tegwini

No it's not Frenchie! M Sarko has a mucky mouth and it needs a good cleaning with soap & water.   That's what parents did to children for bad language in my childhood.    Doubtless it is not allowed these days.   And, here in the UK there's also a lot of bad language on TV - awful, I sometimes depair ... and change channels!  But, there are young kids in the UK with bedroom TVs watching vile stuff that I would not want to watch. I am becoming a 'Grumpy Old Woman' Regards Tegwini

Thanks Twinkle for the thread Thank goodness the forgettery these days is better than the memory - I shall not memorise that to use it again.  Still, what can you expect from a politician ? Regards Tegwini  

But WB,  what does it mean?  en anglais svp ?    Still learning the plumbing etc words, don't know many rude ones as yet. Without getting into trouble with the censor thingy! Regards Tegwini

Hello All I have a very useful little book which lists the gender rules & exceptions- a page of exceptions to the rules,  sadly! JR Travis  A precis of French Grammar:  London, G Harrrop, 1969 It's paperback size, and so very useful.  It seems to be available second hand, but I have no knowledge of this company.  :http://www.booksandcollectibles.com.au/book.php3?book_id=219814137& Regards Tegwini  

Hi Choccie Lavendar will also help keep moths away. I bought an old Edwardian chest of drawers which was smelly, I used drawer liners and pot-pourri bags, but it took ages for the stale smell to go.   Just leaving it open & spray after shave might help.  Trouble is with all the rain this year a musty smell is not unusual. Regards Tegwini

Thanks RH I have a library of books on history - including SA history- and  since I went to a SA university (did an MA) I know what I am talking about. And some of the arguments presented by that poster are nit picking, nothing more. Yes, 'adjustments' do happen, but in my posts I was pretty flexible and could accept such, but not some of the stuff posted above. Regards Tegwini  

Tony Some of your ideas are contrary to the history taught by SA University professors who have access to archives & documents to prove that the Huguenots went to SA, and  some went via  La Rochelle, some from elsewhere, and many Afrikaaners have Huguenot blood.  "The Afrikaanas are not, in the main, descended from Huguenots" quote Tony.  The number of French names that Afrikaaners have - as many as one sixth of the Afrikaans population-  I never stated that  it was higher than this.  Many more French Huguenots went to the Cape with the British East India Company which was founded in 1600 and was seen as a way of spreading British influence into the Cape by Elizabeth I, James... quote Tony.     The British did not control the Cape at this time, and the Huguenot arrivals happened during the time of the Dutch East India Company & NOT that early.  They only chose to leave France after persecution started - much later. I can quite understand people of Huguenot descent attempting to distance themselves from the Afrikaaners, but it not possible to deny the truth. Do have a look at the long list of French names on this link. Some of the Huguenot names here are the names of some very prominent SA politicians including Malan.  One of the architects of apartheid. They even named an airport after him. Piet Retief (Retif) is well known as an important trekker, and  was celebrated for decades on the Day of the Covenant, a public holiday to commemerate victory over the Zulus - after defeat.  :http://www.geocities.com/sa_stamouers/huguenots.htm Tegwini    

Tony The Huguenots did go to SA  and many Afrikaaners ARE descended from them.  I realise that this is your big interest, but there's quite a bit documented on this in various books on SA history.   Some Huguenots did go directly to the Cape, but  many got out of France & perhaps went wherever they could including Belgium, some even to the UK..  See the link below on Hugueots in SA. "After the main stream of Huguenots arrived during 1688 – 1689, they comprised approximately one sixth of the free burgher population, after which individual arrivals continued sporadically until the termination of the state subsidised emigration in 1707. and "The Dutch East India Company encouraged the Huguenots to emigrate to the Cape because they shared the same religious beliefs, and also due to the fact that most of them were highly trained craftsmen or experienced farmers, specifically in viticulture and oenology (the growing of grapes and making of wine, brandy and vinegar). They, as well as their descendants, proved that they were hard working and industrious, and their efforts led to a marked increase in the improvement of quality Cape wines. A number of wine estates have French names to this day, as a reminder of their important contribution to this industry in the Western Cape. The number of vine plants increased from 100 in 1655 (three years after the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck at the Cape) to 1,5 million in 1700". and "The Huguenots did indeed leave a direct and indirect legacy in South Africa. They did not continue to live as an separate, clearly identifiable subgroup. Already early in the eighteenth century they were assimilated by the rest of the population at the Cape as a result of both political measures and their minority numbers.  But despite their relatively small numbers, they nevertheless left an indelible mark on and made a valuable contribution during the early years of the settlement at the Cape of Good Hope to various areas - economy, education, technology, agriculture, culture, church life, religion, etc. " And it is well documented that they left La Rochelle for the Cape.  And their ancestors in SA have names such as Du Toit, Du Plessis, Cronje etc many changed over the years into names easier to spell & say.  SEE LINK: see:http://www.geocities.com/hugenoteblad/huguenots.htm?20082 The British East India company was founded  1602, after Elizabeth 1 died , not during her reign,  and  at this time English energies and interests were more directed to North America. The British were also  not in the Cape at this time, and only managed to take over the Cape during the Napoleonic wars.    And yes,   as I previously stated the French language etc went within a generation or two, and their Dutch masters called the shots, but constantly French names surface over the years, and some of SA's most senior Afrikaans politicians have had French/Huguenot names although they were Afrikaaners, but claimed to be proud of their antecedents, and especially the French ones.  A lot of geneology is also done in SA, but I expect you are aware of this. Tegwini       

Yes quite true Odile The Afrikaaner controlled much in SA.  They 'invented' apartheid to look after their own people. English speaking South Africans rarely voted for the National Party (the controlling party & the political party for the Afrikaaners) and were in many ways also underdogs.   My old head teacher, for example,   a South African with British blood and not an Afrikaaner, could go no further than being a HT as ALL the inspectors, directors of education & etc  in Natal were all Afrikaaners, where  over 80% of the school children spoke primarily English.    Similar with all the senior state & quasi state positions.   And, many of the English had their roots in SA too, many having been there since the British took over the Cape in 1805. The Huguenots were purposely scattered around the Cape hinterland during the late 17th and early 18th centuries  by the Dutch East India Company and lost their French language within a generation or so.   Very few French words were adopted.   In fact,  Dutch was simplified a bit & acquired words from e.g. Malay slaves and workers.   Only the surnames remained, and a high percentage of Afrikaaners have French names, but pronounced very differently.   There is a monument to the Huguenots in the Cape, and of course the wine industry is a reminder of them too.   It is strange that the Afrikaaner's descent from Dutch traders  with their the skills of exploration and trade were lost so soon.  And also, that the initial liberal attitudes that prevailed in the Cape until the mid 18th century changed so much.   During the 17th and early 18th centuries inter-racial marriage was allowed, even welcomed at times.    Perhaps the Great Trek and the many misfortunes of the Afrikaans trekkers moving off and migrating northwards hardened their attititudes.   Not dissimilar from the experiences and attitudes of the movement westwards in the USA.  The British government has some responsibility for apartheid too as after the Anglo-Boer war in 1902 they set up the new government, the constitution & etc.   British trade unionists migrating to SA even insisted on job protection and kept Africans out of many jobs.   The Afrikaaners were at this time weak, their numbers  were dimished as a result of the British Army's scorched earth policy and the moving of most of the women & children into 'concentration camps' where at least 40,000 died from various diseases.    But, I think there was not the will to make too many changes at the time after a rather nasty war, and a fair amount of guilt must have influenced Lord Milner and his Oxbridge cronies who ran the country. Sadly, there are still a few crackpots such as Eugene Terreblanche around in SA, but generally the transition has been relatively peaceful. Unfortunately the crime rate is now out of control and the economy is also declining. Regards Tegwini        

Nothing new in that Clarkkent-   I knew lots of them at university in Johannesburg.   Many were superficially liberal, but left SA when white control ended.  Others were and are, sincere - for example Helen Suzman.   I did not see the Natasha Kaplinski programme,  but read somewhere that her father left SA as an opponent of the Nationalist party government. The Gerry Springer programme I also found very moving, poignant, but I had friends in Johannesburg with a similar history as quite a few Jewish refugees went to South Africa.   In the mid 80s there were over 1/3 million Jewish people in SA, more than in the UK at that time. Regards Tegwini  

Quillan Basically I agree with you.   Thinking of, for example  Belfast,   it's easy to see how the people were  so divided. Perhaps they still are? But, in the case of most state Cof E and RC schools they get some funding from their church parent bodies. I don't know if Muslim schools do, but I expect the Jewish ones do - and the latter has very few state funded schools. Some C of E primary schools occupy buildings and  land belonging to the C of E, which also funds building and extensions and other costs too.  It's quite possible to work in a school if you are not a member of that faith.   I have done just that, as it is not always possible for schools to find the right teacher within their particular faith, and in some areas and schools this may prove impossible.   Independent schools are not part of this as they rarely receive any state funding. But,  faith schools do get better results, and are often considered to be better schools because of this.    Clearly, there are many advantages in the French system - or most other countries in the west which have a secular education system,  and  often have higher standards than the UK. Tegwini

Quite right Clair There are lots of language schools in the UK, especially in the south of England.   In places like Bournemouth they limit the classes to about 15-20 students - BUT,  that could mean 20 languages !   None of the teachers are polyglots. I know of no teacher fluent in 20 languages!    an impossible task... and major confusion and time wasted should the teacher attempt to translate for particular students.  I have been teaching English & History for nearly 40 years, (now semi-retired) and have done TEFL/TESOL work for about 25 years as this fitted in with raising our family.  I have taught students from  France,  Italy,  Belgium,  Spain,  Russia,  Bulgaria,  Germany and a few other countries too.   I cannot speak that many languages - difficult enough learning one extra language- French! Regards Tegwini   

Yes,   I agree with Albert's OH - looking something up, writing it down, listening/speaking a new word is the best way to remember it. Presumably most students will arrive with a suitable dictionary. I recommend Bitesized to improve your French Caroline,  free &  and easy to use, and has clickable sound.   Good to increase one's vocabulary too.  www.bitesizedlanguages.com Regards Tegwini

Hi Caroline Just get a good dictionary OUP, Harrops ...    A lot will depend on the age and level of your student/s.  There are lots of text books with grammar exercises,  vocabulary, worksheets  and etc.    Best to spend your money on these if they are not provided for you.    I have no knowledge of palm tops, or specific software for a lap top, and feel they are often overrated.   Also,  internet translations are not always good - there a post on this forum showing this somewhere,  & hopefully some kind person with a good memory will find it. Regards Tegwini

Geants really worth seeing, but the shows only at certain times of the day-  therefore you need to arrive at the right time, or hang around for hours, as the shows and the feeding of the birds coincide.   Google the site for times.  We walked up the first time, the second time drove up- very steep walk in places. regards tegwini

I second  Suandpete,   your students need good English and not French.   I am an English teacher (semi-retired from my local grammar school)  and have just successfully completed a full time 5 week holiday task teaching two 11 year old Russian children. You do need good English, you certainly need to understand grammar, as that is how they are taught a foreign language at school, and also some knowledge/skills of EFL/ESOL teaching.   Without these it will not be easy.    Lots of books, www. sites etc.  Spend your time researching these not French. Good luck Tegwini  

plants -    & bulbs at the moment, couldn't resist miniature narcissus yesterday, even though I am not sure I have space for them. regards tegwini

 Tony Just my thoughts on this! Regards Tehwini  

No SD-  he didn't see the sign - he one of those seriously law-abiding types- in his latter years in fact, had become a bit of a boring old f**t    Ron, Cynical, sad to say, and what a silly idea !    he's never been a member of the funny handshake crew. tegwini

No J-J 40 mph & dual carriageway outside Bournemouth-   a famous  & profitable spot for the local fuzz.   £30 fine would have been much higher had it been in a built up area and a 30 mph.  I note another post from Plod complaining about sanctimonious people- not us Gov - no BMW etc  here.  Hope you don't ever get caught speeding- not difficult these days.  tegwini

Ron The 'excessive speed' was 50mph on a  2 lane  rural dual carriageway - hardly a 'danger to the public'!  The fine was £30, which I think is a lot- relative to fines imposed on real crooks. What is interesting is that the amount collected in Wiltshire has increased from £453 k in 1997 to over  £3.087 million in 2006. Similar increase in Dorset where he was trapped.   Motorists are easy game in the UK & the authorities show no respect for them when they close or dig up roads, & allow pot-holes & unnecessary cones to inconvenience motorists  for months- even years.  Roads supposedly funded by  VAT & fuel duty ?? Is this a form of highway robbery?? tegwini

Yup BAF Probably am- wish I was his age too Regards tegwini

Yes,   Bugbear I quite agree! Interesting that he can afford to retire earlier than most, boat and all.   Many policemen manage this  'on the sick' with a better pension than most of us.  (Doubtless someone will moan about this comment!) We have strong feelings about speed cameras - OH got caught at 50 on a relatively empty dual carriageway, 3 points & a large fine too, more than I recently read of someone getting for GBH.    And,  in southern Wiltshire they seem to close for the night, and even at weekends.  And we rarely see them on the beat in Salisbury - or anywhere else. Something to do with priorities ?    Or, are motorists easy game ? Tegwini To  Wooly - perhaps the 'censor' is still in the era of 'shag-pile' carpets ? 

Dick You're  really mellowing in your 'mature years' !  I don't know too many people who not just a tad cynical regarding politicians.   Regards Tegwini  

Well, even government ministers accept that a lot of IB claims are fraudulent - and they say so. And yes,  a sales rep was on IB - and not the Volvo estate car,  that was another IB claimant, but whatever car he had it was funded because he was on IB.  Many reps do not work long hours.  Surprising that someone on IB Invalidity Benefit can still work?!  Cars may not be entirely free, but the rest of us have to fund the entire cost of a car. It is common knowledge that Blue badges are illegally used - clearly worth having & worth money- even here in the sticks,  it costs as much as a £  for 30 mins parking in town. Irrelevant who issues them - they are worth money to IB claimants, and I read that there is even a black market where they are sold for as much as £1500   - .http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=41821 So thank you for an unjust attempt to assume I don't know what I am talking about- the reform plans to stop the massive frauds are proposed by both sides of the house of parliament, and not just by beleagured UK tax payers like myself.   I am still in the UK & thus can see what is happening, apart from reports in the media - and NO,   I am not a Sun or Mail reader, but prefer the broadsheets.   If you read my posts you could read that I stated that some people needed and deserved funding, but a great many do not.   Clearly changes to the system will have to come,  sadly  the national deficit will probably reach £1000 billion soon.  A large % of the GDP.      The highest in the EU.   IB is about £16 billion including housing & council tax benefit,  and rising, much more than it was in 1997,  & a far higher % of the UK population is now claiming.  Taxes - direct & indirect, are the highest they ever been,  and we tax payers  and workers now pay well over 50% of our pay.   Doesn't sound a lot, but most people cannot afford pay any more tax to support fraudsters and the lazy.  The government's net debt is 39.3% of GDP - a huge amount & the highest since the mid 1980s.   11 million people now support the rest of the population of 60+ million, including nearly 3 milion IB claimants. How can anyone defend IB fraud ? Tegwini