LanguedocGal2

The director mentioned ‘La Vie Comme Elle Va’ and gave a website from where it can be downloaded for free but I did not retain it.  He is now making a film on characters in Toulouse. Having seen the trailer for La Vie Comme Elle Va  -link below -, it appears that Ici Najac is a sort of part 2 (the finished product) with a number of characters not in the first and vice versa. Ici Najac also features our adorable mechanic that Cat refers to as the inventor seen in the Bande Annonce below opening the garage door, talking about not smoking, drinking or going to dances and also on the helicopter thingy. The stationmaster in the trailer is also in Ici Najac.  I understood that those featured in Ici Narjac are very much alive. However, the credit did mention a ‘this film is dedicated to…’ but I don’t know the role of the person in the film. Ron, the train does indeed stop 8 times a day (The director confirmed this). However, if you watch Ici Najac, you will understand why the question was asked. Priceless![:D] http://www.allocine.fr/video/player_gen_cmedia=18360384&cfilm=54862.html

[quote user="CatherineS2"] Hi LanguedocGal! Did you go to the screening? If so, how was it? Thanks! [/quote] RA, not sure we are talking about the same film. Ici Najac was filmed over a period of 10 years from 97 and only released in 2006 so I do wonder if Arte could have shown it a few times already.  CatherineS2, there was a bit of music in the film (a lot provided by the Irish singer, resident of Najac – I loved his voice) so do not know which you are talking about.  In any case, it was all pretty fantastic including the baroque/medieval/atmospheric (really not sure how to describe it) piece. The Director was present to reply to audience questions. People were very appreciative of the simplicity and beauty of the film.  He chose 12 residents of Najac and filmed them over the 10-year period. He said that Najac is a town of 800 inhabitants and the film was not about Najac but about these characters. It was basically a documentary of their lives over 10 years. My friends and I  loved it and the female ones are all now part of the fan club of the 75-year old mechanic  [kiss] whose personality to die for, inspired the Director to make the film.  The Director admitted that had this mechanic’s character been written, only one French actor could have carried it off.  Personally, I don’t think any actor could have managed that feat. Don’t want to give too much away but I would recommend it. For some, the French may be difficult to understand as the characters speak with a heavy local (Occitan-ish?) accent. Before seeing it, I was slightly afraid it may have a been a sort of tourist board type production but nothing of the kind, thank goodness! Someone asked how many times a day the train stops at Najac.  You have to watch the film to understand why this was asked[:D].  

Cerise, his grey phase no doubt coincided with his stint at Twinkle’s, who no doubt drained the colour out of him. I’m happy to announce that Georgie is now peachy, perky and bouncy in all the right places…..[;-)] Sorry JayJay, rugby calendar sounds an excellent idea for those on the waiting list. You know, it’s rugby country here. There’s sun (not today), rugby and lots of wine. One worthwhile thing out of 3 is not bad. Wouldn’t dare say that in public in these parts. Ladies, don't you worry about sweet George, as I have the goodness of a pure convent lass, he's practically in heaven. (where's the halo smiley?)

[:D]Beryl, you are definitely not doing anything wrong and nor are a lot of people who move to France. It's true the debat has shifted somewhat from the original post but that seems to be normal. The bottom line is that the Health Service here worries those who have to deal with its financing and I suppose that also means that we should be concerned too if we live here.  If they change the financing rules a little bit, the system may be better protected financially in the long run. It's a national debate so why not on this forum? Hope the original poster isn't upset.

Cat, you are so right. When I first moved here, I wanted to take out private health insurance because I felt I had not contributed to the French system, knew about the dire straits of it’s finances and couldn’t be bothered to sort out the E forms as, initially, I was only here for 9 months. Since moving here full time, I’ve rarely used the Health system but feel less guilty these days. However, back then, I would happily have paid. In fact, that’s what happened the first time I saw a specialist. I called a private clinic and got an appointment the following day. On arrival, I realised they thought that I had a Carte Vitale and explained to them that I would pay for the tests. I was treated as a private patient without private insurance alongside the state patients. I simply wrote them a cheque. It also showed that I would not have received preferential treatment as a patient with full private insurance. The French health service works well because of the private/state partnership rejected in the UK. I really don’t understand anyone being jailed for having a private policy in view of how the health service works here (top up insurance system). There has to be more to this jail term as another poster suggests. A two-tier system will only occur in France if private hospitals are built to ‘’only’’ treat private patients and that would be wrong. If I had the means, I would definitely be happy to pay for my own treatment here, cotisations or not. Being prevented from doing so doesn’t make any sense to me. In some areas, the private/state partnership here is already on shaky grounds as one often see articles about certain clinics and dentists not accepting patients without top-up insurance. Clearly these clinics are not happy about the amount and how they are reimbursed by the State. This is a worry because the CMU is not an option for most people entitled to it. TV; the only answer I can give for tampering with the French health service is it’s terrible terrible financial state. I think that most Brits in their late 30s and older probably remember a good NHS too. The French system is good for the most part but it is a bottomless pit too and realism has to come to play sooner rather than later for all our sakes.

Cooperlola is right. You may be responsible for the boiler too, if it needs servicing whilst you are there, unless it's considered 'Vetuste' (timeworn) in which case it shouldn't be in the flat/house in the first place. The agent should provide you with an ''Etat des Lieux'' which you should check before you sign the bail (tenancy agreement). The Etat des Lieux is a thorough description of what is in the property and the condition of the property. Otherwise, on leaving, you may be asked to put right, things that were already damaged when you took it on. When you leave, an Etat des lieux will be carried out and compared to the first. The Landlord may use this as a basis to withhold part of your deposit (Caution). In France, when you rent, the property is considered your home/property. This means that the tenant has far more responsiblilites/rights for the rented property. Most Brits see rental in a very different way. I was once told off by a French person for not considering a rented place my 'home'. Edit: The above refer to 'normal' rental (flats/houses) and not Gites. I have no idea how it works with Gites.  

Lori, I'm clearly still a forum newbie.

Missy N, your sob stories are just not working. Georgie boy is really starting to enjoy his stint here and has rather quickly warmed up to the situation.

TU, I think you've just answered my question as to why it wasn't accepted by LF. I'm really too innocent for my own good.[:$] Lori, sorry, no can do. He is just getting warmed up - War and Peace, of course[;-)]

Well! Gorgeous George finally materialised this morning and is looking a little worse for wear after a stint at Twinkle’s, but my special brew will soon have him back on form.  He isn’t too happy at the moment though having just realised that he now has to share my precious self. Despairing that that wench Twinkle wasn’t ever going to release him, I had made other plans and now he is sulking at having to share me with Delicious Denzil.  He’ll soon realise that even half of my time is magic. Lori, don’t hold your breath as we are starting with ‘War and Peace’ followed by a long list of other monumental works. Missy, I strongly suggest you get yourself a gigolo c u m carpenter/plumber/builder because by the time I finish with Georgie, he’ll be at least 70.[:D] Thanks Dearest Warlock du Nord, Bisous bisous plus I send you lots of glorious sunshine from beau Languedoc.   Edit: Why doesn't the system like C. U. M? Re edited to keep TU happy. As a preposition it probably won't be acceptable either.[:)] 

Excellent!

The society for people who love tax inspectors and politicians. (I'll join!)

[quote user="pugwash"] L/Gal,  I know what you mean when you say I am going to loooove France, but at least their socialism is up front where you can see it Dear Captain P, hope you keep your British sense of humour when you move to France[:-))] , not like the pseudo socialism that we have at the moment, and look like we will continue to have with the Fat jock probably going to get promoted. It will be interesting to see what the Sarkozy effect will be in France. He might even sort out the inheritance problems eventually !. And your British optimism[:D]. With both of those, France works very well on a number of levels.   [/quote]

''Ici Narjac'' will be shown on Wednesday, Feb 21 at 20h 00 at the town centre cinema ‘Cinemovida Palace’, BEZIERS.   It’s a special Cine-Debat evening, so the film will be discussed with the director J-H Meunier after viewing.  CatharineS2, if I go, I’ll let you know what I think, here or via pm.

[quote user="pugwash"] Sorry to confuse you L/Gal, I am talking about the TV License, most of which seems to be appropriated by the BBC news department to run an alternative version of the Guardian newspaper, and has become a beacon for Champagne Socialists. You'll gonna looooooooove France[:-))] As for the inheritance business if you still have £10 left when you go, that's bad planning ! serves you right [:P] [:D] You may have a point. I'll organise for the tenner to be in my hand as I take my final breath.[:)] [/quote] Hastobe, I think it's irresponsible not to leave a will. In France, the govt decides for you and that's what I object to. Agree with Mr L, if you wait for the 'best' moment to buy, you could wait forever. The friend I mentioned above has lived in Paris for 10 years and seen prices go up by over 50% in the areas he likes. If they fall now by 20%, that still means an increase of 30% plus the rent he has paid over that time.  Over the last couple of years, he has realised that waiting for the best moment to buy has cost him a small fortune. 

[quote user="pugwash"] Something else I did not say that also helps me with the decision, is not having to pay the BBC for it's propoganda driven news organisation. Ehhhhhhh? You've lost me here. I know I will have to pay the French for probably the same thing, but it will be less and I can live with that. Ehhhhhhh? Still lost. [/quote] Re succession laws I know we can't take it with us but if I only have a tenner left when I do kick the bucket, I prefer to decide where and to whom it goes.  I don't need some govt to make that decision for me based on 200 year old laws. I sincerely hope to outlive those daft laws in any case[6].

Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood  (The Animals?) Cerise, don’t worry about scrumptious George’s condition. I have enough special witchery potions brewed to ensure he is restored to pre Twinkle state. Miki, I’m almost ‘’blushing’’ here at your insinuations (misunderstood again!).  My intentions are positively honourable and angelic (Mother Theresa, me). I will not make sweet and edible George engage in any activities that  I  -sorry- he won’t get the maximum pleasure from. He has a lot to do here and it will simply take some time before he is handed over to Lori. Just to clarify things for any forumers with dubious minds (say 100 Hail Marys!) I am, of course, talking about intellectual pursuits with delectable George: literature, cinema, theatre etc to be dissected and analysed from every angle and position. Twinkle, let go of him! Allez, fous-lui la paix!

[quote user="Miki"]Clooney, or as we Warlocks like to call him "Georgie Boy" is not available after Twinks (by the way, you are 2 days over due on handing him back and you also have 3 Warlock  books outstanding from the library. He is showing signs of wear and tear, could the next person put some brown paper on him to protect his body...............No, hold on, I think that's the instructions for the Warlock books ! So could someone just rub some oils in to his body. I know it's an 'orrrible task but one of you gals has gotta do it [:)] Lori, he is American and you are not allowed a fellow countryman, can we offer you José Mourinho or Mrs Buckets Brother in law Onslow instead, for an hour ? [/quote] Oil rub on Gorgeous George taken care of here! No need to ask twice.  Twinkle, you have to return him; the needy and desperate first. Lori, I strongly suggest you accept Onslow as a surprise and pose no questions.  Mrs Bouquet/Bucket's brotherin-law is a sight to behold .... Touching is hors de question, so Turnip may have a point. Warlock du Nord, I'm still waiting and still need comforting[:(] I promise to give you all my house points so you can get a book token from Prof Smith at the end of term, if you whoosh Gorgeous George over here.

5-E, on the contrary, I simply wanted to dwell on the other issues raised for those who did not or cannot see it and may be interested. Also, being a bit of a news junkie,  I had seen a lot of the footage used in the programme before in various documentaries. I found the american TV entrapment scenes quite surreal but have seen similar scenes before too. The faces of the Rabbi, marine, and the married Doctor with kids caught in the pedophile sting, for example ,were worth seeing. The concept of presumption of innocence is a real issue here.  As I have not lived in the UK for a few years now and do not watch UK TV, I didn't know that along with the long running Crimewatch,  programmes such as Revenge TV and such like existed nowadays.  Lori, I think you'll be fine watching it.  There are several reports in the programme. Of course, it doesn't deal with all the ''average'' law abiding  youngsters out there but these documentaries rarely do. 

I saw it.  It’s indeed worrying but I’ll tackle the other issue it raises.  There were two main issues covered; the reasons for the increase in random violent acts by the young (see 5-E’s posts)  and methods used by the Police and Media to catch the culprits. The French seem to be fascinated by British and Americans attitudes to camera surveillance, TV crime shows etc in dealing with crime. Over the past year or so, I have seen so many French documentaries and discussions on the UK’s approach to these issues.  In the programme last night, they again tried to understand the British and American obsession with programmes such as Crimewatch, America’s most wanted etc. Also, how successful (or not) these methods are in helping to solve cases. The French privacy laws mean that Camera surveillance, programmes like Crimewatch and the American equivalents raise complex ideological issues. However, as the same types of violence occurs here too, they have to try and see how best to tackle them.  They will have to change the laws in France in order to take the same approach as the Brits and Americans. The French appear to be mystified by the fact that the ‘anglo-saxons’, who are obsessed with the idea of individual liberty, accept this level of surveillance so easily. They again show the surveillance project in Shoreditch, London – a bit of an old hat but amazing to the French. I personally think that they are intellectualising the issue too much as usual. The answer seems to me to be simple pragmatism. If cameras help to solve these crimes, the public seem to say, get on with it. The French need to comprehend it all on an intellectual, human rights level first. I thought the young girl in northern France, gang raped whilst drugged, was extremely brave to testify on camera. However, she only went to the police on hearing that there were photos of her during the incident circulating. Otherwise, she had not planned to report it. The pervasiveness of extreme violence on the net and TV is shown to be a contributing factor in the level of violent crimes by the young. What amazed me was how the law in the UK failed to ban the websites selling these horrific images (including decapitation etc) that can be downloaded onto telephones. The owner of the site featured was more than happy to talk about his business. The person only has to say they are over 18 to buy these downloads and share them with friends. These images are so violent that they cannot be shown in the media but everyone can download them. I was also saddened by the 16 year old from the Paris region featured. Without some sort of miracle in his life, his future – if he survives long enough to have one – seemed almost predetermined.  Even the lawyer said that he was a difficult (insinuating hopeless) case. I wished the journalist had not let the Scotland Yard spokesman off so easily regarding the crime detection figures published in the Guardian that morning. French journalists are much too polite.  Yes, it’s repeated Wednesday at 1.20am on M6.  However, if you have teenage children/grand children and are of delicate disposition, I’m not sure I’d recommend it.

[quote user="Miki"]Right [8-)] Well I got me a lettre reccomendée telling me to go the post office first thing on Monday. So I reckon that has got to be the whoosh machine. Warlock classes in school ? Well I went when I was in......and I went when I was at............and there was the time I was in wotsit for while, then there was a couple when I was in.....plus a few in....and again in...let's see then. Twice. Wodger fancee me dooks (that's medieval Warlock, not to be confoosed wiv Victorian Warlockering) [/quote] Tay, I also thought you were a young lad. But don’t worry, you're not the only one to be misjudged on this forum.  Take poor LG, for example, she is a gentle, sensitive, self-effacing soul but on LF, is considered one of the witches of the Midi, sniff, sniff.[:(] Miki, dearest warlock du Nord, I want George Clooney whooshed over here to me for a few months, as I need comforting, sniff, sniff sniff.  I’m so misunderstood, sniff, sniff.[:(]

Lit motorways.

[quote user="You can call me Betty"] Having sarnies for lunch, and NOT having them at 12:30 precisely. Eating gherkins just for the sheer hell of it, and NOT having pate or charcuterie with them Just knowing someone who is a vegetarian [/quote] So true Betty[:D] Not doing things in couples. Even in the UK, my French friends used to comment on the fact that they didn't understand why so many Brits could do activities and go out so often in male or female groups without their OH.  I've found here, it's still very much expected that when one goes out, it should be with one's OH if one is in a relationship. Sports activities are different. I'm talking about going to dinners, clubs, concerts, holidays etc. Etrange!  Or perhaps it's just me and my friends that are etrange but it always seemed the norm to me in the UK. Which is it? EDIT: Also, people do not receive social security benefits in the UK. If you are unemployed, there is no help at all from the govt. I loved that one[:D]  

Andymr, I'm gobsmacked by it! Seems, I can link up and work on up to 10 monitors at the same time.  Ok, a little OTT perhaps but the flexibility is amazing. I'm currently working on two. Magic!

Thanks a million everyone! There'll be no PC monitors flying across France today[:D]. I had simply not understood that my cursor appearing on the second monitor meant that this monitor was effectively complementary to the first. I had expected it to react as Tim mentions above - contain the same display as the laptop monitor enabling me to choose monitors with a function key as Dick suggests.  Only, this function is more sophisticated (for simple minds like mine[8-)]). Managed to understand it by reading through the links provided above. I'm now going to spend the rest of the day kicking myself for not being aware that for the past 3 years, I had the facility to work on multiple monitors simultaneously. Something that  would have made my life soooooooooo much easier on a variety of projects. Quelle c**** je suis[:(]  (My asterisks, I beat LF censors to it[:D]).