RumziGal

I know people who use henna, and I don't particularly like that look.  Whichever colour they use, it does have a tendency to go quite orangey. And what about swimming in chlorine pools?   That's probably worse for your hair than shampoo. I just don't think I'd last very long at this!  [:)]

This got quite a bit of publicity a few months back, and various magazines and daytime TV progs were getting people to do it and report back. I accept that it could all have been a set-up, but the results weren't unanimously in favour of binning the shampoo.    Some women just ended up feeling miserable with permanently lank hair. I know you're right about shampoo, it is a chemical cocktail, but I actually like the feel of newly washed and dried hair.   And yes, I blow-dry it too, AND put colour on it!     The alternative is just too depressing.   Much more depressing than shampoo!  [:)] 

[quote user="KathyC"]  Long may you remain so!. [/quote] Why thank you!   It's very, very nice to see real container ships, very exciting, they make me come over all poetic and adventurous.   And I know that gulls are hulking scavengers, but they make a nice change from unpleasant magpies, which are the major bird in France. Back down that way tomorrow to take Boy to Maritime Museum, then to St Mary's for him to go to the football.    It's cool.  [;-)]  

The land where I have friends with fertile fig trees and vines that produce grapes, of course!  [:)]

Lovely Easter Sunday here, sun shining.    Stayed over with friends last night.   Woke up to the sound of gulls, had pancakes and bacon for breakfast, sent the two boys out to look for the 100 eggs we'd hidden around the place.  Had a quick trip through a tune book with me on vile din and friend on guitar.   He's dead pleased because I taught him the basics last night, so he's well on his way to being an expert fiddler.  Just think of the sacrifice there, I taught him all I know..... [:)] Then we sat in the sun and had coffee and gingerbread bunnies and looked at the figs growing on the fig tree, and wondered how many peaches they'd get this year, and olives, and grapes.   The boys played cricket and badminton and boules and stuff like that. Took Boy down to watch the container ships loading up and listened to their big engines, singing of adventure on the high seas.   The water was calm as anything, and we watched the swans doing that paddle-steamer thing with their big webbed feet, as we dangled our legs over the edge and ate ice cream. Chatted to an old man who talked about his time in WW2 in Egypt and Palestine, I liked that.  I like friendly people who want to talk.  [:)] Then lunch, then watched Nanny McPhee, and everyone laffed when I cried at the end.  [:$] Lovely day! 

[quote user="KathyC"]surely a great deal of that demand was fomented by the large supermarkets who had their capital investments (stores) sitting idle for one day in seven.[/quote] Without a doubt.  But it takes two to tango, and I'm quite sure that French people would be queueing up to earn extra cash by working on a Sunday if they could.    The extent of black market work in France (which doesn't stop on Sunday, btw) suggests that people really want that money.   And if France is as good to its employees as British people seem to think it is, exploitation will be out of the question, don't you think? 

[quote user="ianf"] Give us back our family/rest/cycling/activity day please.[/quote] Just don't go shopping on a Sunday, ianf, it's really quite simple!   Now, the big question.   There is clearly a huge demand in both countries for Sunday opening, but there's a different cultural expectation.   In Britain, people like to make their own decisions.   In France, people like the State to make decisions for them. So...... who should decide whether shops should be open on Sunday?    

[quote user="Deby"]  yes I do believe french children are better disciplined, but they do lack freedom of expression and thought.  [/quote] I agree.  There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.  There is a price to pay for that model behaviour.

No, just because she's a drip.

[quote user="Prasutagus"] But, there does seem to be a certain peace about Sundays in France - something I have not experienced in the UK for some time. Or is it just that I have a different mind-set when at my maison secondaire? [/quote] Yes, you do.  After 7 years in France I don't even think of shopping on a Sunday, so I don't see the crowds that are undoubtedly there.   French people go on family trips to the supermarket on a Saturday.   Saturday shopping in France is just as hideous as it is in England, with packed car parks, queues, crowded supermarkets, wailing children, stressed parents......... On Sunday they all pile into the cinema.   If you want to watch the 2pm séance you have to join the queues well before the doors open at 1.30! I think French supermarkets would be extremely busy on Sundays if they were open.   There's nothing mystical going on.          

[quote user="TreizeVents"][Secondly, where I live, in France Profonde, but in a town of 6,500, and in my neighbourhood, I find the French people to be utterly unfriendly.  Not superficially unfriendly, when I go to the market or a public event there are many people I talk to and sit with and so forth.  I also have two major groups of French people I hang with, but its not the same.  I would say that if I left this town and the surroundings, there would be maybe two or three French people that I would miss in any way at all.  Five years!  They are, here in my town, so wrapped up in childhood buddies and family that there really is no room for anyone else.  [/quote] I too have recently been considering this aspect of my life in France.   Many French people have told me that superficial friendliness is typical of the South, and people will be all over you at first, but just out of nosiness (or curiosity, that sounds less harsh!).   Once they know what they want to know, you won't see them again. I did have problems in believing that at first, but as time has gone on I find that it has a certain amount of truth.   Those who seemed to think that contact with an English speaker would somehow magically make their children fully bilingual in minutes, for example, they were probably the first to go! [:)]   As for making friends.   Well, I've been saddened by this too, and started to wonder what I was doing wrong.   Then I looked back at all the things I'd done in France, and it occurred to me that "meeting people" or "making friends" is clearly just not an aim in itself for French people.   I have done a pile of classes and courses here, and while people may well be perfectly sociable for that hour, when it's finished it's finished.   They're there to do that activity, it's all very functional, and after that it's as-you-were.   I have plenty of material things to show from my various classes, but nothing to do with humans. It could of course just be a regional thing, like so much in France.  But oh boy, do I find the southern English open and friendly and receptive after living in the south of France!  [:)]   The things that others complain about in England - shop assistants talking on the phone, whatever, that's just absolutely normal for me in France!  Anyway, to end on a high note [;-)] after all that, I think I might actually have made a new friend.  You know who you are!  [:-))]

What a sorry thread altogether. I think I'll join the St Malo 1 in voluntary exile. Bye!  

[quote user="Dick Smith"]The churchmen seem to have had a sense of humour bypass. [/quote] The churchmen have won.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2047001,00.html

[quote user="oglefakes"]BTW, there must be a god, as my daughter described the picture (I had a discreet look after to work out what she was on about) as "a lady in the nuddy and and a man pointing a loaf of bread at her"[:D][:D][:D]  [/quote] [:D] [:D] [:D]  Un gros pain?

[quote user="Marym2"] Hi Just got this email, ( Think this was in last nights paper) as Ken has already bugg"""d up the 2012 costs, what would make you want to come back to London/ England, would this help? [/quote] Why would it make any difference to my decision?    I already live in an area of France with a large population of Muslims, and you know, I kind of like it.   A flash mosque would be cool.

[quote user="Beryl"]  The French remember what the all Allies did for France, yet it seems some Americans have never known what the French have done for them. [/quote] Some French might remember, but by no means all of them.   From what I've experienced down in the south here, I would say that there's a shameful lack of recognition given to any other nationality's part in the world wars.

[quote user="TreizeVents"]Anyone see Little Miss Sunshine?  Combination of searing critique, terribly funny movie and just ordinary life. [/quote] Yeah, good innit?    WHERE'S OLIVE?  [:-))] [:)]

[quote user="TreizeVents"]And there are at least two good shops in Montpellier. [/quote] ROFL!!!    TreizeVents, you are wicked!    I hereby give you honorary membership of the select band known as the Witches of Languedoc.   Joining fees and initiation ceremony details available from your nearest Witch.   You'll know one when you see one. 

Going down well in France.   Allegedly.

[quote user="Dick Smith"]Some people, apparently, like to cuddle other people dressed up as Jesus. [/quote] I wouldn't cuddle this one, it would only melt and be very messy.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6509127.stm

Our Tempo doglet was rescued from the streets, a poor, tiny, traumatised thing he was, all cold and scared and peeing everywhere. That was about 15 months ago, and we've never seen another dog like him, him being a "race unique" and all.   Then last Sunday, out in the woods, I lost sight of him, thought I saw him again and called him over.  I really thought it was him, but it wasn't.   And u no wot, we all agree that it was probably his mother.  So alike!   The old man with her looked very shifty and unpleasant, and took pains to avoid us, walking wide of the path and not even saying bonjour. Having said that, that is fairly typical behaviour among the small number of people who walk their dogs here!  [:)]   No such thing as doggy-owner bonding in these 'ere parts!  [:)] 

[quote user="Dick Smith"]Don't really have to look those up. [/quote] I know that!   I had a little sprat of insecurity about compendium and Bowdlerise, though.  Not sure why.   Still traumatised by the beards, I think.  And now I'm getting my fish-spawn mixed up.  There's thunder in the air. 

[quote user="Renaud"] (These comics seem to have died out, I can’t think why).   [/quote] Past Times are selling a little compendium of Commando stories just now. Didn't have time to look to see if they'd been Bowdlerised. There you go, Dick, two words especially for you.  [:)]

First they came for the Miki And we all spoke up If they come for Diki We'll up the ante and speak some more But they can do what they want with Stiki Viki. 

Thank goodness for that!   Merci à tlm.  [:)]