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Ken
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Posts posted by Ken
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So, Jupiter has given up (for the time being anyway) phoning Putin and has switched to phoning Zelensky! Jupiter has promised that France will step up its supply of arms to Ukraine which, given the supply, so far is paltry it won't be hard to do and is almost an insult.
Now me not being the least bit cynical wonder if Macron, now Putin seems to be losing this war, is switching from being Putin's mate to wanting to become Zelensky's mate? In other words he has seen the writing on the proverbial wall and doesn't want to be seen as a Putin apologist, which he is. Anyway we shall see if France fulfils its 'promise to supply arms in any significant amount, I have my doubts! For me it is so blatant a 'switch' that I'm a little surprised Zelensky didn't tell him to 'go away in short, sharp jerky movements'!! The duplicity is quite disgusting, even for Macron. I wonder what the other leaders think of him?
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1 hour ago, anotherbanana said:
It may seem strange to us that someone who is not from the Assemblée should be appointed PM unlike say UK. I guess this produces a government of technocrats. Whether that is a better system than other countries ( eg Trump!) is open to debate. At least they have their feet on the ground.
Macron has his feet on the ground? Personally I prefer Trump.
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Ah well, Borne it is. Never been elected to anything but no doubt bright. Shame It isn't Mélenchon, he would certainly have livened up French politics! Let's face it Micky Mouse could be P.M. as it simply doesn't matter, Castex can testify to that!!! There is only one person running France and it certainly isn't the P.M. or the government!!! And yes she is certainly a dyed in the wool socialist prone to giving money away so will be popular!
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20 hours ago, cajal said:
Eurovision Song Contest? Perhaps someone would be good enough to explain, preferably in words of one syllable, when did Australia become a European Country? It would also appear that Canada aims to field candidates for next year's event. Confused of Côte d'Azur. ?
In case anyone missed the results, Germany propped up France at the bottom of the results table. Would this be a reflection of European's thoughts on the top two nations and the bottom two nations with regard to the response to the dilemma inflicted on the overall competition winner's country?
Australia is the centre of the Universe, ask any Australian! I'm not sure how many relatives I have out there now, including a Sister and two Brothers in law, lord knows how descendants they have managed between them but when ever I speak to any of them it's apparent that it is they who run the world!!!! So, being the centre of the Universe it is only natural that they think Australia is part of Europe!!! Actually I do have, though it may not sound like it, absolute respect for Australians. They have done more than their fair share in two world wars, Vietnam, Afghanistan and have sent equipment to Ukraine not to mention ****---ed off Macron, that alone would put them high in my esteem!!!
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My wife, a Finn, is quite happy that her country has applied to join N.A.T.O. Many years ago, when we first used to discuss the issue she was against it, as were the majority of Finns. My arguments then were as they are now, never let a bully ,bully! She would argue that from the perspective of being British that was an easy thing for me to say. She would often say that "A whisper in Moscow could be heard in Helsinki". The meaning being that Moscow was always threatening Finland. Anyway she, and her countrymen have now 'seen the light'!!!!
Putin does appear to have made a right 'pig's ear' of his invasion and hopefully with the help the U.K. and the USA have given (and continues to give) Ukraine will come out the winner. A slight aside is that Germany has said it will be there for the 'long fight' !!! I wasn't aware that it was there even for a 'short' fight! Just what have they done in real terms to help Ukraine, we know what they are doing helping Russia! As for Jupiter, just about everyone is ridiculing him; and rightly so. Even the Russians are making sarcastic comments about him and his telephone calls. Someone with his ego must be really suffering, what a shame!!!!!
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I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the result of the Eurovision Song Contest. To be fair I didn't watch it, ever since Terry Wogan passed on it hasn't been worth watching! Anyway, a forgone conclusion that Ukraine would win no matter what they sang, even "my old man's a dustman" would have won it. But Britain coming second did offer some surprise. Whilst I thought it sums up how people feel over the Ukraine invasion I was rather pleased, with a huge dose of smugness and satisfaction thrown in, to see France and Germany coming in last!!
Not that I want any Frenchman or German entertainer who has put in the work to lose out but because of circumstances it was a complete waste of their time and effort. The message was very clear across Europe: 'We support Ukraine and Britain's efforts but deplore the behaviour of the Leaders of France and Germany'. The message couldn't have been clearer. The song contest in itself is trivial but the message this one sent was very strong indeed. I hope Macron and Scholz are metaphorically now beating their heads against the wall!!! Well maybe not even metaphorically!!!
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11 hours ago, alittlebitfrench said:
I can live with that my friend. ?
And I would still buy you a pint if we disagree ?
And that is how the world should work.
Right, I will have a pint of rum please!!
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6 hours ago, alittlebitfrench said:
I don't agree....except this maybe a generational issue.
Believe me, there are no probs in my or those of lower age groups.
Also, people don't take notice of political leaders anymore. Especially French ones.
Then we disagree!
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2 minutes ago, alittlebitfrench said:
Please, there is no problem with the Anglo French relationship.
I should know more than most.
Remember, more French live in the UK than Brits in France. The French are one of the biggest investors of UK property. Young kids want to move to the UK. I would if I was a young French kid.
My kids will certainly want to move to the UK.
French news is always covering UK news. Do they cover other countries ? NO.
The French like the British and vice versa.
The problem is the attitude of French politiciens towards the UK. They are the ones causing all the animosity.
They are just jealous because they can't control their own country and half of them end up in jail or on corruption charges anyway.
So yeah, Macron is just another vile French politicien.
Please folks......everybody hates Macron in France. He is hated.
So on that note alone, the British, the French and everyone else in the EU have something in common.
I'm afraid there is a great problem with French/ Anglo relationship albeit at the governmental/political level. They are the ones governing the ill feeling towards each other and that affects us, you! We may love our neighbour (or wife) but that doesn't mean our two countries are in any way aligned other than at the superficial level you hint at. My wife, a Finn, often says only the British can understand the British and I agree with her. There are fundamental differences even down at our lowly level. Just how do you think Brexit came about? I'm afraid because we like French wine and cheese and the French like, well I'm not too sure actually! that doesn't make us compatible at almost any level. I find that I have to be diplomatic in things I say relating to France. In the first instance it is because I'm the foreigner and it would be wrong of me to 'speak freely'. Secondly I want to 'get on' with people not fight them. So no, I'm afraid I can't agree that Brits and the E.U. have something in common, at any level.
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1 hour ago, Harnser said:
It's odd that Macron has this hatred of the UK considering that one of his great- grandparents was english.
Michael O'Leary!!! That's why he hates Britain! You can't get any more Irish than an O'Leary!!!!
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14 hours ago, alittlebitfrench said:
Yep I agree...apart from the rule Britannia bit. That is a bit uncalled for.
The EU has been a disgrace in the Ukraine conflict. There is no doubt about that.
But to be fair on France (given this is a French forum) the French...like everyone else in Europe (not the EU but day to day peeps who live in Europe) are doing their/our bit. Well apart from Macron.
France would be a lot more effective (like the UK) outside of the 'EU' and their politiciens not shaggîng Germany every five minutes. It is so embarassing.
I don't know if I live in France or Germany the way French politiciens behave. ?
Well I like to be fair, and realistic! Yes many people are contributing money, food, clothing etc. to help Ukraine but the reality is that it is a drop in the ocean. This isn't about a token of 'conscience' where people donate something and then, conscience satisfied, forget about it. This is about Governments, countries and official institutions such as NATO and the U.N. Countries that should be helping on the scale of Britain and the USA but have been pathetic in their response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The one notable exception in the E.U. has been Poland. The E.U. as an institution has been, and still is pathetic, a disgrace in fact. I live in France and think it a wonderful country, with exceptions of course, but its political leadership has always disgusted me. As for saying Rule Britannia is uncalled for; Why? I'm extremely proud that my country is leading the world in its aid to Ukraine and not just with some token food and clothing from the 'people!
Rule Britannia.
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7 hours ago, Harnser said:
Volodymyr Zelensky has hit out at Emmanuel Macron and accused him of trying "in vain" to have a constructive dialogue with the Russian President.
"We must not look for a way out for Russia, and Macron is doing it in vain," the Ukrainian President told the Italian TV channel Rai 1.
"I know he wanted to get results from mediation between Russia and Ukraine, but he didn't get any," Mr Zelensky said in an interview that was published on his Telegram channel.
The Elysee said that Mr Macron had "never discussed anything with Vladimir Putin without the agreement of President Zelensky".
"He has always said that it is up to the Ukrainians to decide the terms of their negotiation with the Russians."
Somebody needs to tell Macron to stop interfering!
Macron is far too vain to stop 'keep trying'! He is looking , as always, to boost his ego. I'm sure that when this war ends he will almost certainly claim credit to some degree. What will be more disappointing is that the French people will probably believe it!!! It's not only the Russians who use propaganda!!!
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So, the E.U. can't agree on oil sanctions against Russia!! What a surprise! They are meeting again next month to discuss the 'problem'! Meanwhile the E.U. is effectively financing Russia in its war against Ukraine. There are just one or two E.U. countries that can be proud of what they are doing but collectively the E.U. is an utter disgrace and as an institution should be thoroughly ashamed of the way it is behaving. And people want to be part of the E.U.! Without a doubt Ukraine would be under the heel of Putin now had it not been for the USA and Britain. Those two countries can hold their heads high
Rule Britannia
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Sorry about the double post. This site is all over the place!!!! It must be run by a French body!!!!!!!
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I'm off to Sweden in a few weeks to swim across the Arctic circle to Finland (always assuming Putin hasn't invaded them!!) It's an annual competition limited to a couple of hundred of people though because of covid it has been cancelled for the last two years. I started long distance swimming several years ago though it has to be said that my 'long distance swimming' is nothing compared to many. I swim maybe 5 kilometres in training and many swim distances that I could only do in my car!!
My training is in a lake or the sea as meandering up and down a swimming pool would drive me mad! Bumping into those 'swimmers' who plod along keeping their hair dry drives me to distraction!! I wonder if there are any swimmers here, not the 'keep hair dry' sort but real swimmers?
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I'm off to Sweden in a few weeks to swim across the Arctic circle to Finland (always assuming Putin hasn't invaded them!!) It's an annual competition limited to a couple of hundred of people though because of covid it has been cancelled for the last two years. I started long distance swimming several years ago though it has to be said that my 'long distance swimming' is nothing compared to many. I swim maybe 5 kilometres in training and many swim distances that I could only do in my car!!
My training is in a lake or the sea as meandering up and down a swimming pool would drive me mad! Bumping into those 'swimmers' who plod along keeping their hair dry drives me to distraction!! I wonder if there are any swimmers here, not the 'keep hair dry' sort but real swimmers?
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Just had my standing order for electricity arrive for the coming year. It has almost exactly doubled! I do understand the reasons for the huge increase (without necessarily agreeing with them!) but I wonder if the increases are across the board for everyone. For example those who smugly lecture others on the 'green' aspects of driving an electric car; has the cost of charging their cars doubled? I doubt it!
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12 hours ago, alittlebitfrench said:
Where is done here ? I'm moving. ?
We have not had hardly any rain since Feb.
I mean, apart from Ukraine the biggest headline in France at the moment is the scheresse. The 'scheresse' map looks very bad. There is no water in the soil.
It don't look good for crops this year in France.
With global food shortages already a problem, this is going get very bad.
It is 28 degrees today and it is forecasted hotter next week.
France needs rain.
I shouldn't worry about shortages. They just put the prices up and the shortages simply disappear!!!
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So that's why Macron has proposed a new arrangement for diplomatic relations within the E.U. encompassing Britain! He wants our bloody rain!!!!!!
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Ah! But can she cook? Probably has won master Chef sometime too!!!
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13 hours ago, Harnser said:
Macron cannot appoint a new prime minister until Jean Castex and his government have resigned, which they are scheduled to do on 13th May 2022, the day after the legislative elections of the deputies.
The hot tip for the new prime minister is Elizabeth Borne.
Oh! How I hope Melanchon gets the job!! I follow politics and love nothing more that it to be 'interesting' With Melanchon as P.M. it would be extremely 'interesting' He hates everything I love!!
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On 07/05/2022 at 18:08, danny said:
Has anyone got an idea of the cost of tiling a 16 m2 terrace. It will include the cost of removing the old tiles ( Most of which can be removed by hand ) and the old chape Mortier, putting down new chape Mortier and tiles costing 30€ per m2.
In these infrlationery times, a friend says it could cost 6,000€ which has shocked us.
I wouldn't trust your friend's guess at all! Maths isn't my strong point but the cost of the tiles comes to €480, say €500 for wastage. So, around €5500 for the rest of the work, including clearing the site and materials, sounds very expensive. It would be advisable to get one or two reliable estimates. I think your friend, is way out!
As an aside I wouldn't entertain chape mortier at all. Harnser's work sounds very good though I would do it slightly differently and simply lay the tiles in a cement bed on top of a concrete base whilst still 'wet'. There are, I'm sure, reasons why you can't, or won't do the work yourself but I assure you it isn't that difficult and gives fantastic satisfaction in D.I.Y. And think of the money you would save!!!!
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13 hours ago, DaveLister said:
Gotcha!!!!
I must admit I felt a little bad as I did my shopping at lunchtime. I remembered that, as a child, we always used to take the p155 out of the English when they come over on holiday. We would pretend not to understand them when they tried to pronounce placenames and send them off in the wrong direction. Then, when I got older and had a Saturday job we would look for any excuse to wind them up. For example most 'englanders' wouldn't want local currency mixed up with their change as it wasn't legal tender in the UK. If they asked nicely we would exchange it but if they said something like 'oh I don't want any of that foreign money' we would apologise, retrieve the change and replace it completely with local currency. When they complained we would simply say 'but you said you didn't want any foreign money'. When they complained further we'd say "well at least our pound is worth a pound, yours is only worth 50p as 25p belongs to the Arabs for the oil and 25p belongs to the IMF for the loan.?
Funnily enough I once had a Scotsman in who looked at the 20p piece I gave him and asked if I could change a 50p into local currency as he wanted to take it home and give it to his son as a gift.
We were taught at school about our constitutional relationship with the crown, how the Queen wasn't our queen, how Westminster had no jurisdiction and most of us were proud of the fact that our ancestors helped conquer the country in 1066. Although 'technically' you could argue we were more British than anyone other than the anglo saxons, when the hordes of tourists weren't there, we didn't give the United Kingdom much thought. We had our own laws, our own parliament, our own taxes, and yes our own language.
Oh and the main religion is Methodism.
Truth is Ken being British encompasses a whole range of people. Don't confuse it with just being English.
À tantôt
I'm afraid it is you who is confused. I haven't at any time said anything other than I'm proud to be British. Yes I'm English, I was born English. I'm proud of Britain for the reasons I have given. You, apparently, are not proud to be British, your prerogative.
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2 hours ago, DaveLister said:
I don't think you can use culture to define Britishness. Far too broad a church. How many different 'native tongues' are there? How many religions? How many different laws of the land. I guarantee you, despite being British, my culture and traditions are totally different to yours.
Native tongues! There is only one native tongue. It's called English! many local accents of course but all speak English. Perhaps you are referring to immigrants who haven't learnt 'the native tongue' yet? The same immigrants have brought their religion with them, in the same way they did hundreds of years ago.
Your culture and traditions, you say, are totally different to mine so I must I asssume that you are an immigrant to the British isles and understandably not proud of being British in the same way as an indigenous Britain.
It is far too hot in France...this is not good.
in The Complete France Post Bag
Posted
Being a 'stats' freak' (I keep records of the most unlikeliest of things!) I record , everyday, the weather where I live and have done so for many years. Unquestionably there is 'weather change' though I'm not convinced by any of the arguments for 'global warming'. The noticeable difference over the last 10 years or so has been the decrease in storms. Other than that, the weather has , more or less followed a quite predictable pattern., here at least! This year has been a little odd with the lack of rain, so far! It would be ridiculous for anyone to think the weather will remain the same year in and year out. Given that records have only been well kept for a couple of hundred years means that absolute weather history is scant at best. 'Global warming'; well it simply depends on what you believe to be true and that depends on what and who you read!! Any proper conclusions can only be arrived at by looking at all arguments. Most people don't!!!