MrCanary Posted September 24, 2009 Author Share Posted September 24, 2009 Scooby - as long as you are happy with your belief, that is fine by me because I am quite happy with mine...And yes, that is very perceptive of you, we are all mortal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 I had a phone call last night from an English ex-customer and friend who had lived and worked in France for over 30 years, could speak more of the local Picard patois than the locals and who visited me here in my second week here.I was telling him what life was like now that I really know, and more importantly, speak the language well enough to understand the people in my village, the local town, and their values.He said that he had tried to warn me that I had moved to the ar5ehole end of France, if not the world, but played it down a bit as he didnt want to dispirit me at such a crucial time, and in any case he said that I was wearing inch thick rose tinted glasses.I reckon that it took me a good 3 years to stop wearing them, I might still be wearing them now if I didnt speak French. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 [quote user="Chancer"]I haHe said that he had tried to warn me that I had moved to the ar5ehole end of France, if not the world, [/quote]Nah you just got the bad breath...for the real bottom.. Go South .[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Mel, you've got it real bad, haven't you?We've discussed this in the past and talked about the excitement of disembarking at the French end and driving off the ferry in a flutter of excitement.Well, I live here full-time now, have been for over 2 years and I still have to remind myself that this is now "home" and that if it never gets better than this, I shall have no cause for complaint.Mind you, apart from selected friends (Brits, Dutch, American, Brazilian and French), I seldom engage with other people and what I love about France is that it's such a large country that it's no problem avoiding people that I don't particularly like.I have taken the same morning walk with my dog for over 6 months now and I can count fewer than 10 times when I have met anybody. Gone are the days when I couldn't walk a few steps outside my house without being stopped by people that I knew and couldn't get away from. B l i s s [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 [quote user="Chancer"]I had a phone call last night from an English ex-customer and friend who had lived and worked in France for over 30 years, could speak more of the local Picard patois than the locals and who visited me here in my second week here.I was telling him what life was like now that I really know, and more importantly, speak the language well enough to understand the people in my village, the local town, and their values.He said that he had tried to warn me that I had moved to the ar5ehole end of France, if not the world, but played it down a bit as he didnt want to dispirit me at such a crucial time, and in any case he said that I was wearing inch thick rose tinted glasses.I reckon that it took me a good 3 years to stop wearing them, I might still be wearing them now if I didnt speak French.[/quote]One of the lovely old ladies in the village married an English guy...back in the fifties. Their children and grandchildren have grown up in the village but he is still referred to by his nationality. I reckon you have to be third generation before the rural french recognise you as a 'local'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted September 24, 2009 Author Share Posted September 24, 2009 Hi sweet - good to hear from you - are you saying I've got it real bad, or I'm getting it real bad on here? (joking everyone...)I've been about long enough and dealt with some really dodgy people through the years, used car dealers, scrap dealers, estate agents and more up-to-date, dodgy bankers, so I know all about rose-coloured spectacles and a serious health issue has taught me all about my mortality. But from what you have just said, sweet, as long as I am happy believing and doing what I want to, then that is fine by me and my lovely wife and she is the one that really matters...Oh, and as I am going into hospital in the morning for another couple of tests, it was great that I also can speak French which enabled my non-English speaking neighbours to phone me from France last night to wish me well.Good night folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprogster Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 My neighbours are great.I was just commenting on the fact that over the years we have had numerous posts from members asking for advice about various problems they have with neighbours, to the extent that it is a common theme on this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 One of the things I love is the privacy. You can talk in English in public places and 99% of people don't know what you are talking about. I live in rural France, and most can barely speak French, let alone any other language, so I know I'm pretty safe lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5-element Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 [quote user="Chancer"]He said that he had tried to warn me that I had moved to the ar5ehole end of France.[/quote]That's funny Chancer, 'cos I thought my end was just that, and I'm a long way from Picardie.[:D]There must be a few of those ends about.Must be I used the wrong seed packet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 "Must be I used the wrong seed packet."Yours seems to grow les "corbeaux"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 [quote user="Mel"]Oh, and as I am going into hospital in the morning for another couple of tests, it was great that I also can speak French which enabled my non-English speaking neighbours to phone me from France last night to wish me well. Good night folks.[/quote]All the best with your tests, Mel. Just think about your next visit to France and that should make you want to be well so that you can return, non?[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maricopa Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 [quote user="Richard"]One of the things I love is the privacy. You can talk in English in public places and 99% of people don't know what you are talking about. I live in rural France, and most can barely speak French, let alone any other language, so I know I'm pretty safe lol.[/quote]Personally, I wouldn't be so sure. In my volunteer work, I am the only native english speaker amongst a team of (other than me) French people. I occasionally take calls from customers and friends and will be speaking english. When I finish on the phone a few of those I am with will delight in repeating and translating at least some of my phone call. Beware[Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 Too true Maricopa.And then there are the English sitting in the corner of the café, hiding in embarrassment, who will translate once you have left... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 [quote user="Maricopa"][quote user="Richard"]One of the things I love is the privacy. You can talk in English in public places and 99% of people don't know what you are talking about. I live in rural France, and most can barely speak French, let alone any other language, so I know I'm pretty safe lol.[/quote]Personally, I wouldn't be so sure. In my volunteer work, I am the only native english speaker amongst a team of (other than me) French people. I occasionally take calls from customers and friends and will be speaking english. When I finish on the phone a few of those I am with will delight in repeating and translating at least some of my phone call. Beware[Www][/quote]It's mainly in my local bar I feel this way, and I know the locals there do not understand English.Normally have a mock fight with one of the locals. He's an old boy and he hurls abuse at me in Berrichon, I hurl abuse back in English. I guess in that respect, there is an understanding lol. Must ask him if he speaks French one day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted September 26, 2009 Author Share Posted September 26, 2009 Richard - laughing together is a universal language!!sweet - thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just john Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 The whole experience, each time I leave, it's a wrench, the space, the architecture, the weather, the light, cost of gazole, driving even, though an acquaintance tells that les flick chased and fined them for giving way instead of stopping at a Halt sign. Curiously they were driving a french car and when stopped they were addressed in English, obviously you can spot les Anglais at a 100 metres[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote user="just john "]The whole experience, each time I leave, it's a wrench, the space, the architecture, the weather, the light, cost of gazole, driving even, though an acquaintance tells that les flick chased and fined them for giving way instead of stopping at a Halt sign. Curiously they were driving a french car and when stopped they were addressed in English, obviously you can spot les Anglais at a 100 metres[:)][/quote]When I went on le shuttle a couple of years back, I had the top down on the car. Was French registered, steering wheel on the left etc, and on the French side, one of the blokes there said in his heavily French accented English "You've forgotten your roof". How he knew we were English speaking, I'll never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Richard, was this in the summer?I ask because I am told that it is a universal truth to the French that all les Rosbifs turn pink in the sun! So, if you had your roof down and it WAS summer, he didn't need much in the way of deductive powers, did he?[:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 It was in the summer, but you've missed one very important point.Before moving to France, I spent 8 years in Australia, my wife is Australian, so neither of us turn pink or red in the sun. After my first Australian summer, I got very bad sunburn, but thereafter, I get an awesome bronze tan. Shame I don't have a six pack to match. It's more like a barrel!!!As a matter of fact, the Aussies play spot the Pom at lot too. You can always tell as they are either lilly white (ie landed the previous day), or lobster red (ie been in Australia more than 24 hours!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote user="sweet 17"]Richard, was this in the summer?I ask because I am told that it is a universal truth to the French that all les Rosbifs turn pink in the sun! So, if you had your roof down and it WAS summer, he didn't need much in the way of deductive powers, did he? [:P][/quote]You may already know this Sweet but we are not called les rosbifs for the same reason that some people call the French frogs, i.e. because it is our national dish.I was told it was because of the above, particularly noticeable on the Riviéra, the brits would arrive, get lashed in the bar at noon, sleep it off on the beach in the afternoon and end up with skin looking like (French) rosbif.While I am on the subject why do all the French suntan lotions advise you to keep out of the sun at midi when the mid-day sun in France in summer is at 14.00 hours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote user="Chancer"][quote user="sweet 17"]Richard, was this in the summer?I ask because I am told that it is a universal truth to the French that all les Rosbifs turn pink in the sun! So, if you had your roof down and it WAS summer, he didn't need much in the way of deductive powers, did he? [:P][/quote]You may already know this Sweet but we are not called les rosbifs for the same reason that some people call the French frogs, i.e. because it is our national dish.I was told it was because of the above, particularly noticeable on the Riviéra, the brits would arrive, get lashed in the bar at noon, sleep it off on the beach in the afternoon and end up with skin looking like (French) rosbif.While I am on the subject why do all the French suntan lotions advise you to keep out of the sun at midi when the mid-day sun in France in summer is at 14.00 hours?[/quote]I thought Britain's national dish was curry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Chicken Tikka Marsala to be precise, Richard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 [quote user="sweet 17"]Chicken Tikka Marsala to be precise, Richard![/quote]Your basic Italian curry, then? [:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Well, I don't eat it so don't expect me to be able to spell it, woman![:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 What exactly is the difference in spelling of Marsala between Sweets post and Claires post? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now