Not just bread, the French consider wine to be so much more than just a breakfast drink

Not just bread, the French consider wine to be so much more than just a breakfast drink

Oh dear...Me: I think we should have the same open border, as enjoyed by the 450,000,000 souls who reside, just across the water from us, such as I enjoyed but a week ago, as I roared through France, Benenlux and Germany, without due let or hindrance….. or whatever it was our passports used to say.
In case of any doubt, that does not and should not be read as a wish to accommodate, encourage or condone illegal migration. Those apprehended either on entry or later should face the full penalty of the law and imprisonment until such time as they can be returned.
PS The tea huts were particularly slow on Tuesday morning on my return to our green and pleasant.. The Border Farce woman who addressed me was particularly miserable, despite my cheery greeting. This was in contrast to the chirpy French officer, though his happiness might of course been amplified by my leaving the French nation to get on with their shopping for bread, a national pastime in which they excel.
Oh dear...
How could anyone ever be apprehended on entry if we had open borders?
And if we had open borders, how would anyone ever be here illegally?
If we found someone here we didn't want to be here and returned them to France, what would be to stop them just hopping on the next ferry/train/plane if we're going to have open borders with no border controls?
I'm not sure you've thought this through. Still.![]()
You don’t have a lot to do with your time, do you?First relevant post: ....the shambolic UK Border Force passport control.
Your post: True. It’s outsourced to Serco or some such. Last time they pulled both Mrs Berin and I over...
I think it's a reasonable assumption that you were referring to UK Border Force duties that you believed had been outsourced, don't you? And you then have the nerve to say it's my comprehension skills aren't good! Like many many people you seem to be unable to distinguish between the various responsibilities at the border.
I agree the security checks at the ports aren't particularly effective, being (a) random and (b) ignoring the knives that might be in caravans, motorhomes, trucks and so on. Personally I'd like to see the checks being much more intense, but you need to raise your concerns with the port operators and carriers rather than trying to blame UKBF. I do recall some passengers running amok on some planes a few years ago, which brought about the desire to search all air passengers for knives. I don't think it's a huge leap of logic to extend the same checks to ferry passengers.
Whether the Spanish border control ask you to remove your helmet or not is irrelevant. The reality is they may just have been ticking boxes and see people presenting themselves as UK holiday makers as low risk - in my view you can't you can't always do proper recognition checks with a helmet on. I'd have no hesitation in removing my helmet if asked, and have no hesitation asking a biker to remove helmet if I couldn't be sure they were the person in the passport.
If you were asked by UKBF to remove your helmet as you left the country, you were very unlucky. Outbound passport checks by UKBF are a very rare occurrence indeed. You may well have been asked by the carrier to remove your helmet so they can fulfil their obligations to check identities of travellers. Personally I'm glad they did. But again, if you think that's ridiculous you need to take it up with the carrier.
2 pin euro typeWhat plug sockets are on the boat ? uk type or two pin ?
Thanks
Cheers Rick.2 pin euro type
Both types in the cabins. At least on Salamanca and Armorique....What plug sockets are on the boat ? uk type or two pin ?
Thanks
On the Santona from Portsmouth to Santander, there are both euro 2-pin and proper 3-pin sockets. And USB sockets.What plug sockets are on the boat ? uk type or two pin ?
Thanks
You presume correct.Presume there is a duty free shop on board ?
Oh yes indeedPresume there is a duty free shop on board ?

Might need some cigs and a bottle to sup on the poop deck.Oh yes indeed![]()
They have toilets onboard too.Some cabins are even en-suite.Obviously not the one you’ve booked next to the engine roomMight need some cigs and a bottle to sup on the poop deck.
Taking a bucket it'll be fine.They have toilets onboard too.Some cabins are even en-suite.Obviously not the one you’ve booked next to the engine room![]()
Bucket and chuckit….classy!Taking a bucket it'll be fine.![]()