chessie
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Posts posted by chessie
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Seconded - and thirded - x 100...Marvellous people who do a wonderful - and at times heart-breaking - work of love and hope.St Francis will be well proud of you all.
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Look, look - here - Poor little dog injured in train crash - regains use of back legs with swimming lessons.Where's your nearest heated indoor pool !! Today's Daily Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1332332/Dog-hit-80mph-train-survives-makes-recovery-thanks-swimming-lessons.htmlSomething for next year perhaps - and just shows you should never give up hope.Chessie
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Mods - hope you'll let this one through - not asking for rec but factual info... o o o o o o o oI'm falling to bits - apart from self-inflicted GBH, bits of me are now falling off !!I'm in need of a dental implant to replace one missing back molar. Will probably need a bit of titanium to act as anchor for dental implant.I really need a dentist, who is top notch up-to-date with latest techniques. Ideally in the area from Bergerac in north to Villeneuve or Agen in south. (Please don't shout at me, but if dentist has little bit of English that would be very useful as well).Can anyone help with factual info on suitable dentist in suggested area ? Any advice gratefully received.Chessie
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Gluestick - support your comments 100 per cent. As for 'braco' - just ignore....I think Mummy will be turning up soon to change his nappies - there's a horrible pong here somewhere....Chessie
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Hiya woolly...The very first time the Posties 'attacked' it was a large cardboard box, properly labeled, return address marked, securely taped and a UK GPO supplied box - so would have conformed to all regulations...The top and sides were cut, the box opened, and then re-sealed with la Poste yellow sticky tape.Since then, there have been several occasions when parcels - of any kind - have been 'attacked' or damaged. Ordinary large envelopes will have their sides nibbled - and the contents looked at.I've had a problem with an ordinary small box where the top had been tampered with.The last parcel to be slashed was indeed a proper GPO plastic envelope type, that had been stuck with sellotape, the sender's address written, and the wording 'used item of clothing etc...' written very clearly on the parcel.So what is going on ? And if it is la Poste - why no flippin 'apology' or written explanation.Until I have something formally in writing explaining why my parcels have been attacked, I will continue to think that someone who does not have the authority is just being b----y nosy....But I do intend to follow this up because I've really had enough.Chessie
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I've just sat back and watched this topic develop - wanted to see people's reaction - and it's split off into 2 directions...Firstly, I was totally infuriated because my parcel had been slashed right open, and the contents could easily have been damaged. What I was really furious about, though, was that there was NO explanation.If the Posties or the Customs wish to rifle through my private parcels - which is really an invasion of privacy and I find pretty horrible (but we don't seem to have any 'right to privacy' anymore) - OK if that is what happened then at least an explanation, or an apology, or a printed label stating that 'La Poste/Customs wanted to inspect parcel' - then that's something I'd have to accept.It is the no explanation that infuriates me; the feeling that it could have been anyone in the postal system - not an officially approved' search' by La Poste or Customs.....no b----y explanation as to why my parcel has been slashed.I also liked the last post from someone who was an advocate of the 'I've nothing to hide' school of thought. So all those of us who did not like the collection of data, and the Big Brother aspect of this; who were accused of being paranoid - may we please now have an apology. Even though we might be paranoid doesn't make us wrong - just able to look further ahead than some people !!!!I've NEVER taken the line 'nothing to hide'.....but it doesn't give me any pleasure to say 'well - told you so'....even though I did !!!!I really don't like the way society is going; I don't like the fact that there are groups who cannot seem to live in peace and harmony and whose creed is to regard western society as the infidel only fit to steal from, to invade, and to kill....And I really do worry about the future for my daughter and grand-daughter....the good times are over I'm afraid.But I think those comments are 'off topic' - and maybe we shouldn't follow them up but start a new topic. Keep to the la Poste problems on here.If this parcel problem is widespread then maybe we ought to tackle la Post - at the top - and insist that if they are going to open our parcels, then the least they could do is to have the courtesy to let us know that it was la Poste that opened the parcel - and not some 'unspecified' nosy parker somewhere......Chessie
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Andy - OK then according to you I'm living on a different planet - fine.....But please explain to me - if a parcel has been posted in the UK and has arrived in France it has already been through the UK Post Office screening, it's been in an airplane or train from the UK to France, it's presumably had it's Customs check - WHY - once it's IN the French system and being sent to an individual living in the back of beyond should la Poste suddently decide it's of interest.Working on your feelings of insecurity would seem to suggest that ALL parcels in the French postal system should be slashed open so that the contents can be looked at, checked, sniffed, handled before la Post put on their sticky tape....Letters and parcels to 'potential targets' are not going to include private individuals living out in bucolic France. You seem to see reasons for it; please explain why a parcel, which has already gone through two different postal systems and is addressed to a private individual, living in a private home, would be likely to be on the receiving end of something nasty......just defies logic, reason, and common sense.We do appear to have a situation where la Poste - or employees or - are starting to take an 'unauthorised' interest in private parcels sent from one individual to another - with no security risks implied either by the names, addressed, handwriting or postal area.I'd just like to know whether we can complain about this damage to our property or ask for an explanation as to why la Poste think all French residents are likely to be the target of malicious parcels.Chessie
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Blimey - calm down.....don't shout.Look, I understand the parcel bomb bit....but that's embassies and important people and the parcels have come - in the main - from outside the EU.I'm just an individual, living in the back of beyond in rural France, and the parcel had been sent from the UK. It was one of three parcels - two of which had not been touched....I can't see why a parcel, having been through the British postal system, having been transported by plane or train or lorry into France - would then be subject to any further scrutiny when it was obvious that the parcel had come from an individual and was being sent to an individual - NOT a VIP, not an MEP, not an ambassador, not a CEO, not a bank, or an embassy - but from one private address to another.And please don't be rude and shout - it's not pleasant, and it's not necessary - and it's really rather rude.Chessie
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Thanks for that link Bugsy...Isn't it annoying how 'some' people just won't believe you when you specifically say that it is la Poste that's opened and resealed a parcel. It's not the first time it's happened here - they also did the same with a large boxed parcel and there was yellow la Poste sticky tape all round the box - so it is definitely la Poste opening it and not Customs.So exactly why is la Poste opening parcels and not Customs ?I really don't think it right that it's la Poste doing this; as someone else has said if it's Customs there's no come back - but if it's la Poste - what the b---y h---l do they think they are up to ?Do they really have the right to do this ?Who should I complain to about this because I am really cross this time ?And shall I ask for a claim form - do they have them ? !!!!Chessie
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I've just received an e-Bay parcel - item of 'vintage' clothing not worth much.The seller had, as requested, written the words 'Used item of clothing value less than 12E' in large writing on a separate stick-on label on the parcel. This generally avoids any problems.But not today - and I'm absolutely fuming. The parcel, with a proper, clearly read label with correct address, and with a label, very clearly marked, giving name and address of sender, plus second large label with the words 'Used item etc...' arrived today - with a huge slash right across the large grey plastic envelope.What has really infuriated me though, and has me stomping around, is the fact that the slash was so large it was amazing that the item in the parcel had not been slashed and damaged as well. The cut right across the parcel was so large that the parcel has had to re-wrapped by la Poste using several strips of wide sticky tape; and yes it does have the words 'la Poste' on the tape so it's not the Customs people.What should I do if , should this happen again and an item really is damaged by la Poste, then obviously I'd have a claim against them. Can I complain at the nearest la Poste about this incident ?Is there any point ? Or is it a case of grin and bear it until something is damaged by their actions ?Chessie
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Having read the 2 previous, long and (sorry) rather techy threads about the BBC iPlayer - I found this article in the Independent today.'Software cheat lets people watch BBC iPlayer abroad' - refers to being able to download and use free (free!!) software which tricks BBC iPlayer into thinking your PC is in the UK - rather than wherever in the world it may be.Sorry can't put link - but the headline is in the '...' above. The software is called Expat Shield (at expatshield.com).Would like to try this - anyone know how 'safe' it is and what hiccups might occur ?Thank you - from totally techie dumbo !!Chessie
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Sorry everyone - I know it's the Daily Mail - butThere's a most fantastic photo of an ice-rainbow with the sun at it's centre shown in today's DM web page.For those interested in photog it's an amazing sight to have captured; for those who think nature is pretty wonderful - just enjoy.I don't know if I can do the link but I'll try -http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1323097/Man-captures-rare-ice-rainbow-optical-phenomenon-camera-Gloucestershire.htmlHope that works - And yes - I think it does look like 'an eye in the sky'...!!!Chessie
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Been very intrigued by this post - and the various 'knicker twisting' that has been going on....!!But Pickles - I really am puzzled by your post about driving French registered car in the UK.When I've been in the UK I have seen a lot of foreign registered, foreign number plate cars around. What about the foreign owned juggernauts and vans that are seen on the UK roads.What about all the cars, bearing Eire number plates - the red ones - being driven on UK roads. What about all the other foreign registered cars, with foreign number plates - Spanish, German, Swiss, Eastern European - I have seen them ALL on UK roads. Some of these cars are owned by people - not UK nationals - but nevertheless resident in the UK. Are you really telling us that it is only French registered, French number plate cars that are NOT allowed to drive on UK roads. (The comments about 'importing a car' into the UK are a bit of a red herring surely).We drove our French registered car in the UK, with insurance, for a short time whilst we were still resident in the UK - and the insurance company didn't have a problem with that.Or am I getting confused again.....Chessie
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Couldn't respond earlier due to hospital visits - and 'mouse' committing 'hari kari'...I understood that Halal meat is from an animal which has not been stunned before having its throat cut. Some of you seem to imply that the method used ie. stunning prior to throat slit - is used ALL the time...but that there is the hocus pocus of prayers needing to be said ... Such assumptions are WRONG - the method of slaughter ie non-stunning is HALAL. You cannot have Halal meat from an animal that has been pre-stunned.Gardener's interpretation of the 2003 (!!) - Meat Hygiene Service are extremely confused - and wrongly summarised ie - ' halal meat 10% which isn't stunned for muslim consumption and halal meat 90% of which has been stunned' - doesn't make sense; 90% stunned is NOT Halal meat. But the further quotes from the report - 'illegal for slaughterhouses to slaughter.......unless....meat is intended solely for Muslim or Jewish.. In our view it is also against the law for a company to sell.....to the wider general public' make very clear what SHOULD happen - but which has obviously changed. But the first part ' against the law' is what most people in the UK, a Christian country with Christian traditions, and laws based on Christianity would presume - and had presumed - to be the case regarding Halal meat.The report also goes on '...designed to ensure that meat from animals that have not been pre-stunned (ie HALAL meat) - does NOT REACH THE GENERAL MARKET....This would imply that meat which is being served up in Government institutions, and local authority schools and hospitals - is BEING SOLD AND CONSUMED ILLEGALLY.The figures that Gardener quoted are from 2004 - there have been a lot of changes in the last 6 years.The dismissive comment that I 'should be a vegetarian' is childish. I would be a hypocrite to take such a strong stance against Halal/all slaughter if I weren't a vegetarian. I have been one since my early teens.I was one of those who took an active part in trying to promote more humane treatment for animals; I did do the lobbying, the petitioning, the campaigning, the fund raising. The reason I am so distressed about what is happening is that after years of making what seemed to be progress - it would seem that this has now been set-back to the Dark Ages of 600 Ano Domini - because of sly, under-hand, secretive pandering to a minority 'cult'ure, and all because what might have been relevant health concerns back in 600 AD have not changed and are considered to STILL be relevant in the 21st century. That's real progress isn't it ?As for the comments about Halal meat being more expensive. Somehow I don't think that comment stands up any longer if Halal meat is being provided and used in Government institutions, prisons, hospitals, schools etc.Salty Sam - your comment 'if the animal is stunned before being slaughtered, what difference does it make if it's done Halal' shows a degree of misunderstanding of what this topic is all about. Halal IS meat from an animal which has NOT BEEN STUNNED.Gardener also said 'meat companies...maximise profits...if there is enough furore ....they will stop - not for religious reasons but financial ones'. But that is MY point. UNLESS the public know what they are being sold they will never be able to make informed decisions. So maybe the meat companies would prefer that the British public WERE NOT TOLD - because the companies know that there would be - to quote your words 'a furore'....Hoddy went on to mention about losing our choice in what kind of milk can be bought and dairy farmers going out of business. Support your comments entirely; you know why the British farmer is having a hard time ? Supermarkets with their buying power is one; and the other is that animal welfare standards in the UK are higher than on the Continent and the British farmer gets nothing like the subsidies from the CAP that the Continental farmers do. And I feel that DEFRA - and the last Government of Traitors - let down the British farmer time and time again.And your final comments about New Zealand lamb - Halal slaughtered - should be writ large -I SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE.And for those of you who still think it's a story in tomorrow's chip papers - think on ?What are your thoughts on genetically modified food ? Will you still take the same 'don't want to know', 'all Daily Mail rubbish' stance - while eating your 'techno' food which you have not been informed is techno food ? Presumably you carried on eating all the food that was covered in DDT and pesticides and didn't mind - after you'd been told what you'd been eating; or did you make an informed decision and chose not to do so ?We've had freedom of choice removed from us; we have not been told we've had freedom of choice removed from us; it has been done to pander to a small ethnic minority - and for whom our FREEDOM OF CHOICE HAS BEEN REMOVED. To appease a small ethnic minority 'cult'ure changes are being made to our food - WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE.Do any of you honestly, really and truthfully - think that that is right ? Chessie
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For most people in the UK the question of 'how' an animal is slaughtered is not one that would be foremost in their minds when shopping.Cost - yes.Free range - RSPCA approved - quite likely.BUT - MOST people in the UK are Christians; most people believe that the animals are slaughtered in a humane way. After all that's why we have rules, and regulations, and inspectors, and RSPCA and local councils .There is - and has been for years - an unspoken, but generally understood, belief that the animal slaughtered would have been done so in a humane way.After all, as I understood it, Halal slaughter was declared ILLEGAL - except for religious grounds - in the UK. This was after many years of battling, petitioning, publicising the cruelties involved in animal slaughter anyway. But the Halal- was madee an exception - a VERY SMALL exception - for a small group.When people are questioned about this, most - on humane, compassionate grounds - find the slaughter and the torture and the distress that goes with Hala killing - to be offensive.Most people in the UK would be horrified if they knew that what they were buying had been slaughtered in the Halal way.The POINT - THE MAIN POINT - which Gluestick has pointed out - and most of you are overlooking - is that thtis is NOTHING TO DO WITH MUSLIMS - NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING ....and to confuse the argument is not worthy of any of you.We are being TRICKED and DECEIVED.We are NOT being told that there is now this two-fold 'choice' going on.WE HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD.NO INFORMATION.NOTHING.A large number of people DO trust the RSPCA for their labels on free-range meat and free-range eggs. Unfortunately, the RSPCA, as has been shown in recent programms - can itself no longer be trusted.It would NEVER occur to me to ask - until now - whether the meat I had purchased had been slaughtered in as much of a compassionate and humane way as possible, or whether it had been Halalad. And don't any of you dare to patronise the British shopper - a large number DO care what they feed their families and children. So stop patronising please.BUT WHY should I NEED TO ASK - in the UK - where the practice is illegal - I HAVE TO ASK WHETHER THE MEAT I AM BUYING HAS BEEN SLAUGHTERED IN WHAT - TO MOST PEOPLE - IS CONSIDERED TO BE A CRUEL AND SADISTIC WAY OF KILLING ANI MAL.Have you all gone STARK, RAVING BARKING MAD ?Don't any of you - any of you at all - see the inherent IMMORALITY in what has been taking place.Don't any of you consider that this is wrong ?Don't any of you have any morals, or standards, or compassion at all ???What planets are most of you living on? I just despai8r - I really do.Chessie
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pachapapa -Couldn't watch the French TV programme - and definitely couldn't watch any more scenes from slaughter-houses etc....What's your problem with PETA ? I thought they were one of the 'good guys' organisation who wanted all animals treated with compassion.Do I understand that you are in favour of bull-fighting; and that because PETA are not you wouldn't support ALL the other things that PETA is about ? So because of one barbaric practice, you refuse to support PETA in its stand against another barbaric practice. Have I really got this right; you would be against the 'cult'/'religious' killing of animals - but that you support bull-fighting ?Bull-fighting ? In this day and age ? Really ?Chessie
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Sorry Panda - but you are completely and totally missing the point.'Origin' is one thing.Halal - method of slaughter is another matter entirely. The fact that such methods were NOT being mentioned, publicised, advised - is the point under discussion.I do buy 'free range' everything when I can. All I wanted to know was whether Halal meat was properly labelled as such in France; it appears that in the UK it is not.Also that members of the public are NOT being informed about what they are buying.As for your 'usual' comments about the Daily Mail - my oh my - aren't you letting your prejudice show. So it's all 'lies' in the Daily Mail, but supposedly the Guardian prints the truth !!! Or none of them ? !!!For your info I read the FT, the Times, The Guardian, the Telegraph, the Independent, The Guardian, France 24, German Times, International Herald Tribune, (and Le Tocqueville before it was taken off-line) - as well as the Daily Mail..........pretty varied choice of information there wouldn't you say ?Tut, tut, tut.......Chessie
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Dog - I think you've summed it up perfectly.My problem is that the customers are NOT being told that it is Halal meat - that there is NO choice being given. In exactly the same way that the chemical companies attempted to foist GM products on the public - without the public being informed.Fine - if people wish to eat Halal - it should be made clear to the customer that that is what is being offered.It is the nasty, under-hand way this is being done in the UK; where most people - on the grounds of humane treatment for animals - would prefer 'normally' slaughtered meat and think that what they are buying/eating has been slaughtered in accord with normal UK humane animal welfare practice (if the two can be said to go together). This is what is causing the 'fuss'....I was very concerned that the same situation would/could develop here. It would seem that France is more honest with its customers, thank goodness. But what are McD's like here in France? In the UK they did attempt to go over to Halal in some areas but had to abandon it once people became aware of what was happening and boycotted those McDs.And no - never been in McD's - and never would - just curious.And Dog's comments about fish are quite valid as well; I do feel a bit hypocrital when eating fish....Thanks everyone for information - very interesting.Chessie
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On moral, animal welfare and humane treatment of animals I find the slaughter of animals by the Halal method to be appalling.I was under the impression that Halal meat was only obtainable in specialist shops.I've been reading in the UK papers, though, that the large supermarkets, and catering organisations - are now using Halal meat - without telling their customers.So those in the UK who have fought for compassion in farming, and animal rights, and the RSPCA and DEFRA - are being totally ignored - and Halal meat is now being provided more and more even in supermarkets.But no-one has told the shoppers what they are buying !!!Does anyone know whether this is now happening here ? I HATE the idea of the medieval torture and slaughter of animals in the name of a religion.....I'm a vegetarian - but my husband isn't and he likes his meat. But I certainly do NOT want to buy meat from an animal which has been Halaled thank you very much.....Anyone got any definite knowledge about the situation here in France ? Chessie
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Fingers crossed for Poppy - quite a 'star' by now.Well done everyone involved.And for those who 'dislike' the Daily Mail - THEY were the first national paper to run with the story - well done them - it's called the Power of the Press - and fantastic of that newspaper to give more publicity.Isn't it amazing what can happen when a snowball gets rolling.To be continued....- as in Happy Ever After !!!Chessie
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This is an 'aaaahhhh' story.Today's Telegraph - 'Birds stuck in 9/11 memorial' - please go read.Who says New Yorkers don't have hearts !! - restores your faith in humanity slightly. (Then you read about the badger cull in the UK and you change your mind again).Chessie
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RH - snap -'He ain't heavy...' - played before my younger brother's funeral - (he was 40) - that gets to me every time I hear it...'Danny Boy' - 'Blow the Wind Southerly' - my mother's funeral.Elgar's 'Nimrod' - no reason just does...'The Lark Ascending'....Last Sunday's Telegraph colour supplement - article about memories truggered by summer hit songs - what about 'Summer in the City' - 'Summertime Blues'....oh the heady days of summer and youth...!!! (Sorry - post-swerve - but a bit of counter-balance !!)Chessie
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No Swissi not 'take off their Burkas..' - but accept that they are living in a democratic, egalitarian, free society in which the wearing of a medieval item of clothing designed for the sands of the desert is ridiculous. Let them wear their 'black shrouds' in their homes if they feel so strongly. But they are in the West, where such attire is seen as a rejection of the western way of life - for all the good and bad that goes with it.The west should only accept women wearing the Burka when it is possible for European women in the Middle East to wear their normal western clothing, to drink alcohol and to attend Christian churches.If the Burka women wish to live in a western 21st century democratic country - then they should integrate and leave their medieval dress behind. It is, as mentioned many times, not a requirement of their religion, nor law, nor mentioned in the Koran. I do get the impression that a lot of the women who 'say' they want to wear the Burka do so out of a feeling of just wanting to be 'different' - or to make a statement about disliking the society in which they live and not wishing to integrate....... Chessie
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Hi everyone -Thanks Thiery for staying on-line after I asked question - didn't have time to respond then - so will say big thank you for your kindness in 'waiting for response'.I'm always amazed at how helpful everyone is when someone sends out a plea for 'emergency' help or advice.We've returned, after fairly traumatic visit.The floating 'thingies' had 1 extra galette added (making a total of 1 quick dissolve and 2 longer lasting tabs in each = total of 6 in all); just didn't have time to put winter cover on, just left the blue bubbly summer cover...and kept fingers crossed.Have looked at pool - and it's CLEAR...clean, no signs of any green algae, or anything. Obviously there's 'bits' of debris, leaves etc on the bottom of the pool - but there doesn't seem to be anything to worry about.Will go and check chlorine levels shortly; weather's grey and cool at the moment so chlorine level should be OK; water level doesn't seem to have dropped so not much evaporation either.So all my fingers and toes crossed, and prayers to the Patron Saints of Swimming Pools - and your advice - seems to have worked - and fortunately no green swamp to sort out.Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to respond my panicked questions - very very much appreciated at a time when I was practically tearing my hair out with other worries.'You've all done very well' !!!! - (anyone remember that phrase ? !!!)Chessie
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