cheek when i wrote the last rant.
Enjoyed your rant, Derek, and I'm surprised that car are more expensive in France, since we all have the idea they are cheaper. You live and learn. I have found that, in general, France is quite expensive - the more so, of course, since the fall in the value of the pound.
Lizzie, I sympathise deeply. You made me shed a tear or two. My heart is in Wales, too. Just love those mountains and the ride over the Beacons to Brecon is breathtaking. (Some people walk - I ride
).
Lizzie, having travelled, endured, had homesickness (definitely not a nice thing to have) my heart always lifted to see the green fields of England again and started singing when I reached Thirsk in Yorkshire by train car or plane as I was thirty minutes from home.
I was telling my Daughter Stockton is born into us not us born in Stockton, I am now settled for good, my passport ran out, my travel insurance ran out, my Visas are scrap and none will be renewed, seen it done it home is best.
Joan was not a lover of France the French or the Food, she did love the small shops full of drawers and cupboards full of sewing cottons and material, she once talked for nearly an hour to a French Lady shop owner about tapestry sewing knitting and came out with all the things she could not get in England, she could not speak French the lady could not speak English and I just listened to the animated conversation and paid at the end.
We both loved Austria and saw it from all angles but two weeks and Joan was hankering for home. I once did suggest going somewhere warm for the winter and she told me two weeks only which we did, left here in a snowstorm had two weeks sun came back in a snowstorm but she was happy.
My rant then is people run down this little "septic Isle" OK I know not as written, yet once we leave its shores we find there is nowhere better, plus what on earth do you talk about when it is constant sunshine, dull dull dull.
Frank.
I love Thirsk and all the surrounding area. I have friends in Ripon and an uncle near York. My heart always lifts when I get back to England too. But I grew up in Surrey and lived in Kent when married.
I only know of one shop here where they sell cottons and tapestry things, but they hadn't got the right canvas so I bought it in Battle, East Sussex!
The English don't know how to praise themselves. The French think the only English cheese is Cheddar and that English food is like school dinners after the war. English sparkling wine won a world prize, beating French Champagne, but the French think that wine isn't made in England. English fashion is way above French, the French are just beginning to realise it. But all they see are retired English women on holiday wearing baggy Tshirts with baggy shorts. English architecture is wonderful - look at the Houses of Parliament, Lincoln Cathedral, thatched cottages and Cotswold stone houses. French men have a reputation for being good lovers, but they can be bossy and rude, the English men I know are far more considerate. And so on ..............
I've just read the recent posts and I've got a lump in my throat. Travelling to other countries is wonderful but it often makes us happy to come back, and what comes across here is that whether we're from Scotland, England,Ireland or Wales, underneath we have a great sense of belonging to this little island we all call home. As we say here in Scotland 'wha's like us'. I have a foot in both camps as my dad was English. He came up here, met and married my Scottish mum, and never went back. He loved it up here- the scenery, the peace and- yes -even the rain! I lost them both a few years ago and I miss them but they had good long lives and were together 60 years in all. I scattered their ashes up in Ullapool where we spent many childhood holidays. A beautiful quiet place. They can spend forever looking out across the little bay. I've had a troubled few years but I know how lucky I am here and, like most people, guilty of not appreciating it often enough. Sorry but tears coming now so in the spirit of this thread I'll finish with a rant! Those *%$"* ing call centres!!!!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I know this seems strange but for years every time we went up and down the M5 and saw the Malvern Hills I had a hankering, then with caravan we used them or this area as a weekend retreat. We began to dislike where we lived and in the last few years there never felt settled although OH had lived there all his life and me most of it. With a serious health scare wirth OH we made adecision to put house up for sale (we lived in Staffs) and move south. Did not know where. Then evrything fitted into place. OH was made redundant so being near B'rum was no longer necessary, Daughter met someone from Worcs who she now lives with and loves dearly, and then someone stopped me in the street when walking the dog and offered me a cash sale on the house, Didn't believe them at first, they wanted a 6 week turn around. We potentially were going to be homeless. I contacted estate agent on S. Worcs and one phoned up and said we have these ex-MOD houses, last open day is Saturday, bids for them to be in by Mid day on Monday. Malvern. Came down, loved the houses despite the amount of work they needed and especially what looked as if it may be a large garden. the house seemed full of light. Faxed bid through with 20 mns to go for the dead line. Next day we found we had a house. Love it. The trips up and down the M5 still stir my soul when I see the hills. It feels like coming home and yet no connection to area. Or so I thought until in an old wartime address book of M's I found the address of my grandfather and yes it was in Malvern.
Everyhting fitted into place so quickly, right down to getting caravan storage in a very secure place.
Love it here. Not a rant but it fits with lizzie and like GG said it's where your heart is
And to add now the garden is cleared we have the most amazing views of the hills and every morning I lay in bed looking at the ever changing picture before me.
Alas my M moved with us but never really was able to enjoy it. She became ill, which set off a rapid dementia and is now in a home, fortunately within walkng distance.
I live a mile from where I was born. When I married lived in Surrey but always felt homesick. Silly really but just could not settle. Have lived in present house for 47 years and have never wanted to move. In the suburbs, but a 5 minute drive or 30 minute walk and you have open spaces, woodland and, best of all, the place I spent most of my Summer holidays when a child, paddling in the stream or swinging on a tyre hanging from a tree. Never hankered to go abroad, much to the amazement of anyone I mention it to. Furthest I have ever been is Land's End. I don't mind if people think we odd or tell me how much I am/have missed as I don't feel I have missed a thing.
Tina - I understand you totally. My mum never went abroad. We have family in Vancouver, Canada (on my Dad's side) and they were always asking my parents to visit but they never did. It's a stunning place too - like Scotland but on a bigger scale! When you love where you are what else do you need? I'm lucky to have visited some beautiful places but I love my home country more and more. Maybe it's my age!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...