Davies
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Posts posted by Davies
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Woman thrown off flight for offensive T-shirt
I'm of the opinion that 'Freedom' is often used as a convenience for those who wish to push the barriers of normal/decent behaviour a bit further and who moan when the barrier doesn't budge. Bit like 'tolerance' as in (a random example,) "You neighbours with pets should just be more tolerant of my frequent firework displays"
Have to say I'm with Dick Smith on this one.
Another Dave
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Alistair,
You've remembered it well!.
At long last, after much confusion, Kaye manages to retain the rhyme;
Hawkins: I've got it! I've got it. The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle, the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true, right?
Griselda: Right. But there's been a change. They broke the chalice from the palace.
Hawkins: They broke the chalice from the palace?
Griselda: And replaced it with a flagon.
Hawkins: Flagon.
Griselda: With a figure of a dragon....The complete diaglogue for anyone that interested is on;
http://ubb.empireonline.co.uk/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=1225596&Main=1177938
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Thanks for that Harley,
She was in one of the most memorable films scenes ever (in my opinion of course, not to everyones' taste) It was the 'Chalice from the Palace' scene from the film 'The Court Jester' where she played the part of a sorceress/ladies maid. She has spiked the drink of Danny Kaye's opponent before a duel/joust and has to explain to the somewhat befuddled Kaye which container has the poison. I'm sure if I tried to explain it, it would come out flat but if you've seen the film, you will know what I mean.
Another Dave
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I certainly believe that the cardboard tube in the centre of UK loo rolls has increased in diameter over the years. Maybe there's a technical reason for this, the manufacturers wouldn't want to put less sheets in for the same price, would they?
Still, I also think that the biscuit, Waggon Wheels has got smaller (...but on reflection, maybe my mouth has got larger !)
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I would take in this instance it that the Americans left a tip, as is customary in hotels,motels, for the chambermaid. They probably suspect that the owners and room cleaner may well one and the same but as they may not be certain, to omit to tip may be doing someone out of a tip who might rely on it- so they are erring on the side of caution (and generosity) My wife always follows this practice but on a daily basis although some room cleaning staff will not take it until the occupant has finally checked out; to avoid any misunderstanding of theft,I imagine She doesn't view it as tipping the owners. I think that most people in the service industry at most levels welcome tipping as much as an acknowledgment as for the monetary value (although that's important too!)
I imagine that like the majority of people, I just want to do the right thing, but I am concerned that I might under-tip and appear a tightfist or over-tip
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I see that the police have now been given permission to shoot dead SUSPECTED suicide bombers without verbal warning. Reported in the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/attackonlondon/story/0,16132,1536770,00.html?gusrc=rss. There now appears confusion as to whether Mr Menenzes received any verbal warning before he was shot.
Yes, it seems that it came from police sources who claimed that this procedure had been in operation for some weeks.
If I was a cynic, I would say that this press release is to prepare the public for the next statement from the Yard which will be something like "Ah, well, thinking about it, we didn't actually give the challenge that we led you to believe that we did but anyway, as you now know, we didn't have to issue a challenge"
Another Dave
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It is now being reported that the Brazilian shot on friday was working in london on a out of date student visa. This may be the reason he run when being stopped by the police.
You're quite right to post the above but was he stopped by the police?
I am normally pro police but the source of this information re student visa was released (together with the theory) by Scotland Yard this morning and I fear that it is output from the spin factory, damage limitation. Interesting how they are so quick to publish this information yet so reticent on other details of what happened.
I cannot say that no overstayer has ever fled from police but that status is so commonplace and the consequences so mild that it is extremely unlikely. There is often a mass exit from the rear door when police/Home Office raid a sweat shop but that's not the same thing.
The episode was a tragic error, for the sake of the unfortunate Brazilian (who is a much a victim of the terrorist campaign as any of the other victims) let's hope the authorities just own up to their mistakes and not try to impugn his memory. I'm afraid not-so-distant history tells me that at the inquest we may well hear things like "he made a sudden move to put his hand inside his jacket" or some other nonsense.
In casting veiled aspersions about the victim, Scotland Yard are doing no favours to to his memory, his family and friends or to the thousands of coppers who are doing a marvellous job under the most trying of circumstances
Another Dave
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I do feel that the police officer who shot the the young Brazilian acted in good faith. It may even turn out that he wasn't the decision maker. It is important, though, that the incident is thoroughly investigated and if it does turn out that anywhere down the chain there was fatal incompetence or negligence (it happens!) then blame should be apportioned- if only to avoid repetitions. A police officer acting as instructed and trained should have no fear of the due legal process.
The are a number of things I am uneasy about, one being the assumption that the victim was somehow responsible for his death in running from a police challenge. Police on surveillance in Brixton will look more like criminals than most person's vision of a plain clothes detective. Of course we will never know but I am willing to believe that he had no idea that they were police.
I don't feel that Sir Ian Blair is helping the situation. His apology to the bereaved family as televised was a qualified one, it's quite true that it happened as a result of the current terrorist threat; but to the family, it should have been an absolute apology or nothing.
He is also making the point that 'what if it had been a real suicide bomber and the police had failed to act?' Fair point and true, but it's coming over as spin - It's, in my opinion, equally valid to say that 'what if it had been a real suicide bomber who had been challenged in the ticket area (as has been claimed) but the armed police challenge had been ineffectual enough to allow the bomber to get down an escalator and onto a train full of people before being put in a state where he could no longer detonate a bomb?'
Finally, If the armed police in London want people to remain convinced of their maturity (an important quality in their line of work) , let's hope that this time they won't try to influence the process of law that they have sworn to uphold by threatening to stop bearing arms if the shooter is charged with any offence.
Another Dave
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"John Reid clearly said the announcement from the US government was made on FRIDAY when everyone was told to stay away from London if at all possible. Another example of the press on such matters. No matter what is said now, those that choose to believe this story will continue to try and cause a rift"
Couldn't agree more, a non-story whipped up by the media. A military commander's responsibilities are different to those who quite rightly, wanted to get London back to normal.
If (heaven forbid) the bombs had exploded in Cologne or Dusseldorf, the Commander, British Forces Germany would have issued almost exactly the same instruction.
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What an interesting and thought provoking thread!, mention of Great War poets has caused a last line to round and round in my head, "And he did for them all with his plan of attack" Eventually, I put it in the search engine and of course it turned out to be Sassoon's 'The General'
'Good morning; good morning' the General said,
When we met him last week on our way to the line.
Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of 'em dead,
And we're cursing his staff for incompetent swine.
'He's a cheery old card,' grunted Harry to Jack
As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack...
But he did for them both with his plan of attack.
Re; the MM winners details, can't help much there but some of the regimental web-sites are quite helpful, and example of one
is that of the Worcestershire Regt.
http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/welcome
Another Dave
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Don't know about France but they are certainly taking a tough line in Italy, below item is from last week's Daily Telegraph;
£6,600 fine for buying fake Dior specs
By Bruce Johnston in Rome
(Filed: 25/06/2005)On-the-spot fines of 10,000 euros have been imposed on three tourists for buying fake designer goods on the Italian riviera.
The fines, the equivalent of £6,624, were part of a crack-down on illegal street trading in Ventimiglia.
The first of the tourists to be caught, a 60-year-old Dane, Kirsten Lorsen, had bought a pair of bogus Dior sunglasses. Another victim, a 27-year-old Frenchwoman, nearly fainted after being handed the fine by uniformed police for purchasing a fake Louis Vuitton handbag.
A second Frenchwomen was a more serious case, having bought a large quantity of T shirts and sunglasses, possibly to resell across the border at home.
In none of the incidents was the street vendor, believed to be Senegalese in Mrs Lorsen's case, caught by the police.
Don't suppose it would be much of a defence if you claimed you really thought you were buying the genuine article !!
Another Dave
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Hi,
Woolwich Ferry is a good idea but what about the Blackwall Tunnel? It has very good access from M11, A12 & A13 and once on the south side the A2 or A20 give good access to M25.
I can empathise with your little phobia, while high bridges don't trouble me, driving along roads with a sheer drop down one side and little/no parapet, I am not happy. It's not as if I'm suddenly going to pull to the right, after all, I never do that on ordinary roads but get me on a high road and I'm glued to the centre line.
Have a good journey !
Another Dave
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I post the attached link without any joy; please make up your own minds on this;
http://www.hoaxkiller.fr/hoax/2003/leucemie_noelie.htm
It it sadly, turns out to be a hoax, please bear in mind that the more genuine/kind of heart the person is, the more they are likely to accept this type of thing at face-value.
Another Dave
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Tattoed Cat
in Pets
Wonderful result Tresco, made my day; I couldn't invent a more all round happier ending than that!
Best wishes, Another Dave
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Hi,
I have watched more Move/Life/Renovate/France/Anywhere programmes than I am at ease confessing to.
However, very rarely, if ever at all, have I ever heard reference to Septic Tanks/fosse septique. 'Why is this?' I wonder, they seem quite happy to mention laying on water and electricity. Could it be pure accidental omission or maybe other reasons? I doubt if it could be Channel 4's reluctance to cross the sensitivity barrier, I'd be surprised if C4 recognises any such barriers.
Are there vested interests who maybe feel that it's better for prospective buyers who haven't done their homework to be further down the purchase route before the subject is mentioned?
Am I reading more into this than is there?
Another Dave
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If people can not speak french what on earth are they doing living in france????
Hi Outcast,
If only you had chosen to say that it's a reasonable expectation that people ought to learn the language of their adopted country, your contribution would have been quite valid. But that's not your style.
You obviously arrived here speaking fluent French then, I suspect that wasn't the case with most of us. However, I do have an additional motivation to learn, I have, in fact, achieved competency in two other languages, one European and one Oriental, no big deal in itself, lots of people have, but the point I'm making by saying that is that those of you who have second or third languages will recognise the extra frustration when you go from a foreign country where you can communicate well in the language of the country, to going to another country where you can't. Believe me, that's a great incentive to learn!
It also means that I have less hangups about trying out my new language having gone down a similar route in the past but I find it's easier to indulge that in a quiet boulangerie than say, at a busy car hire desk with a queue behind and perhaps I should have made that clear in my original posting.
I do appreciate the responses on this, especially those who twigged on to the politeness (public relations, even !) aspect of my query.
Thanks
Another Dave
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Hi,
As a beginner in French but had a bit of experience in communicating with speakers of other languages, I would be happier to find a way of making that initial contact in a more suitable (to me, anyway) manner. I am hesitant to launch straight into English (except where it would be expected-for example an Easyjet check-in at a French airport). At the same time, there are occasions where I fear that lauching straight into "Do you speak English?"/"Palez-vous anglais?" is, although perfectly reasonable, might be a little condescending. Might provoke the unspoken response like 'Does this rostbif really think I would be working in this hotel/international firm/whatever, if I could only speak French?'
So my question is, does anyone have a French phrase, equivalent to, say, "May/Can we speak in English?", or "Shall we speak in English?" that sort of signifies that (a), I'm willing to try a bit of French but can't proceed any further at this stage of the game, and (b) acknowledge that the person I'm speaking to, quite likely, but not certainly, speaks English.
I could, of course, do a straight dictionary translation but I'd like to make sure what what I would be saying is acceptable grammatically and also a reasonable thing to say. Would it be Over The Top, for example?
I realise that (a) I'm being over-sensitive and (b) I might have posted this in the language section but think here is more appropriate.
Many thanks,
Another Dave
Moved to the post bag (Where the poster thought they were putting it!) -
Not quite sure what you mean, Dave, but if it's any help we have a number of web-based ads, mostly free, but with two paid ones. The only enquiries we get are from Visit France - and they have dried up since February.
Sorry,
Didn't make myself clear- I was thinking that if you were getting guests referred from tourist info offices or other b&b owners in the vicinity.
Best wishes,
Dave
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I guess that there are many things to consider but one thing might be how you get your referrals.
Human nature being what it is, people try first where they are likely go get the most success, if you have a referrer that is constantly finding that you permanently have no vacancies, they may not continue trying at the time when you would wish them to.
Just a thought,
Dave
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Maybe you should be grateful that they want to be friendly.
If nobody had been kind to you then you would have probably moaned that the French are stand-offish and aloof.
If you want to live in an environment where everyone knows that is it impolite to stay after 6pm then why not stay in Surrey or another county in the SE of England. At least there you can be sure that nobody will bother you, after all they are all too busy parking their 4X4s. If you choose to live in France then you have to accept that the locals are hospitable - if you don't like it then don't come and live here - we'll all better off without you.
Well, you have certainly convinced me that you haven't quite taken on board the point that Julie was making.
Dave
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Hi,
May I be allowed to pick up on something here?
The original poster (sorry don't have a name!) mentioned something that perhaps is not well known and might deserve a wider audience. It's fostering animals from shelters. I'm a newcomer to this concept but it's something that we have recently considered as I believe it performs a useful function and at the same time allows people whose life-style is not suited to owning pets long term (for example, potential future job postings) to look after one.
As I understand it, and I'm sure there are more involved and knowledgeable folk out there- there is often a requirement for shelters to foster dogs/cats out to carers, sometimes to make way for more animals, sometimes to enable a (soon to be doctored!) cat or dog to give birth in non-kennel surroundings. The shelter continues to seek to re-home the animal in the normal way.
I'm sure the rewards of doing it are self-evident but I guess the down-side is saying goodbye when the pet is found a permanent home!
Dave
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[quote]Customer Service is a two way street - even the powerful M O'Leary cannot demand that his staff get personality transplants and become rude or deliberately unhelpful. I find that if you treat the age...[/quote]
I agree and no, I don't think it was suggesting that every customer is in the wrong.
While I am sure that sometimes cusomers will have well founded complaints and I sympathise with them, unless you have worked in a service related industry, it's probably hard to appreciate that there are a host of people out there who, cannot accept the rules, try to get one over on the service provider or take great delight in trying to humiliate someone who, by and large, is not in a position to retaliate. People who have the power to retaliate often do so it's hardly surprising when agents who have discrestion chose not to extend it to customers who have been insulting to them and by the same token, often go out of their way to assist the reasonable customers.
The above of course is a generalisation.
I wonder though whether many of those who often have battles at the check-in also have frequent confrontations with traffic wardens?
Dave
Phasing out Plastic Bags
in The Complete France Post Bag
Posted
Is it frowned upon to go into, say, Atac with a Carrefour bag for life? I have a picture in my mind of racks of bags for life from various supermarkets in the boot and a customer choosing the "correct" one for that day's shopping!
I can agree with that question! We use a variety of supermarkets in UK and so have a varied collection of 'bags for life' and cold bags and although we don't bother which ones we use, I often wonder when we are at the checkout at, say, ADSA, if there is the unvoiced question as to whether we are using some other supermarket's bags to pretend to the neighbours that we have shopped somewhere else
I understand that all UK supermarkets would like to do away with the free bags but fear the slight turndown in sales if the other stores didn't follow suit. I think it was Sainsburys who put the idea forward, I can remember a spokeman saying that they weren't in business to provide the nation with pedal-bin liners. They started giving a penny for each bag self-provided by the shopper but that seems to have stopped now.