Alf Stonehouse Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 :-D Yesterday i was leaving the Aire im currently parked on (with free 220v to keep the chill at bay) When i got back there were two British registered vans :-D And a third arriving. Each parked as far away from each other as 220v would permit 8-) The van sharing the power connector with me parked at the absolute limit of the power line they had :-S Then a Swedish camper arrived did the same thing having to judge carefully how to maximize his distance The English van next to me replied with a whisper to my "hello" then rushed inside & closed the door :-| Later when he was putting up his frost cover i said hello again & asked where they had just come from :-S Response while working then he said "im going to eat *-) and he was gone :-S None of the three vans was together with another one left two are still there but they dont communicate :-( Now that would be bad form for winter tourists :-S The French on the other hand helped me (wrote for me)a note,advised me where to find a scrap yard for my camping car & where to look for a replacement exhaust *-) I then spent a while drinking coffee this morning while chating to the natives 8-) The French are far more outgoing & willing to exchange information than the British/Welsh/scots/Yorkshire exception The Brits also look far more miserable and judging by the visits to the bottle bank drink as much/more than the Natives *-) *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixie Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Maybe they're afreid the other British vans will contain a selection of appallingly behaved children.... >:-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvey Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Just to be pedantic, what you are reporting is not 'Anti-social' behaviour but 'Un-sociable' behaviour: a very different thing ............. I am wondering why the French were so keen to give details of a scrapyard to take your camper to .......... does it really look that bad? Perhaps that is why the 'Brits' parked so far away from you. :-D All with tongue firmly in cheek of course ;-) Harvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 We too have experienced this and we get more communication with any other nationality that we do with Brits abroad. When in Scandinavia a couple of years back we only saw three British regd vans in 6 weeks - and none of 'em liked the look of us enough to chat - who can blame them do I hear some of you say - and yet they all wave like looneys when you pass 'em on the road? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 There might be another explanation, and please don't shoot the messenger for this: Maybe the other Brits want to be abroad when abroad and have some personal and private space, and not exist inside some sort of Brit ghetto when they park up? We're not "social" at all on the occasions that we overnight on sites rather than wild-camping. A nod and a "hello" are enough for me - we enjoy our own company and don't feel a need to eat/drink/playcards/socialise etc with other campers in other MH's. I hope that does not mean that others think less of us, simply that they have the freedom to do what they want to and so have we. I'm the first with an offer of help when I see any other motorhomer on site or on the road appearing to need it, and I'd like to think that others would return that sentiment if we had a problem with our MH; but I never liked Butlins, and I don't see our Motorhoming lifestyle as a substitute or that enforced group "bonhomie". "Sincerely, Grumpy Bruce & Kathy." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Well said Bruce - couldn't agree more. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 I'd agree with Bruce too. We will stop for a word but don't really 'get involved' with other Brits unless they have a problem. (One of the joys of touring abroad is that we leave Brits behind - they may want to talk about the X Factor or Eastenders !) The people that Alf is talking about don't seem " miserable " to me, they are just not particularly sociable. And as Harvey says they are not antisocial, in fact ,if they keep themselves to themselves, they are quite the opposite. Each to his own. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Besides, there cant be any miserable brits abroad now, as I came home over a week ago :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klyne Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Surely there is a world of difference between those Brits, or any other nationality, wanting to take over your life and a friendly 5 minute conversation? Most of my working life was spent talking to strangers so perhaps its second nature to me. I don't want to invite people for drinks or share the rest of my holiday with them but I do appreciate a few minutes chat here and there. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordThornber Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 pelmetman - 2011-02-03 1:10 PM Well said Bruce - couldn't agree more. Sue Me too Martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Dwight Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Well said Bruce. Who would want to stop and chat with Brits anyway? When we are away on holiday we stay away from them as well, unless they are in obvious trouble. David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alf Stonehouse Posted February 4, 2011 Author Share Posted February 4, 2011 I agree,the French camping cars are just the same :-S Although when i was near Lyon in Veinne a French Camping car driver spoke to me *-) I was so surprised i thought he had made a mistake *-) The other evening i suspect was due more to his wife than him :-S My camper is a "classic" camping car B-) Its jolly good drives well & is very comfortable & well equiped :-D 8-) Even though my fresh water tank is now out of service until i find a rubber seal :-( :-( Brits arnt worse than others (?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alf Stonehouse Posted February 4, 2011 Author Share Posted February 4, 2011 8-) I think i made an error *-) 8-) 8-) British people with camping cars are the most helpful kind friendly people :-D Err im English B-) Since about 900ad certainly since 1066 :-D English people are the salt of the earth :-D 8-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alf Stonehouse Posted February 4, 2011 Author Share Posted February 4, 2011 8-) I think i made an error *-) 8-) 8-) British people with camping cars are the most helpful kind friendly people :-D Err im English B-) Since about 900ad certainly since 1066 :-D English people are the salt of the earth :-D 8-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ina Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Agree with Bruce too. In fact, I can't understand people who, even if we are the only motorhome parked up, insist on parking about 6 foot away, when there is loads of space. I don't mind exchanging pleasantries either, and we've shared drinks with quite a few people on sites and aires, but I'd rather they parked a bit away from us than on top of us, we've been able to listen to too many TV's when they've parked too close, and that is not our cup of tea! Call me Victoria Meldrew, but I don't see the necessity to park too close to another van. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John J Thompson Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 While in France last summer on Aires we used to joke that if there were a group of van that were parked so close to each other that they could just open their doors they were French. If they were parked about 6ft apart they were probably German or Dutch. If we saw a van on its own well away from the others they were British. We then parked as far away as possible from any of them. You could then almost guarantee that someone would come and park right beside us no matter how much space was left in the Aire. Not antisocial we just like our own company. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazdog6007 Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 the dutch are the worst.the french dislike them and the spanish .they bring all their food with them,question every cent,dont use tiolet additives and are a miserable lot to boot. 8o| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 tazdog6007 - 2011-02-11 4:14 PM the dutch are the worst.the french dislike them and the spanish .they bring all their food with them,question every cent,dont use tiolet additives and are a miserable lot to boot. 8o| My kind of motorcaravanners... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirage Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 "Tracker" you have it spot on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordThornber Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 tazdog6007 - 2011-02-11 4:14 PM the dutch are the worst.the french dislike them and the spanish .they bring all their food with them,question every cent,dont use tiolet additives and are a miserable lot to boot. 8o| Just to balance that out. We had a Dutch couple next to us a couple of years back. They were lovely. Very friendly and helpful too. I had a problem with a leaking pipe, out came Mr Dutch with a toolbox larger than the one I have at home and helped me sort it. Also we started to bbq our evening meal when the heavens opened, too wet to mess about with anything other abandon it. Mr Dutch has other ideas, out he comes with this huge golfing brolly which enabled me to carry on cooking, (of a fashion). Of course our language skills matched theirs word for word. Yeh right..... Martyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barryd999 Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Sorry to say this but on an Aire we actively avoid parking near British vans. I find the French vans are less likely to have kids in them and they are quieter and more likely to be in bed by 10pm! Plus I go abroad to get away from all things British. We like our own space and tend to wild camp as much as possible in France or use Aires that are not cramped together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Barryd999 - 2011-02-13 10:28 AM Sorry to say this but on an Aire we actively avoid parking near British vans. I find the French vans are less likely to have kids in them and they are quieter and more likely to be in bed by 10pm! Plus I go abroad to get away from all things British. We like our own space and tend to wild camp as much as possible in France or use Aires that are not cramped together. Really, how do you get away from yourself then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John J Thompson Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 tazdog6007 - 2011-02-11 4:14 PM the dutch are the worst.the french dislike them and the spanish .they bring all their food with them,question every cent,dont use tiolet additives and are a miserable lot to boot. 8o| We have found the Dutch to be friendly and helpfull, also the Belgians. There are good and bad in every nation. We also don't use toilet additives, we use a SOG. There are plenty of Brits we would choose to avoid. John & Joan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barryd999 Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 rupert123 - 2011-02-13 11:28 AM Barryd999 - 2011-02-13 10:28 AM Sorry to say this but on an Aire we actively avoid parking near British vans. I find the French vans are less likely to have kids in them and they are quieter and more likely to be in bed by 10pm! Plus I go abroad to get away from all things British. We like our own space and tend to wild camp as much as possible in France or use Aires that are not cramped together. Really, how do you get away from yourself then? You assume that I am British then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 Barryd999 - 2011-02-13 11:52 AM rupert123 - 2011-02-13 11:28 AM Barryd999 - 2011-02-13 10:28 AM Sorry to say this but on an Aire we actively avoid parking near British vans. I find the French vans are less likely to have kids in them and they are quieter and more likely to be in bed by 10pm! Plus I go abroad to get away from all things British. We like our own space and tend to wild camp as much as possible in France or use Aires that are not cramped together. Really, how do you get away from yourself then? You assume that I am British then. Certainly sound like it, so many Brits profess to avoid other Brits, why, are they so arrogant they assume they are somehow superior? Many apologize if I am wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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