[It makes me mad]

[quote user="Teamedup"]LOL the most sensible swiss do not use

'soixante-dix', 'quatre-vingt' or ' quatre-vingt-dix' etc etc and

neither do the belgians and I would hope that those from Luxembourg

would also be so wise.  I can't see the Monacans being so sensible

about this though and as it is a while since I have been and cannot

remember.[/quote]

Are the Swiss particularly "sensible" because they use a different

counting system? I thought they did it mostly to make it clear that

they were NOT French. The French spoken in Luxembourg, to the best of

my recollection, is "high" French as it is mostly used as an

administrative language. Luxembourgish may have some French in it

somewhere though; it is rather difficult to tell.

[The Hunting of the Taupe]

Not by me. I'd given up. Although I have

a feeling that they make serious inroads into the earthworm population

of my little patch, I had given up trying to:

• catch them;
• smoke them out;
• poison them with unconvincing toxic fake worms;
• write them polite notes in several
  languages asking them to sod off (my daughters' idea - and no less
  jelly-brained than what I was trying);
• drown them;
• shoot them;
• jump up and down on the "lawn" in the hope of giving them headaches;

• scare them with windmills;
• deter them with strange-smelling flowers;
• blow them into tiny pieces with those mini landmine things that just should not be legal.

After all, I reasoned, are

they not part of Nature's rich tapestry? A garden full of unsightly,

ankle-twisting ruts that is lible to cave in at any moment due the

forty kilometers of unsupported wide-bore tunnel drilled underneath it

is hardly a reason to become obsessive, is it? So instead I had decided

to be serene about the whole business and simply

accept that there is a species in the world that hates me, exists

solely to play skittles with my fragile sanity, and is inconveniently

indestructable.

Had given up.

Late this afternoon, on my way to commune with the compost heap (the

added nitrogen and warmth are always welcomed at this time of year,

though one must always be alert to the danger of frostbite), I was

drawn up slack-jawed and dumbfounded by the sight of a CHICKEN

scrabbling frantically at a molehill with her beak and emerging with a

struggling mole. The unfortunate creature (Oh I tried to feel something, but my heart is black and my blood is cold with respect to members of the species talpa europaea)

was quickly dispatched to the next world and devoured by enthusistic

members of the flock. Now, I've seen free ranging chickens (as these

are) take the odd mouse before, but chickens hunting moles....?

I've noted down the ring number of the bird in question and shall be

selectively breeding from her in the New Year. In the unlikely event

that I am successful in breeding a strain of hunter / killer chickens,

would anyone like one? Free to anyone who can provide me with evidence

of a mole "twitch" and a doctors note.

[France ASBO's]

[quote user="Agenais"]I had to smile today, after writing to say what a

peaceful place we are living in, the Gendarmerie were out in force

around town today, armed to the hilt,  shotguns at the

ready.......Will have to see what the jungle drums say about such a

show of armory.[/quote]

Ours seem to be in the middle of a charm offensive, distributing sweets

and patting small children on the head. I'm not sure which I find the

more disturbing.

It is just over a year since our local police station closed down. This

was done due to "lack of crime requiring police attention" and did

wonders for the price of property around here. Since then (aside from

the scuffles outside the nightclub already mentioned) reported crime has dwindled even further.

My personal view is that previously the local plods patrolled on foot

at least some of the time and people told them things. The gendarmerie

(being allergic, I am told, to fresh air) stay in their cars and no-one

tells them anything, so less crime has been reported and the figures

look just peachy. The word is that the local Oberfuhrer may be

requiring them to actually scuff some shoe leather in the New Year, so

maybe we shall see some change.

[Euphoric France Syndrome]

[quote user="jond"][quote user="Tag"]Let

us remember the parable of the Prodigal Son and go kill the fatted calf

to welcome the sinner over the threshold once again! Fear not Buffoon

we will protect you from the outrageous arrows being slung at you, oh

misguided one.[/quote]

Ho-hum, you have to go and ruin my mood by reminding me that I have to

go and see my brother at Christmas, albeit for only a couple of hours.

A curse be upon your socks.

[/quote]

Otherwise, I am DEFINITELY suffering with EFS this evening. Cheerful? I am verging on the manic!

[Euphoric France Syndrome]

[quote user="Tag"]Let

us remember the parable of the Prodigal Son and go kill the fatted calf

to welcome the sinner over the threshold once again! Fear not Buffoon

we will protect you from the outrageous arrows being slung at you, oh

misguided one.[/quote]

Ho-hum, you have to go and ruin my mood by reminding me that I have to

go and see my brother at Christmas, albeit for only a couple of hours.

A curse be upon your socks.

[Speed Camera Info]

[:)]

Could I be in charge of naming the "volunteers"?

It may not be a laughing matter, but what the heck.

[Speed Camera Info]

[quote user="Quillan"]

 

One thing is that overall fatal accidents have dropped as a general trend (although they did go up in 2002 by 8% in the UK

but followed a downward trend thereafter) although we don’t see figures

about these that are permanently invalided. Could it also be down to

the fact that cars are designed better now and have better protection

from those both inside and out? Cars brake quicker, shorter and more

controlled now than they ever did, even high end super cars (new DB9

actual breaks in half the distance quoted in the Highway Code) are

actually safer. 

[/quote]

Any idea as to whether or how the numbers of pedestrians / cyclists

killed versus those in cars has changed? Genuine question. The

documentry I watched a few weeks ago (Les Ailes & Les Racines)

implied that, at France at least, the carnage had shifted in favour of

the better-protected car user to the detriment of the others.

[Speed Camera Info]

Alternatively, one can, of course, simply obey the speed limits. I find

that this is a low-cost and trouble-free way in which to deal with the

scourge. Driving more slowly generally improves fuel economy, so one

can save a few pennies, feel smug about reducing  one's

environmental impact and (for the "below average ability" drivers among

us - and I include myself in this group) reduce the risk of killing

another road user. Winning all round, I'd say.

[Groovy New Scam]

I'm trying to work

out whether this a scam to cream off from non-existent transfer funds

or some kind of money laudering wheeze. Of course, I could be doing the

author a terrible diservice and this is an entirely honest scheme, in

which case I would like to apologise to them publicly and without

reservation for having cast unworthy aspertions in their direction.

Anyway, here it is - originates from Mexico and is available in at

least three major languages, including both English and French. The

author's name would appear to be "Elvis"...

Quote:

Thank you for your time.

We are an international transport company.We deliver goods, mostly food.

We have an excellent reputation, and a great experience.

We have main offices in USA, Australia, Germany.

Our main rule is to make an atmosphere of family in our company.Our

staff is in safety and under protection our company.We pay all taxes,

filling in declarations in time, pay all fees and rule our business

according to the law.

We do trust you our money and we are waiting for your honesty and believe in our future.

For example you will be transferred $1000, you will have to send to the

given address with the help of WU( money gram, e-gold) $1000 minus

money for WU minus 8% which is your salary.

We check all accounts of our clients and suppliers, we work only with

reliable representatives.Our company is controlled by government,

international police, banks, paying systems.

Contact us:

Unquote.

[France ASBO's]

[quote user="Patf"]French people play bridge too. We belong to the local bridge club and

are the only non-french members. A good evening out especially the

bridge equivalent of the " 19th hole". Pat.

[/quote]

I don't know about bridge; the local game here seems

to be something called "tarot" (sp? - and it could be played

nationwide in organised leagues for all I know) that I have so far failed to

grasp despite having it explained to me about 83 times. The problem, I suspect,

is that it is, base case, fairly complex and longwinded in terms of rules, and

someone always brings along a bottle of home made sticky that I liberally help

myself to while the other guys argue about who is best qualified to instruct

me. By the time that this is settled I am feeling no pain and hardly best

adjusted for the required learning curve.

Swerving back in the

general direction of the original question, if the poster is wondering whether

the levels of "small-town" drunken thuggery in France are lower than

in the UK, then I would suggest the answer is probably, yes, they are

far lower. However, the recent riots notwithstanding, larger towns and the big

cities can certainly get interestingly frisky of an evening. Plus, the habit of

placing nightclubs in small, out-the-way villages (ours, for example) can mean

that some of the most unlikely places can play host to pitched battles between

rival groups. To be fair, so far they've kept the punch-ups to a field near the

club and the gendarmerie have taken to turning out in numbers at around 3am to

ensure that nothing spreads in the direction of the village centre. This is the

third incarnation of this particular establishment that we have known since we

moved here. Generally they seem to be closed down after a few months (some sort

of tax dodge?) and the problem moves away, so no-one expects that we will be

inconvenienced for long...

[Appliances - buy in UK or France?]

[quote user="Agenais"]

Don't think there are any problems with

compatibility, washing machines here only take cold fill, unless they

have changed suddenly, so you just need a Y connection to get them to

run ok. 

[/quote]

I may have mentioned this

before. I have an increasing tendency to repeat myself. Although

washing machines sold in France are fitted with a cold fill only,

particularly in the case of international brands, a quick inspection

under the lid will often reveal a blanked off hot fill injet.

Generally, one only has to remove the stopper, et voilà.

Historically, because so much water heating in France was done

electrically there was little point in piping hot water to a washing

machine that could heat water itself. Things have moved on, and this

may not be the most economic way of doing things now, hence opening the

hot feed to save a few sou could be worthwhile. There is the added

bonus that you will probably add a new dimension to your plumbers life,

enriching him / her (do not snigger - they exist) both professionally

and spiritually.

[Euphoric France Syndrome]

Horses for

courses. For us, the move to France

has been the best move that we have ever made. The balance sheet is a

complicated one, and would vary for anyone depending on their own experience, but,

frankly, surrendering 75% of our gross income in exchange for reasserting

control over our lives has been a fine deal from our standpoint.

 Personally,

I think anyone choosing to move solely for what

I would term “negative” reasons (dissatisfaction with the UK

government of

the day, concern  over the state of public services, the

disintigration in standards of public behaviour - percieved or real:

whatever) is probably making a mistake. Anyone moving here in the

belief that it is going to be a 24/7 holiday is also probably making a

mistake.

I 

have no desire to live in the UK again,  and , increasingly,

little desire to even visit. This is not some dogmatic dislike based on

a flawed a  premis that France is "better" in every way (frankly I

am in no position to judge any longer - I now find the money confusing

and don't recognise half the names in the newspapers, so conducting a

reasoned argument could be tricky), just that it is better for me.

Certainly there are elements of UK culture that I cannot abide, but

that is true also of France. 

[Road sign]

Thank you! Another of the little mysteries that dog my life cleared up.

Is there a French equivalent of the Highway Code? Again, this is

something I so often think of looking for (whilst tidying the terrace

or similar out here in the sticks, miles from anything remotely

approaching a bookshop) and then completely forget about every time I

get to what passes for civilisation around here...[*-)]

I do like this new board - even being one of the  silly 

sausages  who prefer  Firefox , I am now able to change font, bold and italicize things and add silly icons. [&]  [:O]  [^]  [W]

[Road sign]

I have often wondered - but always

neglect to ask when in the company of someone who might actually know -

what is the meaning of the sign that appears to show an exploding car?

I pass one local to us frequently, but have no idea whether I should be

looking out for landmines, checking my vehicle for explosives before

proceeding or am in imminant danger of missle attack. All of these seem

equally unlikely on the Fontenay ring road. Does anybody know?

[It makes me mad]

[quote user="Russethouse"]English English is the basis of American English, stand up for your native language ![:D][/quote]

[:D] I would if I could, but on what  possible basis could I pretend that

it is a better version of the mother tongue?! I have enough trouble chez nous

trying to get the children to pronouce "bath" with the invisible "r" in

which they steadfastly refuse to believe. No, I'm perfectly happy

for most of the rest of the World to learn a stripped-down, low-brow

version

of English with a silly accent. I shall increase my rarity value.

Seriously, the huge plus point of English in any version is its utility

and flexibility. While I am somewhat maudlin ([U]) that the version I

have been brought up to speak is being overtaken by another, I accept

that this is simply a charateristic that makes the language valuble in

the first place. French, by comparison, has had a tendency to mire

itself in its former glory, and, as a result, has declined in importance. Maybe we should be more worried about saving that...

[It makes me mad]

I can appreciate how difficult it is for British

origin pupils in French schools to have to deal with differences in taught

"English" and their native spoken language, particularly when a

teacher chooses to make an issue of it.

Pragmatically, however, us English English speakers, whatever we may think

about American English (I confess I find it both coarse and uncouth, but then I

speak RP English, plus I'm a bloody snob), have to accept the fact that it is

the dominant dialect, and, therefore, logically the one that should be taught. as

being the norm. After all, English English has hardly been pushed by Britain in

recent years. The British Council is poorly funded, there is no real equivalent

to the Académie Français to "vet" additions to the language (and

would we want one?), and every textbook that I come across for teaching either

a foreign language to English speakers or English as a foreign language seems

to be American.

 When the day comes that our offspring commence formal

English lessons we shall simply have to explain that they should forget

everything that they have learned at our knees (which we paint black and write

on with chalk) and accept that their teacher is simply correct within the

confines of the school walls. Come to think of it, that’s not bad advice for

education in general.

[Right to live in Britain]

I can't see how they could be denied residency. I can believe that they

might not satisfy the residency requirements to allow them full access

to a pension, but that would not be the same thing. If they had been

living in the EU, surely they would have been making contributions in

whichever state they had been resident during their absence from the UK

and a pension would forthcoming from there...

[Jean-Marie LePen]

[quote]Glad to have helped,great to see all the christmas lights going up showing santa, do you not think?once again have a very merry christmas,uhm brandy sauce opening a good bootle on the day,getting legl...[/quote]

"Glad to have helped,great to see all the christmas lights going up showing santa, do you not think?once again have a very merry christmas,uhm brandy sauce opening a good bootle on the day,getting legless christmas eve not to mention the pork pies and the turkey stuffed with mince pork stuffing,people sing hymms,the guy as a point!"

Great to see that you're taking the intellectual as well as the moral high ground on this one...

[PLEASE HELP US DESIGN OUR BRAND-NEW CAMPSITE!]

Miki's observations are, I think, very good ones. Note that a "green-field" project of this size would very likely attract the attention of a public enquiry. While these can be hours of fun for those who go along to heckle and throw cream buns (it's a hobby!) they can also drag on for a very long time. The idea of tackling an existing site that needs someone willing to lavish TLC seems like a fine one.

The Vendée (as you will have probably realised) is very keen to promote tourist ventures, and you might be surprised that the level of support you could receive. If you have not done so already, and you have some plans to show, think about contacting Joel Sarlot, one of the Vendée's députés and the chair of the département's tourism board. You can see his details and contact him via: http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/12/tribun/fiches_id/2681.asp - he is very straightforward and has advised us on a couple of occasions.

Good luck with your venture.

[nitrates in tap water]

Nitrates are very difficult to remove from tap water due to their high and general solubility in it. There are ways, but they are expensive and not exactly a 15 minute solution. You are right - boiling could make things worse by concentrating the nitrates further.

The causal link between between high nitrate levels in drinking water and health problems is far from being proven, though there is some pretty good statistical evidence that they can cause "blue baby" syndrome. The advice you are getting looks sound - sticking to bottled water from certified mineral water sources would seem very sensible until this problem is sorted out.

[Law on paying for Gites]

[quote]I do it the "British" way - not for convenience, but because by asking for the balance to be paid 8 weeks in advance at least I will have a chance to re-let the property if they pull out. If they did ...[/quote]

...which is absolutely fine (we are talking commercial agreements here) provided that both parties explicitly submit to English law and the jurisdiction of the English courts. For safety, this should, as I understand, be included in rental agreements that are signed by both parties.

Presumably doing things the "French" way implies that the contract binds the parties to French commercial law. I wonder how many UK customers would be comfortable with that if they realised?

[Deposits up front]

We still owe our plumber €7500 or so for work completed in July - we paid him 50% about two-thirds of the way through, more or less because we insisted . This is the third project he's done for us, so I suppose that there is an element of trust here, but he is always late in billing (late being a relative term as we have NEVER had a bill from an artisan earler than a month after they have finished). He employs about 12 people; cash flow must be an issue for him, so how can he manage to do this?

Ironically, he came around about six weeks ago with his daughter, future son-in-law and the son-in-law's parents to have a look at our properties with a view to taking one or more as guest accomodation for the wedding next May. They took all three in the end and HE has sent US a deposit cheque (which I have shamelessly cashed) without bothering to include the bill at the same time.

[Bah Humbug!]

[quote]There was a storm in a teacup, that was blown up Daily Mail style about Walmart advertising "Happy Holidays" rather than Christmas. The 'official' line was that they did not want to exclude anyone (...[/quote]

"The 'official' line was that they did not want to exclude anyone (from spending money? ) eg other religions during the holiday season- I think this is just capitalism at its worst."

It does sometimes appear that Christmas has descended into a consumer frenzy in which the spending of anything less than the gross national product of Peru on plastic tat, fatty food and alcohol somehow brands one as a "scrooge", "meanie" or "party pooper."

This is, of course, quite erroneous. Christmas is not just about hopes for World Peace, the birth of Christ or family & friends. One should also consider those less fortunate than oneself - the retailers. For example, think to the plight of Mr P.Green of Monoco, down to his last few hundred million and having to consider cutting back on the foie gras and beluga caviar toasties for his polo ponies. Or David Reid, chaiman of that small family corner shop, Tesco, and how much his share options need your cash more than you do.

I love the bit of Christmas that goes from the morning of the 24th to the evening of the 26th. The rest of it I find very trying. I appreciate that nothing short of global catastrophe is ever going to bring back the simple family Chritmas, but this year we're actually going to try making at least some presents rather than just buying everything (in my case this is always a blind panic around Dec 23rd). I'm probably irrational, but this feels like a step in the right direction.

[P&O being sold ?]

"Thought they were building 2 new boats"

True, true - but they are replacements (I understood), not additional capacity. I am rather pesimistic (sp? - using Firfox, so no spell checker, and some rotter has hidden the dictionary AGAIN) about the future of ferry links between France and the UK.

[P&O being sold ?]

Are any ferry companies making money at the moment? P&O's operation is commonly held to be in the mire, none of the short sea routes appear to be profitable and BF hardly seem to be in an expansive mood. Ironic really that sending goods by sea is the most cost effective mode of transport, but sending people no longer seems to make sense, not across the Channel, at least. What next, I wonder?