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Simon-the-censored

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Everything posted by Simon-the-censored

  1. [quote user="NickP"] [quote user="Cendrillon"]After seven pages of discussion and bickering on this subject I should think Steve (OP) has probably gone away or lost the will to live.[blink] [/quote] He most certainly has after the obsessive drivel spoken by simon the integrated Frenchman. I bet come latelys neighbours in the UK had a whip round to pay for his moving expenses to France.  [:D] [/quote] Oh silly Nicky....what makes you think I came from the UK?! No to worry, I see the daytime temperature in Crawley (!?!), West Sussex reached a stunning 23C today - hope you had your suncream on! Beautiful eveing here in the Pyrenees, 34C, not a cloud in the sky and local villagers all behaving immpecably. 'Clem's Disco' playing in the village tonight so looks like more integration on the cards for me! Simon :-)  
  2. Cendrillon - I suspect he just wanted to whinge - he didn't actually want any solutions or advice. I maintain - behaviour breeds behaviour.... Simon :-)
  3. [quote user="virginia.c"]Simon Not only are you a fool, which, in itself is not your fault, not everyone is fortunate enough to be blessed with intelligence. No, I'm afraid your greatest crime now is that you have become tedious, and you have become a wonderful exponent of the characteristic. I wish you and your neighbours a lovely life and give great thanks that you don't live any where near me..[/quote] Ginny - just been mucking out and thought about you and your most recent post. Naturally I bow to your superior intelligence and unquestionable eloquence. Although, I must stress that as a lower mortal I tend to steer away from personal attacks and insults - they do so tend to 'downgrade' one somewhat. Tedious I know but there you have it! I'll pass on your kind thoughts to the neighbours. Simon :-)
  4. [quote user="Quillan"] I just caught up on the posts on this thread. I was going to answer some points but actually I now realise I just can't be bothered. What I will say is that whilst one member is very pleased the OP does not live near them I am sure I am not the only one who is glad I don't live near that particular member. I would love to find a proper definition of what it means to be integrated in France when you own a holiday home and come for a few weeks every year. [/quote] Morning Quillan - simple definition of 'Integrated' for you.....  : of or pertaining to a group or society whose members interact on the basis of commonly held norms or values. Voila! Simon :-)
  5. [quote user="NickP"][quote user="Simon-come-lately"] [quote user="NickP"]Simon come lately is back with a vengeance. What a shame that all us second home owners are not as integrated and as "French" as Simon. It must be really hard work to be perfect like Simon [:P][/quote] Not that hard really Nick - certainly not as hard work as being the Forum bully - bonne soirée! Simon :-) [/quote]   Forum bully eh! well you can certainly lay claim to that title if your "advice" on this thread is anything to go by. [/quote] Nicky, Nicky, Nicky....I am not worthy of that over inflated title - the honour is all yours. Just back from the fete - lovely night out with the 'French villagers' Simon :-)  
  6. [quote user="Russethouse"] I'd ask them all round in the first 3 days of your visit, give them all a drink and be sociable, also invite a good French speaker, discuss any problems and promise to action any thing needed, then I'd hint that I had been ordered to take things easy on this trip and shouldn't be disturbed   [/quote] Spot-on Russethouse - couldn't have put it better myself! Simon :-)  
  7. [quote user="Sprogster"]I think the OP has given a possible reason for the harassment and that is resentment from a local who was interested in buying their land before them, probably could not afford it and now sees it occupied by a 'wealthy' Anglais in a spanking new house! Unfortunately, local resentment is always a risk when an outsider buys property as a holiday home in rural France and sometimes no amount of integration will overcome this, if you are dealing with a bigot.[/quote]   Oh dear me Sprogster ...does bigot = foreigner ? Honestly these French villagers really should get a grip and understand just how importamt English holiday home owners are to the local community - especially the ones that spend a whole 8 weeks in France each year. Did I say 'pompous' earlier? Simon :-)  
  8. [quote user="virginia.c"]Is he a real person then? Surely not. I've read some garbage in my time, but never have I laughed so loudly as at his postings. No. He's not real. Nhs simply can't be.[/quote] Thanks Ginny! I aim to please :-) Simon :-)  
  9. [quote user="NickP"]Simon come lately is back with a vengeance. What a shame that all us second home owners are not as integrated and as "French" as Simon. It must be really hard work to be perfect like Simon [:P][/quote] Not that hard really Nick - certainly not as hard work as being the Forum bully - bonne soirée! Simon :-)
  10. idun - now come on, don't be silly.... Sure Steve had people round:  '' We had our immediate neighbours (and not so immediate) around the first six months we were there for a meal '' i.e. 6 years ago! They have only waved since! And as far as 'do's in the village go' - thet go to evening markets ! Stunning..... I can only react to the information I'm given. Oh and don't become pompous - it kills everything off apparently :-) Simon :-) Must dash - we're 'en fete' in the village tonight - 48hr do! I'll probably behave liked a pissed ex-pat! :-)    
  11. [quote user="virginia.c"]Hi Steve What you describe sounds awful, it would drive me absolutely crazy. And to have your land used by all and sundry when you are not there?, worse still. I completely agree that you have made as much effort with your neighbours as you should have to. [/quote] Really virginia.c ? exactly WHAT effort has Steve made with his neighbours (or the mairie)? No evidence so far of one constructive thing he's done - just whinge, whinge, whinge.....He states he wouldn't put up with 'it' in the UK - so WHAT does he do there then? I don't see that France is that different - no exactly Pluto is it? I wouldn't like to be in his position if he ever needs any help or advice from the local community - he may find it a bit thin on the ground. But...I guess that's ok as:........ he doesn't want to 'bother anyone', people 'wave' but don't constantly come round, he doesn't want poeple to walk in off the street and come to his BBQ, he doesn't want to be best buddies with everyone who strolls up his long driveway, he thinks most French don't give a damn about the British (some of us married them - imagine that!) and...he believes the stance that French people only want to know you if it's socially or financially beneficial to them! He sound's like the neighbour from hell - but thankfully for only 8 weeks a year. Met his kind before and wide berth springs to mind.......(bet you he wears a Panama hat, Blazer and Chinos!) Simon :-)  
  12. [quote user="woolybanana"]Isn't pomposity a disease you get from having too much sex?[/quote] not sure wooly - do pompous people get much ? Simon :-)  
  13. [quote user="Quillan"] [quote user="Val_2"]Does the OP realise by law he must register his property with the local mairie if he is letting it out for payment? Therefore the property if properly registered will already be known to the local maire and normally the maire does not get involved in domestic disputes between neighbours, he might send an adjoint round but not very often unless it impedes on the whole commune.[/quote] I was under the impression, but I stand to be corrected, only Chambres D'Hotes need to be registered. [/quote] Well - you are misinformed then Quillan. Val_2 is correct...ANY furnished accommodation rented out for tourist purposes need to be declared to your local mairie (whether or not you are classified by your local prefecture). http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/R14321.xhtml There may be the small issues of income tax and taxe de séjour to consider.......... Simon :-)  
  14. [quote user="Quillan"] Learning a new language when your old  is very difficult, you don't hear 'the song' any more and lets face it French is not the easiest language to learn from scratch. I think the answer to this couples problem is as I said earlier, fence the land off but make sure that you are dead sure where the boundary really is (hence get a geometric to marki it out for you) else I can see further problems down the line. OK its going to cost but at least, in theory, they can sleep without worry at night about 'the hedge man' banging on their Gite's door when paying guests are there nor should they have to hide in the bedroom when they are there. [/quote] Couple of things Quillan.... 1. Who on earth mentioned anything about learning French (apart from Steve that is!) 2. I think the answer to this couples problems is communication (or lack of!) I find the 'pomposity' of the OP quite incredulous....... Simon :-)
  15. Well said Gardener ! My thoughts exactly - amongst others ! A fabulous example of 'behaviour breeds behaviour' ! Simon :-)
  16. [quote user="Steve"] We have integrated into the village; we have several friends who are not neighbours, we attend evening markets during the summer, have taken our neighbour to a hospital appointment because the ambulance didn't turn up, chat to locals on walks around and spend money in the local bar/cafe, shops, restaurants.  We had our immediate neighbours (and not so immediate) around the first six months we were there for a meal and yes, plenty of wine and they remain friendly and wave (they do not constantly come round).  The neighbours we are talking about who are querying grazing, boundary issues are the same people who were offered the land when we first bought the property and who declined to buy it despite being given almost a year to decide.  They graze their horses on the property when we are not there regardless of whether we give them permission or not and only ask retrospecively.  They have damaged trees and plants when they bring their huge bowsers and have reversed their unregistered landrover into our garden wall. I would not tolerate this in the UK so why should I tolerate it here?  If you were having a BBQ in the UK and someone walked in off the street you'd be happy about that would you? I can imagine what would happen if I went round to their properties and did the same and said I "just wanted to get to know them" or started peering in through their windows of an evening. Do you think they'd invite me in for a drink.  We do interact with everyone we meet but frankly do not want to be best buddies with everyone that strolls up our driveway. As for the hedge guy he knows perfectly well it is not our hedge - he just wants to hassle us because the guy who owns it is elderly and frankly can't cut it.  It would be a hugely expensive and time consuming job which would need to be done twice annually.  Why can't he speak to the Mairie about it like I have constantly asked him to do?  Its easier to pester us in the hope we will get fed up and do it ourselves. We have enough to maintain as it is without taking on neighbouring gardening needs aswell. As for speaking the language, we have made the effort and have made great strides with it especially at our age, but when I've been on holiday to Thailand, Greece etc. unfortunately I did not speak sufficient Thai or Greek to engage in a conversation with the locals on boundary issues.  I can only assume that you speak the language of every foreign country you have visited on holiday?  I don't think therefore that it is reasonble for holidaymakers (ie clients) to speak fluent French before they book our holiday home. As for "what world am I living in" I think it is a fantasy of the British that we think that everyone is "interested" or "curious" in us and just want to get to know us. Most French don't give a damn about the British and most only know their immediate French neighbours and no others, I know that for a fact in our village.  One French guy I work with in UK told me that the French only want to know you if its socially or financially beneficial to them and I believe he is right. [/quote] Wow Steve - with a response and reaction like that - no wonder you have issues where you have your holiday home ! You've missed the point and misinterpreted most of the points already made to you - no wonder there's a communication issue! It's hard to understand what exactly YOU have done to respond to or rectify any of the very minor issues you've highlighted. So - now I'll give you the wisdom of my 'pre-slept-on' advice.....2 choices.... 1. Build a brick wall around your property, put barbed wire on top and mine your long driveway. or 2. Sell up and move somewhere where the 'villagers' aren't so irritating for you. Simon :-)  
  17. Steve Hi - I read your post last night and have slept on it in the hope that I can offer some constructive feedback / advice.....I've lived in a small French village for many years. My main observations / suspicions are that: 1. You have not 'intergrated' into your local community. I know it's just a 'holiday home' but you need to make an effort, especially in small rural communities - no different anywhere in the world. I honestly think you would benefit hugely from getting your neighbours on-side, talking to them, understanding their issues and agreeing some 'terms of engagement' - all things which come naturally if you interact with people. Remember - you're the 'foreigner' - they've probably lived there all their lives. They only have 8 weeks a year to get to know you! 2. 'French Villagers' - i.e. the people that live there all year round (and also pay 'exorbitant taxes'!) are most probably curious, nosey - call it what you like. More than anything they probably just want to get to know you because of their own particular vested interests - unimportant to you (as can be seen from your post) but crucial to them. Imagine - 'people you don't even know talking to you', 'walking up your long drive and engaging in pointless conversations' - what world do you live in?! Fancy you neighbour getting stroppy because your renters didn't speak French - of course he got stroppy! It's his country, his langauge - just like Brits get stroppy with 'foreigners' who can't speak English in the UK! 3. Neighbours asking you questions about hedges, horse grazing, EDF calling round, access and boundary issues - all completely normal issues! Again, not important to you but very important to them. I suggest you invite everyone round for aperos and have a damn good chat with them all! You'll notice a massive change in attitude and will benefit hugely. Bit like the Holiday Home in Wales scenario if you ask me.... Simon :-)
  18. I've edited my original post here because I quite obviously didn't make my point clearly and ended up rattling a few cages. So here goes (again) ..... The UK Government are missing a trick - they have a huge workforce of 2.45 million at their disposal - in fact they pay for them already - the 'unemployed' drawing benefits. If we assumed a 'fit & able' figure of around 80% - that's a heck of a lot of people available to do a days work. Work such as sweeping the roads, cleaning the streets, upkeep of public areas, working in hospitals and schools - in fact most of things that local councils are really struggling with due to budget cuts. I know it's not a radical view but...I just don't understand the volume of free handouts in return for absolutely nothing in an economy that can't even support itself. Simon :-)
  19. [quote user="sweet 17"] [quote user="Simon-come-lately"]Sara & Sweet17.....do you have ANY suggested solutions....or will you just leave that up to 'yesterdays' politicians......... Maybe you'd like to enlighten us as to who, in your opinion, did a good job ? Try and restrict it to living memory though! Could it possibly, just possibly be that some of these rioters were just born bad ? Just thought I'd throw it out there as a completely radical idea (! :-) ). Simon :-)[/quote] As you know, I have said I will no longer contribute to this thread but I don't want you, Simon, to think that you have thrown down some sort of gauntlet that I am reluctant to pick up!  Now, that would NEVER do, will it? And, yes, I do have lots of thoughts about Thatcher, Blair, etc.  I am NOT a Thatcher fan and I certainly never voted for her.  But then, to give her her due, she wouldn't have been in Tuscany even as the problems erupted in London, as Cameron was, and certainly wouldn't have been photographed with her arm around a waitress, just because it was a photo-opportunity, nearly 2 days into the rioting in London. As for Blair, he is just a CREEP!  Who else would have reinstated that arch horror, Mandelson, into government?  I know for a fact that if I'd lied on a mortgage application, I'd have been struck off all the professional bodies to which I belonged and barely given a chance to explain myself. When Cameron said that water canons could be deployed with 24-hours' notice, I snorted with derision.  Yes, I know it's not ladylike to snort but to give thugs 24 hours' notice?  Why didn't he just say outright, OK, you have 24 hours in which to loot, commit arson and do your worst but after that we will be training water canons on you? So, you see, Simon, it's not that I have suddenly become some sort of shrinking violet and am holding my peace.  But, you know what, I think I am so antithetical to you, from the few posts of yours that I have read, that, in those immortal words of diplomacy, I dont' think we can have any meaningful dialogue.  Know what I mean? (as they say)[6] I don't think we have enough common ground to carry on talking to each other and so, I will bid you good day. I have lots of people that I like on the Forum and some people with whom I disagree but still like.  There are some that I have met and have certainly liked.  There are plenty whom I will never meet but will still have an interest in talking to. But, regrettably, Simon, I don't know you well enough to say to which category you belong.  So, please excuse me whilst I go back to putting out lunch and not contribute further.     [/quote]   Well sweet 17 - that was all very interesting but....to go back to my question (or 'gauntlet') - of our past politicians in living memory - who do you think did a good job ? Oh and....how terribly naughty of David Cameron to take a holiday - quite obviously he didn't have a note of the upcoming riots in his diary! Know what I mean ......? Oh and....when you have categorised me, do let me know which one I'm honoured with....I can barely wait..... Simon :-)
  20. Norman - I know it's totally out of character for me but I was being sarcastic ! Simon :-)
  21. Sara & Sweet17.....do you have ANY suggested solutions....or will you just leave that up to 'yesterdays' politicians......... Maybe you'd like to enlighten us as to who, in your opinion, did a good job ? Try and restrict it to living memory though! Could it possibly, just possibly be that some of these rioters were just born bad ? Just thought I'd throw it out there as a completely radical idea (! :-) ). Simon :-)
  22. [quote user="brianagain"][quote user="Simon-come-lately"]show me one highly successful Socialist / Communist state. [/quote] Cuba - in education and health care for the masses rather than the elite. Brian (again) [/quote] Brian - you've got to be kidding me ! You've obviously never been to Cuba - go and take a look and talk to the local man or woman on the street about access to healthcare and education. Sure - they have a worlwide reputation for great medical and education facilities but, like all champagne socialism / communism , it's really only available to the party members, elite or those from outside Cuba willing to pay! I think you'll find a huge gap between what the government want to portray to the outside world and the reality on the ground. Simon :-)  
  23. [quote user="NickP"][quote user="Simon-come-lately"][quote user="NickP"] [quote user="Simon-come-lately"] show me one highly successful Socialist / Communist state. Simply the politics of envy - you've got it and I want it = thieves. Simon :-)[/quote] China?? Come on Simon not all rioters and looters are members of the Labour party, any more than all the hang 'em and birch 'em mob are all Conservatives. [/quote] Now that is funny ! China a highly successful socialist / communist state? I guess it depends what you class as successful - it's not always about money NickP......there are lots of other success measures on which China fails miserably. Simon :-)    [/quote] Look; you asked a question and I answered it,  you never asked me my thoughts on the morals of the regime. Whether you like it or not China is now probably the most powerful country in the world. [/quote] Powerful ? so  - power = success does it ? Interesting...... Simon:-)
  24. [quote user="NickP"] [quote user="Simon-come-lately"] show me one highly successful Socialist / Communist state. Simply the politics of envy - you've got it and I want it = thieves. Simon :-)[/quote] China?? Come on Simon not all rioters and looters are members of the Labour party, any more than all the hang 'em and birch 'em mob are all Conservatives. [/quote] Now that is funny ! China a highly successful socialist / communist state? I guess it depends what you class as successful - it's not always about money NickP......there are lots of other success measures on which China fails miserably. Simon :-)   
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