Andrewjspencer
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Posts posted by Andrewjspencer
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>Isn't it nice when the French
>say " Je t'embrasse" or
>" bisous" over the phone-
>I know it only'politesse' but
>its so much warmer than
>' Bye' or 'See- ya'
>and makes one feel loved
>a little.
>
>Any one else got any other
>interesting goodbyes?
you could be a bit off the wall and try this:
"allez, salut maintenant!"
often used by Antoine de Caunes..
makes my femme laugh anyway.
I was told that " a la prochaine" was a bit common.
Often say "bye, bye" but with an accent - heard others using that too.
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
>LAST EDITED ON 11-Jun-04
>AT 12:07PM (BST)
>
>LAST EDITED ON 11-Jun-04
>AT 11:58AM (BST)
>
>Looking to go to Brittany in
>August for about 4 weeks.
> Looked up obviously return
>ferry crossing for MPV 1
>Adult 3 Children, Brittany Ferries
>Portsmouth - St Malo, overnight
>crossing, 4 berth cabin, member
>of property owners club.
>Given a price of between
>598 and 634 depending on
>exact dates.
>
Sue
if you can face the extra driving and are prepared to wait until the last minute - 2 to 3 weeks - look for cheap Hoverspeed deals at www.ferrysale.com . Further to drive but available to book now is www.speedferries.com . We have booked a 3+weeks crossing for August for 88 - altho' that was some weeks back so under their pricing structure it may be more now.
Key it to be flexible and hold your nerve until close to your desired departure date.
I#d agree with the other comments about feelign robbed by Brittany Ferries. Altho' we usually stay/stop with my mother in law who lives in Ouistreham literally one minute from the port, we have not used BF for the apst year or so. We can travel over 4-5 times a year via Dieppe etc compared to 1 trip with BF from P'mouth to Ouistreham.
I get to see so much more of my MIL!!!
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
LAST EDITED ON 06-Jun-04 AT 00:37 AM (BST)
>We have visitors hoping to arrive
>via the overnight ferry into
>Caen and they need to
>do some shopping for essentials
>on arrival. Our local supermarket
>doesn't open on Sundays. Are
>there any easy to find,
>open supermarkets close to the
>Port?
>
some Sundays Champion at Ouistreham is open - it's on the route de caen as they leave the town. If it is open it will only be until noon-ish. Try www.champion.fr for details.
Also, in the Riva Bella part of Ouistreham Shoppi is open until 12 noon. If they leave the port and head for Centre Ville - bear right - they will find it next to the place du marche.
look at this link - it's where Route de Lyon meets Ave Louis Pasteur. http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=-28500&Y=6291000&width=500&height=300&client=public&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=mercator&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&scale=10000&multimap.x=223&multimap.y=197
Only other suggestion is Sainsburys on the A27 just outside Portsmouth - open till about 8pm Saturday.
Hope this may help.
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
>Last June ( can hardly believe
>a whole year has passed!!)We
>purchased a French Peugeot van
>in Laval...and now it's due
>for it's control technique ...Problem:
>there is a small (about
>4inches long) crack at the
>bottom of the windscreen.
it probably would fail a UK MOT with such a defect on the windscreen. Insurance usually covers this but watch out for any excess regarding replacemetn windscrens - often around the 50 mark in the UK. But then again, French insurance may differ??
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
>Has anyone had any experiance of
>turning up at the ferry
>port with an expired Passport???
>
>A friends child who is supposed
>to be coming away with
>us tomorrow has found out
>that her passport run out
>in Feb. We `ve had
>no joy in renewing it
>at such short notice. Just
>wondered what advice you all
>might have?? and don`t say
>make sure you check you
>passport renewal date!
>Many Thanks
>Ronni
The French authorities may be a bit difficult about you leaving France with this unrelated child.
My wife (french) had a few problems when our daughter was about 18 months old when leaving France to come home to England. Our daughter took my wife's name at birth (partly coz we weren't married at the time and partly coz it's so rare a surname) but when registering her at the french consulate they would only reg her under my name.
We did complete a document allowing for her to travel within Europe but foolishly forgot to take this with us.
The police detained my wife and daughter and gave her a right old grilling before they let her travel.
Regardless of the passport issue it would be worth getting a document signed by the child's parents, probably best translated and approved by one of the consulates approved list translators and carry this with you.
Hope it all works out okay.
regards
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
>Just found this and thought it
>might me of interest.
>A new beginners French course
>from the OU.
I've signed up for this to plug the gaps and build decent foundations as my understanding of french is not too good.
Maybe we can start a sub-forum here in November for some online discussion of the course? Although from past OU study they will probably provide their own online forum.
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
LAST EDITED ON 11-May-04 AT 10:36 PM (BST)
All this talk of Belle & Sebastien got the old grey matter rattling the other day.....
I have a strong recollection of summer holidays watching a series on the BBC about Mirage fighter pilots - French obvioulsy - that was badly dubbed but quite captivating - well to a 7/8 year old fascinated by aircraft anyway!
Does anybody out there of a similar vintage to myself recall the name of the programme?
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
>Sunday 9th May 22:45 the South
>Bank Show
>
>"As France and Britain celebrate 100
>years of the Entente Cordiale,
>The South Bank Show crosses
>The Channel.
>Johnny Hallyday is a truly French
>phenomenon: the biggest rock star
>youve never heard of"
>
>Who said that British TV is
>dumbing down when it can
>still tackle difficult issues such
>as that.
>
>Next week The Meaning of Life.....
>
>
there is no escape!!!
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
Dear All,
A month or so I took out a 6 month subscription to the LF magazine so I could also benefit from the Travel Club discounts and I ahave received a couple of issues since.
However, before I start ringing the magazine up can anyone tell me how you get information on Travel Club membership as I have received nothing other than the last 2 issues of LF???
I haven't got a clue how I can take advantage of any offers etc so any advice to forearm me with would be much appreciated.
Regards
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
Hi All,
we are staying in Chambon Sur Lac for 2 weeks in August.
We expect the weather to be good and hot too but does anyone have first hand experience of the place, things to not miss etc??
Regards
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
>What car would you recommend for
>the cut and thrust of
>French driving and parking?
Ask your local Fairground if they have a Dodgem they can flog you?
Seriously - depends on where u will use it most. Twingo for Paris, something more robust for la France Profund.
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
>It's just a thought, prompted by
>the discussion on checking dogs
>during a crossing but....if BF
>staff can take the time
>to go and check dogs,
>why can't they also put
>a hammer through the windscreen
>of the car with the
>b***** car alarm that has
>gone off? ...>Maggie
The issue of car alarms on Ferries always get me confused.
My car, Renault Scenic, has no option to lock the doors without activating the alarm - the standard factory fitted system - unless some other Scenic owner can tell me different?
I am meant to leave the doors unlocked for 6 hours?
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
>Salut a tous!
>
>Did anyone else see the programmes
>on Jane Birkin on BBC4
>last night? - Arabesque concert
>then a Documentary.
>
>A woman for far more substance
>that I previously thought.
>
>Andy Spencer
>
>Francophile in Essex
PS - being shown again at 2300hrs BST tonight 2nd May
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
Salut a tous!
Did anyone else see the programmes on Jane Birkin on BBC4 last night? - Arabesque concert then a Documentary.
A woman for far more substance that I previously thought.
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
Ma Jolie Femme (in case she reads this) is a Primary School teacher in the UK, qualified in the UK, with a French License and is a native of la belle France.
Does anyone know if her qualification is recognised by the French authorities?
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex -
Apologies if you already read this on Good Value Crossings forum but...
ferrysale.com have crossings up to 23rd May for 39 one way now on their website.
Andy
(no connection with ferrysale or hoverspeed!!)
-
my apologies if this has been discussed here before.
Is it possible to open a fench bank account whilst still resident in the UK? We have family in france and transferring cash, paying bills and holidays etc is overly complicated with just a UK account.
I know banks like Credit Agricole have offices (branches?) in London - and not forgetting the net of course.
Any advice welcomed.
a bientot! -
>Want to send half a dozen
>bottles to someone in the
>UK as a present, we
>are in France. People like
>Majestic have a minimum order
>of 12 bottles and don't
>want to spend that much!
>Does anyone know of a
>way of doing this on-line
>for delivery in the Southampton
>area?................John in Dept 79
what about Tesco.com? They willa ccept third party deliver addresses. -
LAST EDITED ON 21-Apr-04 AT 10:06 PM (BST)
>Hi
>Coming over in a few weeks,
>got a single out for
>both (one's staying and ones
>flying back) but cannot find
>a good deal for one
>who's coming back on their
>own, looked at all the
>usual ( a ferry ferrysales
>etc)anyone got any recommendations, or
>shall I wait until nearer
>the departure day?
>I've checked all search on this
>site etc for singles and
>although we have only paid
>39 out, the least price
>back, start from 130. Might
>as well drive to Calais
>and get a single back
>from there and stock up
>on tobacco and wine, Is
>the any sites on the
>French side that could help?
>
>All thoughts welcome
>Thanks
A N Other thought...
i think the speedferries service betw Dover/Boulogne starts 19 May and they are cheap on a first come = lowest price basis.
We have already booked 22 day return in August for Scenic plus Velo on top for 88 return - would be cheaper if low vehicle.
I would type out the web address but it may get blocked so here goes in long hand
world wide web
speedferries
point
com -
>Hi
>Coming over in a few weeks,
>got a single out for
>both (one's staying and ones
>flying back) but cannot find
>a good deal for one
>who's coming back on their
>own, looked at all the
>usual ( a ferry ferrysales
>etc)anyone got any recommendations, or
>shall I wait until nearer
>the departure day?
>I've checked all search on this
>site etc for singles and
>although we have only paid
>39 out, the least price
>back, start from 130. Might
>as well drive to Calais
>and get a single back
>from there and stock up
>on tobacco and wine, Is
>the any sites on the
>French side that could help?
>
>All thoughts welcome
>Thanks
Ferrysale only tends to have tickets up to 3 weeks hence - you may need to wait a week or so to get a mid May offer.
good luck!
French radio via the Internet
in French Language
Posted
>spoken french via the internet,
>since our radio reception of
>french radio is terrible.
>
>As yet I have had little
>success on the Radio France
>site. I cannot seem to
>get the live or recorded
>programmes to play.
>
>Can anybody help with other sites
>or suggest what I am
>doing wrong.
>
>Many thanks
>
>keith
www.rtl.fr has a number of radio channels to listen to. You may need a reasonably fast internet connection to listen comfortably.
hope this helps
Andy Spencer
Francophile in Essex