British Attitudes to Tourists

[maureenandtom]

Following on, by conincidence, from Little Mutt's story yesterday.

I'm A Teuchtar. Well, not really but I served in the West Highlands for a total of about ten years spread over three different postings. Our daughter was born in the cottage hospital in Campbeltown so she's a Teuchtar by birth and. naturally, we love the wee town. Because of the lasting affection, I get the daily on-line edition of the Argyll News and often there is something in there to make a great impression on me, to make me smile and sometimes to shake my head.

Today is one of those days.

Campbeltown, in those days when our daughter was young, was a bit isolated. Apart from by air, the only public transport to the town was a four hour bus journey from Glasgow. If, however, you went off for a weekend by whatever means, a lift say, or by air, and that wasn't too difficult for me, there was a ship you could get on a Sunday afternoon from Gourock or Greenock back to Campbeltown and it was a wonderful cruise down the Clyde in a paddle steamer. The Waverley. There was also another ship, I'm certain of this, The Duchess of Hamilton, but it's the Waverly the Argyll News talks of this morning.

It seems that the Waverley undertakes or proposes to undertake a regular cruise calling in at Campbeltown on Wednesday afternoons. Now you'd think this would be a marvellous boost to the town's economy. Hundreds of tourists in a good humour with money burning a hole in their pockets. What an opportunity.

Not so for the good traders of Campbeltown. And they are good traders, nice people without exception in my memory .

It isn't an opportunity for the shopkeepers of Campbeltown for the very good reason that Wednesday is half day closing. When the ship comes in the shops will be closed. They want the ship to come in on a different day that isn't half day closing.

Argyll News: Council contributes to PS Waverley refit but ignores chance to help Campbeltown | For Argyll

Teuchtars they may be. Hospitable Highlanders I know them to be, But, what is this? Hundreds of people with money to spend and the shops aren't open? And this is not a one-off. This is every Wednesday.

They've caught the British disease? Why can't they see the opportunity and open? What's with this attitude? I can't understand why councils don't want to attract campervans and I can't understand why Campbeltown doesn't just open it's shops for customers coming in by the shipload.

 

[Deleted member 3057]

Nice use of the 'on the fence' word British!

 

[Northerner]

I'm sorry, but my sympathies lie with the shopkeepers. They already open five and a half days a week and remember, these will be small businesses run by a couple of people who can't afford to employ temporary staff. I'm also amused by the 'hundreds of people' who will be pouring off this ship with spending money their main objective.

How long will the ship stay in Campbelltown? Which shops will benefit? Are the tourists going to spend money on clothes or in the ironmongers? I suspect that a few of them may buy snacks or a light meal, assuming of course that they haven't already eaten on the ship, and that will be it!

The truth is that there could only be dozens of people disembarking, of which a small number may spend a small amount of money. And for this the entire town has to cancel the one half day in six that the shopkeepers take off?

Even if the cafes stay open, which they may well anyway, why should every other shop have to stay open as well? And if the shops that won't do any trade close, the town won't have much atmosphere anyway.

The real culprit here is the ship's owner. Its passengers will probably be retired folk who can travel on any day of the week. Why didn't the company check first to ensure that they wouldn't be arriving on early-closing day!

 

[maureenandtom]

Of course. Now why didn't I think of that? We owe them a living. We're jolly lucky they accept our business at all.

 

[Northerner]

Of course. Now why didn't I think of that? We owe them a living. We're jolly lucky they accept our business at all.

I hope that in my reply I put forward a logical argument about why this ship with its 'hundreds of tourists gagging to spend money' is not all that it is cracked up to be and I'm sorry that you seem unable to defend your stance in a similar vein and simply resort to crude sarcasm.

It's amazing how people in cushy jobs, very often with big firms or in the public sector, with generous salaries, pensions and paid sick leave, can whinge about small shopkeepers, already opening five and a half days a week and probably spending their evenings doing the books and VAT returns etc, who aren't happy about losing the one half-day that they get off.

These people aren't stupid. If they really thought that the relatively small number of tourists disembarking in their town for what is probably just an hour or so, would really be spending any worthwhile amounts of money, then I promise you, they'd be opening, despite the fact that they're not happy about it.

The real idiots here are the ship's owners who, knowing the traditions of these people, didn't have the brains to check out which day is early closing!

One question that I'd like to ask you is, how many other ports of call does this vessel have? Are you suggesting that the 'hundreds' of passengers are going to spend lots of money in every place that the ship docks for a hour or so? Perhaps the shopkeepers in three other small Scottish towns should also give up their half day just in case a handful of Glaswegian tourists want to buy a sandwich? And isn't everything that they're likely to want (mainly food) available on the ship anyway?

If you were in business you'd know that you weigh up the chances of trade against the costs involved. Would you moan about the local corner shop having the 'British Disease' if it refused to stay open 24 hours a day just in case you've forgotten to stock up with milk at Tesco? Lazy, idle people these corner shop owners, don't they want my business?

 

[David & Ann]

Following on, by conincidence, from Little Mutt's story yesterday.

I'm A Teuchtar. Well, not really but I served in the West Highlands for a total of about ten years spread over three different postings. Our daughter was born in the cottage hospital in Campbeltown so she's a Teuchtar by birth and. naturally, we love the wee town. Because of the lasting affection, I get the daily on-line edition of the Argyll News and often there is something in there to make a great impression on me, to make me smile and sometimes to shake my head.

Today is one of those days.

Campbeltown, in those days when our daughter was young, was a bit isolated. Apart from by air, the only public transport to the town was a four hour bus journey from Glasgow. If, however, you went off for a weekend by whatever means, a lift say, or by air, and that wasn't too difficult for me, there was a ship you could get on a Sunday afternoon from Gourock or Greenock back to Campbeltown and it was a wonderful cruise down the Clyde in a paddle steamer. The Waverley. There was also another ship, I'm certain of this, The Duchess of Hamilton, but it's the Waverly the Argyll News talks of this morning.

It seems that the Waverley undertakes or proposes to undertake a regular cruise calling in at Campbeltown on Wednesday afternoons. Now you'd think this would be a marvellous boost to the town's economy. Hundreds of tourists in a good humour with money burning a hole in their pockets. What an opportunity.

Not so for the good traders of Campbeltown. And they are good traders, nice people without exception in my memory .

It isn't an opportunity for the shopkeepers of Campbeltown for the very good reason that Wednesday is half day closing. When the ship comes in the shops will be closed. They want the ship to come in on a different day that isn't half day closing.

Argyll News: Council contributes to PS Waverley refit but ignores chance to help Campbeltown | For Argyll

Teuchtars they may be. Hospitable Highlanders I know them to be, But, what is this? Hundreds of people with money to spend and the shops aren't open? And this is not a one-off. This is every Wednesday.

They've caught the British disease? Why can't they see the opportunity and open? What's with this attitude? I can't understand why councils don't want to attract campervans and I can't understand why Campbeltown doesn't just open it's shops for customers coming in by the shipload.

I see your point. Why can't they have their half day on any other day, so that they can earn their money on the Wednesday. Seems like tunnel vision on behalf of the local Council. Or perhaps, it is a special day of each week that for whatever reason they cannot adjust, or, perhaps they did have a local vote amongst themselves and decided it should stay as it is. Whatever the reasons, I find it surprising that they have not taken the opportunity. Then again, maybe, it has not even crossed their mind.☺☺☺

 

[Northerner]

I see your point. Why can't they have their half day on any other day, so that they can earn their money on the Wednesday. Seems like tunnel vision on behalf of the local Council. Or perhaps, it is a special day of each week that for whatever reason they cannot adjust, or, perhaps they did have a local vote amongst themselves and decided it should stay as it is. Whatever the reasons, I find it surprising that they have not taken the opportunity. Then again, maybe, it has not even crossed their mind.☺☺☺

Probably because Wednesday early closing has been in force for a hundred years! Everyone knows about it and it will be in all the guide books etc. Imagine if you were a farmer or a Japanese tourist and you came into town on Tuesday afternoon to find out that all the shops are closed! "But in my guide book, says Mr Fujiyashi, it says that half-day closing is on Wednesday!"

And the tourist boat will only be coming in the summer season, so what happens out of season? Do they go back to Wednesday? And what happens if this experiment isn't a success and the firm cancels the sailings? As I said earlier, it probably doesn't just call at Campbelltown, so perhaps some other small towns should also change their half-day just for half of the year in order to do a small amount of business with a few tourists?

It's the ferry company that didn't have the sense to check this out. It can sail on any day of the week, so why should small communities change their half-day closing, which are well known to everyone and have been in force for generations,
just because some shipping company executive hasn't used his brains? If anyone should change its timing, it's the shipping company!

 

[maureenandtom]

Sorry Northerner, I have no more information than there is in the newspaper article. When I used to use that same ship years ago there was only one other stop and that was either Brodick or Lochranza - may have been both - but they were just that - stops for passengers to get on and off. My memory is that the weekend trips were a great social gathering for Glaswegians; they called it a sail "doon the watter" and I remember it with great affection. I was never on a trip though, for me it was just a convenient way of getting back to Campbeltown. Bloody tourists were just a nuisance.

What struck me most about the article was how it compared with us as motorhomers. I just assumed others would see it the same. As motorhomers we think, and I for one believe, that we are a useful resource. A good source of income for the tourist industry. We receive the same lack of recognition in Britain that this cruise ship - for that's what it is now - is receiving. It's not only an afternoon's shopping; it's the advertising the area receives. Some, I've no idea how many, may be so delighted with the place that they return as more conventional tourists. In my mind I compare that with friends and relatives who may not have a campervan but be so intrigued with my tales of the south of France that they book holidays there. It's the whole idea of who is valuable.

As motorhomers we bemoan time and again the indifference shown to us compared with the facilities and therefore the welcome elsewhere. A symptom of the same malaise.

If you read the article again though, you might see that the newspaper agrees with you and it is a critic of the council for not encouraging a different timetable. One of the reasons I like my local paper so much is that is is a regular critic of the council. On this occasion I disagree with it. And with you.

More crudely. Perhaps an Asian businessman, Mr Patel, say, might see the lack of concern among the Highlanders and see this as an opportunity to open a business. This will of course be staffed by young Polish girls called Kozlowski or something who will be delighted to see this cruise ship come in crewed by Lithuanian sailors. Then we will all be happpy - especially the young Polish girls. But not us, we will complain that immigrants are taking all our jobs.

 

[Northerner]

Sorry Northerner, I have no more information than there is in the newspaper article. When I used to use that same ship years ago there was only one other stop and that was either Brodick or Lochranza - may have been both - but they were just that - stops for passengers to get on and off. My memory is that the weekend trips were a great social gathering for Glaswegians; they called it a sail "doon the watter" and I remember it with great affection. I was never on a trip though, for me it was just a convenient way of getting back to Campbeltown. Bloody tourists were just a nuisance.

What struck me most about the article was how it compared with us as motorhomers. I just assumed others would see it the same. As motorhomers we think, and I for one believe, that we are a useful resource. A good source of income for the tourist industry. We receive the same lack of recognition in Britain that this cruise ship - for that's what it is now - is receiving. It's not only an afternoon's shopping; it's the advertising the area receives. Some, I've no idea how many, may be so delighted with the place that they return as more conventional tourists. In my mind I compare that with friends and relatives who may not have a campervan but be so intrigued with my tales of the south of France that they book holidays there. It's the whole idea of who is valuable.

As motorhomers we bemoan time and again the indifference shown to us compared with the facilities and therefore the welcome elsewhere. A symptom of the same malaise.

If you read the article again though, you might see that the newspaper agrees with you and it is a critic of the council for not encouraging a different timetable. One of the reasons I like my local paper so much is that is is a regular critic of the council. On this occasion I disagree with it. And with you.

More crudely. Perhaps an Asian businessman, Mr Patel, say, might see the lack of concern among the Highlanders and see this as an opportunity to open a business. This will of course be staffed by young Polish girls called Kozlowski or something who will be delighted to see this cruise ship come in crewed by Lithuanian sailors. Then we will all be happpy - especially the young Polish girls. But not us, we will complain that immigrants are taking all our jobs.

I can assure you that Mr Patel will weigh up, like any sensible businessman, the pros and cons and the costs involved. And when he finds out that a few dozen Glaswegians just want a snack or a drink, and that the service doesn't operate for half of the year and that it could be cancelled completely without notice, he'll decide to stay on his corner in Paisley.

But what I find most irritating about this is the fact that the ferry company, operating a seasonal service, should think it right that an entire community change its ways because it didn't have the common sense to check out which day is early closing!

Do you really think that if, suddenly, there were six cruise liners docking at Campbelltown and really disgorging hundreds of rich tourists, that the shopkeepers would stay closed? Of course they wouldn't! These people have weighed up the likely benefit from this tourist ship and decided, probably from years of experience, that the cash in the tills simply isn't worth the disruption of working an extra half day or even worse, changing the early closing day. I do think that you have to give them some consideration for being reasonably sensible and knowing their town and its business potential.

This problem can be solved at a stroke with no disruption to anyone - change the sailing to a Tuesday or Thursday or any other day, except Wednesday - problem solved! Why should the shipping company not be prepared to make a change, why just the shopkeepers? They and their early closing day were there a long time before this company decided to introduce this sailing!

 

[maureenandtom]

Ah Notherner, I see you don't want a debate; you want an argument. I recognise you. You are really JohnH and I claim my £5.00.

I think there are few places now indulging in the luxury of a half day. You really haven't read the article, have you? Have you read the comments made by people who live there now? You really think sailing timetables can be changed so easily? At a stroke?

But all that really isn't my point. I recognise you will stubbornly refuse to accept what I say when I tell you that I see this as exactly what we see with local councils and campervans. A refusal to see a business oportunity. That's what councils should see us campervanners as - a business opportunity.

But, go on, have your little argument.

 

[Northerner]

Ah Notherner, I see you don't want a debate; you want an argument. I recognise you. You are really JohnH and I claim my £5.00.

I think there are few places now indulging in the luxury of a half day. You really haven't read the article, have you? Have you read the comments made by people who live there now? You really think sailing timetables can be changed so easily? At a stroke?

But all that really isn't my point. I recognise you will stubbornly refuse to accept what I say when I tell you that I see this as exactly what we see with local councils and campervans. A refusal to see a business oportunity. That's what councils should see us campervanners as - a business opportunity.

But, go on, have your little argument.

That's very obtuse as the difference between an argument and a debate is a fine line! And as for me not accepting what you say? Oh dear! Sailing timetables not being able to be changed at a stroke? Perhaps not, but it's not the fault of Campbelltown shopkeepers that some idiot at the shipping firm hasn't used his brains!

Of course the half-day closing tradition is almost gone, but this is a tiny town where small local shops provide all the retailing experience! Shops run by one man or one man and his wife. I seem to be the one here who is putting up logical reasons why the retailers do not want to have to work six days a week but you haven't countered one single point that I've raised such as, the true number of tourists, what they'll actually buy and how much they'll spend.

But I'll tell you what really is unfair, and it's your headline 'British Attitude to Tourists' which implies that somehow, the British are any different from the French or the Germans.

I get sick to death of French shops that close for two hours at lunchtime when I need some bread. And supermarkets that don't open on Sundays, and German shops that close at Saturday lunchtime and only reopen on Monday morning.

I love going to Scotland every April and zooming up the M6. In France I'd have to pay a hundred quid in tolls.

It's this attitude that everything is wonderful in France but it's always rubbish in the U.K. It's untrue and it's unfair.

Now, if you really do want a debate, prove to me what real benefits these 'tourists' will bring to Campbelltown in their short stay and how profitable it will be for retailers to open up their shops for an extra half day.

 

[n brown]

Sorry Northerner, I have no more information than there is in the newspaper article. When I used to use that same ship years ago there was only one other stop and that was either Brodick or Lochranza - may have been both - but they were just that - stops for passengers to get on and off. My memory is that the weekend trips were a great social gathering for Glaswegians; they called it a sail "doon the watter" and I remember it with great affection. I was never on a trip though, for me it was just a convenient way of getting back to Campbeltown. Bloody tourists were just a nuisance.

What struck me most about the article was how it compared with us as motorhomers. I just assumed others would see it the same. As motorhomers we think, and I for one believe, that we are a useful resource. A good source of income for the tourist industry. We receive the same lack of recognition in Britain that this cruise ship - for that's what it is now - is receiving. It's not only an afternoon's shopping; it's the advertising the area receives. Some, I've no idea how many, may be so delighted with the place that they return as more conventional tourists. In my mind I compare that with friends and relatives who may not have a campervan but be so intrigued with my tales of the south of France that they book holidays there. It's the whole idea of who is valuable.

As motorhomers we bemoan time and again the indifference shown to us compared with the facilities and therefore the welcome elsewhere. A symptom of the same malaise.

If you read the article again though, you might see that the newspaper agrees with you and it is a critic of the council for not encouraging a different timetable. One of the reasons I like my local paper so much is that is is a regular critic of the council. On this occasion I disagree with it. And with you.

More crudely. Perhaps an Asian businessman, Mr Patel, say, might see the lack of concern among the Highlanders and see this as an opportunity to open a business. This will of course be staffed by young Polish girls called Kozlowski or something who will be delighted to see this cruise ship come in crewed by Lithuanian sailors. Then we will all be happpy - especially the young Polish girls. But not us, we will complain that immigrants are taking all our jobs.

i've just been discussing this argument with my daughter's polish boyfriend,who can't quite understand your reference to his countrywomen.why on earth would they be happy to see a bunch of lithuanian sailors?or is this a more personal fantasy?he has the impression that you don't like the poles,but his pilot grandad was made very welcome here in the last war.and who is mr patel? why can't he open a shop and why does it have to be staffed by polish girls.if i wanted to read a load of rubbish like this i'd start buying the mail

 

[maureenandtom]

That's very obtuse as the difference between an argument and a debate is a fine line! And as for me not accepting what you say? Oh dear! Sailing timetables not being able to be changed at a stroke? Perhaps not, but it's not the fault of Campbelltown shopkeepers that some idiot at the shipping firm hasn't used his brains!

Of course the half-day closing tradition is almost gone, but this is a tiny town where small local shops provide all the retailing experience! Shops run by one man or one man and his wife. I seem to be the one here who is putting up logical reasons why the retailers do not want to have to work six days a week but you haven't countered one single point that I've raised such as, the true number of tourists, what they'll actually buy and how much they'll spend.

But I'll tell you what really is unfair, and it's your headline 'British Attitude to Tourists' which implies that somehow, the British are any different from the French or the Germans.

I get sick to death of French shops that close for two hours at lunchtime when I need some bread. And supermarkets that don't open on Sundays, and German shops that close at Saturday lunchtime and only reopen on Monday morning.

I love going to Scotland every April and zooming up the M6. In France I'd have to pay a hundred quid in tolls.

It's this attitude that everything is wonderful in France but it's always rubbish in the U.K. It's untrue and it's unfair.

Now, if you really do want a debate, prove to me what real benefits these 'tourists' will bring to Campbelltown in their short stay and how profitable it will be for retailers to open up their shops for an extra half day.

Calm down dear, it's a debate.

I can't prove it. The stuff in bold above, I mean.

But this: I copy it because you won't read it.

i've just been discussing this argument with my daughter's polish boyfriend,who can't quite understand your reference to his countrywomen.why on earth would they be happy to see a bunch of lithuanian sailors?or is this a more personal fantasy?he has the impression that you don't like the poles,but his pilot grandad was made very welcome here in the last war.and who is mr patel? why can't he open a shop and why does it have to be staffed by polish girls.if i wanted to read a load of rubbish like this i'd start buying the mail

Interesting little crack about the Poles. I served with a small number of these men; and not only Poles. I began my service not so long after that conflict that all of them were gone. I may know the grandfather. We may be friends already but we certainly would be should we meet. Old comrades.

It's a pity you want to argue. My wee town is the loser through the attitude you won't change and more than that, our country is losing vast amounts because of its reluctance to embrace our sort of tourism.

But I can't prove a word of it.

I still think your'e JohnH and I still claim my £5.

 

[Northerner]

Calm down dear, it's a debate.

I can't prove it. The stuff in bold above, I mean.

But this: I copy it because you won't read it.

Interesting little crack about the Poles. I served with a small number of these men; and not only Poles. I began my service not so long after that conflict that all of them were gone. I may know the grandfather. We may be friends already but we certainly would be should we meet. Old comrades.

It's a pity you want to argue. My wee town is the loser through the attitude you won't change and more than that, our country is losing vast amounts because of its reluctance to embrace our sort of tourism.

But I can't prove a word of it.

I still think your'e JohnH and I still claim my £5.

It's a pity that I want to argue? What the hell are you doing? I'm providing logical reasons why the traders in Campbelltown don't consider it worthwhile to give up their one half a day off. You're posting emotive and totally pointless stuff about what a lovely boat it is. The trouble is that you don't seem to be able to work out that people on day trips aren't big spenders and that the traders will have made a decision based on rational thought about whether or not it's worth them opening. From this you infer that Britain is some sort of anti-tourist hell! That's really intelligent!

Your reaction to this is typical of someone who has been employed in a nice job, with sick pay and lots of holidays and who knows nothing about running a business. Just put yourself in the position of a shopkeeper in Campbelltown. You work hard, you're open five and a half days a week and you may even use that half a day to do other jobs concerned with your business. And then some ferry company decides to bring a few tourists to your town, where they'll spend a hour or two at the most and they choose your half day off. You decide that the potential business to be gained by opening that extra half a day simply isn't worth giving up what little time off you have. And how do you know what the tourist ships will bring? That's easy! Such boats have been coming to Campbelltown for generations and you know exactly what revenue they are likely to bring, so you make your decision.

And then along come a few typical public sector employees, or people who've always worked in big companies with all the benefits, who tell you that your refusal to open means that you're some kind of idiot who doesn't know how to treat tourists. The culprit here is the ferry company. Why do you not even consider that they may be being unreasonable?

Finally, please don't insult me by saying things like: "I copy this because you won't read it". I've read it, thoroughly. And I've no idea who John H is. Perhaps someone else who has challenged your rather poor logic and blinkered views?

And as for reading things properly, why are you having a go at me about Poles and Lithuanians? I never mentioned them.

 

[bigpieeater]

Of course. Now why didn't I think of that? We owe them a living. We're jolly lucky they accept our business at all.

Don't be too offended by 'Northerners' comments, (he is from Lancashire!!) he can only disbelive all he reads and just about all he ever writes is negative, I am starting to think he is having a really big laugh and he is good at it, or he has a severe mental problem, I think it is the latter.

 

[Northerner]

Don't be too offended by 'Northerners' comments, (he is from Lancashire!!) he can only disbelive all he reads and just about all he ever writes is negative, I am starting to think he is having a really big laugh and he is good at it, or he has a severe mental problem, I think it is the latter.

This is a very sad and a very offensive post. Just because we disagreed in another thread is no reason for you to begin stalking me in a totally different thread. You are beginning to come across an someone with a bit of an obsession.

I may disagree with you on one subject but in the next I'm just as likely to support you, but what I will never do is attack you in a completely different thread, simply for the reason of attacking you. That really is the height of forum bad manners and I hope that the moderator is reading this. You really should be ashamed of this post and of your actions, and if anyone is showing that he's slightly off balance, it's you.

 

[scotsy]

and offensive to other LANCASTRIAN forumites too

It seems that there are now a few Trolls who are spoiling this forum by taking every opportunity to attack someone else at every opportunity if they don't agree with them:hammer:

Get a life !!!

 

[Bigpeetee]

I've said it before:

"We need a Grumpy Old Motorhomer Web site"

Debates/ difference of opinions are great, but I do think some of the exchanges are getting beyond fun.

This is becoming more the norm, less helpful.

Let's keep it as it should be with information exchange, help and some friendly banter!!

 

[vindiboy]

What a quaint custom, closing shops on Wednesday Afternoons, thought that went out with the Ark, 24--7 is the way to go .Just need to get the Doctors, Dentists,Banks Post Office and service garages in line .

 

[Northerner]

I posted what I did simply to point out to the people who are constantly knocking the U.K. that other countries also have their drawbacks. I have to say though that I think that, as far as the French roads go, you're viewing the subject through rose-tinted glasses. I don't live in France but have been visiting for over thirty years and some of the roads are dreadful. And I think that the remark about only idiots using the auto-routes is uncalled for. If you're retired and have all the time in the world, then meander along non-motorway routes by all means, but if you have a limited amount of time for your holiday on the Med you cannot afford to take three days driving through an endless succession of busy villages and towns that are bypassed by roads, each of which seems to have twenty roundabouts to slow you down.

No one can deny that using toll motorways to get to the Med or the northern Spanish border, can save you at least a day each way, and if you only have two weeks' holiday, that's important. If people want to save money, that's fine, but for me, motorhoming is an incredibly cheap way of having holidays and I can afford it, so if I want to get to a far-flung region of France quickly then I don't consider myself idiotic for using toll roads.

What I do find amusing is the people who say that they never use French auto-routes because they don't like them and prefer to amble through parts of France that, and let's be honest here, have very depressing surroundings, but if they were in the U.K and going to the Highlands of Scotland, do they go up the A roads? Do they hell! It's straight up the M6 every time! And why? Could it be because it's free?

And what if you're a businessman, or a haulage contractor? The cost of travelling on French toll motorways must be horrendous. I love France but there are times when I wish that people would accept that, like many other countries, it's not Utopia.