memb

My advice would be to dump them.  I did and wish I'd done it sooner saving myself weeks of hassle and raised blood pressure!   Their customer service is non-existent.

Thats really nice s17 and thank you.     I remember Mam each time I make them.

Hi again, so pleased to receive an email notification telling me how successful all your scones were.   That's a few more people pleased with Mam's recipe!     I've got this from the internet re conversions for fan ovens so it may help for future? "Normal" gas; "Normal" Centigrade;Fan 1/4;100;100 1/4;110;110 1/2;130;120 1;140;130 2;150;140 3;160;150 4-5;180-190;160 6;200;170 7;220;180 8;230;190 9;250;200 Hope that helps!     Happy scone eating!    Cheers Memb

SCONES (the way Mam used to make them and the way I have continued for years) Do NOT grease the baking tray!!!!!  This makes about 8 and as they are so simple to make I'd rather make them fresh than make a lot and freeze them. Preheat oven 240deg C 8 ozs gateau flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, good pinch salt, 2ozs butter (NOT marg), 1 oz. sugar, 2ozs sultanas, milk to mix (for plain scones obviously omit the sultanas). Add salt and baking powder to flour then rub in the butter to a fine mix. Add the sugar and 2ozs raisins or sultana's (if using fruit), now mix to a soft manageable consistency with the milk. Roll them out to 3/4" thick (this is important) for a lovely risen scone. Bake quite near the top of the oven for 10 mins.   When cool slice and fill with a spoon of jam or sliced strawberries and a dollop of fresh cream.   Heaven....good luck puzzled.

Thats great news, I'm good thankyou, and yourself?   Nice to have a yummy scone and a cuppa!  

Hi sweet17, I'm here, I read LF every now and then!   Glad the cooking is going well !

[quote user="You can call me Betty"][quote user="Marton"] Ok depend on Tresco - he/she googles everything.      Open your eyes and get the blinkers off you may see some facts for yourself. [/quote]   You seem to have reverted to Serbo-Croat again there, Marton.  However, to respond to what I think you're saying: I, too can google stuff. It's really simple. You should perhaps try it yourself  in order to glean some factually accurate information about some of these issues that concern you. As for my eyes, and the blinkers thing: perhaps you'd like to explain to me exactly how you think I may be blinkered? I mean, living in the UK and actually being part of what goes on on a daily basis can't possibly be any substitute for reading about it on the internet from the safety of France, can it? And I wouldn't expect that working on a full-time basis with foreign nationals from all countries living and working in the UK would give me any sort of insight into them or their circumstances at all, now would it? Deary me.   [/quote] Its your choice to be on Living France forum.     Deary me you believe we hear things via jungle drums or maybe Tasmanian bongo's.   

[quote user="You can call me Betty"][quote user="Marton"] The trouble with lots of posters on here is that you don't believe others are entitled to their opinions.     We all have one, and are entitled to it without the walls being posted.    [/quote]   You have every right to your opinion, Marton, just as everyone who has oppposed that opinion has a right to theirs. However, if you choose to twist statistics, manipulate documents and cherrypick spurious evidence to support your opinion, then it's only reasonable to expect that your use of this supposed "evidence" will be challenged. It's not your opinion that I personally wish to challenge. If that's the opinion you want to hold, then fine. I will continue to challenge you, however, where you present unsubstantiated tabloid BS as justification for that opinion. Because it's my opinion that it is wrong to allow misinformation to be disseminated in the guise of "facts".   [/quote] Ok depend on Tresco - he/she googles everything.      Open your eyes and get the blinkers off you may see some facts for yourself.

[quote user="Tresco"][quote user="Bugbear"]At the end of the day does it really matter, surely it's all about how an individual sees a particular situation. T[/quote] No, it isn't. On here, it's about people posting stuff, wildly exaggerated claims which reflect badly on minority groups in society, and not providing the slightest scrap of evidence to back up their claims.. These posters will never, ever, show me the law that has banned Nativity Plays, Gollys, Christmas Carols Singers, in fact Christmas...they will never, ever,  show me the Governments role in 'yielding' to the 'demands' of Muslims, of policies which 'throw away' or in other ways try to 'get rid of' our heritage. [/quote] I never said there was any law, I said individual education authorities were banning depending on multi-cultural pupil levels.  Remember the issue of the B.A. worker who was stopped from wearing her necklace crucifix.  I suppose that did'nt happen either.      ........."Unfortunately for those seeking to blame Britain's migrant population, the student was Polish and the yobs were Brits, and it appeared that the crime for which he was being beaten up was being Polish. It's a funny old world, eh?" I never said I was blaming Britain's migrant population for the mugging.    The subject of immigrants was entered into my post when I said systems were crashing because the island is too small and taking in too many people. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3136506.ece ........"I dont think there is a law as in written down in black and white, but it is filtering down from up high some how, caused by do gooders and people who are too scared to make a right decision in case some one is offended, I thought an awlful lot of what I was hearing was hear say, jokes, urban myths, until last summer our local school( infant /juniors) sent out in the news letter that children would not be allowed to sing baa baa black sheep and more and the word black was to be replaced by pink, and they were asking parents if they were going to teach there children this song could they teach them the word Pink. which is utter nonsence, im sorry but if any one takes offence to such a song, I to would be the first to tell them to go some where else. there is a lot of this kind of nonsence going on, and I can see why its causing problems between different groups of people. No one should expect to go to a new country and  to have it changed  to fit in with them , they should learn to fit in with the country they have moved to.  NO? I have no problems with any one living where they want as long as they dosnt affect the natives in a negative way." Hear hear.     The trouble with lots of posters on here is that you don't believe others are entitled to their opinions.     We all have one, and are entitled to it without the walls being posted.     It speaks volumes to me that only two people have commented on the mugging which has devastated our family.     Keep safe because my belief is what goes around, comes around.              

[quote user="Russethouse"] [quote user="Marton"]....."That means that in the UK, there are people of 13 different nationalities"      which kind of takes us back to the original title of this thread MadMad UK and my statement that the island is too small to take them all.       I will now continue the care and concern for that relative in hospital after the mugging.[/quote] But Marton, what you seem to not appreciate is that mugging could have happened anywhere. I don't know many people who have been mugged, 3 in fact, one in London and two in Venice ! A few weeks ago our decorator (in the UK) had to have a few days off as his brother in law had been murdered, the BIL was French and lived in Bordeaux...... At least your relative is being treated free of charge, no one asked if they had insurance before hospitalization and whats more my bet is that some of the nurses and doctors make up the number of immigrants you complain about. I wish them a speedy recovery.   [/quote] Thanks for your sentiments.   Free in the sense he did'nt have to be asked about insurance, but has paid N I for quite some time.   Yes the mugging could have happened anywhere but that does'nt discount the fact it was 50 yards from his door, and his Christmas and New Year celebrations were spent in intensive care and now he could be brain-damaged, it also does'nt discount the fact that his self-employment could be down the pan.  It also does'nt help to know the holders of the iron bars had just been released from prison serving a mere 7 weeks for another offence.    Yob culture to blame, I want what you have and I will get it anyway I can, whether I take your life or not.   I am sorry to read the news of your decorator's relative.

....."That means that in the UK, there are people of 13 different nationalities"      which kind of takes us back to the original title of this thread MadMad UK and my statement that the island is too small to take them all.       I will now continue the care and concern for that relative in hospital after the mugging.

[quote user="Cat"] You yourself were happy to quote those "statistics" when they seemed to justify your agenda... [quote user="Marton"] Why do these people head for the UK, the above speaks for itself. [/quote] but now you rubbish them when the full text makes it clear that they do not? [quote user="Marton"] Figures, figures, figures. [/quote] You really can't have it both ways. [/quote] I did'nt rubbish them at all.     I was quoting figures figures figures simply because I could'nt be bothered to replicate what had just been written.  

[quote user="You can call me Betty"][quote user="Marton"] Figures figures figures......the whole point is its money being given to those who have not contributed sufficiently (if anything) to take it out.   I came to France expecting no funding from France, indeed we had to sign a declaration stipulating that.    Would the masses have stayed if they had been asked to do the same?    I think not. [/quote]     Oh, so now they don't suit YOUR argument, they're "figures, figures, figures"??? ROFLAPMP[:D][:D] What an absolute joke!!! Well done, Marton. [/quote] What an absolute joke you are!    You astound me!!    You think I'm going to replicate your figures when the IPPR has set them out so clearly.      Get a life.

[quote user="You can call me Betty"] OK, I've been through where Marton got these entirely spurious figures from, which is a report done for the IPPR for a Channel 4 Despatches programme. In order to show just how easily snyone with an agenda can take statistics out of context and manipulate them to provide fodder for their own argument, however tenuous that argument may be, I reproduce them below with the notes to the tables from which Marton so selectively "lifted" them. I've added the real meanings of the percentages (in brackets) and would recommend that if you're interested, you have a look at the report itself, particularly the bits pertaining to average incomes and average rates of tax and NI being paid by each group. It's a real eye-opener, very interesting, though really not suitable for proving Marton's agenda!! 1. Proportion of population claiming Income Support by country of birth 2005/06 UK = 4%  (being 4% of nearly 53 million people) compared with the highest 3 ... Bangladesh 11% (being 11% of a total population of just over 208,000 or 0.35% of the UK population) / Turkey 21% (being 21% of a total population of just over 69,000 or 0.12% of the UK population) /Somalia 39%.(being 39% of a total population of just over 82,000 0r 0.14% of the UK population)  The report goes on to say, in relation to this information Of all of the groups, those born in the US, the Philippines, Poland, France and Australia are the least likely to be claiming Income Support. Somalis are the most likely to be claiming it, due to the high incidence of poverty among this group. It is interesting to compare these figures with those for the (largely UK-born) population of some of the UK’s most deprived areas. For example, in the 15 per cent most deprived areas of Scotland, more than 40 per cent of children are dependent on a parent or guardian who is in receipt of Income Support (Scottish Executive 2005). Significantly, though, the majority of groups have lower income support take-up rates than the UK-born. Of the groups with higher rates of Income Support claims, many are likely to be recognised refugees or naturalised British citizens.   For this next bit, the report explains:   Table 5.11 presents data on sickness and disability benefit claims by country of birth. This includes payments such as Incapacity Benefit and other benefits paid to people who are unable to work because of a long-term health problem or disability 2. Proportion of population claiming sickness and disability benefits by country of birth 2005/06 UK = 6% (of 53 million) compared with the highest 3 ... Kenya 8% (of 123,000) / Cyprus 9% (of 64,000) / Pakistan 10%. (of 300,000) The variations between country-of-birth groups in Table 5.11 are narrower than is the case for Income Support, but there are still substantial differences. Polish-born people are unlikely to be claiming any form of disability benefit, which reflects both their ineligibility for many of these benefits and the generally youthful nature of this group. Irish-born people, by contrast, with the highest average age of the groups studied in this report at 56 years, have a greater tendency to claim benefits available to people with a long-term sickness or disability. Other groups with relatively high rates of disability include settled communities such as the Pakistani and Cypriot born. In 2001, according to the Census, 30 per cent of Irish-born people in England and Wales had a limiting long-term illness (LLTI). Twenty-three per cent of the Pakistani born and 25.3 per cent of the Cypriot-born had LLTIs. This compares with 18.2 percent of the UK-born population. 3. Proportion of population claiming child benefit by country of birth 2005/06   UK = 14% (of 53 million) compared with the highest 3 ... Pakistan 29% / Bangladesh 33% / Somalia 40%.   Because Child Benefit is available, obviously, to people with children, the proportion of each country-of-birth group in receipt of this benefit is affected by the groups’ age and family structures. The group with the highest proportion claiming Child Benefit is the Somali-born, who have an average age of 31 and are the youngest of the country-of-birth groups featured here. The second and third highest proportions are found in the Bangladeshi and Pakistaniborn groups, which tend to have larger family sizes than the national average. At the other end of the spectrum, the American-born are the least likely to qualify for Child Benefit, Polishborn people are less likely to have families in the UK and are therefore unlikely to qualify, and the high average age of the Irish-born means that a small proportion of this group have dependent children and again they are therefore unlikely to qualify. People born outside of the EEA who are claiming Child Benefit are likely to be naturalised British citizens. 4. Proportion of population claiming unemployment-related benefits by country of birth 2005/06 One of the primary public concerns around migration is the belief that immigrants are a drain on the public purse, despite research evidence that suggests otherwise (Gott and Johnston 2002, Sriskandarajah et al 2005). In the lead-up to EU enlargement in 2004, for example, much of the media attention was focused on the possibility of migrants from the new member states coming to the UK solely to claim benefits. Even post-enlargement, there have been claims that these migrants are a drain on the public purse, with the Daily Express claiming that they are ‘costing the taxpayer £77 million a year’ (Whitehead 2007) UK = 1% compared to the highest 3 ... Bangladesh 5% / Somalia 5% / Iran 5%. The table reveals that even where there is a relatively high level of unemployment among some groups, the proportion of people who claim unemployment-related benefits is very low. For example, while 4 per cent of the Polish and South African-born populations are unemployed, the proportion of those populations claiming unemployment benefits rounds to zero. This is likely to be because of ineligibility for benefits, whereas some of the groups with higher proportions claiming unemployment benefits are likely to be naturalised British citizens.   To be clear.....red bits are mine, italic bits are those omitted by Marton in presenting the stats   Edit: Yes, it's the report Cathy published the link to while I was having fun doing this. Let's ban the Irish, I say (JOKINGLY!!)       [/quote]   Figures figures figures......the whole point is its money being given to those who have not contributed sufficiently (if anything) to take it out.   I came to France expecting no funding from France, indeed we had to sign a declaration stipulating that.    Would the masses have stayed if they had been asked to do the same?    I think not.

[quote user="LanguedocGal"] Oh not these jolly statistics again. (imagine a bored smiley here)  Can someone please explain why these stats tend to be trotted out (I'm sure they've been on here before) by people who do not actually understand them? Marton, do you understand these Stats? If so could you explain them to prove that you do? You may think that they support your anti immigrant ''freeloader'' argument, but when you really understand them, they don't. We've seen them before.  Tell me, do you represent the good o' quality monocultural element of the UK that the nation should be aspiring to resemble? (another yawn smiley). Edit: thank you, Betty, you beat me to it. [/quote] Just imagine an even more bored smiley is my reply to you.

[quote user="Russethouse"] Why do these people head for the UK, the above speaks for itself.    If the benefits were'nt on offer there'd be big changes, until those changes happen (if ever) there will be resentment.     Good Luck to all those currently affected by the healthcare changes in France, and there are many, just look at the number of viewings to that thread I guess you are assuming that all the people claiming are and always have been, non contributors then ? And of course, if you have read the much viewed thread you will know that the British in France DO contribute too. !   [/quote] I am aware of that, I am also aware that there are non-contributors as you must be.

[quote user="You can call me Betty"][quote user="oakbri"] Secondly I was remarking on the original theme of the post regarding the ludicrous and unforgiveable practise of changing our customs to not offend newcomers. I am afraid I am of the belief that if they don't like get them a taxi to the airport. I firmly believe that the government policy of disregarding our heritage to prevent from offending anyone is actually breeding resentment and dividing people even further. [/quote] At the risk of opening an already festering would, it would be interesting to understand how you would align the comment above with the reaction of huge numbers of British migrants to France to the French government's decision to amend its healthcare legislation to their detriment. As I understand it, the action taken by those British people directly affected was precisely a demand for France to "change its customs to not offend newcomers" and boy, did that "breed resentment"!!!!!!! Maybe those who have "got a taxi to the airport" should be politely asked to refrain from commenting on so many things that, by their own admission, they know nothing about (other than what they've been able to glean from the media). By the way, excellent post, clarkkent. [/quote] Sarkozy has done the right thing, why should France pay for the healthcare of non-contributors.     However, his ruling is against the grain for those who had no other option other than to join the CMU, they went along with the rules as stated, and the goalposts have been moved, hence it will cause hardship.     Lots of people worked out their budget and its been blown through no fault of their own.  On the other hand we have the UK Government handing out our paid-in contributions and taxes (yes some of us have to pay tax in the UK so it does bother me where my money is being spent) as below, figures by the Institute of Public Policy Research.    1. Proportion of population claiming Income Support by country of birth 2005/06 UK = 4% compared with the highest 3 ... Bangladesh 11% / Turkey 21% /Somalia 39%. 2. Proportion of population claiming sickness and disability benefits by country of birth 2005/06 UK = 6% compared with the highest 3 ... Kenya 8% / Cyprus 9% / Pakistan 10%. 3. Proportion of population claiming child benefit by country of birth 2005/06 UK = 14% compared with the highest 3 ... Pakistan 29% / Bangladesh 33% / Somalia 40%. 4. Proportion of population claiming unemployment-related benefits by country of birth 2005/06 UK = 1% compared to the highest 3 ... Bangladesh 5% / Somalia 5% / Iran 5%. Why do these people head for the UK, the above speaks for itself.    If the benefits were'nt on offer there'd be big changes, until those changes happen (if ever) there will be resentment.     Good Luck to all those currently affected by the healthcare changes in France, and there are many, just look at the number of viewings to that thread.

[quote user="raindog"][quote user="You can call me Betty"] I might be in a minority of one, and if I am, so be it, but in spite of all my fond feelings for France and its people, I can't see it as any kind of Utopia, any more than I recognise the almost daily outpourings of bile on here about the problems in the UK by a bunch of people who, when all's said and done, don't even bl*** well live here anymore. [/quote] I've tried to say this a couple of times since i've been on the forum and got jumped on each time for being "miserable" or "negative" [:D] [/quote] Well I don't know about some people in France supposedly wearing rose-tinted specs, but it appears that whilst there are some here, there are also some in the UK wearing them too.         Don't you believe that there are some of us who care about the UK, care about traditions, care about quality of life....we care because although we don't bl**** well live there, we have family and friends who do!   KathyF - you keep stating I make sweeping generalisations.    I speak from first hand knowledge.     We don't read newspapers in this house (just to put the people right who believe we have our heads stuck into the Daily Mail), however, we do receive daily BBC newslinks and we do see the BBC news.     Before anyone else shoots me down, we watch French television as well, this is not Utopia, or, as our French neighbours like it now to be spelt....Eutopia, France has its problems too, but not on the scale of the UK.      As I said before the island is too small, there are too many on it, too many been allowed on it, the system is crashing, not one system, many systems.   After millions of pounds have been spent on producing literature to aid the newcomers (can you imagine France doing the same for us entering their country - I think not), they now decide enough is enough.      After the prisons are overcrowded to the point of bursting its decided to send illegal immigrants back, what were they in prison for?  They can't have been up to any good to be in there, can they?    People's perceptions and opinions are different, accept that.     You mention you have none of this in Wales, yet in today's newslink I read this :  - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/7174064.stm We have family in mid-Wales, and they are seeking a property in France, why.....because they want to get away from the yob culture, (their words not mine).    We have a family member currently in hospital after a mugging,    Now that should'nt give you a sigh of relief, but it does.....because they could be dead now if a knife had been involved, which is commonplace.    We've had a friend play life-lotto for cancer treatment drugs, why, because thats the way it is, too little money.....its spent on other things.   As I said before priorities are lost.       Britain was Great Britain once, France has never claimed to be Great, but here we have peace in our life and are not afraid to walk the streets day or night, and their health system may be being overhauled but if the UK Government did what Sarkozy has done a long time ago the NHS would'nt be crashing either.

...............I'm the first to give my seat up on public transport for someone less able than myself and I hold open doors for people and help old folk when I can! All's not lost!  Thats good to read, me too, and there will be more of us, but its thinning out and there's too little respect or caring now for it to be turned around.    Its the way of thinking "me, me, me and I don't give a jacks**t for anyone but me".     There are too many people on one little island, priorities are lost.

Marton, the remark was about British Traditional Music!      Ok thanks for that, my words I standby though.

................but it's not its Britishness but its quality and value which is important to me.  The quality and value which is disappearing down the toilet rapidly.    5th of January, yet the news tells us of yet another kniving murder this year.  Yes murder happens here, I know its not Eutopia, but the quality and value of life is rapidly disappearing in the UK and thats a great shame.

............ If I were living in France, I think I could find better ways to use my time than trawling the media for anti-UK stories.......  Ah well, chacun son gout  [8-)] No-one trawls anywhere KathyF.   We receive BBC newslink emails daily.     The thread was topical for the time it began and the post you chose to copy was emphasising another change in the UK, nothing derogatory.       Many more threads on LF to read if you wish.   Whilst I am in France, family and friends remain in the UK and I've had family affected by the ruling of no nativity play being allowed and had friends affected with MRSA and C.Diff.    Yes, I do care about the UK but more for friends and family who are living  there with the changes being forced on them.    This thread was bumped to the top by someone who chose to make an obscene comment on a post done weeks before, that was his/her choice, the same as its your choice to write what you have, we each have opinions, that means me as well.

[quote user="Chief"][quote user="Marton"][quote user="Chief"] [quote user="Marton"]Another one you could'nt make up.   The Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust are piloting a policy to turn Muslim patients beds towards Mecca.  As well as moving beds nurses must also provide fresh bathing water prior to each of the 5 daily prayer sessions at the hospital.   Shortage of nurses yet additional duties must be done.  MRSA superbugs, C.Diff, yet additional duties must be done.[:@][/quote] Incorrect.  the hospital asked nurses to be aware that critically ill (on deaths doorstep) muslims may want to face mecca during theor final moments on this planet, and if a request was made, every effort should be made to accommodate the request.  Similarly, christians who requested pastoral services should also be accommodated wherever possible.  ut forget the christians, there are muslims we can slag off.... [/quote] Fat Club member no doubt. [/quote] Is this a flippant attempt to dismiss the fact that you were wrong, as pointed out by another poster......[:)] [/quote] No flippant attempt at all.  The information was gained from a BBC newslink email not plucked from imagination, and Will ....the BBC must be part of the great uninformed too.   http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_yorkshire/7127029.stm   There are good and bad in all, but fat club members stoop so low as to use foul language on a forum.

[quote user="Chief"] [quote user="Marton"]Another one you could'nt make up.   The Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust are piloting a policy to turn Muslim patients beds towards Mecca.  As well as moving beds nurses must also provide fresh bathing water prior to each of the 5 daily prayer sessions at the hospital.   Shortage of nurses yet additional duties must be done.  MRSA superbugs, C.Diff, yet additional duties must be done.[:@][/quote] Incorrect.  the hospital asked nurses to be aware that critically ill (on deaths doorstep) muslims may want to face mecca during theor final moments on this planet, and if a request was made, every effort should be made to accommodate the request.  Similarly, christians who requested pastoral services should also be accommodated wherever possible.  ut forget the christians, there are muslims we can slag off.... [/quote] Fat Club member no doubt.

[quote user="Pads"] Much better than the one I had already Thankyou [kiss] Now has anone got a chip for my brain to help me remenber this language which Im convinced they just make up as they go along [:(][:$] [/quote] If only I'd known I'd have mentioned it earlier.....!    Ah well, better late than never.     Yep, in complete agreement about them making it up as they go along......we've got french neighbours either side of us and they both speak completely different.........what chance is there for the rest of us?      As long as we try they're happy enough and thats what counts. [8-)]