Was the forum established with the assistance of Frech Property News and Living France?

[Tony F Dordogne]

Surely Jon has made his point, some people may agree and some people will disagree with it.

Jon, stop banging on, you're not doing anything other than to get people fed up with reading the same thing over and over again.  As somebody else said, sometimes Jon, less is more or to paraphrase Oscar Wilde, sometimes it's better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you're a fool that to open it (read, keep banging on) and prove that you are.

But there's no need to be so downright rude to Jon either, he has his point of view, others have theirs, it's what makes the world go round but there's no need to be downright abusive to him, just accept him for the sort of guy that he is and perhaps ignore his posts if they get you so hacked off at him.

BTW, I spoke to a chum who manages an AA starred hotel a few evening back and asked him about the AA 3 star hotel being close to a one star Michelin - his response was, yeap, in his dreams!

[Ron Avery]

Tony saId "But there's no need to be so downright rude to Jon either, "

 So making him out to be a liar doesn't count then? [:P]

[Tony F Dordogne]

Statement of fact Ron, not a personal insult to him, like his web site saying he's a 'noted' chef - by whom, the Health Protection Agency, noted by whom and for what?  Popular locally may not actually mean 'noted'.  Jon obviously has challenges in his written work for which once known, people may want to cut his some slack and perhaps his comments about the status of the hotel and being 'noted' reflect those challenges.

[jon]

Assumptions again!
I had a Three AA rosetter restaurant in London.Not a hotel.Not a liar.

Please check with the Automobile Association  in UK and you will find out that Chinon had three AA rosettes for many years.Most restaurants which have three AA rosettes have one star Michelin.      We  have   with us we have some cerificates and plates which the AA send you each year.

Maybe I am boreing...so ignore me as I am now going to ignore YO

 

   

 

[Russethouse]

Jon, If you really want to ignore this or other threads, go to the first page of the thread (you can do this by clicking on  the number 1 at the bottom right of the last page)

When you on the threads first page you will see a box on the left with a bell, a tick mark and the word 'notify' - click on it and you will stop get notifications of posts.

If you are not getting notifications please ignore the above.

[Tony F Dordogne]

Jon, the fact that the Chinon and other restaurants may have had both a Michelin and 3 rosette AA does not mean that every other restaurant with 3 AA rosettes met the standards of the Michelin people.  You're trying to bask in the reflected glory of other restaurants, unless of course you worked in those that had both.

[mint]

It's now completely unclear to me whether Jon was actually the owner of Chinon?

Aarrrrrrrrrrghhhh  I'm dense; someone please explain to me.

If Chinon had 3 roses and a star (whatever, I'm only interested in the logic), and he owned Chinon, did he not have the roses, etc?[8-)]

[Russethouse]

 I believe Jon and her partner owned Chinon, a restaurant in West London.

As far as I can make out from Jon's posts : Chinon had 3 AA rosettes but not a Michelin star, however other other restaurants with 3 AA rosettes often have a Michelin star too.

Hope that's right.....[8-)]

[Quillan]

The first question asked was about who owns the current forum and that's Archant who publish several French magazines. The original forum from which this has evolved came on the back of Living France magazine and was bought with the magazine as part of a package by Archant, the date this happened currently escapes me.

The next question of course is "what is a forum", seeing as this site is hosted in the UK I used the Oxford English (UK edition) dictionary.

	forum   • noun (pl. forums) 1 a meeting or medium for an exchange of views. 2 chiefly N. Amer. a court or tribunal. 3 (pl. fora) (in ancient Roman cities) a public square or marketplace used for judicial and other business.   — ORIGIN Latin, ‘what is out of doors’.

Our forum is "an exchange of views" about France and French life and like anywhere else there are good and bad points. Not being a major advertising tool for Archant there is no problem with giving unbiased answers i.e. there's is no problem in telling people who ask how it is, be it good or bad.

What Jon, as the original poster in this thread, should try and remember is that many people here have not run and sold a successful London restaurant and have not walked away with a shed load of money to invest in France. They simply live within their means but on a much smaller and more controlled budget.

The move to France, or any other country, to live is a very big thing. As Jon mentioned it can mean leaving family and friends behind in the 'old country' and as such needs to be researched very carefully. Part of that research is asking questions. Sure you can write in to one of the magazines but you will get one answer and have to wait till the next issue to get it. Using a forum such as this gives quick and easy answers and is not limiting on the quantity of questions asked.

So what advice should we give these people, "come on over, France is great" and forget all about the social, political and other problems the country has that may directly or indirectly effect their life here. Should we basically lie when answering some of the more detailed questions and just say yes and its great all the time or should we give correct  and unbiased answer's knowing that it might not be what people want to here. Who is going to take the responsibility for these people when they sell their house, pack up and move to France only to find they were given a somewhat rosie view and things are not quite what they were told. It just adds further to the immense stress of the actual move.

Of course people still 'get it wrong' but not always through their own fault, lack of information or failure to research things properly. Its often very sad especially if they are moving back somewhat reluctantly because they know its the right thing to do for other family members that are unhappy here. There's nothing wrong or anything to be ashamed of in these circumstances, in fact they should be applauded for trying in the first place.

On a personal level I find that Jon is quite a contradiction, does not consider him/herself as materialistic yet is plainly so when talking about rosettes, stars, their property, what they do, where they live etc. I don't think I am the only person who sees them as self advertising albeit  subliminally so most of the time. Those little one liners that keep being dropped in. Likewise I feel they are not living in the real world here and in some ways don't fully understand French culture although they will swear blind they do.

Perhaps we have treated Jon a little harshly but in fairness (and nobody asked him/her to do so) if you put your neck so far out on a block then you have to be prepared to have it cut off.

Like some I found it difficult when I first got here having being 'something' in the UK and wanting to be recognised for it. I had the fast car(s) etc but found that the best way is to forget all that, step back, make yourself nondescript and integrate slowly in to your surroundings. I help out where I can but from the back of the room, not the front and generally just try to blend in and get on with my life which for me works very well.

This weekend we had one of our fetes, I am on the committee but sit at the back, help put tables out and help with service at the meal, bit of 'fetch and carry' sort of thing. Took two English couples who are guests to it and they loved it, loved the French and were given a very warm welcome by the village even though they don't speak hardly a word of French and the languages here are either French or Spanish (hardly anyone speaks English). All in all a most excellent event and I was very happy to help in my small, unobtrusive way. As so many people have said 'respect' is not something you are given because you owned a big company or restaurant in London its something that has to be earned and its not always easy, especially when you are an outsider. And yes I am sure they talk about me behind my back when I am not listening (hopefully in a positive way) just as they do others.

By the way my grammer and spelling is very bad but I use a spell checker and read it through many times before hitting the 'Post' button. Its not that hard.

[Renaud]

I am impressed by a British chef who makes a success of food in France.

I also feel that this forum is full of 'glass half empty' posts.

[Russethouse]

Given that people often find the forum when they have a problem and often post when they have a difficulty, it's hardly surprising.

 

[Cerise]

Renaud - lots of English folk make a success of food in France!  Many B & B, reataurant and hotel owners are English, many of  them have lots of French customers who are all happy bunnies when they eat.  Jon's food sounds absolutely delicious - as I've no doubt it is - but so is Quillan's and many other posters on this forum.  I'd never describe myself as a chef, just a reasonably good cook, but my French guests are full of compliements for the food they eat with us.  It is a myth that the English can't make good food, I'm surprised you subscribe to it.

[Renaud]

Cerise - I am impressed by you all. I don't believe that the British can't make good food - it is just that it is much harder to make a success at it in chauvanist (sp?) France.

[Russethouse]

..and there's the rub...I don't think Jon really believes its much harder to make a success of it in France.

Next time I see the very talented French chef at our local restaurant (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/restaurants/5286456/Restaurant-review-Mya-Lacarte-Caversham-Berkshire.html) I'm going to ask him why he left France to work in the UK and specialises in British food.

[Quillan]

In reply to Renauds previous comments and in line with many, many other Expats living here I find.....

French women much more sexier than English ones and much better dressed [:D] .

There are far higher standards of behavior.

Children are better behaved and retain their 'childhood' innocence longer.

English children living here become better behaved the longer they stay.

There are far stronger family values than in the UK.

Far less crime.

Much less stress.

More healthier.

Eat better.

Cook more.

Take more exercise

In general the quality of life here in France is between good and excellent.

On the negative side the French have much less of a sense of humour than the English and are not as good company.

So who's being negative and whos cup is half empty [:P] .

[Quillan]

[quote user="Cerise"]Renaud - lots of English folk make a success of food in France!  Many B & B, reataurant and hotel owners are English, many of  them have lots of French customers who are all happy bunnies when they eat.  Jon's food sounds absolutely delicious - as I've no doubt it is - but so is Quillan's and many other posters on this forum.  I'd never describe myself as a chef, just a reasonably good cook, but my French guests are full of compliements for the food they eat with us.  It is a myth that the English can't make good food, I'm surprised you subscribe to it.[/quote]

Don't put yourself down Cerise, I have had one of your curries, remember, blinking excellent it was to.

Lets face it this cooking malarkey is pretty easy. All you need is a Magi mix like them proper cooks on TV, a good cook book from a leading reputable authority like Jamie Oliver (?) and timer, easy peasy [;-)] .

Actually I think English cooking is probably the best in the world. I put this down to its multi ethnicity over the years and its willing to experiment. English food and English Haute Couture are now rated as some of the best in world.

Many of my French guests come for one or two weeks and book a meal on arrival. They do this because they have worked out we are English (can't think why, do you think my bad French and accent give me away?) and are interested to try English food and no doubt take the mickey afterwards. Once they have tried it they end up eating in every (or almost every) night and think English food is fantastic. One likes to do ones bit to keep ones countries end up don't you know. [;-)]

[chris pp]

And here it shows how much we can differ, all of the following I disagree with or are false.

French women much more sexier than English ones and much better dressed.

There are far higher standards behavior.

Far less crime.

Much less stress.

More healthier.

Eat better.

Healthier.

Then doubtful...

Children are better behaved and retain their 'childhood' innocence longer.

There are far stronger family values than in the UK.

So, there you have it and I didn't arrive last week, it fact I no longer have a passport.

Chris

 

[Christine Animal]

[quote user="Renaud"]Cerise - I am impressed by you all. I don't believe that the British can't make good food - it is just that it is much harder to make a success at it in chauvanist (sp?) France.
[/quote]

Renaud, David Ridgway, Chef Sommelier at the Tour d'Argent.  http://www.waitrose.com/drink/wine/winearticles/0004104.aspx

I don't like the French being called chauvanistic as they are very tolerant, open-minded and ready to accept different cultures.

 

Quillan, excellent post.  But if you get to know the French even more, you will no doubt find they do have a great sense of humour.  [:D]

(edit: I meant your first post).

[Scooby]

[quote user="Quillan"]French women much more sexier than English ones and much better dressed [:D].[/quote]

You haven't met the women in our village Quillan - most are size 20+, they do a great number in a certain shade of 'red' hair (I think the local hairdresser gets a bulk discount..) and their dress sense...!?! With the exception of two ladies (both of whom lived most of their life in Paris and moved in good social circles) is...aherm interesting!  One large lady in particular wears diaphanous gowns with spindly white hairy legs protruding out.  Her dresses seem to have arm holes that are too big - so that you can see the thin, too tight bra strap cutting into the rolls of flesh...and the hairy armpits![quote user="Quillan"]There are far higher standards behavior.

Children are better behaved and retain their 'childhood' innocence longer.[/quote]

Our neighbours' child is a complete nightmare and has been expelled from two schools.

[quote user="Quillan"]English children living here become better behaved the longer they stay.[/quote]

My (very well behaved) English children hate coming to France because the neighbours expect them to babysit 'Damien II' (as they have nicknamed him).

[quote user="Quillan"]There are far stronger family values than in the UK.[/quote]

Do you mean they eat together...and eat late.  I've often seen very young children kept out at restos, fetes etc with parents when they are so tired they can hardly keep their eyes open.  Hardly fair or considerate towards the children.

Or is it they look after their elderly parents?  Other neighbours look after elderly parents...because it's cheaper than a nursing home and they get paid an allowance for going and bathing, feeding them etc.  Another neighbour took care of her in-laws for similar reasons to the above and it was openly known she hated the sight of her and joked about the different ways she could bump her off.  Yet another neighbour charges her octogenarian invalid mother 20 euros an hour to cut her lawns and weed her flower beds.

[quote user="Quillan"]Far less crime.[/quote]

I'm assuming you are talking about rural areas and not the banlieues? Even so, our house has been broken into (we now have screw on steel bars across all the window and door shutters as well as the double mortice locks) and before we bought the house (when it was unoccupied) the son of one of the neighbours was found dead of a heroin overdose in the front downstairs bedroom.

[quote user="Quillan"]Much less stress.[/quote]

Is this why alcoholism, depression and suicide rates are so high in France?

[quote user="Quillan"]More healthier.[/quote]

See above

[quote user="Quillan"]Eat better.[/quote]

We eat as well in the UK as our neighbours do in France - if not better. Fresh meals cooked everyday, local and no convenience foods, less red meat, less saturated fats and vegetables not cooked to the point of grey mush.

[quote user="Quillan"]Cook more.[/quote]

See above

[quote user="Quillan"]Healthier.[/quote]

See above

[quote user="Quillan"]Take more exercise[/quote]

Is this the size 20+ ladies, or the gentlemen with their well developed guts from the pastis and wine?  My OH and I look far healthier and slimmer than most of those living near us!

[quote user="Quillan"]In general the quality of life here in France is between good and excellent.[/quote]

A massive generalisation.  Some of our neighbours manage on a tenth of our income - in fact we don't know how they do manage....and I'm sure those of North African extraction in the banlieues don't feel they have a quality of life 'between good and excellent'.

France is great if you are retired, have a good stable income and can get away and travel in the boring winter months.

PS nothing personal at you Quillan, just a difference of opinion...unless your post was meant to be sarcastic of course [:)]

[Quillan]

[quote user="chris pp"]

And here it shows how much we can differ, all of the following I disagree with or are false.

French women much more sexier than English ones and much better dressed.

There are far higher standards behavior.

Far less crime.

Much less stress.

More healthier.

Eat better.

Healthier.

Then doubtful...

Children are better behaved and retain their 'childhood' innocence longer.

There are far stronger family values than in the UK.

So, there you have it and I didn't arrive last week, it fact I no longer have a passport.

Chris

[/quote]

Well Chris it seems you are sadly out of touch because between 87% and 94% (depending on which point you specifically mention) of Brits living in France feel this way.

[Scooby]

[quote user="Quillan"]

Well Chris it seems you are sadly out of touch because between 87% and 94% (depending on which point you specifically mention) of Brits living in France feel this way.

[/quote]

I'm guessing it's the (comparatively) wealthy Brit retirees, in their pretty stone cottages who haven't got much in the way of French language skills.....

[Quillan]

[quote user="Scooby"][quote user="Quillan"]French women much more sexier than English ones and much better dressed [:D].[/quote]
You haven't met the women in our village Quillan - most are size 20+, they do a great number in a certain shade of 'red' hair (I think the local hairdresser gets a bulk discount..) and their dress sense...!?! With the exception of two ladies (both of whom lived most of their life in Paris and moved in good social circles) is...aherm interesting!  One large lady in particular wears diaphanous gowns with spindly white hairy legs protruding out.  Her dresses seem to have arm holes that are too big - so that you can see the thin, too tight bra strap cutting into the rolls of flesh...and the hairy armpits![quote user="Quillan"]There are far higher standards behavior.
Children are better behaved and retain their 'childhood' innocence longer.[/quote]
Our neighbours' child is a complete nightmare and has been expelled from two schools.
[quote user="Quillan"]English children living here become better behaved the longer they stay.[/quote]
My (very well behaved) English children hat coming to France because the neighbours expect them to babysit the 'Damien' (as they have nicknamed him).
[quote user="Quillan"]There are far stronger family values than in the UK.[/quote]
Do you mean they eat together...and eat late.  I've often seen very young children kept out at restos, fetes etc with parents when they are so tired they can hardly keep their eyes open.  Hardly fair or considerate towards the children.

Or is it they look after their elderly parents?  Other neighbours look after elderly parents...because it's cheaper than a nursing home and they get paid an allowance for going and bathing, feeding them etc.  Another neighbour took care of her in-laws for similar reasons to the above and it was openly known she hated the sight of her and joked about the different ways she could bump her off.  Yet another neighbour charges her octogenarian invalid mother 20 euros an hour to cut her lawns and weed her flower beds.
[quote user="Quillan"]Far less crime.[/quote]
I'm assuming you are talking about rural areas and not the banlieues? Even so, our house has been broken into (we now have screw on steel bars across all the window and door shutters as well as the double mortice locks) and before we bought the house (when it was unoccupied) the son of one of the neighbours was found dead of a heroin overdose in the front downstairs bedroom.
[quote user="Quillan"]Much less stress.[/quote]
Is this why alcoholism, depression and suicide rates are so high in France?
[quote user="Quillan"]More healthier.[/quote]
See above
[quote user="Quillan"]Eat better.[/quote]
We eat as well in the UK as our neighbours do in France - if not better. Fresh meals cooked everyday, local and no convenience foods, less red meat, less saturated fats and vegetables not cooked to the point of grey mush.
[quote user="Quillan"]Cook more.[/quote]
See above
[quote user="Quillan"]Healthier.[/quote]
See above
[quote user="Quillan"]Take more exercise[/quote]
Is this the size 20+ ladies, or the gentlemen with their well developed guts from the pastis and wine?  My OH and I look far healthier and slimmer than most of those living near us!
[quote user="Quillan"]In general the quality of life here in France is between good and excellent.[/quote]
A massive generalisation.  Some of our neighbours manage on a tenth of our income - in fact we don't know how they do manage....and I'm sure those of North African extraction in the banlieues don't feel they have a quality of life 'between good and excellent'.

France is great if you are retired, have a good stable income and can get away and travel in the boring winter months.

PS nothing personal at you Quillan, just a difference of opinion...unless your post was meant to be sarcastic of course [:)]
[/quote]

You better believe it, I got it all from the Daily Mail (Friday 29th May - Page 13) what I dug out of one of the guest bins (I collect them for lighting the fire - not Just DM papers I hasten to add) so it must be true.

Hairy legs, look mate we have one, well lets just say I know how it must feel for a woman when she snogs a fella with stubble. Only size 20, is that UK or American [:P]

[Christine Animal]

You cannot be very happy in France Scooby to have such a blinkered and critical view of people here.  There is life outside your village you know.  Do you ever watch French television?  There are people on it who are not in your village.

 

 

[Quillan]

[quote user="Scooby"][quote user="Quillan"]

Well Chris it seems you are sadly out of touch because between 87% and 94% (depending on which point you specifically mention) of Brits living in France feel this way.

[/quote]

I'm guessing it's the (comparatively) wealthy Brit retirees, in their pretty stone cottages who haven't got much in the way of French language skills.....
[/quote]

Now now Scooby calm down, you will be coming out with comments about rose tinted glass's next and I shall have run and find my mods hat as I am told by a current member we ain't doing enough moderating these days.[;-)] Remember only say nice positive things NEVER tell the truth, people don't want to hear it. Didn't you know all British politicians are basically honest  . See that, two spaces before the full stop. Sorry, I'm happy, no meal tonight, no cooking, first time in 16 days yipeeeeeeeeeee. [:D] [:P] [:D]

[Benjamin]

[quote user="Scooby"]

I'm guessing it's the (comparatively) wealthy Brit retirees, in their pretty stone cottages who haven't got much in the way of French language skills.....

[/quote]

Generalisation.  [:D]