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Scooby

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Everything posted by Scooby

  1. [quote user="Gluestick"]One day I might be able to persuade Mrs GS to not bang the washing machine on until we've retired. [/quote] We bought a washing machine with a time delay...
  2. [quote user="Will"]Some of us who contribute to forums looked ages ago at the finances behind the outwardly healthy French health service and said, publicly, that the CMU could not continue as it was for immigrants. Significantly, some of those who said so have been banned from this forum. [/quote] http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/901285/ShowPost.aspx  date 15/03/2007 - Quote Hastobe 'I find it quite amusing that so many retired people, who have never paid into the French system during their working (aka healthy) life, but are now happily using the French healthcare system for their retirement (read ill health) years.....'
  3. As I have said before, and which has been alluded to in the previous posts, it is my experience that many living in rural areas are poor - particularly when compared with those living in the big cities.  French (Parisienne) friends of ours who moved to rural France a few years ago found it very difficult to settle in because they had nothing in common with many in the large village they moved to.  They had been university educated, had professional jobs and had travelled all over the world.  In comparison, very few in the village had been to university - a number couldn't read or write very well - and virtually no-one had been abroad - in fact many of the children hadn't even seen the sea (barely 2 hours away). 
  4. Lost about 4lb this week.  Doing the 28 day detox diet and rejoined the gym (been three times this week) so feeling very virtuous atm.
  5. [quote user="Hoddy"] However, I don't think it racist to say that I find some of the practices which are widely condoned within some Moslem communities, mostly to do with women, completely unacceptable. [/quote] I agree - subordination, forced marriages (which affect muslim men as well as women) and the so called 'honour' killings.
  6. This link gives a very good summary and explanation of the French literary tenses...
  7. [quote user="J.R."] Nearly all of it is in the past historic or passe simple, at first the verbs were unrecognisable but a pattern soon emerged and I rarely have to look one up unless it is a verb that I dont know in any tense! [/quote] All the french books (novels) I have read have used the past historic rather than the perfect tense - and I agree, the verbs endings are very distinctive and recognisable.  I also agree about the comment re the subjunctive - skimmed over but actually very important.
  8. When we went it was during the winter when the main museum was closed.  We just walked into the village - there were no locked gates or paypoints etc as I recall.
  9. Our house in France has been broken into as well - several shutters and window casements were jemmy'd open.  Fortunately nothing was taken.  There wasn't much in the house of value at the time but it cost us quite a bit to put right the damage.  I've already said in another thread that the son of one of my neighbours was found dead in the house from a heroine overdose - I think he and his friends were using the place as a place to store / use drugs - probably because its on the edge of the village -so a bit away from the other houses. (This was when the house was unoccupied for a while before we bought it.) France has problems with crime, vandalism, drugs, alcohol abuse etc - just like anywhere else.
  10. [quote user="Weegie"]Possibly a bit old-fashioned now, but in years gone bye I was taught that it was politer to use "Est-ce que...?" when addressing someone you didn't know rather than turning a statement into a question by inflection.  Unfortunately I am more than a bit old-fashioned now! Any views please, Clair? [/quote] A bit like 'je vous remercie' is much more polite than 'merci'.. - laziness and abbreviation - creeps into all languages I suppose.
  11. Sorry Weegie - I should have used quotes rather than just hit reply!  I meant it for Pads because she said the phrase didn't mean anything to her so she found it difficult to remember / use.
  12. Est-ce que....? - is 'broadly' Is it that....?
  13. [quote user="cooperlola"]When doesn't he? Ever since he told his adoring public on Top Gear that the K in SLK stood for Kompressor - I've had no time for him.  If he is what passes for a motoring journalist.... btw the link doesn't work for me, although I'm not that bothered![:D] [/quote] I don't think he is a serious motoring journalist - the programme is just a bit of light entertainment - loosely based around motor cars.  I enjoy the programe and I'm not the slightest  bit interested in cars.  In fact last time I came over to France and hired a car my husband (who stayed at home) asked what car I'd got  - and all I could tell him was that 'it was a silver one'.  I had to go outside with a torch to see what sort of car it was!!
  14. [quote user="Panda "][quote user="Scooby"][quote user="Bugbear"] But why would anyone right in the head even contemplate moving to America. Land of the Free,      LOL [/quote] I have the same thoughts about people moving to France - why would anyone want to? Liberté égalité fraternité  LOL [/quote] But Scooby no one in there right mind would buy a house in the US (or post on a Living US Forum for that matter), if they felt so negativly about it would they? Come on what is your story, you have only ever posted sweeping statements of an anti-France nature but have said you have had a house for years here, that is really odd to me.  In what way does this forum interest you, I am truly interested in why someone would seemingly waste their time in this way. [/quote] http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/14/1100827/ShowPost.aspx#1100827.  The reason I have spent more time on here recently is because I have been on long term sick leave recovering from a serious accident.  Tbh - If I was going to move abroad permanently to improve my lifestyle / standard of living then I would choose New Zealand - definitely not France.
  15. [quote user="Gluestick"]Not much evidence of real poverty in our bit of the Pas de Calais, [/quote] One of our neighbours was telling me her husband earned 'good money' - he takes home just over 1000 euros a month!  They live in a little one bedroom village house and, as the only bedroom is used by their child, the living room doubles as the parents' bedroom. Out of interest, a little while ago, I checked the salary rates for a role equivalent to the one I have here in the UK and was shocked.  Even commuting 2 hours each way (to our nearest major connurbation), I would earn much less than half my current UK salary.  I wasn't sure what we would gain by the move.  Everyone seems to cite rural living, good food etc as the big plusses of France, but here in the UK we live in a lovely rural area on the edge of the Peak District, we can walk from our house along pretty country lanes to good country pubs serving good food and great beer.   My drive to work takes less than twenty minutes along country lanes and I watch the cows go for milking from my office window (before anyone asks - I work for the head office of a bank not a farm [;-)]) Plus, we have regular farmers markets, my supermarket here in the UK sells a wide range of ethnic foods (kind of equivalent to the cheese shelves in France [;-)]),  there are loads of ethnic (and other) restaurants nearby and in under an hour, I can be in one of three major cities for fab shopping, theatre, music, museums, international sports venues, concert arenas....  And I can enjoy all of this and have a few weeks in France every so often whilst maintaining a salary which my French neighbours would think was astronomical [:)].  I can't think of a single reason why I would want to move to France permanently.
  16. [quote user="5-element"]Angela - absolutely SPOT ON!!!! Exquisite accuracy, alas. [/quote] Count me in the minority too.  We are fortunate enough to have a lovely home in both countries - and we love to visit France on holiday, but we would never, ever move there permanently.
  17. One of the issues now coming to the fore is the increase in violent assaults on women smoking outside pubs and clubs.  Once clubbers are outside the door of the club / pub they are no the responsibility of the bouncers and doormen.   As a result female smokers (and in one case a young male smoker) have become the target of violent assaults etc by groups of alcohol fuelled clubbers.  I, for one, would be very uncomfortable about my daughter having to stand outside a club on her own in the early hours to have a cigarette.  Fortunately my children don't smoke - but a number of my friends have daughters in this situation. 
  18. Our neighbours here in the UK are quite a distance from us but, the lack of someone to 'pop in', keep and eye on the house, help out etc has never been an issue - in fact the isolation of the property was a conscious reason for us choosing this house. Personally, I prefer to choose who I invite to share my life and don't like getting an inquisition wheneever we go anywhere or do anything.  LOL that, and the ongoing commentary/criticism etc on work we have done to the house..
  19. Agreed Logan - this is a big big negative for me too.  Nosy neighbours and lack of privacy.  I feel at times like I am in a goldfish bowl
  20. [quote user="Bugbear"]But why would anyone right in the head even contemplate moving to America. Land of the Free,      LOL [/quote] I have the same thoughts about people moving to France - why would anyone want to? Liberté égalité fraternité  LOL
  21. About five years ago, I was featured in the Sunday Observer and appeared on national TV.  My cousins (sisters) are very well known TV presenters.  Very remote but - an ex's best friend played in a (at the time) well known rock band so we got back stage passes to meet a lot of the big names of the time (Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy, Led Zep etc - I was a bit a heavy metal fan then...and still am [;-)] ).  More recently I had backstage passes to meet Atomic Kitten, Blue, The Honeyz The Sugababes, Damage, A1, Jonny Wilkes (a total misery guts!).....
  22. Going back to the OP, I don't think the argument would carry water.  You came to France with the intention of permanent residence so, imho, you're probably stuffed.
  23. Sorry - I'm going to be very controversial here (but what's new [:)]) - but I think its a damn shame that Miki et al are no longer with us.  They may not be appreciated by the rose tinted happy brigade but they had a wealth of experience coupled with a huge amount of common sense and practical advice.
  24. Last time I heard he was very well and holidaying for Christmas etc 'en famille' (aka back in blighty)
  25. [quote user="Catalpa"]Ducktape![:D] [/quote] C'est moi [:$][:)]
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