I like Britain too, RT, except for possibly the weather.

I think it's more a generational thing really. My lot were brought up to be proud of our country and its achievements, now they're taught to be apologetic about it. I also feel that the decisions taken by those in power (of any persuasion) no longer reflect the wishes of many, myself included.

I could of course decide to become involved in politics, and then waste the remaining years of my life in a futile and frustrating struggle to return some common sense to the way we are represented, option B would be to pack up and vote with the feet. Option B won.

Healthwise I'm aware that the French system isn't as accessible as ours, and that's no bad thing for them as at least it ensures that it won't implode like ours will. Healthcare has been the reason many older Brit's have returned to the UK.

In my case, well I have a rather fateful view on that, which is that I accept that I'm already on comparatively limited time due to my failing kidney, and I would rather die reaching for something better, than to live longer in an increasingly uncomfortable 'comfort zone'. I'm only 50, yet I can't even guarantee that I'll ever be 55, or 60, so if I do go then I'll go out like I've lived thank you very much, and not wetting myself in some British hospital corridor.

Why haven't you chosen village life in this country, Old Nail?

Too expensive. I was divorced in 2003, and as it was a 'my fault' divorce I gave the house and everything in it to my ex, I walked away with nothing.

Aged 43 is a bad time to start over from the bottom as you can imagine, so I hatched my plan to buy abroad where the houses were still affordable. I had saved up and bought one by 2007, now it just needs doing up and I'm away. I also think that what currently afflicts the UK towns and cities will spread to the villages soon enough, it's only a small island.

The countryside in UK is expensive and once you've paid out a fortune to live there, pikeys will relieve you of anything nice you own.

especially round here, i have had so many gas tanks nicked out my boat, i hadnt paied for any of them as i came across them over the years, and i only had about 2 litres in at a time, id even resorted to spraying it yellow and making it look crap, got nicked again! so now i go by this moto, out of sight, out of mind

Our village La Trinite Porhoet in the heart of Bretagne is very safe for sure. Around 700 folks here including farmers around the village. Last summer, we left early with our Aussie visitors in 2 A models for a day out. Came back in the evening to find the front door right open with the keys in the lock. Nothing missing at all. and life is very good here and cheap. Love it

I'm very encouraged by that Viking, my house sn on it's own with a nearby hamlet of four or five houses so it's very private, and for some perhaps very lonely, but for me paradise.

Unless there's a real rethink from the top down I honestly can't see there being anywhere in the UK untouched by crime of some sort in a few years time. There also needs to be a re-education of the young (and not so young) people of the inner cities.

I asked my own son who is 26 why he doesn't move out of Bolton, and he said "It's the same wherever you go dad - innit?"

No, it isn't. There are nice places to live in Britain, unfortunately they're usually full of other peoples empty 'second homes', or bought to rent properties, while the locals kids have either to move away or stay at home till they're 30 odd because they can't afford them.

I don't want to sound like a broken record, but I have seen life from the perspective of the 'Shameless' estates, I've lived it, and to my great annoyance I didn't get wise until it was pretty much too late. I wish that I had been better educated, as that alone would have given me a different perspective, it would have alerted me to the possibility of a better life through ambition and achievement.

As it was I stayed amongst the underclass with its drugs crime and violence. It's no way to live, but there are literally thousands out there that due to poor education simply don't even know there is an alternative. It's a damned shame.

Where, I look forward to come around to disturb your paradise peace

Well I left 2 daughters behind in Perth without a mother at 19 years old. Ask them if they think that I'm an old fat looking for rocking chair. You know the answer. We offered them Paris, London or Copenhagen (family and free education) but NO WAY. Friends in Perth are no 1 + drinks etc etc but they'll learn one day like so many people do when one hits 40-50's (midlife thing you know)

I like being 50, there are so many benefits.

Due to the nature of my various modes of employment over the years I have always kept very physically fit, so I don't feel 50. It's only over the last three or four years that I've let that fitness go, but I'm sure I can get it back again without too much effort.

50 means that I've no interest in impressing anyone as I've nothing to prove, peer pressure doesn't work either as you'll not get me watching soaps and wearing slippers.

50 also means that the chances are, at some point or another I will have come across whatever it is that jumps out at me next in life, so it doesn't come as so great a shock the second time around.

But the best thing is that at 50, finally, (and i'll whisper this bit) I am mellowing.
In 1976 I joined the Royal Marine commando's straight from school and I remember my headmaster taking me into his office and telling me that it was the 'best thing for me', maybe they will teach you some discipline he said.

I suppose I have always been a handful , a wrestless mind, deeply unsatisfied and angry, but turning 50 seems to have brought with it a watershed moment, I have relaxed my expectations, and it has done me good. I now take the time to reflect on things, I am often quite amused by some of the things that I hear people say, or that they have written down in books supposedly as profound knowledge, because by 50 you can see it for the pretentious tosh that it usually is.

I read voraciously, copiously, I devour books, if only I had done so as a younger man. All in all then I like the 'new' me, I have adopted the philosophy of "Fill what's empty, empty what's full, and scratch where it itches." Now if only I could prevent the 'old' me from appearing in a sudden flash of temper I'll be well on the way to a happy life in France.

O-N, what's the best book you've read recently? I'm after a good read, but at the moment all I'm surrounded by is bloody Harry bloody Potter books, on account of my 10-year old...