Jonzjob
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Posts posted by Jonzjob
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[quote]I agree total immersion probably would be the ideal way to learn how to speak french. unfortunately we are not yet in the situation where we are able to do this As for taking lessons yes they are a...[/quote]
Hi Jim,
I have just read through the thread and I was not surprised to hear you come back at the end with your original question.
No offence to all the other posts, the ideas are all good, but Jim, like me before we moved over, is trying to get into the general feel of the language and as he is not yet over in France will not be able to use it on a daily basis. I am a terrible learner with a bad memory for words, too blasted old I suppose.
Before we came over we used to tune into French radio on the long wave. It helps to 'tune in' your hearing to the French language. It's really easy to find on LW frequency 162 and another above Radio 4 on 18something?
But back to Michel Thomas, we have the 8 CD course, also a 2 CD Michel Thomas French Language Builder (only him, no silly distractions) and, when we get a copy that isn't damaged in transit, his new course with two new students on it. We also have the Pimsler and it is good, but different The original 8 CD course is on in the background a great deal of the time in our house, annoying at times, but it's incredible just how much goes in and when I go to say something to our French neighbours, Frances, my friend, mentor and wife askes where I had picked it up from. We also only have French TV and radio here in the Aude and, apart from the Metio who get paid by the word and earn a fortune, we are picking up a lot from there.
Taking lessons in the U.K. We enrolled in a course at the local colledge evening classes for 2 years. They weren't too dear and apart from the learning they were good fun with everyone very frightened of making a fool of themselves at the beginning. By the end of a few lessons the fear had subsided and each of us realesed that it wasn't foolish what we were doing, but it remained fun. I learn by fun and I'm sure that I am not alone. I don't learn easily! We ere taught by an English lady with an honours degree in French. Believe me she learned with us too.
Try playing the Michel Tomas CDs in the background, grit your teeth with our Amirican friend and listen to the French radio. At first the radio washed over us and we thought b****y hell, but it got better. If I can learn, then you can.
Good listening and learning
John.
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Well Pucette, the last time I was wrong was when I thought I was
, But the last time I was right was eeeerm, well you can't be write all the tyme.
John (in the Aude and I'd rather be happy than right anytime!!?)
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[quote]"If we resist our passions it is because of their weakness, not our strength." Thank you, I like that! Lost my smileys though... ah well, can't have everything all at once.[/quote]
Pucette, I think we should pursue this under a different 'fred' 'cause poor Adrain will wonder where his has gone, but meanwhile :-
"Who lives without madness is not so wise as he believes."Not tooo sure about the komplete akuracy, but I must admit that it makes me lookquitevery wise.Still got me-smileis 2.John ( I never make mastikes!) -
Sorry Adrian someone seems to be hijacking your fred..This may just fit Pucette
.Si nous résistons à nos passions, il est plus dû à leur faiblesse que notre force. Prince deMarcillac -
Pucette, you cheated, you did an hedhit on your last entry :
"Nous recherchons tous le bonheur, mais sans savoir où, comme des ivrognes qui cherchent leur maison, sachant confusément qu'ils en ont une." Voltaire.
We seek all the happiness, but without knowing where, as of the drunkards who seek their house, knowing they confusedly have some of it; Voltaire.John. -
[quote]In the British experiment the bowl of peanuts revealed faecal contamination.[/quote]
In one British examination of peanuts taken off a bar as soon as they were put there it showed traces of urine from several different kinds of rat and monkeys.
The old expression says ' A peck of dirt does you good '. But I'll have to think about that one?
John (or is it Kenny
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[quote]What can you all see that I can't?[/quote]
Don't worry TU, I can't see it either, but that may well be my eyesight. I don't really need glasses, apart from when I want to see anything!
I've been wondering just what the word 'avatar' means, never heard of it before. So I had a squint in our little 6 pound English/French dictionary (6 pounds weight, not pennies) and it gives a couple of definitions. One is 'mishap', could be! Another is 'change', not for a while? And the third is religous 'reincarnation' I hope not, one of me is enough thank you, just ask Frances my best 3/4...
So why is it called an 'avatar'?
John
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[quote]Can anybody tell me who you look up in the pages jaune to do the unpleasant task of emptying a fosse septique? We have been trying to extinguish the source of unpleasant odour for a year and trying a...[/quote]
In the U.K. we were on a sesspit and so was our neighbour. One of the 'honey bucket' Trucks came round to empty next doors s/pit and it had a wonderful sign on the back. Please don't pull the thread, but it read "It may be your sh!t, but it's my bread and butter"
On the odd occasion that the guy used to empty ours we offered him a cuppa and was quite happy to stand, big tube in one hand directing it to collect, but leave a nice crust and cuppa in the other. No fitter bloke on this earth... I must admit that I would stand up wind!
John.
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If you are close enough then I would go into the nearest office. If they don't speak English then you can still usually get what you want one way or another. We did that and even when we had a line fault and the engineer couldn't speak a word of English our very limited French, handsignals and pointing sorted it out. They were very helpfull.
John.
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[quote]That is the most fantastic mask I have ever seen. Where are they selling them????[/quote]
Cheeky sod, you can't buy this sort of beauty you have to inherit it and miss-use it for years. And I've always wondered about what the children are told all year about not talking to strange men, then at Christmas they are plonked on a very strange bloke's lap and told to ASK for all sorts of goodies. Never happened in my childhood, we were over the moon with a bruised apple and a good hiding! Those were the daze
.John (without the hood)
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Hi folks, here's something to frighten the children with this Halloween, my have-a-tar whatever that means...
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I don't really care. I've bin immatrickulated so now I can 'ave me new plates made and phitted. Then I can drive like the French?
John
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Now I really do feel 'inférieur'. Sumped again
?John.
P.S. As English is the official language for the E.U. shouldn't it be used?
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Sorry that this is a little late, but I've only just seen it...
Acording to my little Hadley's French Motoring Phrase Book & Dictionarya gasket is a 'joint' and the sump is a 'carter', so 'joint de carter' possibly.
John
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[quote]The first tip I can give you is to install a good antivirus package, if you already have one then make sure it is up to date with the latest definition file. Firstly, how are you currently conn...[/quote]
Hi Chris, thank you for the info and questions. I'll try to answer.
"The first tip I can give you is to install a good antivirus package, if you already have one then make sure it is up to date with the latest definition file"
I have AVG Professional and it's slap up to date. It updates every time I go online.
"Firstly, how are you currently connecting to the internet or are you using a friends PC"
They are both our PCs and and are ADSL via the filter. The operating sys on the PC is Win 2000 Pro, on the lapyop is XP Home without SP2 at the moment.
I haven't reseated the ethernet card on the PC as yet, but it can see and update files on the laptop. I will reseat it. The lapyop has a built in ethernet connection.
Both the PC and the laptop work independantly when either is plugged in the phone socket on theit own. And we are just the other side of Carcassonne from you, permanently .
I think this answers your questions, ta,
John.
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I have just keyed in a load of text and it went down the path to nowhere. I will try again.
In the U.K., before we moved over, I had the two linked with an ether net cable. Since we have been here the two won't talk, hence the attempt to go separate waze. After a lot of trial and error I did manage to get the PC to look at some of the laptop files, but the laptop can't see the PC. I have tried all that I know so if anyone has the setup for ether net connections i would love to know them.
Having the ADSL facility on the laptop has been a boon because the PC was hit by a virus last Friday which had the charming habit of letting the PC boot part way then dropping it and starting again. You could watch it do that all day if you wanted. Don't you just love these pilots (with a 'k')! Personally I would break their fingers and then tell them to use a keyboard!!!! One of the outcomes was that I have now lost almost all of my recent family photos.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, ta,
John.
P.S. How do you get the blasted spell check to stop when you have used it part way through a message. The dammed thing switched it's self back on after every word until I did a preview and then finished the message!!!
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You'll probably find that the 'string' between your tin and theirs isn't very tight?
John:
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Try Google and trype in 'modile phone jammers'. Makes interesting reading, especially if you go to www.globalgadgetuk.com the page on photo blocking could be useful for anyone wot do a lot of miles, or Ks
.John.
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I'm lucky enough to be on ADSL, as I was in the U.K., but since we have over here I have been trying to connect both our laptop and PC onto ADSL. I am sure it can be done?? My first attempt here was to piggyback the two filters, silly boy the first one filters out the ADSL carrier (there should have been a clue in the name 'filter'?
). Well my excuse was that it was these archaic connectors in France... So I bought a side by side 2 way adaptor, still doesn't workAnyone with any ideas please. The only loading on the line, with both connected, is the 2 filters and one phone. If the French system is to a similar level to the U.K. then overload should not be the problem?
John (Aude and loving it!)
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Not sure about in car sets, but I got my hand held Garmin Etrex Vista from www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk and they were the best price bar none. They also give lots of advice and sell all the software. Even if you don't buy from them the site is well worth a look. Even though it's a hand held and doesn't shout at you when you go wrong it's been worth it's weight since we've been over here.
Still get lost, but at least I know where I'm lost?
John (Aude and loving it)
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When I bought our new Citroen C8 in Holland and had paid the VAT in U.K. it still worked out just over £3500 cheaper than either buying new in the U.K. RHD or new in France LHD. So even if you take the higher TVA rate in to acount it is still nealry £3500 cheaper. The cost of the cars in the U.K. and France were about the same for a similar spec.
John.
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Ho Trubshaw,
Welcome and thank you for the info. I have had a look at the site, but the instructions don't work... How reliable is the web based fax, because the best part of the dial up fax is that it's secure, unless your phone is tapped. If the web based one uses the web the same as e-mails then surely it can be hacked like any other web info that's not on an encripted line?
As far as the configuration of ADSL and dial up modem are concerned they are OK together. The dial up uses the voice part of the broadband and the ADSL the ADSL part. Just means that if anyone wants to use the phone they can't till the fax line drops..
John.
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Hi Porth,
I bought my new car before we came to France. It came from Holland, no French address no buying in France, and was registered in the U.K., VAT 17 1/2%, and a cost of registering about £36. We are now in France and tomorrow we should be going to the Prefecture to get it registered in France. Bringing it into the U.K. on non U.K. plates may give you a problem with getting fully comprehinsive insurance in the U.K. if you are not going to register it there. I was given 30 days to get the registration or the insurance was going to be ended. I had a hell of a job to find an insurer to do even that, but as soon as the car was U.K. registered the cover was no problem.
The cover was provided by Norwich Union Direct and they were great. When we got here I got French insurance cover and cancelled the NUD and the only thing they said was good luck in France and our new life... What ever you do take a copy of the certificate of conformaty and don't let the original out of your sight, you can't get another one without problems... In fact we have got copies of ALL the forms and invoice, I think it's called 'belt and braces'.
Good luck,
John.
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Now faggots, now you are talking!
The best ones I have ever had are from the butcher in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire. I used to have 2 Brains faggots and I could have eaten more. The first time we got the 'Minch' ones I had 2. I managed 1 1/2 and had the other half cold the next day in a sandwich.... Yum, Yum. From then on we bought them by the dozen and put them in the freezer. Done with a nice thick onion gravy, damm the keyboard is getting wet where I'm dribbling! Boiled potatoes and home made mushy peas (must get a waterproof keyboard), I haven't had me dinner yet and I'm just about to eat the dog!!!? Love 'em!!!
John, starving, drooling, etc...
Papillotes
in The Complete France Post Bag
Posted
[quote]I bought some yesterday. I cannot remember ever seeing them on sale so early. I must say I was rather pleased as I hadn't thought I would be able to take any back to the UK with me.[/quote]
Hi TU,
Two questions for you.
1) What the devil are papilots? And 2) Why on earth have you got to go back the U.K.? It's cold, wet and 'orrible there from what my mate told me yesterday when I phoned him!!!
John ( still in shorts and T shirt
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