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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Really very sad with France!

999 replies

Friendsoftheearth · 08/12/2020 06:52

I am quietly furious with France. We have been going to France between three and four times a year, every year for pretty much all of my adult life. We have spent most summer holidays, skiing and all the rest, choosing France as our destination over all over countries.

Every week I buy French cheeses, wine and truffle oils, and we are very big fans of France and French cuisine.

Even taking into account that Macron should hope and push for the best deal for their fishing industry, I still find it incredulous and insulting that they should be demanding ten years of fish, and are offering us a paltry percentage. Ten years.
They are in a total stand off regarding an even playing field, I understand the reasons for this, but honestly they are pushing all of us to a no deal outcome, that will see French fisherman with no catch whatsoever, and high tariffs slapped on all imports from France. Tourism will be destroyed as people will no longer wish to go there. It could poison relations for decades.

I am aware of the history between the UK and France, but rather naively thought we had moved on from that a very long time ago, I am in despair at the eleventh hour demands, and feel this is in very bad faith. It has really highlighted to me how little respect France have for us as a country.

I feel like I never want to go again, despite having a tentative booking for a holiday in the spring of next year.

OP posts:
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merrymouse · 08/12/2020 10:51

It has really highlighted to me how little respect France have for us as a country

I think you need to listen to some French news and read some French papers, not because they are better or more accurate than UK papers, but to understand that the UK just doesn't feature much in the day to day lives of most French people.

luckylavender · 08/12/2020 10:52

Maybe try being furious with our government who is still grandstanding in the middle of a pandemic when businesses really really need to know what's going on in 23 days time in order to plan. We sold those fishing rights years ago.

TheKeatingFive · 08/12/2020 10:52

I have always wondered if the anti British brigade on here are posting from overseas, or if they actually live here with that level of bitterness and revulsion for their own country?

I find this position very interesting.

Just because people don’t buy into some throwback, jingoistic, exceptionalist, bombastic vision of the UK that seems to be central to the brexiteers delusion, does not mean they don’t love their country.

They just have a much better understanding of their country’s role and position in the modern world.

luckylavender · 08/12/2020 10:52

We chose to Leave, not them.

Friendsoftheearth · 08/12/2020 10:52

To be fair I have propped up the French wine industry for many decades single handedly! Grin Credit where it is due Wine

OP posts:
derxa · 08/12/2020 10:52

I don't know why anyone is surprised about the French stance. It's the French being French. They have the same sense of superiority as the English. Twas ever thus.

teateateateateamoretea · 08/12/2020 10:53

I have to say the optics are not great for the EU.

You're looking at it from the wrong angle. I can assure you that the EU looks perfectly good from outside the UK.

Did you vote for Brexit OP?

bluebell34567 · 08/12/2020 10:53

Macron is annoying.

wimhoffbreather · 08/12/2020 10:53

@MrsMiaWallis

The UK doesn't want to be in the club anymore. So the club is screwing us. Completely understandable

Well it's not really morally right though is it?

The EU should have had realistic exit strategies for members.

Guess who could have helped them design those while they were still a member...but didn’t 😂😂
KleinBlue · 08/12/2020 10:54

@Friendsoftheearth

To be fair I have propped up the French wine industry for many decades single handedly! Grin Credit where it is due Wine
It's a bit early to have imbibed as much as you clearly have, OP.
AlexaShutUp · 08/12/2020 10:54

Either stay and champion your own interests and support the country, or leave and be happier.

So you think I should continue to campaign against the referendum result because staying in the UK is clearly in the country's best interests? I'd be up for that, but I'd probably get accused of being anti-democratic.

Sadly, I have accepted the result. It's what the nation voted for. That does not mean that I have to agree with it, or that it is in our best interests.

daisypond · 08/12/2020 10:54

You sound very ignorant, OP.

SabrinaThwaite · 08/12/2020 10:56

@Friendsoftheearth

I have always wondered if the anti British brigade on here are posting from overseas, or if they actually live here with that level of bitterness and revulsion for their own country?

I find it truly fascinating that you can live, and perhaps be born in a country that you find so repellent, that as an adult why on earth would you choose to stay here?

It makes no sense whatsoever. Either stay and champion your own interests and support the country, or leave and be happier. Festering is not good for the soul.

Bingo!

Two MN Brexit tropes in one post.

Bravo!

Friendsoftheearth · 08/12/2020 10:56

klein only after 6pm at the earliest - thats the rule unless we are due a press conference in a lockdown and then we will have a wee tipple at 5pm.

I wondered whether Macron was using Brexit to distract the French from the riots in Paris at the weekend, that was my first thought.

OP posts:
ReturntoSpamfritters · 08/12/2020 10:57

OP you have really fucked up with this goady thread of yours.
You should have put Really Very Sad With France SadSad!

Friendsoftheearth · 08/12/2020 10:57

The happy country that it is, at peace with itself.

OP posts:
wellthatsunusual · 08/12/2020 10:57

@Friendsoftheearth

I have always wondered if the anti British brigade on here are posting from overseas, or if they actually live here with that level of bitterness and revulsion for their own country?

I find it truly fascinating that you can live, and perhaps be born in a country that you find so repellent, that as an adult why on earth would you choose to stay here?

It makes no sense whatsoever. Either stay and champion your own interests and support the country, or leave and be happier. Festering is not good for the soul.

You're conveniently forgetting that many people are tied to where they live due to responsibilities to other people.
Unescorted · 08/12/2020 10:58

The fish caught in UK waters are primarily eaten in Europe. In the UK the most popular fish are caught in EU waters.... having a reciprocal fishing arrangement might just save the fishing industry in the UK from this self inflicted debacle. Shame the rest of the economy had to be thrown under a bus to get to this point.

teateateateateamoretea · 08/12/2020 10:58

*The UK doesn't want to be in the club anymore. So the club is screwing us. Completely understandable

It's not true though. They arent interested in screwing you, thats the lie told to you by your leadership because they have fucked it up and fucked you over.

The EU didn't want to the UK to leave, but they did, so the EU wanted a fair and easy transition. The UK wanted to retain benefits of membership AND leave, and the EU obviously said no. So the UK tried to bring in new laws to break international law.

Who is it that is acting badly?

ReturntoSpamfritters · 08/12/2020 10:59

@bluebell34567

Macron is annoying.
Not half as annoying as our excuse for a Prime Minister
RedToothBrush · 08/12/2020 11:00

[quote sonicbook]@RedToothBrush must be correct. This is a goady post. I refuse to believe anyone is actually that entitled. [/quote]
@sonicbook Entitled is not the word I'd use.

Staffy1 · 08/12/2020 11:01

I can't stand Macron. He's the French version of Blair.

GrumblyMumblyisnotJumbly · 08/12/2020 11:01

@Friendsoftheearth

I have always wondered if the anti British brigade on here are posting from overseas, or if they actually live here with that level of bitterness and revulsion for their own country?

I find it truly fascinating that you can live, and perhaps be born in a country that you find so repellent, that as an adult why on earth would you choose to stay here?

It makes no sense whatsoever. Either stay and champion your own interests and support the country, or leave and be happier. Festering is not good for the soul.

Please explain why I should leave my country?

My bitterness and revulsion are reserved for the Tory Government and the enormous mess they are making of this with long standing implications. Do you think I should support this Government when it doesn't represent my views or interests? Would you support any Government unfailingly just because they are in your country? That's not how democracy works.

Maybe spare a thought for the people on the breadline who are going to really struggle due to price rises on the basics, those who don't have French cheeses and truffle oil at the best of times.

Zilla1 · 08/12/2020 11:02

@Returntospamfritters, hopefully the DM will have dog sad face photos (and whatever the canine equivalent of the women in the photos dressed in 1950s dresses) to emphasise the horror to Rover/Fenton of the spiteful EU's spiteful decisions that aren't in their own interests (they should listen when we tell the spiteful EU what their own interests are).

Saoirse7 · 08/12/2020 11:03

Classic Brexit fallout of Britain thinking they'll have a bigger impact than they will. Yes, it'll mildly affect French tourism but not to the extent Brits think.

Why should France get a worse deal when they hold the upper hand?

Same as Ireland, these small countries have the EU battling on their behalf. We can't be annoyed for the EU fighting for the best conditions for their own members.