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For Norman:   Ou, un professeur tyrannise par ses camarades d’école[;-)]

[quote user="5-element"]It's close, but I would argue that tyranniser still does not translate bullying exactly.[/quote]   Nevertheless, it's closer than what you came up with your earlier post.

Norman:    'Tyranniser' is the verb I think you are looking for.   Are you guilty or the victim of?

As PPP says, NZ is about the same distance eastbound or west but it is quicker flying east due to the prevailing westerly winds. Probably a better choice and cheaper out of LHR rather than CDG but you have to get there first. Singapore is a good and normal tech stop (probably 2 hours or so). During the flight try to walk up and down the cabin at least every 90 minutes or so (just for circulation) Do not choose the Latin or former eastern block carriers. If you are travelling economy, pick seats over the wing. It’s more comfortable during turbulence. Consider premium economy, well worth it if the extra cost is not too much.

Giving your problem a bit more thought, I gather you are communicating with your own branch. If like mine they are a small office with little staff and do not know much about international matters. It may help contacting the head office where someone may speak English if needed. Try this number: Appels depuis l'international et les TOM :  00 33 9 69 36 27 38

Yes I realise you have done a lot but with due respect, E-mails are not in my opinion a formal way of communication, letters yes but were they sent LRAR?   As for the bank, they are still in the dark ages and are probably more used to writing on stone with a hammer and chisel.

[quote user="Wibblywobbly"]Did you get any luck with your transfer? I sold a property that completed 6 June, I returned to the UK 4 April, having first paid a visit to my bank to confirm that there would be no problem with the transfer of the fund to the UK. Then the nightmare started. There was no email address on the bank website, so I asked my immobiler to get one, and after a week I get an email from the bank. What did I want? I told them that I wanted funds transferred to my UK bank via HIFX, thinking that this would be simple, I gave them all of the details. I am then asked for: A copy of my passport. Utility bills. Evidence of Employment. Evidence of State Benefits. Copies of payslips. I also gave them the Immobilier and Notaire contact details. I send all of this. Two reminders for a reply and I am sent a form to sign confirming that I have no income??? This was signed, scanned and sent back, the original went in the post. More reminders for a reply. No response. I even asked a French speaking friend (an immobilier 200 yards from the branch) to give them a call and find out what the problem was. They refused to talk to her as they do not have an account with them? I then send another email asking if the transfer can now go ahead, or do I need to drive down there and do this personally? I get an email not answering the question, but telling me that the matter has been referred to the 'Executive Committee', who will make a decision on 12 July? It doesn't even tell me what they are going to decide...??? This is my worst nightmare. I have no idea how to transfer the money electronically on the website, I can't see anything that will allow me to do that, it's Caisse D'Epargne, so if it is possible and anyone knows how to do it, could they point me in the right direction, I would be eternally grateful. Rob G [/quote] I am with the same bank and after my own personal banking experiences I fully sympathise with your problem.   A suggestion: Write a letter in French (get a rough translation on Google and ask a French speaker to correct the grammar etc). Make sure you include all the international account numbers with names and addresses. When I did this they wanted to know what the transfer was for, none of their business but no harm in telling them something if it will speed up matters. Paste this on their online secure message service. They cannot deny receipt and you should receive an answer.   How? Click contacts (top of their page) Click contactez-nous Under Service Relations Clientèle : Click ‘remplissez le formulaire.   Good luck.  

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but there is a scam involving distributeurs (hole in the wall cash points) normally out of normal banking hours.   Customer uses the cash point but cannot remove the card. Villain waiting in turn, points to a notice (previously placed by him) it reads ‘to remove your card re enter your pin number’ Customer re enters the number overlooked by villain. Card cannot be removed, customer leaves. Villain removes card (it was jammed in by a clip) he now knows the code and you know the rest.

Interesting article by John Blatchford.   Quote     ‘WARNING. When you do see snakes in France be very careful who you tell. In my experience the best way to turn a friendly French neighbour into a killer is to mention the word "serpent". He or she (probably he) will immediately grab something dangerous-looking and insist that you lead the way to the exact spot. Once there all reptiles, most plants, and in severe cases sections of stone wall, will be destroyed and you will undergo a long and very serious lecture about the dangers of the French countryside. You will be watched with suspicion for many days, and locals will queue up to tell you their horror stories. Much better in my opinion to keep quiet!’

[quote user="idun"] So what about my list, any other comments about that. [/quote] Dublin, No. Expensive, rains a lot. Brussels, No. Full of EU bureaucrats, much dog cr&p on the pavements. Madrid, No. Bull fights, very congested. Lisbon. No. Again congested and expensive. Venice. No. Smelly canals and very expensive. Budapest. Possibly. Well you can at least swim in the Danube.  

Santander Spain, few tourists, fairly unspoilt and cheap. BF may still run direct from Plymouth, takes 24 hours and you girls can have a real hoot on the crossing.

[quote user="andyh4"]Casablanca?   Never been but always wanted to go.[/quote] It's changed a lot since Humphrey Bogard was there.

Berlin and Copenhagen are civilised and interesting

[quote user="sugarfree"] Simon, I'm not asking for a 13-year projection. Forget about me.  Just tell me what you personally consider a good level of savings for yourself. I realise this is terribly nosey but what can I say?  I'm female. [/quote] Very personal question sugarfree, you now have some numbers, that's it is it not?

[quote user="Simon-come-lately"]Can anyone give sugarfree a 13 year projection please! How absolutely ridiculous and pointless ! Simon[/quote]   2024 =10x my earlier estimate of 2011 and you will possibly need yen and not euros ( I will leave that calculation to you)

[quote user="sugarfree"] Why do you think it's a wind-up?  I'm genuinely curious what other people think is a good level of savings for THEM.  Not for myself.  As has been pointed out, no one can possibly make that kind of assessment for someone else because there are too many unknown factors. Forgive me if I'm being nosey (I am) but since this is all anonymous, I didn't think people would mind giving a ballpark figure.  [/quote] Don’t blame the British for being reluctant in giving you some figures. As has been mentioned, it is impossible question to answer like ‘how long is a piece of string’.   Well I will give you some numbers, bearing in mind I think you said ‘for a comfortable lifestyle’.   In euros: 100,000 in the bank Yearly income 30,000 House and car paid for.   These amounts are not my own personal figures   I know some who live on much less and others who need much more. If these numbers are wrong you can adjust your lifestyle up or down as you wish but don’t sue me.  

[quote user="NormanH"]Since property is theft these people are helping you to redistribute your wealth more equitably.[6] You may consider that statement ridiculous, but it is no more preposterous than your selecting a particular nationality for your accusation. [/quote] Firstly, yes I do consider your opening statement ridiculous. If I wanted to distribute my wealth, letting someone use my possessions for a short time doesn’t come into it.  I merely asked if the French people know the difference between something one lends and something one accepts as a ‘lifetime’ gift.   “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity” – just what are you trying to say – in your usual confusing, but polite way, of course?  I think you have a yearning to be a soothsayer.  

[quote user="Russethouse"] And that recorded phone call, openly wondering how much money she could make with that alleged rape story......  Just shows how well she fits in to the culture - [:)]  Do you honestly think its OK for a man in his position of authority and trust to go round having casual sex with any one who happens to be to hand ?[Www] (and it seems the proof of a physical liaison stands) There is private life and private life and frankly I don't give a toffee about the French press respecting privacy, the IMF is funded by its members, that's my tax money going toward his salary, whether he comes from France or Timbuktu he should some sense, some respect and show discretion. [/quote]   Could not agree more RH. As for his salary, don't forget his expenses, $3000 a night hotel was it? and the 'room service,' which included more than food and champagne no doubt.

[quote user="Clair"][quote user="audio"]In my experience lending things to the French do not get returned. Everything I have lent out including books, DVDs, tools and even a VCR have not been returned without a demand many months later. Good job I haven’t lent anyone my car. Now I just say non, désolé. Does French for lend mean the same as gift?[/quote] Ouch!! Sweeping generalisation alert!! [:-))] Do as I do: if I value it, I don't lend it... regardless of the nationality of the potential borrower [;-)] An English (former) friend asked to borrow an album she had heard about, only to return it with bits of cornflakes stuck to it! (Should I say 'never lend to the Brits' right now? [:P]) [/quote]   At least it was returned.

In my experience lending things to the French do not get returned. Everything I have lent out including books, DVDs, tools and even a VCR have not been returned without a demand many months later. Good job I haven’t lent anyone my car. Now I just say non, désolé. Does French for lend mean the same as gift?

[quote user="Weedon"] Very interesting. Suffice to say that although my village sits on top of a hill and is in itself about 100 miles (give or take) from the sea, my house sits slightly lower, but that is counter balanced by having a number of very tall oak trees in the garden, so I feel sure that if either Marseille or Brest floods I shouldn't get my feet wet. However, as a consequence, if the river in Laval rises I shall have to do a quick shimmy up one of those trees just to be on the safe side. Question is, if that should happen which item would I take with me as I struggle to get to the top of the tree? At the moment I favour the blow up mattress except that it would be much easier to climb if the mattress were deflated. But then I doubt whether I have enough puff to blow it up whilst clinging to a branch. Could take the foot operated pump I suppose, but would there be room up the said tree to get my leg pumping away whilst chanting "Tsunami!" in the manner of a football crowd taunting the opposition with a "oo are ya...oo are ya" [/quote] Despite your house being on a hill, it may well be below sea level. If your house does flood, I would think you are on a wing and a prayer. Take some strong pills and a bottle of what you fancy up that tree to give your voice more oomph whilst chanting Tsunami.[;-)]  

[quote user="JeanS"]Again - good news and as previous, especially if it means that people will take their pets back to the UK rather than abandoning them.[/quote] It’s quite unbelievable that pet owners would do that. Why do they have animals (they cannot be pets) in the first place?  These people should be abandoned in the Sahara.[:@]

[8-|][quote user="pachapapa"][quote user="audio"] This is all getting a bit heavy, Idun your question ‘is sea level the same in Marseille as Brest? Depending on the time of tide I think Marseille would be slightly higher than due to the earth’s rotational forces (nearer the equator) I’m sure this will be corrected by an expert.   All you need to do is have a marine chart (Not a map) and with a tidal atlas add the height of tide; you then have the depth of water. (Bit more to it than that but this will do)   Far easier is to go out in a boat and read the depth on a sounder or use a stone attached to a length of string. [/quote] The level of the sea will be different but the thread is about a Datum, commonly mean sea level, measured contiuously over several years. Consider the Panama, quoted above, and forgetting the complementary gravitational effect of the sun, spring tides and all that jazz. The moon due to its distance from the earth has a greater gravitational effect, inverse square law and all that jazz. So when the moon is over the middle of the Atlantic it will "suck up" the water as a consequence the Atlantic end of  the Panama  will be lower  than the Pacific end. Whan the moon is over the middle of the Pacific the level of water will be lower at the Pacific end of the canal, etc , etc. [/quote]   I am quite aware that this thread is about datum; my post was directed to Idun in an effort to answer her question.[8-|]

This is all getting a bit heavy, Idun your question ‘is sea level the same in Marseille as Brest? Depending on the time of tide I think Marseille would be slightly higher than due to the earth’s rotational forces (nearer the equator) I’m sure this will be corrected by an expert.   All you need to do is have a marine chart (Not a map) and with a tidal atlas add the height of tide; you then have the depth of water. (Bit more to it than that but this will do)   Far easier is to go out in a boat and read the depth on a sounder or use a stone attached to a length of string.

[quote user="Cat"]The report says that it was actually the prosecutor's investigators who uncovered the information, which does tend to lend credibility to the story.[/quote] Yes they did but I’m sure his team of lawyers were putting a lot of pressure on the DA and prosecutors.