lindal1000
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Posts posted by lindal1000
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There must be a way round it. Dutch people don't have birth certificates so it must be possible to provide some sort of alternative proof.
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OH and I went shopping in T K Max in Croydon a couple of years ago and neither of us could understand a word the till assistant was saying apart from the fact that it ended with 'innit'. She was English.The important thing is that you can do the things you need and want to do in the language required. I have to mark students work that is written in French and my French is woefully inadequate for doing that with any degree of confidence. I can now follow lunchtime conversations but as I often don't know the context of the discussions I can't always join in. Even now, when my day to day French is okay, I am still floored by a throwaway comment in a supermarket. So my French is still a work in progress and I am not satisfied with it. Many people would get by with much less, and it's at the required level for citizenship.
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My French students understand the rules of English grammar far better than me, and I would guess my understanding of French grammar is better than many French people.
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I am going to classes at B1-2 level. Some days I am at the B2 level and some days I barely make B1, depending on how tired I am, the context of the conversation, etc. B1 is what you need for citizenship. I have a rubbish accent. They tell me I sound like Petula Clark.
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The difficulty for TM is what happens if she wins but with less of a majority than she has now? She called the election because she said she needed a strong mandate during the brexit negotiations. If she doesn't get that mandate then her position is untenable isn't it? The worst of all outcomes really. The opposition cannot form a government but neither can she.
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Many years ago a colleague of mine was in her flat in Lewisham when there was an incident outside her window that resulted in a policeman being stabbed. She then saw the police catch the guy who did it and set about him with their boots and six foot planks. She was interviewed by the police (who strangely forgot to write down details of what she saw..and she was never called to give evidence) and then left alone. A few hours later she started to get calls, and visits from the SCUM, Daily depressed etc. all offering her money to give them an interview. She's a shrewd Northern Irish woman well used to the ways of the press and she told them where to go in no uncertain terms but it gives you an idea of what they're like.
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He was doing a good show in Saudi and Israel. It's easy for him..lots of attention and ceremony and a carefully written speech to read out. All well rehearsed and pre planned by whoever it is that has his ear on foreign policy, which fortunately doesn't seem to be same lot that he listens to in Washington. In the meantime troubles at home continue for him. It won't make the slightest difference in combating extremism in the USA or Europe. I might have spoken of this before, but our friends son was radicalised in Canada, unbeknown to her..They are not Muslim but he was targeted via the internet. He ended up going to Syria where he was killed, but he could have equally been one who was encouraged to strap explosives to his body and stand in a public place. His family were and are normal, ordinary people and he had a pretty normal upbringing. Until we understand how that kind of indoctrination can happen and how it can be prevented then no one can be safe from the possibility. And it isn't a black and white solution. Anyone vulnerable can be targeted for any dubious religion, cult or belief, made to believe that their own lives are worthless, that the lives of others are a necessary sacrifice and given the link to an internet page that tells them how to pack themselves with enough deadly material to take out dozens of people. When people talk about punishing families for the acts of their offspring I think about my friend and her parents (who you have met) and who have spent two years struggling to understand and come to terms with what has happened, and I think how could you punish them anymore and what on earth would that achieve.
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Except it wasn't ISIS or DAESH that strapped a load of explosives to themselves and blew themselves up next to a load of kids. Dropping bombs on Saudi Arabia or Syria or Iran or any other country that happens to be taking the blame won't stop it. The only aim of terrorist attacks is to create fear, violence, anger and unrest. The victims mean nothing to those who are aiming for that. Donald Trump won't find the answers playing with ceremonial swords in Saudi.
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I've actually come round to thinking Corbyn isn't as bad as everyone makes out. His policies are consistent, he does not engage in personal attacks, he answers questions, he can debate, he has some diplomatic skills..certainly more strong and stable than the mayhem. Kier Starmer would be negotiating with the EU if he was prime minister and he is a barrister and QC. TM will be eaten for breakfast by Barnier. If she can't even cope with Andrew Neil who is one of her supporters how will she deal with the negotiations?
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I read an interesting account of it. The issue is not that the USA is selling arms in the middle east as they've been doing it all along, but rather that they've chosen to be open in their support of Saudi, which in Muslim terms represents a small and pretty extreme sect of Islam. The only reason Saudi Arabia gets as much influence as it does is that it is very rich and has a lot of oil. It still oppresses opposition, practices public executions, torture and represses women in a far worse way than Syria and other Islamic states do, but as it is rich it gets away with it.Trump is however doing just what every president before Obama did. They never made any difference to the middle east and he won't either.
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Yes but most of them were insightful enough to realise they couldn't be president of the USA. Even his own side are turning on him now. I always said he'd be gone in a year. I wonder how close I'll be?
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Darcy Bussell, although I think she is in the Gironde. I had heard rumours of Brian May and Boris Johnson!
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Australia now take part. The truth is no one really wants to win because they have to foot the bill for the whole shebang the following year. It's just a bit of fun for those who enjoy it. The French song was half in English and half in French, meaning she will now get more airplay on French radio.The Portuguese song was one of the few that didn't have an over produced stage set with lots of lighting and was just a very simple and traditional song. The UK song was said to be about the EU. http://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/tvfilm/eurovision-2017-viewers-mock-lucie-jones-ironic-song-never-give-up-on-you-after-brexit-a3538541.htmlWe watched the whole lot with friends and plenty of booze.
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Lovely winning song from Portugal, sung in Portuguese
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On the few times we've been through A&E with minor injuries, however they've been caused, I've always said they were accidents in my home.. then there's no long discussion about who might be liable to pay the bills, which have never been more than a few Euros. (OH knocked his head on the concrete beam under our house while he was working and cut it.. A&E asked what he was doing..we said looking for the cat!) I contribute to my healthcare and that paid for it..it doesn't make my own insurance costs any more or any less. The only time I would say different would be if someone physically attacked me. Why make life more complicated than it needs to be.Unless the dog bite was so severe it needed stitches then the cost is usually limited to a course of antibiotics and some antiseptic so I'd probably do what Mint did and just forget about it.
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I'm the product of a grammar school but it was a system that doesn't suit the modern world, and labels children at 11 into successes and failures. It also used to mean that those who went to grammar school benefitted even further by haven't the best teachers, resources, facilities, and encouragement and those further down the ladder find it even harder to get on. No other country in the world has a state funded two tier education system at 11, as far as I know.If the Liberal Democrats were democratically elected on a manifesto that offers a second vote, then of course that policy would stand as people have voted for it democratically? Why wouldn't it? (Yes I know that is an unlikely scenario..but should it happen it would be the democratic wish of the people). Chancer I'm not disagreeing that the most likely outcome of the election is more of Theresa May, just pointing out that other outcomes are possible and they would change the course of brexit. Brexit however is not the only issue on the table. I know many people who voted leave who will be voting Labour and many people who voted remain who will be voting tactically. In the end Theresa May will probably still win, but then again, who would have given Macron a chance a year ago?
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Well we'll know if she is one of those when we finally get to see what is in the manifesto.. My bet is it will say I want a strong and stable brexit that gives the UK the best possible deal, and not much else..that way she can do whatever she wants and say it was in her manifesto.She can also use a large majority, won on the back of people buoyed up by brexit, to promise all sorts of other nasty things such as bringing back fox hunting, grammar schools, increasing the retirement age, reducing funding to the NHS and lowering taxes for the rich.All three parties are saying they will commit to brexit..The Lib dems are promising a referendum on the final deal, Labour are looking for a softer brexit.. It's the other things that are more of a worry.
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I can't tell with TM what her personal values and beliefs are..the things she claim change with the wind. That to me does not make a good politician or leader. I compare that to Macron, who, whether you like him or not seems to have a clear set of principles that guide him. JC has lots of principles but sadly no leadership qualities.Politicians are elected based on their manifestos. TM is not obliged to put anything about the EU in the Conservative manifesto. The manifesto could say 'we will not leave the EU if it looks like it will detrimental to the British economy or will lead to a fragmentation of the Union'. Unlikely I know, but she can choose to put nothing in and then she, as the elected politician has no obligation to do anything. Elections override the results of a non legally binding referendum .
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She was a failed home secretary before she became prime minister. Out of those that could have taken on the job she was least bad but that doesn't mean she is good. The tragedy for the UK is that no one else with any degree of competence has stepped forward. Looks like they will be stuck with May.
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I wish that was the case ALBF. Sadly even that won't stop her, although even some of her die hards are not happy. If the UK had a Macron type figure who could galvanize the opposition they would walk it..sadly no one springs to mind. Macron himself doesn't care as he already has a plan to mop up the spills from brexit to France's advantage. Good for France, not so good for UK, but it was what people voted for.
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France is in with a good chance this year. Quite a nice song and everyone loves France at the moment. Worth a bet I think. The British song this year is quite good but she will probably get zero. Italy is the favourite
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Out of those on offer, he's the only one that has the potential to change thing. Fillon was too right wing to get any support from the unions, Melanchon too left to introduce the reforms France needs... He is also very driven and dynamic with a vision for the future and he is young enough to have some energy to see it through.. I mean, who else could it have been?
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Belgian media seem to know already!
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I didn't think he'd named anyone yet? People have different views on whether you need someone with good leadership skills in charge. Personally I think you do, but theta aren't the only qualities you need.Yes, the French in the UK voted overwhelmingly for Macron in round one, so there's no reason to think they would change now. I also really hope be can pull off half of what he is promising. I think he's the best hope.
Those damned "real" French and their superior culinary tastes.
in French Food and Wine
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