Lemmy_kilmister
Well-known member
2 1/2 years with the family in Gibraltar with the RN. Absolutely loved it. None of us wanted to come home. We'd go back tomorrow.
I was in the mob but only got there as a civvy and I’d have to say you’re so right.2 1/2 years with the family in Gibraltar with the RN. Absolutely loved it. None of us wanted to come home. We'd go back tomorrow.
One question for those that have lived in Gibraltar, Bermuda or any hot place - how do you cope with the heat? Do you adjust, get used to it or do you always pine for a colder day?
One question for those that have lived in Gibraltar, Bermuda or any hot place - how do you cope with the heat? Do you adjust, get used to it or do you always pine for a colder day?
You adjust to it, and most of the places have good air conditioning, I found that we'd take sweaters with us if we were going to an air conditioned restaurant and often sat outside places that were too cool.One question for those that have lived in Gibraltar, Bermuda or any hot place - how do you cope with the heat? Do you adjust, get used to it or do you always pine for a colder day?
Exactly. All the offices have great air-con (enough to make you start feeling a bit cold on occasions). Plus with working from home, you can work topless (so to speak) and just grab your t-shirt when a call comes in!You adjust to it, and most of the places have good air conditioning, I found that we'd take sweaters with us if we were going to an air conditioned restaurant and often sat outside places that were too cool.
You live life to suit the climate, no long walks during hot spells but more swimming and you look for shaded spots to sit in.
Money was the only reason I went to Kuwait in 79/80 - it certainly wasn't for the weather. There was a kind of seedy and incestuous ex-pat community there (British/South African/Australian) which I imagine was replicated in other middle-east ex-pat ghettos. I kept myself to myself and mixed more with the arabs, my best friend out there was Palestinian.I cant see the attraction of the middle East apart from the money. Theres so much morally wrong with the authorities in those countries. If I had the opportunity France would be my choice or scandi countries. I worked in Texas for a brief time and I couldn't think of a worse place for my family to live.
Sounds like the DordogneThere was a kind of seedy and incestuous ex-pat community there
Ha, I can imagine. I keep my distance from other brits, in fact I actively avoid them so have only got to know one other british guy well in the 30 odd years I've been coming here.Sounds like the Dordogne
One question for those that have lived in Gibraltar, Bermuda or any hot place - how do you cope with the heat? Do you adjust, get used to it or do you always pine for a colder day?
I know what you mean but this place is hardly a good example of morality.I cant see the attraction of the middle East apart from the money. Theres so much morally wrong with the authorities in those countries. If I had the opportunity France would be my choice or scandi countries. I worked in Texas for a brief time and I couldn't think of a worse place for my family to live.
Pierre - I'm thinking along the French lines right now with retirement on the Horizon.Money was the only reason I went to Kuwait in 79/80 - it certainly wasn't for the weather. There was a kind of seedy and incestuous ex-pat community there (British/South African/Australian) which I imagine was replicated in other middle-east ex-pat ghettos. I kept myself to myself and mixed more with the arabs, my best friend out there was Palestinian.
France is far from perfect (show me somewhere that is), but the lifestyle suits me and I'm too old to move now anyway. I would liked to have tried Italy which is beautiful, but it never happened.
no one said flogging wasn't a good deterrent, but i would say we are light years ahead in morality, treatment of migrant workers, treatment of homosexuals etc. its like saying crime was low in Nazi germany.I know what you mean but this place is hardly a good example of morality.
After living in the Gulf all of those years I can honestly say that society is generally safe and secure, healthcare (although private), education (again, private) and law and order work very well.
Pierre - I'm thinking along the French lines right now with retirement on the Horizon.
Would you say that being a French speaker was Essential or can you get by??
I wish I'd have invested years ago and I'm thinking that I leave it much longer, I'll never do it!
Lovely post that mateDon't let your kids age put you off.
Kids are able to make friends and learn languages far quicker than their elders, particularly at that age of your kids.
It would be far more a difficult move for the kids if they were to be teenage.
I had just turned eight when we came to Oz and I was running around the ship playing hide and seek with kids from
Greece and Italy that didn't know a single word of English but that mattered little to us and we had a great time and formed lasting friendships.
Once at school those kids were soon doing better than me. They would go straight home and do their homework, I would go
straight to the beach and it wasn't long before they were teaching their parents words of the English language.
Our friendships grew and was educational for both parties. I helped teach them the language and they taught me such things that it was wrong and
sacrilegious to eat spaghetti from a tin.
My father gave me many words of wisdom but it was my father in laws words that were to be the wisest and most meaningful to me.
After informing him that my wife and I had decided to spend our large deposit on a house on a one year trip around the world instead and fully expecting
a gobfull after he had spent and wasted so much of his time driving us around the Sydney suburbs.
His immediate response.
" Well son when you get old like me and you look back through your life, You never regret the things that you did
but you will always regret the things that you didn't do "
I think that we should all keep that thought in mind when attempting to make an important decision.
I'm glad I did, I have no regrets whatsoever.
I’d do some serious research before making the move as the french legal system and particularly inheritance law
Apparently if you’re an English national, but have residency (carte de séjour) A friend who’s lived there for sometime and has been looking into wills and such. A Notaire said it’s possible to have it read under English law….expensive but doable. Hefty translation fees.
Reckons it’s worth it to avoid those inheritance laws.
Seems strange….Have you heard anything like this, Pierre?