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Martin963

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Everything posted by Martin963

  1. I've just tried it in Britain, I selected TF1 - the symbol came up - but when I pressed play it's showing a film that ISN'T on TF1 at the moment. I tried to change to France 3, and a few other channels, but this film just comes up every time. Thank goodness for trusty old satellite, it isn't just ex pats in France watching the British TV, some of us in Britain would be lost without French TV given how AWFUL the BBC and other main channels have become. And now we no longer have the house in France we don't even pay the redevance..... (although I'd far rather pay that than the BBC tax, for a TV service that I haven't watched for two years now). I'd guess that Marais is in the far south or south east of France, sounds like they lost their channels when Astra 2D/1N was replaced by Astra 2F. There are some places where you just CAN'T get a signal now off the UK footprint, or at least not without a dish nearing 200 cms.
  2. Yes, I was somewhat surprised to hear on TF1 recently that the increased "malus" tax on fossil fuel SUVs doesn't apply to families with three or more children. At least I think that's what they said.
  3. Absolutely agree Ken. For a man that admitted that a referendum on EU membership would go against him, his utter arrogance is breathtaking. His judgement is woefully poor though, what a goal to give to any person or politician who actually loves France. I feel particularly sad in all this, I love France in spite of the way I was treated (refused residency ten years ago), but even I am now boycotting all French products until Macron is brought down. I think it was "alittlebitoffrench" who said - with great wisdom - that Macron doesn't represent France, but even so I feel I have to do my bit to fight back against Macron over the way he has treated Britain these last few years. As soon as he's gone I shall of course go back to buying French stuff. It's only a tiny thing to do, but I know I'm not the only one.....
  4. Yes, I did know that, it was rhetorical as it were. Personally I think Norman viewed this forum as his fiefdom, and it's reverted to a much more balanced situation without his rather condescending contributions. We are of course all entitled to our views, but I think his over-arching influence had discouraged many of us from posting.
  5. Even though I am not French, no longer have a house there, and was refused residency by my beloved France in flagrant breach of all the laws, I am still totally OUTRAGED at an EU flag flying on its own at one of the spiritual hearts of the French nation. Still, that ghastly little creep Macron does seem to have realised his error and had it taken down under cover of darkness early this morning. I weep for France under that ghastly little man.
  6. I must say I'm finding the overall tone of this forum much more sensible and balanced in these last couple of months, with a wresting of control away from certain self-appointed "leaders" who had ruled the roost for far too long.
  7. Oh where is dear Norman when one needs him to spring to the aid of The Guardian.....
  8. Good to have some figures put to this, which most of us were aware of but couldn't actually quantify. Another example here, breathtaking hypocrisy, but that's the Greens for you, green on the outside and very very red below the surface. Although the guy apologised, as always I suspect that he only apologised because he got caught. Sickening attitude. https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19704444.cop26-green-brighton-council-leader-took-hour-long-flight-glasgow-summit/
  9. A few years ago I'd have felt genuinely sorry for the French on this. But with that little creep Macron in charge,   who has made every effort on every occasion to scupper Britain over the last few years,   I've had a couple of days of absolutely gloating over his misfortune. Not just vaccines,   threatening our power supplies around the time of Brexit (twice),   making problems over the Irish border,   difficulties over satellites,   difficulties over financial equivalence,  etc etc.  Then there's Barnier,   who lectured us on all things European and now has the hypocrisy to "bury" most of his EU beliefs now he's on the campaign trail. So sorry,  serves them right.   Great to see them all whining. But the bit that puzzles me is Biden in all this.   It was thought that it would be a case of EU=GOOD,  Britain=BAD after Brexit,   but that seems to have gone.   Another proof that he is indeed completely senile?
  10. Not The Guardian AGAIN NormanH...... You really ought to try and read (and quote) a couple of other sources of news once in a while,   otherwise we'll begin to think you've got an "agenda"......
  11. [quote user="NormanH"]Always ask yourself in whose interest is it that I am  seeing an item in the news?  Someone with an agenda has put it there. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/28/popularity-far-right-topics-france-cnews-election-concern [/quote] Every time I see a link to The Guardian I'm forced to ask myself that very question. And every time I watch the BBC News - again,  for some reason - I find myself wondering whose agenda is being ticked off,   box by box. Curious though,  because I always thought that CNews was considered a bit to the Left,  and that it was BFM that was slightly to the Right.   Maybe that has changed recently...? Incidentally if you want a laugh at The Guardian's expense there's a hilarious article from Spring 2020 predicting doom and gloom for Britain because it wasn't part of the EU's Vaccine Procurement Programme.    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/14/coronavirus-vaccine-delays-brexit-ema-expensive And more recently Polly Toynbee appears to have been driven delusional by her disappointment that Brexit hasn't caused a complete collapse for Britain.
  12. I was very interested to read your original post nomoss,   and in fact following on from your second post it turns out that the emergency brake may well have been deliberately bypassed,   after a problem was found. Looks like three people (managers) have been arrested,   according to latest reports;  (and being reported at this moment on France 3). Dreadful incident.
  13. Indeed,   reported on France 3 and TF1 this lunchtime,   and described as received with cold disdain by the political classes. If they (Macron et al) had any sense they'd be "engaging" with this warning signal,   particularly if it indeed reflects (as was reported last week) the majority view of the French people themselves.....
  14. Indeed.    But what has that got to do with 6/10 people agreeing with the contents of the letter? And perhaps a change from the constant references to articles in The Guardian would give us a more rounded view....?
  15. Going back to the Generals,  TF1 cited a poll this lunchtime which found that six out of ten French people agreed with what they had written in that "letter". Which suggests that for politicians to simply try to suppress this "situation" may not be the best policy.   "Don't shoot the messenger" comes to mind.
  16. You may well be right Judith - not being "on the ground" as it were any more I don't really know what the situation is - other perhaps than being "difficile" or perhaps "sensible".    TF1 suggested it was the panacea for those wanting the best search system for vaccines but maybe they were exaggerating..... Really do feel for those having all this frustration,   and hope that the French vaccination programme gets up a bit of steam soon,   things do seem to be improving slowly.    Bon courage to all of you.
  17. Yesterday this "vitemadose" site https://covidtracker.fr/vitemadose/ was recommended on the lunchtime news on TF1.   I have no idea if it's any good,   but apparently brings all the available sources of vaccination under one roof as it were,  to save having to search all over the place.
  18. Let no one ever forget the appallingly misleading statement from Macron a few weeks ago about AstraZeneca. Had he been Trump he would never have been allowed to get away with it,   and yet in daily watching of the news on France 3 and TF1 I have not once seen anyone dare to call him out for his lie. I really hope those in France - and all on this forum - who need the vaccine get it soon.   I say that as a 61 year old who was vaccinated three days ago as part of a well-organised and efficient national vaccination programme.   I leave you to work out in which country that took place.   I genuinely hope that Macron's petty idiocy does not lead to unnecessary deaths.
  19. [quote user="idun"]Another thing I am curious about is and there are a couple of 'ifs' here, if they own their own home in the UK, which insurance company they use which allows 6 months cover, if ofcourse their home in the UK is left empty.  [/quote] There are specialist British insurance companies that do that sort of extended cover.   Their prices are of course higher than run of the mill household insurers.
  20. It's been said several times,  if Trump had made the same "fake news" claims about Astra Zeneca vaccines as Macron did yesterday afternoon,   he'd have rightly been removed from social media. Where's the difference,  Macron is engaging it seems in "demand management" for the AZ vaccine he can't get his paws on,   and will stoop to anything. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury has now criticised the EU's stance on vaccine export controls. What's that I hear?   Ode to Joy?
  21. I wonder how this new law will impinge on the battle in south-west Dordogne that has been going on for years now,  involving the man who dug a nice pond in his garden which filled up with noisy frogs.  The neighbours took him to court and won,  and he was ordered to fill the pond in.   The scientists and ecologists then got involved and he was told that he would be fined (tens of thousands) if he destroyed the habitat. The poor man is cornered on both sides,  paying fines (again,  thousands already) for not obeying the instruction to fill in the pond and liable to fines if he does. The case has featured on TF1 13.00 many times....
  22. Many years ago a charity - no doubt with the best of intentions - sent out mailshots containing a 10 p and a 2 p coin taped to a bit of card,   accompanied by a note expressing the wish that, because they'd had enough confidence in the recipient to send some money,  maybe the latter would be kind enough to send a larger donation in return. Now receiving even a small sum in cash bothered my conscience greatly,   but after a couple of days agonising over the matter,  I hit on the idea of sending them a cheque for 12 p,  along with a request that they shouldn't repeat the appeal in my case.   That way I made it clear that I disapproved of their tactics,  but restored them to the position they were in before they'd sent me 12 p. To my amazement the cheque was banked,   costing I suspect more in bank charges than its value.  Three months later another 12 p appeared,   but this time I sent them a cheque for 6 p,   explaining that I'd deducted reasonable expenses for my time,  given that they hadn't troubled themselves to take notice of my previous request not to be contacted again. Imagine my surprise when they banked this second cheque.    However,  it did the trick,  and I heard no more. I'm not proud of myself,   some of these charities of course do worthwhile jobs.   However,  I always now google the pay of the senior executives before parting with donations.   It's nearly always more than enough to stop me sending anything.
  23. Nothing - and none of us - lasts for ever,  but it really is the end of an era.   First discovered him here in England just after we'd bought our house in France in January 1999 - swung a satellite dish round to 5 deg W as I thought I ought to brush up my French.   All in black and white as back then SECAM analogue wouldn't display in colour on British sets. It was lunchtime,   and I oscillated between France 2 and TF1.  Knowing nothing whatsoever about French TV,  I immediately took to JPP and thought that I must remember to watch properly the next day.   We immediately became hooked on his championing of French tradition,  his pride in his country (which is boundless,  but never embarrassing),   and his occasional "personal comments" about situations,  which almost always co-incided with our own views.   A SECAM to PAL transcoder was quickly ordered and we were able to enjoy him in colour.   And we've watched ever since,  ie for twenty-one years,  most days,  both in England and in France.   In fact now that our house in France is sold,  the 13.00 Journal is a lifeline that allows us to refresh our love for the country. Who to replace him?   I reckon their best bet is Giles Bouleau who would I suspect appeal to the older viewer whilst possibly not alienating potential younger ones.   Maybe then move Anne Claire Coudray to weekday evenings and put Audrey Crespo-Mara on at weekends.   I hasten to add that I like Jacques Legros a lot,   and he does a very good job at being JPP's "joker",  but he himself is 67 so if he takes over the job full-time they're going to be up against the same problem very quickly. I'm not sure bringing in new blood from elsewhere will be a good idea,  JPP gets (so one gathers) 40% of the lunchtime audience,   which is a record both for France and - apparently - Europe.  All too easy to demolish that position with the wrong choice of presenter.  TBH I puzzle over the whole TF1 thing.   Most of their programmes are pretty awful,  and I struggle to see how the audience that enjoys JPP could possibly enjoy most of the other fare.....   So maybe they would consider risking a presenter who would henceforth fit in more smoothly with the trash that goes out a lot of the rest of the time.   I just don't know....... Many of our French friends have said to me "Martin,  you know France better than we do".   And my reply is always - "well mostly it's thanks to JPP".    We've even subsequently gone off and visited places that they've reported from.... There are a lot of good reporters too,   Gaelle Charnay did a good week of summer reports from Rhone-Alpes (along with Praline the Marmotte,  who rather stole the show,  brilliant choice of accessory for a reporter) and we always enjoy Marion Fiat's escapades. Whilst I'd be the first to admit that it's not exactly news-heavy a lot of the time,  I salute JPP with enthusiasm,  and the world of French TV will be a poorer place without him.   I hope he does - as promised - carry on doing some stuff on air,   I also hope that he can take a bit of time to enjoy his retirement in good health.
  24. I'm afraid this one is only in English,   but years ago I took a girlfriend out to Sunday lunch at a Hotel that proudly announced on all its printed menus that it was serving: Roast Leg of Bee with Roast Potatoes and all the trimmings.
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