tegwini

We have never bothered with the internet in France thinking it's best to have a break from it. But, sometimes we have needed it and wonder what the costs would be with FT (as our phone is with FT) for short visits. Our questions are: Can it be 'switched' on and off like the phone ? Some idea of the cost? Would we need any changes to the wiring outside and inside the house?  We are not fussed to have top of the range anything -  eg WIFI - we have that in the UK (top speed, own servers etc)  but just the basics would do in France. Apologies and thanks in advance from a serious non-techie. Tegwini

Trouble is he's the kind of man who (after taking a shower) would be contacting his lawyer to sue for compensation! Not that he deserves any ... tegwini

If you ask me a 'sex addiction' clinic is just pure self indulgence and a load of tosh! As for 'addiction' - this is just an excuse from a celebrity who has swallowed all the flattery from the syncophants and hangers-on,  and he obviously thought he could walk on water, which he can't ! If Tiger can't keep his pants on  as a disciplined, and very successful  sportsman,  then is there hope for Joe Bloggs ?  Tiger should rather regret that he was flattered and taken in by a pile of tarts, some of whom made money selling their stories.  Sad really, that the media is willing to pay for such stories, or that Joe and Josephine Bloggs are willing to pay to read them ... There is so much money at risk, and so many people depending on making money on his coat tails,  that he was persuaded to make that statement yesterday.  And that too, was in my opinion, total cr@p, and clearly written by someone else, and all in thhe cause of making money again.  

WELCOME BACK GLUEY - I have missed you! And the chance to read posts that make sense, inform, and are well written. And that's just for a start... Tegwini

[quote user="Gardian"]OH tells me that all this is out of my league and that I should get a grip on myself.  Am I wrong?  Don't get any of this sort of thing down here. [/quote] Was that meant to be ambiguous Gardian - or is it just me ?

"I wonder which aspects of 'normal' life Purnell is keen to experience - endless anxiety about money, crime, job security and old age? The fear of losing one's home? The fear of crime or the loss of one's nation and culture under the onslaught of mass immigration, the EU and insane social engineering? The depression caused by the obliteration of manufacturing and the crushing of our farming industry by bully boy supermarkets? The agony of losing a son or daughter fighting a pointless, vanity project war? All of these have become 'normal' life for millions of Britons, thanks to Purnell and this appalling Government". Posted on the Timesonline comments - and I do agree with this poster, Rats, and deserting the sinking ship springs to mind, although GBroon should be obliged to stay and sort out his dreadful mess -  is it possible it could be messed up any more than it is? Typical of a socialist government to mess up like this, but a lot worse than the last time lefties messed up. Tegwini

[quote user="NormanH"]How ridiculous to read these rabid right comments from people who are themselves immigrants, but prefer to hide behind the name 'ex-pats' [:D] [/quote] Yes a typical response! I am not an immigrant to France, or anywhere.  In case it's not obvious,  many of us have holiday homes in France and live in the UK. And,  I am UK (English) born & bred (2 granddads in WW1 - one dying) and I object to this silly comment, just as I object to the way NuLab has changed my country so much and so quickly. Tegwini

[quote user="NickP"] Going back to UK  housing rates I've  think they are unfair, as the top band rates include 3/4 bed family houses and millionaires mansions in large private estates. In fact they are heavily biased in favour of the financially better off, it seems the people at the lower end of the ladder, council houses and small properties seem to come of worse, pro rata to their position on the financial ladder.[/quote] Quite correct - I do wish there was someone would do something about the council tax system when the top rate includes Kensington Palace Road. This road  is full of billionaires with a UK police presence, manned gates at one end and the billionaires pay a similar tax - or little more, to many of us in average rated detached houses on dirt roads- and almost no services. Tegwini

Yup I  do know the scoring in rugby - sort of ... being slack again... Many teams mixed these days, but many southern hemishere players & coaches have improved the game up here.

Since it's so cold at present we're stuck indoors more than usual and watching rugby. Well I admit to watching rugby sometimes to look at superficial stuff that you blokes don't even notice - eg 'caveman' Italian player, the odd gorgeous player, the many nice bums etc ... But this match I started by planning to support the underdogs as I expected the Italians to be crushed completely.   The score was 12 : 17 not bad for a national team that was once smashed by the Boks   101:0   OH did mention that Nick Mallet, an ex Springbok who learned his rugby at school in SAfrica was their coach.   Amazing the difference a coach makes! Tegwini

Hello Jay We live just outside a village in the Vienne which is a department which is quite rural.   They have a dozen or so houses belonging to the commune. People are there for a variety of reasons, and not all because they are unemployed etc. Our house's previous owner lived in one of these whilst he was selling and then building a new house.  He was obliged to get out of the house  by his ex-wife who forced him to sell so she could have her share of the property. It took him  3+ years to sell and build his new house. He is a really decent man, has a responsible job at La Poste, had built our house 30 years earlier (and it is about 280 sq metres)  and is not living on benefits, or likely to cause any trouble for anyone.  And this estate/HML are all very well built houses with gardens.  We have visited him there.   Far superior to the council houses we have in the UK. If you prefer not to have too many neighbours,  best to buy somewhere more rural as we have done. Good luck whatever you do. Tegwini

[quote user="Bugbear"]Well, if this muppets dream comes true, I guess that this practice will increase dramatically.[:@] [/quote] Well Bugbear- the Muppet is Muslim and they go in for burial I think.  I don't mind Hindus, although I think this issue of cremation is potentially a problem if we, as usual, compromise to the demands of minorities. But, what he is saying is so scary!   A grim future for any country if they increase their numbers as he hopes.  A  backward step for Britain to be in the control of  people with that faith.  I note so many people oppose what he said on this link. Tegwini Tegwini

[quote user="Quillan"][quote user="tegwini"]  The deputy head  of the FSA was a mate of GBroon and he has just resigned, but has a murky past with HFX/RBOS, and he clearly had a huge influence in this bank's scandalous, wasteful  and costly role  in the financial crisis. Tegwini [/quote] It's not actually correct, this was talked about on C4 yesterday. The guy was on a 3 year contract which finish's in June or July. He is not going to extend the contract but then he made it quite clear when he started that he would only do the 3 years anyway. Not renewing and resigning are two different things although unfortunatly some newspaper reporters seem to think its the same thing. They also seem to ignore the fact that he never intended to renew from the day he started. As to the FSA, will there be any need for it, I thought the new (French) guy in Brussels was going to deal with this sort of thing on an EU basis although it seems not many people (including himself probably) know exactly what he will do and what his powers will be? [/quote] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7883409.stm Well according the BBC he 'resigned' and this is on the above link from today's BBC business news.  (needs sorting to be able to open it pse) and GBroon in parliament said it was" right he had stepped down from the FSA". But my point is that he clearly wasn't up to the HBOS job -  and frankly,  I find it quite scary that he had such an influential and powerful job where he also messed up! Tegwini

Anyone notice that in spite of the Euro dropping against the USdollar,  no real change in the appreciation of the UK £ ? And we read that the FSA will be disbanded if the Conservatives win.  The FSA controlled the financial reporting and 'policing' of all financial institutions, including insurance  in the UK.  The deputy head  of the FSA was a mate of GBroon and he has just resigned, but has a murky past with HFX/RBOS, and he clearly had a huge influence in this bank's scandalous, wasteful  and costly role  in the financial crisis. More evidence of what a mess NuLab has created.   Much worse than the last one they created in the 1970s,  but then Joe Public has given them more time. Tegwini

What about the 'rights' of those who have to see this hairy horror in full glory!  Not for me thanks. And I thought SCOTCH was the stuff some people drink. Tegwini

[quote user="NickP"]Tegwini wrote,  " What a change- violence not at all unknown in secondary schools these days. " Maybe this is something to do with our parents attitude to discipline, anybody touches todays little darlings and their parents can't get to their solicitors quick enough. If I complained to my Dad that I had been chastised by a teacher, my Dad said  "you probably deserved it" and he was right. [/quote] Quite right NickP I kept out of trouble- my Dad would never have considered criticising teachers - or going into school to complain. In fact,  I would have much more trouble if I had gone home and complained that I had been in trouble at school. Three out of four of us graduated (2 with heavy-duty engineering degrees), one minus a degree has a sucessful business. Respect is what we were taught as children, something lacking today. Tegwini

[quote user="Weedon"]I don't recall any boy stupid enough to show violence to any teacher. [/quote] What a change- violence not at all unknown in secondary schools these days.  The two Edlington boys who became well known for  torturing two other boys, and one of them had apparently head-butted a female teacher sometime before. They were primary school children at the time. Tegwini

Well that is a surprise! And I realise that it is never that simple Swissie/Odile (I see you have returned). Tegwini

In the UK there's a debate about classroom violence and should teacher be trained to cope with violence in the classroom.  The info below is from the BBC's   'Have your say' and I wonder if it's true? (NB the poor English has nothing to do with me!!) Tegwini Added: Sunday, 7 February, 2010, 13:02 GMT 13:02 UK Physical punishment has NEVER been allowed in French schools. Standards of behaviour are much higher there. [Adam_Bede] But French headteachers have the power to stop the parents of unruly children from receing benefits, financial support and child allowance. Simples!! Moderated Man, England

[quote user="Catalpa"][quote user="tegwini"]I am uncertain if the prevention figure for condom is as high as 90% and perhaps condoms help little with some STDs.[/quote] We're talking modern day prophylactics here and used correctly they are a substantial safeguard. Frankly, I can hardly reign in my contempt for the phrase "perhaps condoms help a little with some STDs". [quote]Yes,  I agree that there are some bad eggs in the priesthood...  [/quote] Bad eggs? Bad eggs? That's a bad case of denial on display there. [/quote] You do what you like with your 'contempt' Catalpa. And you have misquoted me too.   Condoms can help but are not a guarantee against all forms of STDs.   AND, in societies where men refuse to use condoms and 'put it about' no use at all.  Something to be said for AIDs infected people to slow down at least on sex,  if they cannot, or will not take precautions, and thus condemn their sexual partners to an early death. No 'denial' to quote you, on priests breaking their vows - or the law.  A bad egg is pretty grim, to say the least. Trouble with so many  here is that insults and rudeness seems to be the only answer if they disagree with an opinion. This is supposed to be a discussion!

[quote user="Russethouse"]Thomas Cromwell, was a true creep - but who wasn't then ?  He took land, buildings, treasure  whatever,  not to pass it on to the new church of England (which was and still is quite RC  in so many ways),  but for the state's use - that's what nationalisation usually means. May I recommend you read Wolf Hall     [/quote] I have -  but can't see too many appealing qualities in the man.  To me he's like an official from Stalin's time.  The fate of Richard Whiting, Abbot of Glastonbury is enough for me. Cruelly executed on various unproven charges, he was said to have safeguarded the abbey's treasures from Henry's collectors.  Cromwell, an 'accountant',  was very involved here and was aware of Henry's need for money.   Sadly,  Henry's greed had a lot to do with the English Reformation, rather than the corruption  of the medieval RC church. Tegwini

[quote user="Russethouse"] Yes you are right Tegwini, Condoms are only 90% successful in the prevention of aids, of course abstinence is 100% successful, but as The Pope is unable to persuade all of his Priests to follow this teaching its unlikely that those in Africa, where their culture means that they want to have lots of children because they so often lose offspring, are going to be  too enthusiastic about that. [/quote] I am uncertain if the prevention figure for condom is as high as 90% and perhaps condoms help little with some STDs. Yes,  I agree that there are some bad eggs in the priesthood and I do wonder if celibacy is a good idea for some, or possible for many.  In the early days of the church priests were allowed to marry, but that caused complications and divided loyalties. There must be a lot of embarrassment now over some of the scandals, although I have read of instances where some are joining in to get compensation where they do not have a case. Tegwini

[quote user="woolybanana"] As to the taking of Catholic property by Cromwell, that was returning to the people what the Church had stolen in the first place.[/quote] Thomas Cromwell, was a true creep - but who wasn't then ?  He took land, buildings, treasure  whatever,  not to pass it on to the new church of England (which was and still is quite RC  in so many ways),  but for the state's use - that's what nationalisation usually means. Henry was really bankrupt and thus all the money gained went to him to pay his debts and fund his extravangant lifestyle. As for property 'stolen in the first place' well many people gave to the church then - willingly.  Perhaps for reasons  we don't understand now, but that is the case.  Salisbury  Cathedral, and I am a volunteer guide there, was amazingly built over 40 or so years and was mainly paid for by gifts from believers. Tegwini

[quote user="Bugbear"]I don't have a particular problem with his history whatsoever but his teachings, well that's a totally different matter. Telling, no, insisting that catholics in Aids-ridden Africa should not use condoms, effectively condemming thousands to death, is, quite simply, beyond belief. . [/quote] It seems - according to this : http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/georgetown/2009/03/pope_condoms_and_aids.html the Pope has been misquoted or misunderstood. In Africa AIDS is so rampant (sorry!) because of promiscuity, the social status of women and African leaders unwillingness to tackle AIDS by sensible modern methods.  The African PMs in South Africa suggesting showers or beetroot is typical. The Pope is aware of this, and it is common knowledge that condoms don't provide full protection either. Tegwini

Well Quillan - it's well known that membership of the Hitler Youth was compulsary after 1936 so Benedict had no choice. As for the costs of his visit - it's usual when there is a  visit of the head of state who is also the leader of the largest faith in the world that the usual  security costs are met by the host country.   And, RCs attending mass etc is still larger than other faith gatherings. In fact, with the increase of Poles  in the UK for example, the RC church has been  greatly invigorated.   Tegwini