tegwini

Sensible, honourable Chessie I agree with both your posts - you're not alone there, although so many think that throwing money at problems will solve them- history proves otherwise. Quillan - I know what you mean about social workers.  They have enormous power and minimal qualifications.  For them decision-making can be difficult as they can be damned whatever they do,  BUT so many do have looney left wing views and would usually prefer to leave an  obviously abused child with its parents rather than rock the boat by removing a damaged child before it's too late. Tegwini

A child's character and attitudes are formed even before they start school. These children started commiting crimes whilst in primary school, including attacking their teachers. BUT, social services have yet again let down the families, but especially the vctims and their families.  Sadly it's so un-PC to take away feral and out of control children from toxic and dysfunctional homes. Since they had extensive criminal records so young,   bells- or even sirens,  should have been ringing, but no doubt the mother, who could not cope with seven difficult or damgerous boys,  would have opposed this.  Such children need to be removed early as babies- not as teenagers. Too many human rights. Tegwini

[quote user="Marym2"]I am with ANY person who does harm to this type of scum. No mercy, death after drawn and quartered, Parts stuffed down his throat, Get real these people kill.[/quote] Well I second that,  but  in the UK   honest, innocent citizens are barely allowed to defend themselves! Oh for the days when OH owned a 357 Magnum, and I learned to use it.  The theory for me was to aim for the chest, and if the recoil messes up your accuracy then you get ( a potential rapist) in the g**lies instead. Interesting that judges  rationalise away such nasty violent crimes (that burglar)  since most judges live miles away from crime hotspots, and most have very secure accomodation when working away from home. Tegwini

Well I second that,  but  in the UK   honest, innocent citizens are barely allowed to defend themselves! Oh for the days when OH owned a 357 Magnum, and I learned to use it.  The theory for me was to aim for the chest, and if the recoil messes up your accuracy then you get ( a potential rapist) in the g**lies instead. Interesting that judges  rationalise away such nasty violent crimes (that burglar)  since most judges live miles away from crime hotspots, and most have very secure accomodation when working away from home. Tegwini

Glad to hear you're sorted! We took up cheap (and nasty) glued down 'carpet',  and put down a good woollen wilton carpet, but we are not planning to sell at present. And yes some stuff is cheaper in the UK - I've used ebay quite a bit for furniture, and yes it was cheaper even with the costs of our trailer on the ferry. But, we did combine it a few times in France with clearing house renovation and garden rubbish for the dechetterie. We even carried a double oven on the roof rack, and a dishwaster with 'hidden switch console' inside the car - much cheaper in the UK So quids in. Good luck frexpt ! tegwini

Hi We have just carpeted about  72 sq metres (new bedrm, dressing etc) & brought all the carpet, underfelt etc from the UK. (in 2 trips!) We got 2 quotes - and used an English chap from nearby - Vienne  Simon Wilson  054531 8303. There's another chap also - could track him down, but he's on the internet.  I can't remember his name but you could look on the 'other' forum (Totalfrance) where I was surprised at the response. None from this site. French prices from St Maclou were more than double! Regards Tegwini

[quote user="Russethouse"][quote user="tegwini"][quote user="Russethouse"] You never know, perhaps the computers will be used to help find work or even learn the language [;-)][/quote] You're such an optimist RH! Invariably we value things we have worked for and paid for  - and the opposite also applies. Roll on a change of government, but whoever it will be,  they have an impossible task ahead of them. Tegwini [/quote] Tegwini,  If you have low expectations of people they will very often be fulfilled.... Q, I don't know about other area's but I do know that the JR hospital in Oxford  is fighting cuts and if you look at cuts they have been  nationwide    [/quote] RH I'm being realistic - and you also spoke of cuts in hospitals - NO government now - or for a quite a few years, can afford such expenditure. Tegwini

[quote user="gardengirl "]I've noticed over the past couple of years that the French are much better at stopping for people on crossings, at least in our area in the south and places where we stop on the way north and south. I remember back in the past when people didn't believe we'd really stopped for them to cross; we were told at one place in Brittany that it was obvious we were English, as only they stopped for crossings! [:)][/quote] We do too, but I sometimes worry that someone behind might not expect us to stop at a crossing and crash into us. Tegwini

[quote user="Russethouse"] You never know, perhaps the computers will be used to help find work or even learn the language [;-)][/quote] You're such an optimist RH! Invariably we value things we have worked for and paid for  - and the opposite also applies. Roll on a change of government, but whoever it will be,  they have an impossible task ahead of them. Tegwini

Cripes - lots of virtual 'what-noting'   'ere! But, thank you Ulster Rugby,  I was away in France/Rome when it was first posted, and would never have seen it, and I really like it. Reminds me of school concerts, especially the 'staff concerts' we used to give to raise funds for charity. Shows too that a 'thugby' fan can also be a bit cultured !  Regards Tegwini

John Many thanks for posting this as it is very interesting. The article also makes clear that Jews also did not behave like sheep and walk calmly to their deaths, something I have never believed..  It's hard to imagine the horror of it all - and how weak and debilitated all prisoners must have been from malnutritian, and various and often multiple diseases. Difficult to plan successful escapes under those circumstances. Even the fitter British (and other) military escapees failed to escape in big numbers.  I've been reading the 'Great Escape'  by Paul Brickhill,  and even they were mostly caught and killed.  And they were allowed Red Cross food parcels, and were treated better as they were officers.  The leader Roger Bushell (born near Johannesburg) had knowledge of tunneling, but sadly,  he too was killed.   Such sad times. Tegwini

[quote user="Chancer"]I see that now the government is giving free computers and internet access away to those in need, I wonder how many languages are supported?   Quick eligibility check Have a look eligibility requirements below. You may be able to qualify for a Home Access grant if you: • Answer yes to at least one question in Section two Section Two: Do you receive at least one of the following? • Free school meals for your child*** • Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance • Income support • Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and an income of less than £16,040 • Guaranteed Pension Credit (not Savings Credit) • Income-based Employment Support Allowance • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 It might pay them to throw in a travel adaptor for good measure.[/quote] Or even some details of how to re-sell them on ebay!  I know that the Japanese, one of the most developed and intelligent nations, don't have them as we do in all homes and in huge numbers in schools. Goodness knows how - or if ever, the UK will be able to reduce its national debt with expenditure like this! Tegwini

[quote user="cooperlola"][quote user="woolybanana"]RH, you touched the solution there; let charities provide and pay for these services.[/quote]Yup, if we cannot afford the basics for our citizens (of whatever hue) let's set up a charity and rely on that instead.  I still do not see what is wrong with providing informaion on something as basic as healthcare in multiple languages.  What gets me is the inefficiency of a system which sends multiple translations to all. - many of whom just don't need them  Better to make the sytem more efficient - maybe by providing translated material on-line, available at terminals in hospitals/libraries etc.  There has to be a cheaper solution which would satisfy all.   [/quote]It's also common knowledge that never obliging people to learn a language isolates them from the rest of society, and  also means that it would be almost impossible to get a job. Tegwini

[quote user="velcorin"]As someone married to a foreigner I remain eternally grateful to the NHS when dealing with a serious condition my wife developed when we lived in the UK. She has 2 degrees, English from Brest, and Spanish from Rennes, taught English in France, French in the UK, but there is no way she could have coped with the vocab, when talking to a doctor, which an English speaker would take for granted. She would have died, but for the translation services offered. Maybe the skyhigh French hospital dead rates would be helped by a similar service[I] Tegwini, you may wish to start praying that you never need any for of public services when you are in France, you are in for the surprise of your life, and a very large dose of shattered illusions. Hopefully, you'll never find out for yourself what Cooperlola is talking about. Most of the services you take for granted, but so decry, simply don't exist here. Watch the French TV news, and read the papers, don't let some lazy DM/BBC journalist spoonfeed you myths about France.[/quote] I wonder why you presume I read the DM ? My post started when I discovered on line I could have access to 17 different languages.  And this was to make an initial appointment.  No doubt a waiting list will follow - also not DM,  as  I was on one a few years back for 5 months for planter fasciitis,  which was hard to cope with in my profession.   Waiting lists still exist and are a result of a lack of funding.   And since I still pay UK  tax it is my right to criticise the NHS, or other government 'services' if I choose to.  Tegwini

[quote user="velcorin"]Or 10 people could be brain damaged due to a medical error, caused by language mistakes. Lifetime care, GBP 5.5million, either paid for by the State, or by compensation obtained via the Courts from the NHS. Someone has to pick up the bill. Net gain zero. [/quote] Since France (and most other countries) does not offer such a service then presumably France has  loads of errors, costs, compensation   etc ...? Tegwini

[quote user="Quillan"][quote user="velcorin"] GBP55 million, that's nearly as much as I'm paying for fresh flowers for Carla every day, are you sure that's all? Mmmm, my calculators had a bit of a fit, but if the NHS budget is about GBP90 billion, that's about 0.0006%. [/quote] Yes I know but there is an old saying "Look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves". Added. Or look at it this way it would pay for around 5,500 angioplasty operations, 6,800 hip replacements or something we talked about last year 758,700 cervical cancer smear tests, or 137,500 mammograms, or it would have exactly paid for all the bowel and prostrate cancer scans carried out in the UK between 2008 and 2009. Its not a percentage that counts its what you could do to benefit others with the money. [/quote] Correct!  But 55m is a lot really. Salisbury District Hospital serves 1.25 m people and we still have many in-patient wards which are  pre-WW2 vintage - flat roofed and impractical.   Patients are wheeled to surgery etc some even crossing a road!! Some of that 55 M could do away with these wards, and some other hospital could also benefit.  And this is for one year only- huge improvements could take place every year. Tegwini

[quote user="cooperlola"][quote user="NickP"][quote user="cooperlola"][quote user="Russethouse"] Isn't that a little simplistic ?[/quote]Only a little R/H? Well,  Tegwini, if you're ever ill or have medical problems when you're over here, just don't come on here asking for the nearest English speaking medic.  Get your French up to totally fluent standard before you set foot over here and try using any of the public services. Then and only then might I begin to have a shred of sympathy for your viewpoint on this. [/quote] I think you are being a little harsh Coops, nobody asks to have an accident or be taken ill, also I didn't realise that when I go on holiday it was obligatory to be fluent in the local language, just in case. My wife had the misfortune to developed peritonitis when  we first arrived  in France and our language skills were very poor. The help treatment and assistance we received were absolutely first class,  nobody worried about our lack of French, in fact they went out of their way to help us [/quote]Nick, my remarks were aimed at Tegwini whose first post seemed to me to indicate that she feels that unless you can speak the language of the country in which you are ill, you should not be entitled to treatment.  It is not a view to which I subscribe.  IMHO, in fact,  I believe that in this day and age healthcare should be a basic human right for all, whatever language you happen so speak and whatever country you are in - that should be our long term goal - not less healthcare, but more, and universal at that. [/quote] My post was concerned with the extra translation costs   - NOT treatment. Do read it again - no mention was made of withholding care to anyone.   But,the NHS can barely cope at present, they still have waiting lists, and are short of so much.   But, to cope with the costs of  17 languages ?   I wonder if  any 'free' (for many) health service offers this anywhere else ?  The French clearly don't! Tegwini

[quote user="Russethouse"]..we're a better country than that.[/quote] I assumed you might end with - better than France, or most of the world perhaps.  Tegwini

[quote user="cooperlola"][quote user="Russethouse"] Isn't that a little simplistic ?[/quote]Only a little R/H? Well,  Tegwini, if you're ever ill or have medical problems when you're over here, just don't come on here asking for the nearest English speaking medic.  Get your French up to totally fluent standard before you set foot over here and try using any of the public services. Then and only then might I begin to have a shred of sympathy for your viewpoint on this. [/quote] Thank you Cooperlola for your kind comments! (NOT!) In fact,  I was a little modest about my French, even though I am not fluent  -many misguidedly think they are!   But,  I did French at university, have taught it to GCSE students, and get by - somehow.   I can chat to my neighbours in French,  but I don't know enough colloquial or slang expressions.  How many here think they are fluent, without this knowledge, apart from needing knowledge of French grammar ?  I have yet to have to see a French doctor,   but could probably cope, so don't worry I will not ask for your help on here!  Lately,  I have managed planning permissions  and the usual official stuff in French. I have also employed French artisans and could talk to them.  Some building terms I only know the French words !   And,  I don't live in France, nor would I expect the French tax payer to subsidise me if I couldn't cope! But,  I am allowed an opinion on how MY taxes are spent in the UK and this is what my  post was about.  Tegwini   

[quote user="Quillan"]With regards to the NHS wasting money you may be interested to know that nearly 1/3 of the budget is kept aside for litigation and compensation payments. [/quote] I knew about the high cost of litigation/compensation  that the NHS has to fund, but didn't think it was as high as a third!  That would be billions? I can't say I approve of this, but if personnally involved and negligence was the issue I expect that I might be somewhat litiguous, but hopefully not.  Daily I 'touch wood'  for good health for family and myself. What happens in France ? Tegwini

[quote user="dragonrouge"] Should we deny a grieving couple their devout beliefs?[/quote] But it is the language issue here that is the problem - and NOT religious or other customs and practices.   Although some religious practices for the dead would be difficult to allow - for example zoroastrianism, or even Hindu  openair pyres. Unfortunately coming to the UK does mean immigrants have to fit in with the laws of the land. . What would be the solution in France ?   It seems to me that immigrants and other religious and ethnic groups mostly speak French - the French insist on it.   We Brits should have 'compromise' as our middle name.   The consequence is that UK public services, taxpayer funded too,  are often inferior to those in France. Tegwini

Well - it's true! The waste in the NHS can only be enormous because of the crackpot ideas they have. Today I had to book an outpatient's appointment on line, here in Wiltshire, (Salisbury), and we are considered to be in the sticks, not muti-ethnic London,   and  not could help but notice that I could have done it in 17 different languages.  There is a telephone no. and presumably they have either skilled linguists in 17 languages, or perhaps a machine - neither are cheap. Recently I had to make some 'official' calls to France - I did them in French - perhaps not wonderful French, but I made the effort as I had to. Is it any wonder the NHS is broke and charities  have to regularly raise funds for equipment, facilities etc. And they cheap-skate on cleaning.      Hence many hospitals are not clean - including the A&E at Salisbury District Hospital. (A large hospital serving thousands).   I have seen it !! and at a quiet time with staff sitting around, and blood on the floor. Tegwini

[quote user="NickP"]tegwini wrote: "a little country like Rhodesia can have  British warships stationed off Mozambique to prevent oil getting into the country,  but China can do absolutely anything and get away with it. " Funny that, but I don't see many British warships lining up against Mugabe. [/quote] Quite ... Ok for Mugabe - endless excuses why he can't be 'slotted',  removed,  whatever ... The West wanted democracy and got Mugabe and a vibrant and relatively rich country is bankrupted.  Or as Ian Smith said about democracy in Africa - one man one vote, once. The Foreign Office knew better - or did it ? Brittania yet again waives the rules ... Tegwini

Human rights don't really exist is China- and executions there are not uncommon. I have no strong feelings about the drug runners's fate, but countries like China do make it clear what the penalty would be if caught.  And I am tired of hearing about all these modern-day 'syndromes' used purely as an excuse after someone has commited a crime. BUT, I wonder why no protests etc at the fate of the peaceful dissident  Liu Xiaobo who got 11 years for campaigning for political liberty. And, little done to help Tibet whose recognition of independence by NuLab  has now been cancelled in late 2008,  in exchange for China's support in funding the IMF  - shameful! It seems that might is right - a little country like Rhodesia can have  British warships stationed off Mozambique to prevent oil getting into the country,  but China can do absolutely anything and get away with it. An example of 'Brittania waives the rules' ! tegwini

I had a cleaner, a local lady from my village, ages ago - necessary at the time - or so  it seemed.    I spent ages tidying up and putting things away so she could clean without my stuff getting in the way  -   and she would fail to arrive!!   And,  she was really well paid. We discovered later that her husband was on benefits - 'invalidity' still is,  over 15 years later,  although he has extended his house and gardens too, and had fathered 2 more children.  Clearly easier to be on benefits than work. Tegwini