Catalpa

A London-based friend is shortly to travel to Brittany via Portsmouth / Caen-Ouistreham. They don't own a car so will be hiring one. Initial investigation has raised the reluctance of UK car hire companies to hire on the basis of the car crossing to and being driven in France. Does anyone know of a (reputable!) car hire company that doesn't twitch nervously at the suggestion their car is going out of the country? Or alternatively, is hiring a French car at Ouistreham a better bet? Anyone done either? Does anyone have any advice?

Jay! I didn't know that. Thank you. [:D]

[quote user="Christine Animal"] And do you think many of them are? [/quote] I'm confident that none of them are grabbing a passing room service maid and thrusting her face into their naked crotch. [quote user="Christine Animal"] I should maybe have used convicted rapist or proved rapist, or something.  Someone who really is a rapist.[/quote] Convicted or proven rapist, I think. I grasped what you meant. And I have sympathy with you there - I wouldn't want my French analysed and judged like that.

I loved the books. I understand that some people have found some of the scenes difficult but overall I felt the story was about empowerment rather than straight abuse. I think it's rare that trilogies can sustain the interest right to the last page of the last book. Larsson certainly accomplished that for me. I read somewhere that he actually planned a series of 10 books and that Lisbeth's sister would appear later in the series. His death interruped his plans.

Hey Betty... [:D]... how's life at the castle? [6] -------------- There's a fuller version of the email on the Sky News site. It appears Heidi has diabetes which might explain (although there are no facts on which to base this conjecture) her stating some specific dietary requirements, having some issues with how much she was given (or perhaps when they were given it) etc. However, the Step-Ma-In-Law-From-Hell's attitude to Heidi's diabetes is pretty gobsmacking too. I think SMiLFH's behaviour has obviously been assiduously learned from watching copious repeats of the Hyacinth Bucket series. The full text is on the link below. My sympathies lie with poor Bomber the dog. He never asked for this sort of invasion of his privacy, making his trauma a subject of public speculation. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Mother-In-Law-Email-Carolyn-Bournes-Stern-Etiquette-Message-To-Heidi-Withers-Goes-Viral/Article/201106416021513?f=rss If that is really the full text, the woman sounds positively bonkers and certainly vindictive. Or perhaps she is just unable to contain her resentment that a younger, more dynamic and perhaps more popular female is joining the family and the attention is switching from her and her carnations. Poor Freddie's dad!

[quote user="idun"] Thanks catalpa, that has surprised me, never thought of that. Never associated getting the crops in with fires starting. [/quote] It's not just fagends - though I can see that happening - but combine harvesters have a nasty habit of self-combusting. Hot engines, lots of dust, blocked air ducts, and bits of dried straw etc... it only takes a bit of metal over-heating and igniting the dry waste and up it goes. Or on flinty, stony ground, metal hitting rock can strike a spark which lands on tinder dry straw and again...

Possibility of fire... http://tinyurl.com/vendee-moisson

[quote user="idun"]There are many reasons why people do not automatically speak out and it isn't always simple cowardice. Sometimes it is because they will cause hurt 'now' to those that they love or their friends, or career etc etc and they cannot harm those they care about or their jobs. [/quote] Yes, exactly. Or even more simply it can be because they have put incidents behind them... though no doubt not forgotten them... and often because coming forward with details of an incident that portrays them as a "victim" isn't how they want others to perceive them or how they want to perceive themselves.

There are "terrible men" in any country, culture, social level... of course there are. But that's not the point. I think what this debate is about is the acknowledged "right" of anyone - male or female - to protect themselves from those in a position of power or control over them without risking their wellbeing (personal, career, social standing etc) because their society doesn't treat them equally.

[quote user="Quillan"]Whist I am not so surprised at the DM article I was a bit with the Torygraph one. [/quote] So was I. I expected the political bias (and can therefore understand the focus on the 350,000€ (or was it £?) property because it would be perceived that the average (!) reader would identify more with an expensive property than the more rustic, 100,000€'s worth that is probably more common. But to get the facts wrong - or to deliberately spin them for maximum windup purposes - is disappointing. But whenever I see a story covered about which I have some knowledge, I'm usually startled by how wrong the media gets it. And increasingly, I think it is deliberate - they don't let the facts get in the way of inciting outrage. [:P]

[quote user="Frenchie"] Now, enjoy yourselves , almost all of you, spend your precious time spitting on us, because what you're doing is , beyond a lynching of DSK,  a denial of our values and mentalities, you don't want to open your minds to try and understand. NO, I didn't say agree. I said, try to understand.[/quote] I - and probably most of us who're discussing this case, here and elsewhere - are not "spitting" on anyone. The fact this guy is French is of particular interest, of course, because we all have an interest in France. But the discussion, the analysis, the speculation would be similar whether the man involved was British, German, Spanish, Peruvian... Yes, Jon Stewart used specific shorthand and stereotyping about France... but he would have used the relevant shorthand and stereotyping about any other nationality too. I think there is a humour cultural divide - if this man was British, we'd be doing exactly the same and Jon Stewart would be trotting out every last cliché about Brits... and we'd be laughing at ourselves. But I do have to say is that if opening my mind means I must try and understand how dirty old men pushing themselves on much younger women is something to be tolerated and even lauded (nudge nudge, wink wink) that slam you just heard was my mind closing.

[quote user="cooperlola"]Whatever, as R/H says, there does appear to be more and more information coming out about his general lack of respect for women so would you really want him to have any say in the rape laws if it were you who were the complainant in a similar case?  Because I'm not sure that I would, even though I don't know whether he assaulted this woman or not.[/quote] That is exactly the conversation I was having with someone this afternoon - that his history, if it is to be believed and I'm not seeing (m)any rushing forward to refute the descriptions of incidents and attitudes attributed to him - I would not want someone like him influencing or framing laws that relate to the investigation / prosecution of assaults against women. ps: Mr Stewart (again, sorry). ...he's bleddy brilliant! [:D]

[quote user="EmilyA"]I do find it extraordinary that in all this talk of privacy laws the French press have apparently published the alleged victim's name and address.[/quote] I'm not. She's not French or in France. [:)]

Jean, if you are thinking of starting a b&b because you're bored, I'd say walk away now! If you don't actively need the money, there are simpler ways of staving off the old ennui. [:D] It's hard work - rooms and all "public" areas have to be immaculate, bedding and towels laundered and beautifully ironed, floors and windows sparkling - it impinges substantially on your freedom both around the house and in what you want to do - if you've got guests arriving at 4pm and you're planning to go and see friends at 5pm, it is irritating to wait for the guests to pitch up at 10pm (no courtesy phone call!) missing out on what you had planned to do. You have people going through your house who are strangers and some of whom you won't like. Some will be needy and consulting you every 5 minutes. Others may stare disdainfully at you as you cross your garden because as far as they're concerned, they've paid for the space! Hopefully people like that will be few and far between but it's a rare person who likes everyone they meet. If you are very remote you'll probably need to offer the option of an evening meal and you could find yourself sitting with people you don't particularly warm to, trying to make interesting and dynamic conversation for 2+ hours. Imo (again!) you have to really like people to run a b&b. But don't assume that having paying guests is like having friends to stay. It isn't. They're there to pay you for a holiday, not to become pals. Yes, genuine friendships can grow out of that first meeting but don't go into it hoping to provide yourself with some company and potential friends. I would never say "don't do it" but I think there are easier ways to occupy your time in an interesting manner than cleaning loos and making beds. [:P]

[quote user="cornfield"]Just for the record, I wouldn't dream of sharing a bathroom on holiday either! [/quote]Nor would I. But plenty of people would if the price reflected the share. I know of several French-run chambres d'hôtes locally with shared "facilities" and they get plenty of French customers because the price is right. About 40 euros per room incl brekkie - but brekkie is rather sparse and in one the welcome is close to non-existent as Madam is rather shy and prefers not to see her guests after they've arrived. Breakfast is set up in an area adjacent to the bedrooms and everything is left ready for people to help themselves (from a fridge, etc) when they want it.

Rouen has just IM-ed me to ask "what in earth I am talking about" - as I've already sent her the Echos link, I've suggested she reads it. [:P]

I know several too, Coops - they rent in or around London, house-shares etc - and have apartements in Rennes and (someone else) Rouen. One rents their apartement out permanently so probably wouldn't fall foul of this tax but the other works from their Rouen home one week in every 5/6 weeks so although she's tax resident in the UK she spends time here too. I will send interrogative emails immediately!

I'm no fan of taxes and I don't think this one will contribute much more than it costs to administer / collect and I do think that it is a tax whose main benefit is the political "spin" that can be applied to it but... it is a "equal" tax in that as it is currently being interpreted... It applies to everyone (irrespective of nationality) who is not tax resident in France but who does have a property here - including French nationals / citizens There appear to be exemptions planned for x number of years for anyone (nationality irrelevant) who has been tax resident in France for y number of years I'm sure the 400,000 (or whatever the figure is) French people who are tax resident in the UK but own a home in France are just as p-ed off with this proposed tax as the British second-home owners. The difference is, of course, is that next year, they have a vote. [;-)] Edited to add / ask: Is anyone frequenting the French-language "LivingBritain" forums (mostly London-based, I think) and if so, are the French emigrées as worked up about this tax as Brits are here on the English-language French forums?

The UK frequently discusses a second-home tax. Okay, it has not been implemented and it would be very unpopular if it was... because unlike the proposed French tax, the way it is discussed, it would apply to second-homes owned by British residents. Maybe I'm missing something but I don't see how this proposed (French) tax can be realistically challenged in the EU courts because a) it doesn't seem to be discriminating against anyone and b) there is a substantial autonomy as to how each country arranges taxation regulations. Overseas-resident French nationals (actually ex-France tax residents of any nationality) would be affected too, just not necessarily immediately.

[quote user="powerdesal"]I really dont think anyone went as far as saying that the French economy is being kept afloat by second home owners. [/quote] Well, I'm sure that's what they're saying on AngloInfo. Do you mean it's not true?! [8-)] [:-))]

I think the perpetrator is likely furry and purry and is trying to soften you up with foodie gifts before appearing on your doorstep, with a small overnight case, asking for a room on a long-term basis. [:D]

Not that it will help you catch it, but I think it's a white cockatiel - my sister used to have a pair. They can be anywhere on the scale of tame to absolutely wild. Google "white cockatiel" for photos. I saw a zebra finch flitting around recently which was extremely pretty and extremely wild - presumably also an escapee as they're more usually found in parts of Australasia and America.

I think the website under examination and communications sent out by a government department are different. The website is clearly "under construction" because there's very little behind the home page but a cursory look doesn't indicate to me that it is targetted solely towards British people but rather towards people who, no matter what their native language is, understand English. In its most basic form. [:-))] Now that doesn't excuse an unprofessional, sloppy approach to business and marketing but I suspect many startup businesses that go on to be a success start off on a shoestring. Not that I'm saying that this website business will do that - I happened to look at it in Chrome and there are banner ads for other businesses which screams "not a serious or professional site").  But because (for most of us) our native tongue is English, we can forget that English also enables communication between people for whom it is their second, third, fourth, fifth language. Just because something is in English doesn't mean we're "the" target audience. Just "a" target audience. The badly translated document from the tax authorities is indefensible. But is anyone surprised? [6] _______________ Edited to correct typo!

[quote user="woolybanana"]The English language is international and not the property of any one nation any more and is evolving according to need. This site, however simple and basic, is clearly written by non-native speakers, and is a tribute to the spread of the language. Please do not see it negatively. Remember that you can travel to most parts of the world these days and will find English speakers, most of whom have not had the opportunity to spend time in an English speaking country. This is because the teaching of the language worldwide which has evolved at lightspeed since the second half of the last century. [/quote]  I've re-quoted more or less the whole thing because I agree so much - even if I am late to the party. Nicely said, Mr Banana.

There are foxes around us but not like we had in Wiltshire. However a local farmer traps and kills them each year so that reduces the numbers somewhat. You can own a shotgun and "pellets" (?) and you can go off clay pigeon or target shooting but you cannot dispatch anything live that you trap yourselves without doing the hunting course and exam. But you're probably not doing to go down the trapping route anyway. Or snares - nasty, indiscriminate things and even the so-called humane snares don't allow for an animal like a cat getting caught, panicking and damaging themselves. Good luck. [:)]