Miki

[quote user="Cat"][quote user="cooperlola"] I've been trying to quote you Whizz but the software hates me again! [/quote] It's because he's got commas and an ampersand in his name now cooperlola. Any chance you could change it to something else Whizz?  The software gets all confused when someone tries to quote you.  [/quote] Wilco Cat..................... Quotes away Cooperlola [:)]

[quote user="Russethouse"]>>not people like us.<< But isn't that the point ? The forum is not full of people 'like you' its a diverse group - people with all sorts of attitudes and circumstances are forum members and people with all sorts of circumstances and attitudes move to France, that is clear from this thread. There does seem to be a group who move from urban GB, where they perceive their life as being stressed or dreadful or they are just tired of it, to rural France where naturally enough they experience an entirely different way of life which they prefer, all that is fine but among those people are a few that persist in telling everyone just how wonderful France is, without any knowledge (or sometimes interest) in anything other than their own patch.(and sometimes not even that) Thats a bit like me saying England's wonderful when I live in Piddlehinton (for example, I don't live there) and don't read the papers or watch the news.  [/quote] Gay, This part of the post in italics, really does some it all up quite well but just to be slightly pedantic perhaps, there have been more than just a few, which I suspect you will agree with.  When a person  posts in that manner, some of us do reply to try and ensure that it is kept im proportion to France in general and it not anything like there little slice of France as I think some people do believe from what they read  & see, programmes like No going back, Place in the Sun etc are the reality and not the reverse.

[quote user="Dave"]You chose NOT to waste your beer on the keyboard the but instead drank it, you accuse people of not reading your posts but it is you who doesn't read nor do you understand it seems! I feel that you have correctly labelled yourself with your new User I.D. All of those things in my opinion describe your mentality perfectly. My wife and I have integrate fully into life here in France and NO we do not have pots of money, my wife works for a local assosciation as a homehelp (on the SMIC by the way) and yes that does make us both fully aware of the needs of poorer neighbours in the area so to have TU pointing the finger (yes you have mentioned me by name) and to accuse us of not understanding or caring about where we live and the people that we live with in our community is something I do not understand but I am sure that I will be having it made very clear to me pretty soon. It is my guess that one or other of the righteous will be hitting the 'report' button and this post will be deleted. I and other just responded in the beginning to the question and once we had given our views had those views torn apart by other posters, why? best regards Dave [/quote] Nice post Dave, two rather silly attacks on me about drinking and the ID, tut tut, not a lot of use in this debate but if it makes you feel better, well go on, help yerself to abusing. And all because you did not see what I saying in my post. You and the Missus can integrate, you can become the Maire for all I care, you can run the health service, you can be rich, be poor or get by, none of that bothers me. I thought I made my views pretty clear but sadly as I have said, some choose to read something that was not there, in to it...............tant pis !

[quote] I know you keep threatening to leave this forum Mr Wanger-Tozzer, I, for one, would really miss your funny mis-guided ways if you left.[/quote] Nicely sidestepped Bogbear, talking cobblers will always confuse a debate, so bravo, it appears to come quite naturally to you............ And now maybe you could show us where I keep threatening to leave the forum. You very much appear to have an extremely natural way of posting garbage of this nature.. I have asked answers from you before but you have perfected the knack of slithering away from them, by this same typical response. My post was quite easily read. Mmm bit silly trying to explain really, if a very simple post can't be understood................ [quote]I'm not sure how length of time in anything is automatically a measure of experience, it's more down to being able to actually take in and understand those experiences. Remember the definition of an 'expert'.  "X' being the unknown factor, and 'Spurt' , simply a drip under pressure." [/quote] Yep, that's the same drivel that' been carted out before. I had thought you might think of something original but I didn't hold out much hope, so I wasn't disappointed. Some of us certainly have learned from experience, that seems to bother you, don't tell me the old green eyes are back. I offer no advice unless I know the answer for sure, generally through experience of a long time of knowing  and living in France. And yes, I get totally peed off with members who simply answer folks questions, with something they have heard from the proverbial man in the pub or read completely wrong somewhere.

[quote]Well that's all very interesting but doesn't really answer my question. To suggest, as both you and Miki have, that 'we' somehow don't understand or care about the problems in some parts of france is both presumptious and slightly insulting.[/quote] And now another one and this time stating "we"....that being who exactly ?  This forum is slowly drifting back in time to the period when a few of the relative newbies on the Forum, got a little silly at anything others with even just slightly more experience posted. Some of us do try to say it like it really is, not how other people have told them it is like.  Please point out where I have told you that you don't care. For instance, I was rather pleased when S.D arrived and I suspect Will and maybe others were, he gave good advice on motoring etc, he was helped a bit in the early months, accepted corrections and now pretty rare he makes any errors. Same for several others in their sections. I have always respected their efforts but there have always been people arrive here who simply will not see, that this country is absolutely full of problems from top to toe. Some folks want to decry that fact by saying they have no such problems etc etc and none exist as they just know they don't......I listen to the satellite folks, the pet folks, the plumbers and any other threads that I am not au fait with...If people want to say I haven't got a clue, then say it, don't make silly things up that I haven't even insinuated. I spoke of people that have admitted they did not want to read National or local papers, see National TV or regional and a load of other things that might help them get to know their region or even more of France than they, by their own admission actually wanted to. Now I shall say it again. I said it was their choice, read it, it is there. I really did think that once afew came after me to agree and obvioously get what I was talking about, it might show that peopoe can do waht thgye like as long as those that didn't bother to learn a little here, did not come on and tell others all about France in general.......No Such bleedin' luck! One thing that really gets me absolutely cheesed off, is people who will not read posts, it has happened in the past and it will continue. I haven't got time to keep going over and over something which other members got the point of my post immediately. It appears that a few simply are just not going to see it.....in which case, c'est la vie...................Every word and every post now has a very strong ring of déjà vu about them and it not so long ago, I was only saying to someone on here, just how realistic many people had become, sadly I now think I spoke a tad too soon............

[quote user="Russethouse"]I've forgotten the actual words the initials stand for but I believe its subsidised housing.[/quote] Here you are Gay. Habitation à loyer modéré

To say I really do not fancy going though all this again with some one who is either deliberately taking it the wrong way or I am sorry, it really has gone miles over their head is a huge understatement. Some of us have been through all this before with others, more than once and most have long gone I believe. So very sorry but I am not going around in circles all over again,. If you didn't understand what I had hoped might be pretty simple to comprehend, then I am only going to waste more time and those who keep harping on about the point Dave makes, I am also sorry for them also missing the point. I thought I made it clear but alas no......................................your last post shows quite effectively that you did not understand my post but there you go. Oh and yes, I have lived near Marseille and worked out of Tower Hamlets, sadly no Wentworth on my portfolio of ex addresses though.

[quote user="cooperlola"]No, no Whizz, do drink it... such a waste of a good beer otherwise.[/quote] It's going down alright but..................[:)] anyway it's only a French beer [;-)]

Dave, Take this in the way it is intended.I am sorry but my post seems to have gone over your head. You are taking it personal when if you read it properly, you will see that I have put "................Sure some have said that they really don't care to know and again, that's fair enough..." and you will also note that I have said : "......OK, I have gone on a bit, all I am trying to say is, if you come from Tower Hamlets and move to Sarlat or Marseilles to Wentworth, you are in for a fairly good  life....for a while. And for some reason you are now quoting this "......I now choose to stick my head up my J**ksy and pretend that I have found my Utopia" You are defending something that was not being attacked, what my point was all what you do is OK with me, just don't become one of the people who by desiring to know zilch, still want to give opinions about France and it's ways by not wanting to know much at all and just get by. You live how you like, no problems to me, please just try and see, that you can say all what you have just posted, over and over again, no worries but do remember, what happened to you, is happening in all the major cities in France. Now you will have to believe me on that of course but it is and once again, I have to ask why you posted all that, after I was just making a point for those that don't want to learn French or try and find out what it's all about should therefore say nowt. If you don't understand waht I was trying to get across, like the others have, then I am going to seek a large beer and pour it all over the keyboard.That should do the trick !

I agree somewhat with your posts Beryl but with strong family numbers, including 3 Sons, in several places around the UK, one in politics, I do get constant updates, I read an awful lot (being my Mother tongue, I think you will agree, that gives me a massive benefit to a Brit coming here and who does not read or talk French) and get updates about this and that on a regular basis. Like Gay mentioned about her family, we too chat long and hard over many things, either the two of us or with friends it just seems natural to chat and laugh about this and that and naturally politics and local issues are brought up. People come here and rather bizarelly, many will give an instant opinion as to how it all is in France. I will be blunt here, I have never known so many coming in , with barely much more than a few words and as for a sentence.....Now to be honest, that is not my point, they are entitled to say as much, or as little as they want but can someone explain therefore, how anyone will know much at all about their new country, if they neither speak, read or watch a bit of TV, well at least the local news etc. Sure some have said that they really don't care to know and again, that's fair enough but can those folks please remember all that, when they offer an opinion about the French and things French. Many will get their opinions from a neighbour,  from an apero now and again (if lucky enough to get an invite) a few bonjours and all of a sudden, we are given a general post that all is great here (note the word ALL) Sure it is different but it is the way we are told no violence, no graffiti, no scroungers, only the Brits work on the black and all the other 101 myths. I wonder how those folks feel when it all comes home to roost ? Anyone know or willing to put their hands up ? Believe me, I won't name any names as it is all water long gone under the bridge but I know some members who utterely believed that they knew all they needed to know about this and in the end, found much of it was wrong. Much of the knowledge in the end was through PM's (still is, believe it or not I still get a few emails from folks !) Now to be totally fair, I have admitted on LF to also making costly errors over the early years. Well how else could we have found out the way forward, (oh we paid heavily to the few consultants, none no longer about, well one is, just hope they know more now, than then !) no Forums or internet to offer a large helping hand. This is becoming yet another spell and soon I guess some will get called haters of France, as if France is Utopia and all the terrible sights I see nightly on TV of the folks living under an Autoroute Bridge and even worse, are nothing but propaganda. I will say it as it is, as others will do. I will speak with some experience of what I have seen, witnesses and experienced. A lot sickens me here but do I have to leave ? I have a Daughter who has gone right through her schooling here and still needs our supprt in her Bac +2 year, we have our 3rd Son who likes to be in France, when in the UK and vice versa. I also have a good business I have made friends from Provence to Pas de Calais. I get on or as I should say, I get by but what I won't do is slag off the UK to make me feel more at home here. I live here, it is a country, no more, no less. Today I gave a can of dog food and jar of baby food to people outside an affluent supermarket, OK sure, no big deal, many will no doubt give more but it is meant to show another replication of life in the UK. I walked around one of loveliest towns in Brittany and got soaked and wondered at a 13th century school, where some little tyke had put graffiti on the back gate by the cloisters. I read the local rag and 2 people had been found killed/murdered over Xmas and I am only on page 4............. OK, I have gone on a bit, all I am trying to say is, if you come from Tower Hamlets and move to Sarlat or Marseilles to Wentworth, you are in for a fairly good  life....for a while. Please remember, you will be going home or moving on, the statistics point to it almost being inevitable, like it or not and you can scream all you like but that is a cold fact. I lost count some years ago of how many folks we have known, who have long gone back and in March a close friend goes home with her 2 teenage kids.....sadly one of so many reasons, a divorce. et voila...................

LG2 [quote] Ambidextrous winking – think this is the condition I come down with when I get my various impots demands. Is it curable? [/quote] I had to have accupuncture for it in the end from me mate Miki Chan, as the girls complained it never did me justice, as against the boys who winked and whistled at the same time, annoyingly something I couldn't do. Well I could still wink, one eye at a time but my whistle let me down just at the critical moment, by the time my bird like shrill came out, the girl had long gone and dear old Ethel from number 4 took it as a compliment to her [:(] All went well until I arrived in France and got my first lot of cotisations and then this gurgly groan came on the scene  "'How bluddy much" followed once again by the same blinking that you get from your demands. I have stuck pins in me eyes, me nose and me neck, as well as places it should hurt enough to stop me but still the bills keep coming and the blinks are never much further away than the opening of the letters..........................Oh my, what a to do !!  

[quote] Have I been unlucky or is the culinary standing of France greatly over rated? [/quote] No, no, no to unlucky and yes,yes and yes again to greatly over rated [:)]

Happy Xmas wrapping paper on 26th December........it counts. I got a lovely Diary from one of my soppy Sisters this Xmas...........It's a  2006 one, well it was useful for 3 days anyway. I'm worried now about next years glorious gift, she told me she has already bought it and it's to do with France. What a gal eh, I just know it's gonna be a Rugby World Cup chart for France 2007.

Must be magic...how did he know I winked a lot as a young man ? I could wink with both eyes and when on form, both eyes at the same time but then some spotty girl said that was blinking and not winking.......but I still reckon it was ambidextrous winking. Not sure what to do tomorrow night really, go out with the wangers or go out with the tozzers, decisions, decisions eh.....

[quote user="RumziGal"]Dear Tozzer, You remind me of someone I haven't met.   But you do make me laff. And that cute little kittie with the bad eye, it rings a bell too. [/quote] Dearest Rumzi, You reminds me of someone who do's make me larf too but, it might pay too be wary of the kittie, as I am sure as eggs is oeufs that it had a beard once, couldn't swear it though. I will be sporting an Osborne 103 label on my person when and if, we meet, what will you wear RumziGal ?

There are a couple of them on here Peter, being a gentleman, their secret is safe with me....for the moment [;-)]

I think I had crabs in France once, does that count ?

Do you mind Fluffy but he called me that and I don't wish to share it with just anyone, don't you know.

Hi ho, hi ho, It's off to Saint Malo Fair we go : Cassis cassis  lend me your grey mare, All along, down along, out along lee, For I want for to go to Saint Malo Fair, Wi' Bill the Conk, Betty Doo Dah, Old fluffy kitten, Twinky Davy, Katey Whiddon, Harry Tresco, LG2,Verviale and all, old Auntie Rumzigal and al......... And when shall I see again my deleted posts? All along, down along, out along lee, By Friday soon, or Saturday noon, Wi' Bill the Conk, Betty Doo Dah, Old fluffy kitten), Twinky Davy, Katey Whiddon, Harry Tresco, LG2, Verviale and all, old Auntie Rumzigal and al........... And all the long night be heard skirling and groans, All along, down along, out along lee, From Tozzers posts and those ghastly moans And Bill the Conk, Betty Doo Dah, Old fluffy kitten), Twinky Davy, Katey Whiddon, Harry Tresco, LG2, Verviale and all, old Auntie Rumzigal and al............(and all the uvvers who couldn't get in but I will use them in my next blockbuster  movie, out soon)

[quote user="Forum Admin"]"Is it panto season, still?" You would have thought so. I'm sure there is a topic in here somewhere....look behind you.[:)] [/quote] Oh yes there was but the ugly Sisters went back to the UK and lived happily ever after in Richmond which is twinned with Fontainebleau and had a nice baguette and  croissants for p.d.j. every day. Three cheers for the Prince I say. Oh and they say, they won't be back as they do's like Britain after all. (There on subject and no rule breaking in site)

Don't laugh. Tina has had Bonds for over 50 years and won exactly,..........................  nothing. We bought some more at Xmas cos Alan Sugar said so and she won £50, I say she, as she spent the money on herself.................boo hoo. Don't forget in racing parlance Gay, when looking for winners, the pin never lies.................

Call yerself what you want but you will always be Dickie to us regulars! I know what you mean about expensive sawdust, my last school piece that was graded was E- and never was good enough to put the teapot on either...... My career was obviously on another plane..............

Well Dick, that being the case, it kinda stinks a little. But I'm sure they will want to clear their name (and the air) but naturally it will take longer than it does for a deletion.

Ah but did you see the report on BBC tonight. They had a Tory minister on who gave his warbled report on the reasons and then had a slanging match with his counterpart, in which the lady journalist "chairing" the discussion had no command with and so eventually we were shown a report from those that have made the "jump" from the UK. They spoke to a few people and one lovely quote is still giving me a grin. When asked why he felt he was any different to the immigants that were the reason he left the UK, he said it was because he was one of the good immigrants who never took anything and only gave to his new country....sad that sometimes life is just so hard to actually come to grips with and that reality is just that little but too far out of reach..... I bet he is sitting there now with G & T looking over his Kingdom, wondering what happened to the Empire and Turf ciggies.

[quote] Has this forum software gone mad [/quote] Is that forum speak for moderators cooperlola ?