Discussions

Hi, just looking at the Forum and many are searching things for Christmas already...in my opinion Christmas should be Christmas..not the first few days of Autumn and no Christmas items should be on sale until December 1st.. Exploitation or what ???

We are moving from France to Spain and have a car and motorhome which we wish to insure in Spain. Does anyone know of any insurance company or broker in Spain who can do this?

Are these a good thing to reduce speed or are they just to fill the bank balance of the authorities. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnelQoSyzVg&feature=related

Has anyone out there got internet via satellite from Connexion Verte? Is the service reliable, good technical support if needed? Any problems? If you exceed your monthly limit, do they cut you off or can you still at least read/send emails at dial-up speed? Thanks.

On Sunday 31st July Les Amis des Chats are holding a Huge Book Sale in Beauville (47470) at the Place du Mairie from 10am - 12.30pm. We have hundreds of books for sale - english, french and dutch most priced at 1 euro each or 3 for 2 euros. Come along and get all your summer reading plus help this local charity to raise much needed funds.

Hi, just wanted to know if anyone has had any problems with online advertising. I have been registered as an auto entrepeneur for one year now and received a form, I believed to be from my societe to confirm details of my business and address. I received it in May and thought it was for registration in preparation to fill in my tax form on line. I have to add at this point, my French is not good! I duly filled in the form and sent it back only to receive a bill for 993 euros for my insertion to an online advertising company based in Spain. Although I have sent numerous emails and letters explaining my mistake, they insist I have to pay. Am I the only fool who has filled in this form?

Why do English people over here insist on putting an odd French word in the middle of a sentence ?? What is the point ? To show they speak a few words of French ? I'm at a loss ... For instance .. 'Pleased your chien has come home' or 'That's a good prix' ... It always reminds me of Delboy.

I dont want to say this,I realy dont,no no no no,ouch,well here goes. well done england on a very good performance.That was some very enjoyable running rugby played with great running lines and depth. keep going like that and the slam may be yours. ouch ouch ouch Italy unfortunately shrunk away from last weeks strong performance and were their old selves again,and would of come 2nd against even scotland!!! scotland,well what can be said about that performance. Your 2nd full back(number 22) played superbly,and thats all the positive I can find. wales made a lot of progress from last week,but still played a very scrappy game,and only got such a point margin because of scotlands amout of errors,however I thought that our front row gelled very well this time and lydiate and warburton played superbly,and in general we had a very good blitz defence. I am very happy with the win ,and we did deserve it,although not a great glory all the same. ireland verses france later today,will be interesting to see what preperations have been made for that match. And I cant imagine that france will make such a margin that they will make them overtake england in the table. Gollum,sorry stringer will be playing today at scrum half(number 9) and on form can be quite capable of controlling the game to irelands advantage,but shame that tommy bowe cant play as yet. I would like france to win by a good margin,just so wales can stay in third place,tactical voting. I hope that you are all enjoying the tournement. love and light Jamie

He will live on in memory for a long time.a true guitar legend has been lost. gary-rock in peace Jamie

I have followed the arrival of WAIFS2010 with inerest as a brave woman stated to try and help freely women and men alone in France. She has struggled to give information on the WAIFS 2010 site and has been featured in the press. At the weekend I was looking at the first French article and suggest you all look at the terrible racist remarks from French people who obviously hate having English people here and suggest maybe you pass on the information to anyone else thinking of moving here in the future. I am frankly shocked having ever had any rcist comments from our French hosts. They seem to have forgotten the good we have doen to update their old neglected houses and to add to empoyment in many businessses and now times are hard hav once agian shown their true colours. Don't tell me about equality egality and fraternity.I for one wish Maria- Louise well for 2011 and hope she does well and gets a happy new year. She clearly is one brave lady......Here is the link towards the article on Rue89 : http://www.rue89.com/2010/12/19/la-galere-des-anglaises-qui-revaient-de-la-belle-vie-en-france-181389 for everyone who is interested.

The Earth could soon have a second Sun when one of the brightest stars in the night sky explodes into a supernova. The cosmic phenomenon, which may happen as soon as this year and remain for at least a week or two, is expected to be the most stunning light show in the planet's history.According to astronomers, the Earth will have a front row seat when the dying red super-giant star, Betelgeuse, finally blows itself into oblivion. The explosion will be so bright that even though the star in the Orion constellation is 640 light-years away, it will still turn night into day and it'll appear like there are two suns in the sky for a few weeks, the Daily Mail reported. The only real debate is over exactly when it will happen. In stellar terms, Betelgeuse is predicted to crash and burn in the very near future. Dr Brad Carter, of the University of Southern Queensland in Australia, claimed that the supernova could happen before 2012 or any time over the next million years. "This old star is running out of fuel in its centre," Dr Carter was quoted as saying. "This fuel keeps Betelgeuse shining and supported. When this fuel runs out the star will literally collapse in upon itself and it will do so very quickly."There is a doomsday theory being floated around the Internet with some linking the supernova to the Mayan calendar's prediction of an Armageddon in 2012. But experts said even if the big bang is looming, it will still happen way too far from Earth to do us any harm. See link to a story closer to 'home'. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/ufo/8217001/French-village-which-will-survive-2012-Armageddon-plagued-by-visitors.html

Thought it would be nice to have a bit of light-hearted quizzing and puzzling on here, hope you agree!!So to start you off...............the song title quiz....We start off with one song title and then you have to give another song title with a word from the previous one in it.So for example if the first song title was "The Lady in Red"....then the next song title must have one of those words in it,like "99 red balloons"......get the idea!!!So to start you off we will have "Something happened on the way to Heaven" (Phil Collins)Off you go.............................

This is not technically about life in France but.... I was reading an article on the BBC news website and I noticed they had used the word 'slew' as a noun?? I looked it up and it says the past tense of to slay. That makes sense to me, but nothing about a noun. Is it another americanism? If so why are the BBC, who are supposed to be the 'example' of good language use, putting it in their articles? The other day I saw 'snuck' and 'gotten', neither of which appear in my dictionary, but I know are used across the Atlantic. What is going on? Has anyone else noticed a shift in language since leaving the UK, or is it just me? Christine

What was the general feeling amongst ex-pats having watched the future academia of GB rioting on the streets yesterday? I would, and have, defended the right of every man and woman to peacefully protest, but assault and criminal damage is 'ONE or TWO' steps too far! If they are the Future of GB may Allah help us!! Those involved should be put before the courts. UK citizens should forfeit their right to further education and sent to Camp Bastion filling sand bags and cleaning out latrines! The overseas students should be taken into custody; their goods and chattels seized and auctioned off. The proceeds should be used to deport them on the first available flight home with anything left over retained as costs! My wife thinks I lean a little too far to the right but I am not so sure? Vive la UK Kind regards Lima

....especially a Royal one! Just wanted to start off a 'Congratulations' thread for William and Kate. Such uplifting news and all the very best to them! Simon :-)

SCHOOL -- 1970 vs. 2010Scenario:Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.1970 - Crowd gathers. Johnny wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up best mates for life.2010 - Police called, arrests Johnny and Mark.. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Mark started it. Both children go to anger management programs for 3 months. School board hold meeting to impliment bullying prevention programsScenario:Robbie won't Keep still in class, disrupts other students.1970 - Robbie sent to office and given 6 of the best by the Headmasterl. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.2010 - Robbie given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. Robbie's parents get fortnightly disability payments and School gets extra funding from state because Robbie has a disability.Scenario :Billy breaks a window in his neighbour's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.1970 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.20010 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. Goverment psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Scenario :Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.1970 - Mark gets glass of water from Teacher to take aspirin with.2010 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons. Scenario :Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from Guy Fawkes, puts them in a model airfix paint bottle, blows up an ant's nest.1970 - Ants die.2010- Police, Armed Forces, & Anti-terrorism Squad called. Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, MI5 investigate parents, siblings removed from home, computers confiscated. Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.Scenario :Johnny falls while running during break and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary . Mary hugs him to comfort him.1970 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.2010 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy. This should be sent to every e-mail address to show how stupid we have become!Think about it!

Oh la la la, I have been following this form for several years and what integration the people likes or proves not to participate in. 1. Pets are forever. These helpless animals are not some other persons responsibility. If you dragged them from the U.K., do the right thing and drag them back. If you obtained here you should have thought of the responsibility you took on before hand. (It is the same of having a child) 2. The only work barrier here is language and you should have sorted that out long before moving to France. There is language classes here to assist those ignorant enough to think the french economy was waiting on the anglosaxon world to rescue them. (Think about it, the unemployment rate is lower than any english speaking company) 3. Still the houses prices are lower than the U.K., so if someone is wanting 400,000 euros for their estate it is still a bargain compared to what you are use to seeing for the same quality of house. 4. If you want good Fish and chips, go to the U.K. If you want great cheese and wine then stay in France. 5. If you want sky in France be prepared to pay a premium once you break the language barrier then you will no longer require it. French Quality of Life. Work 35 hours a week, participate in the village festivals, go to a musem , host a large dinner for people you do not know. Throw a large fete for birthday, anniversary, or think of an odd reason that comes to mind. Take the children to the library, read a book, speak nicely to people with please and thank you. Go the cafe for a long lunch then return to work for 4 hours and then you will know the french way of life.

Most stray cat associations and refuges in France are fully occupied helping to alleviate feline suffering. I wonder if you could help us, here in Poitou Charente, by supporting our petition asking for approval by Local Government of Trap-Neuter-Release as the only means of humanely reducing stray cat numbers. If just one Department in France, out of 95, adopts TNR, then a door will be open to the rest of France. Our petition is entitled 'HELP FRANCE BECOME A CAT-FRIENDLY COUNTRY' which we will present to Madame President of the Conseil General of Charente Maritime - Department 17 - France. You can click on the link to our website - http://www.la-protection-des-chats.com - and sign the petition there or you can go direct to the petition by clicking on - http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/help-make-France-a-cat-friendly-country. You will doing a great service for stray cats in France - thank you.

Hi, FRANCE'S burqa ban ........does this mean I can't hide my face when robbing the local shop?

Didn't take long for the coalition to screw-up; 'one parent earns £44K, goodbye to child benefit, whereas, if both parents earn £43.99K they keep it'. Now that must have taken some thinking through! No wonder the UK is in such a 'B' state!!