Leyland Forum (© 2002)

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Caroline	Hello! Just getting the hang of this and I left a message by accident in the Old Woollies Forum, somewhere between Confectionery and Haberdashery.....
Martin	Hi Caroline, Welcome to the forum. I cleared up the code on your post, it's a bit of an awkward way of selecting font and size etc. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it soon Martin In The Pink
LDunlop76	Bonjour, Caroline! Whereabouts in France are you?
Caroline	Bonjour à Tous! I'm in Brittany, and it's all a bit cidery and Oooh la, la, la, la here, plus lots of intensive farming, beautiful coastline, wellies and check pinnies are 'de rigueur' dress- and that's just the men! Our nearest town is like Leyland in the fifties and sixties, but less exciting.... the natives are friendly and bring soup round if you're ill, and the occassional pair of dead pigeons... mmm.. NICE!!
noel	Welcome Caroline I have many happy memories of Carnac and it's monoliths. Super home page by the way.
LDunlop76	quote: I'm in Brittany Oh, I love Brittany - we've holidayed in various corners of Brittany over the years. There's a feel of continuity of habitation since Stone Age times..... and the coasts are marvellous.... and I'm salivating just thinking about the crepes!
Caroline	Glad you liked the homepage, Noel, thank you for looking- and happy to tell 'le Monsieur de Wigan' that the crepes are still delicious; it's true about the sense of history here, and you get a weird mix of things- our friend who works for French Telecom as some sort of whizz kid trouble-shooter also keeps sheep and makes cider... friends who are in rock bands or are hip DJs still go home to Mum's on a Sunday. Up till the fifties, most Breton houses had earth floors, some still have, noteably one next door to people we know, their'facilities' consist of a board laid across a midden!!!
LDunlop76	quote: and happy to tell 'le Monsieur de Wigan' that the crepes are still delicious; Glad to hear it....... but the "monsieur" is a "madam" - leastways last time I looked!!
Martin	quote: but the "monsieur" is a "madam" - leastways last time I looked!! "elloo madam" spoken in my worst french accent... I think I gave up French when I was in the third year at school. Can you tell? Martin In The Pink
LDunlop76	quote: I think I gave up French when I was in the third year at school. Can you tell? Martin In The Pink It's frightening how little of the languages I did at school I can now remember! I can get by in French because we go there on holiday most years, but I used to be able to watch French films without reading the subtitles and now.....? I reckon my mousemat says it all: "Everytime I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain!"
noel	quote: Glad you liked the homepage, Noel, thank you for looking- To anyone who hasn't seen Caroline's home page it's well worth looking at , very artistic.
LDunlop76	quote: To anyone who hasn't seen Caroline's home page it's well worth looking at , very artistic. I agree!
Caroline	Sorry about the unintended 'change', la Wiganaise! I used to work in Wigan at the Tech,nice folk in Wigan, I loved it when the girl students used to ask each other' are you for t'go t'disco terneet?' I've always been reet artistic, and we are waiting till the weather cheers up at the moment to start a 'muriel' on the side of a milking parlour- cows in a field, naturellement! We did one in a dairy last summer, next to where the cows were milked, very hot and smelly. Local speciality is galette-saucisse, a buckwheat pancake rolled round a sausage, and sold from vans on the markets. Folk still keep a pig and slaughter it at home, and almost everyone has an incredibly neat veg. garden. You see sweet old couples working together in them, and they look like REAL old people, none of the beige jackets the English ones wear, it's navy-blue or black, and the old ladies have buns and lyle stockings and pinnies- proper grandmas, these! Though I have been disappointed of late to see the beret replaced by a baseball cap...
LDunlop76	Caroline, it sounds like you have a fascinating life over there! Wigan is my adopted home - I'm an Altrincham girl by birth - so I don't have a pukkha pie-eater accent! We once stayed on a farm owned by a couple very similar to the ones you described in your post. I say farm - it would be called a small-holding over here as they had about half a dozen cows, a similar number of sheep and a couple of fields of veg. I reckon they only survived financially by letting out a gite next to their cottage and by EC subsidy! Very friendly pair - we even exchanged Christmas cards with them for a few years after we stayed there. Well, we have the Cross-Channel ferry booked for August. (Yippee!) Now we just have to decide where we're going to stay.... (Got my eyes on a nice campsite just outside Pontchateau......)
Caroline	Have looked up Pontchateau and you may be coming within a kilometre of our house, Wiganer, if you're docking at St.Malo- the kettle will be on if you fancy calling for a brew!If we ever see any English people at the phone across the road, we force them to talk to us and have a cuppa...one time I did this with some cyclists, and it turned out that it was a really lovely lady who my partner Al had been at college with- quelle surprise, they hadn't had any contact for ten years! Had an interesting chat with a Mr. Barker from Nottingham today- one of his pigeons had come down exhausted in the courtyard of a nearby farm, the phone number was on the wing, we went to get it from the old farmer and his wife, but it escaped. We stayed to the west of St.Nazaire a few years ago, camp site by the village where Mr.Hulot's Holiday was filmed. Interesting megaliths in the area, burial chambers etc.
LDunlop76	quote: Have looked up Pontchateau and you may be coming within a kilometre of our house, Wiganer, if you're docking at St.Malo- the kettle will be on if you fancy calling for a brew! We're docking at Caen - the St Malo ferry doesn't leave at suitable times for us as we have to catch the overnight one. Still not sure where we'll be camping either - I fancy Pontchateau, but hubby's got his eye down round La Rochelle area. Thanks very much for the offer, though - really, really kind of you, Caroline! We seem to end up in the West of France most years though, so I'm sure we'll bump into you some time!
LDunlop76	Caroline - I had a guess at your area from the murals on your website. I reckon you're not too far from the farm I mentioned in an earlier post - that was in Plessala, to the West of Collinee - lovely area to live, you jammy thing!
Caroline	Wiganer- I hope you have a great time "any road up ", offer of brew still stands anytime! Ihave just been upt'North for a couple of days,re-honing my accent. I see Tesco's is still surrounded by blue hoarding, glimpsed from a distance.... i was pleased to still be able to buy a Parkinson's pie and one of their delicious butties.
LDunlop76	quote: Wiganer- I hope you have a great time "any road up ", offer of brew still stands anytime! Thanks, Caroline! It looks like we'll be going to Pontchateau - I contacted the campsite yesterday and they still have pitches available, so I'm just waiting for their booking form to come in the post - dunno why they can't book over the phone or on the net! (Doesn't snail mail seem slow when you're used to e-communication?) However, if we find ourselves in your neck of the woods, I'll rememeber the offer of a cuppa!
Martin	quote: Ihave just been up t'North for a couple of days,re-honing my accent. I see Tesco's is still surrounded by blue hoarding, glimpsed from a distance.... i was pleased to still be able to buy a Parkinson's pie and one of their delicious butties. I was up north too a couple of weeks ago with Hayley. I'd forgotten all about Parkinsons pies, yummy!... I have found a better treat down here though, a Glastonbury Pastie, you can't beat em, they are so tasty... I'd better stop there, this is making me hungry. In The Pink
Caroline	Glastonbury pasties, eh? Sounds good, tell us where to buy them and we'll make a detour on our treks from Honiton to Leyland. Do you remember the stampede of blue-overalled Motors workers down Thurston Road at twelve noon to be first in the queue for Parkinson's pies? A busy time coming up in Glastonbury I think- will you be participating, or is it double glazing and chamber music on the 'gramaphone '? I was there in 87 and had a gradely time... And the kettle's always on, Mme La Wigannaise, happy holiday...
LDunlop76	quote: And the kettle's always on, Mme La Wigannaise, happy holiday... Merci beaucoup, Madame Caroline!!
Martin	quote: Glastonbury pasties, eh? Sounds good, tell us where to buy them and we'll make a detour on our treks from Honiton to Leyland. Do you remember the stampede of blue-overalled Motors workers down Thurston Road at twelve noon to be first in the queue for Parkinson's pies Yes, there used to be a sea of blue overalls every lunchtime in Leyland town centre when the Motors and other engineering companies were doing well in the town. The Glastonbury pasties can be obtained from our very own 'Burns the Bread' bakers here in the town. As for the festival, i'm away next weekend when it's on, I might be back to catch the Sunday though. I've been to Castle Cary station today and the security firm have got all the side roads in Pilton manned already, there is a super high fence this year, all the bent security gaurds from previous years have been replaced, there is a tow away zone for miles around the festival and the message being put out is 'If you haven't got a ticket, stay away. The actual town of Glastonbury will probably be invaded more than ever this year which is good for the shops, not sure about the crime rate though. In The Pink
Caroline	This week, I tried out jam tarts on the French (' are these mirabelles?') . Had a reunion with all the neighbours, for aperitifs. This means they ask you to call round about 6.30 pm, ply you with strong drinks, ask you questions about the British siding with the Americans over Iraq, or ' will Charles make a good King??', then ,two hours later, you stagger home and can't taste your dinner, and the fire's nearly out.
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by Caroline This means they ask you to call round about 6.30 pm, ply you with strong drinks, ask you questions about the British siding with the Americans over Iraq, or ' will Charles make a good King??' Eeeeh, rather you than me, love! Think you'd need a degree in philosophy, politics and economics to answer questions like that... esp after strong drink! We've been asked to aperatifs by french families and those home brew liqueurs can destroy brain tissue like lightning Alzheimers!
Caroline	The site has been a bit difficult to access recently..Did you catch the Festival, Martin? For the first time we were able to watch it live on telly -due to our new technology we now have British TV! Great because French programmes are crap, the same old sad stars turn up in several programmes each week, there are hardly any documentaries, no gardening or cookery programmes , any good foreign films are dubbed into french- we once ended up watching a Welsh film dubbed into German and subtitled in French......is that desperate or what?There's a lot of nostalgia for the sixties, and no good music programmes, unless you like weird operas or bizarre modern dance. A lot of programmes that seem OK at first then cut to a group of french intellectuals discussing the first part before you're allowed to move on to the next bit! Kettle's still on, Mme W.I hope the weather's better when you come over, it's very rainy and cool. We have been doing Window Paintings for the Tour de France- a big bike race! We have 22 to do in a small village just over the border in Normandy. They're difficult as you have to get the riders just right or they don't fit onto the bikes.. the bikes are really complicated bits of machinery as well. However, the locals are really friendly, keep plying us with aperitifs which we have to refuse to avoid falling about in the windows. The village is the start of the stage of the Tour on 14 july. Have been staying in a typically French hotel, with dark panelling and horrendous flowered wallpaper, in our room it's flowers about two feet across in shades of brown, on all walls plus ceiling .........
LDunlop76	quote: Kettle's still on, Mme W.I hope the weather's better when you come over, it's very rainy and cool. We have been doing Window Paintings for the Tour de France- a big bike race! I hope the weather's better too, Caroline! We had fantastic weather in Brittany last summer - 10 days of temps up to 37º - but it piddled down solid our last 2 days and we had a very wet tent to take down. It can't be any worse than the weather up here - dull, wet, chilly - brrrrr! Hubby is a big fan of the Tour de France. It's amazing how much preparation little towns put in - only to have the peleton whizz through in 10 minutes or so! Your paintings for it sound brilliant - hope they're a great success!
Caroline	Weather still crap,holidaymakers wandering doggedly around in striped Breton jumpers, however....Wiganhubby may like to know I did a portrait of Louison Bobet yesterday on a window, have also painted Bernard Hinault. The village we're working in is where the official commentator for the Tour lives, so they're making a lot of effort. Personally I've never been interested in it, but doing the windows makes me more involved and the excitement's contagious. Will probably go there on the day. The village butcher insisted on us portraying a rider next to a picture of his famous 'andouilles', a formidable and pretty disgusting sausage filled with crushed intestines- 'they've won prizes, you know...' However, we did once refuse to depict a joint of lamb with arms and legs riding a bike, so we do have some sort of principles!
LDunlop76	quote: Personally I've never been interested in it, but doing the windows makes me more involved and the excitement's contagious. Will probably go there on the day. Ooh, Caroline, you must! Even if you have no interest in cycling (I don't either), it's worthwhile watching the Tour if only for the sight of all those gorgeously slim and toned butts riding past!
Caroline	Managed to get to see the tour yesterday, the start of the race, but didn't get close enough to see the riders to do any leering anyway....met an English couple who were following the Tour in a 2CV,brave of them in a 30 year old car. Mme La Wigannaise, do you come over to Brittany soon? and how will you keep up with your surfing the net ? It's more Cidercafé than Cybercafé round here.......
LDunlop76	quote: Mme La Wigannaise, do you come over to Brittany soon? and how will you keep up with your surfing the net ? It's more Cidercafé than Cybercafé round here....... We hit Brittany in August - you may want to warn the natives! <g> I can last the fortnight very well without any net surfing. We intend a quiet two weeks under canvas - no TV, no computer, no phone.... though I may catch up with The Archers omnibus edition on longwave radio! LOL! It's good to escape technology once in a while!
Caroline	Glad to hear someone else can't do without The Archers. When will Brian get found out, I want to know? I envy your camping holiday! We keep intending to camp down the end of our field- would probably be invaded by cats and other animals. Our neighbour Jean-Francois, who's a huntin'-shootin'-fishin' type of bloke, says there are deer in the copse there, and he's also seen tracks of a 'sanglier'. If I see owt I'm definitely not telling him, he'd have it for supper. When we first came here, I was with my neighbour in her garden,looking at a Yew tree..there were the most beautiful birds in it. She turned to me and said 'They're lovely- and they're Delicious! They taste of the pine cones they eat!'
LDunlop76	Oh yuk! I've never liked the continental habit of eating garden birds. Appparently the Italians are worse than the French for that. On the other hand, snails are quite tasty! Sanglier in the copse at the bottom of your land? Eek! Nasty tusks on those things and the females are very aggressive if they've got young. Hope yours is a shy one, Caroline! As for Brian getting found out..... I thought Kate was going to twig the other week. Brian was SO over-doing his explanations for being flustered!! And are Kenton and Cathy going to get it on? - HE clearly wants to! <g> BTW, Caroline, did you know you can catch any missed episodes on the Radio 4 website now?
noel	Haven't mentioned it until now but I used to take my family across to France every summer until about 8 years ago when we switched to Greece. We used to camp, then later take a caravan , and always went down the west side, firstly to Carnac for a few years then gradually further south until we reached the Gironde, but never went further than that. We stayed a few times at St. Palais-sur-mer . The one complait I had was the high price of petrol over there. How times have changed!!! Good old British politicians. The significant owl hoots in the night.
LDunlop76	quote: The one complait I had was the high price of petrol over there. How times have changed!!! The significant owl hoots in the night. Yes, petrol has been about 10p a litre cheaper in France our last couple of visits. Don't know how the change to the Euro will have affected prices. What do you think of the change to Euros, Caroline? It will make the calculations in restuarants etc. a bit more complex - dividing by 10 was so easy, but working out two-thirds as a rough guide isn't that tricky!
Caroline	Yes, Euros are difficult, especially for those of us who failed Maths twice, you soon get the hang of the price of everyday stuff- bottle of wine 2 Euros, black coffee one Euro, etc. And the prices are still written in francs underneath, thankfully. Noel, you must be drifting towards the sun, it'll be Turkey next . ...
noel	quote: Yes, Euros are difficult, especially for those of us who failed Maths twice, you soon get the hang of the price of everyday stuff- bottle of wine 2 Euros, black coffee one Euro, etc. And the prices are still written in francs underneath, thankfully. Noel, you must be drifting towards the sun, it'll be Turkey next . ... The sooner we change over the better , let's just bite the bullet and go for it though no doubt we'll be conned on the way. It's going to be odd this year no Drachmas. I always go mid September Caroline when hopefully you don't self combust in the heat. Turkey? Gobble gobble. The significant owl hoots in the night.
LDunlop76	Another questions, Caroline..... What do you use in supermarket trolleys now that the 10 franc piece is no more? (Would you believe I still have my reserve 10 F piece in a section of my purse from last year's supermarket visits? LOL)
Caroline	Yeah, Noel, someone told me that Sept.,Oct. are good, and the water's had all summer to heat up. We always hope to see more of Europe, as we're already here, and could just drive anywhere, but, as struggling artists (and, no, it isn't Romantic!), if there's any spare brass, we go and see family and friends in England......hope you have a good time! Supermarket trollies now take one Euro, which is the only price that's gone down! I agree England should stop dithering, saw a bloke one time in Chorley shouting ' Save the Pound!' , but what Pound? the one that had twenty shillings in it ? We already lost the character if our currency when we went decimal. I was painting the window of a barber's over here and some of the customers were talking about the coming of the Euro, one bloke started moaning about England dragging its feet, so I turned round and in a strong accent said , in french, ' Careful, monsieur, not everyone in here's French!' He was really embarrassed and apologetic till I said I agreed!
LDunlop76	quote: I agree England should stop dithering Well, we're either in Europe or we're not! If we're in the EU, then it only seems sense to join the Euro, in spite of the arguments about loss of fiscal sovereignty. Brussels seems to impose rules about everything else, so I'm sure we'll survive if they're dictating financial stuff too! It'll make travelling on the Continent a darn site easier if we don't have to change our dosh. Thanks for the info re supermarket trolleys, Caroline. I'll try to remember to swap my 10F piece for a 1 Euro one. Now...... anyone know how to make a Euro sign on a keyboard which has only £ and $ signs? (There is a way, but I can't remember it!)
noel	quote: quote: I agree England should stop dithering Now...... anyone know how to make a Euro sign on a keyboard which has only £ and $ signs? (There is a way, but I can't remember it!) I know how to do it. € there, good innit. OK OK I'll tell you, control,alt and 4 all together. 4 on the top numerical pad not the RHS one. The significant owl hoots in the night.
Caroline	I'm well impressed! {{{{ that's all I got, but we have a French keyboard, interestingly the exclamation mark is on the 'lower row' and the full stop on the upper, making it more difficult to access, does this tell us something about the french?
noel	quote: I'm well impressed! {{{{ that's all I got, but we have a French keyboard, interestingly the exclamation mark is on the 'lower row' and the full stop on the upper, making it more difficult to access, does this tell us something about the french? Is it still a qwerty keyboard? Probably not, stupid question. Oh I found out what a pissoir is, I should maybe not have spelled it out with spaces. You wrote about the frenchman's embarrasment when he discovered an "Englander" was in the meeting. Last time we camped at St.Palais we were talking to a couple from just outside Wigan, and we discussed how odd it was having to pay for air to go in the tyres. In France it's done for you by somebody who I suppose relies on the money as a tip to survive. The Wigan bloke said " Oh I'm not going to tip anyone , if they ask me for money I'l just say "I can't speak French " and go ( and at this stage he stuck his tongue out and blew threw his lips , kept knocking his tongue down with his fingers so it gave a blblblblblblblbl ( dunno how to spell blblblblbl) ) He may have been joking but I don't think so. We thought, how ignorant, no wonder we get a reputation as the worst holiday makers in Europe. The significant owl hoots in the night.
LDunlop76	quote: ) He may have been joking but I don't think so. We thought, how ignorant, no wonder we get a reputation as the worst holiday makers in Europe. The significant owl hoots in the night. Yes, how ignorant! When in Rome etc.. French waiters, shop assistants etc. often have a reputation for being arrogant or rude, but we have found if you make a bit of an effort to speak in French, they are charm itself. The only rudeness I've encountered was from the telephone booking lady for the Bateau Mouche dinner cruises - even though I spoke in French. I almost cancelled the reservation, she was so snotty, but was glad I hadn't when we went on the cruise - it was superb! I think Brits give foreigners a false reputation for bad manners because we don't have the good manners to address them (no matter how stiltingly) in a few words of their own tongue. I wonder how a British shop assistant would behave towards say a German who insisted on speaking German over here? As you say, Noel, no wonder foreigners think we're awful!
LDunlop76	PS - Almost forgot to say thank you for the control, alt, 4 tip, Noel. Look! : € € € € € €!!! Yippee!!! I can € to my heart's content now!
anacortesdamp	I think ALL European petrol prices are ridiculous. We pay about $1.35 for a US gallon, which works out to 36 US cents or 26P per liter. We just got a mid-80's motor home, a 26-footer, which has a Ford 460 engine. 460 cubic inches is just over 7.5 liters. I sure wouldn't want to try and run it on even the UK petrol prices. Frank Damp Anacortes, WA
LDunlop76	quote: I think ALL European petrol prices are ridiculous. Frank Damp Anacortes, WA On the other hand, when you think how much the internal combustion engine is polluting the planet, maybe cheap petrol isn't so good? But public transport would have to become a darn sight more reliable and cheaper before I'd want to give up my car! Ooops, may have opened up a major can of worms here!
noel	quote: [quote] On the other hand, when you think how much the internal combustion engine is polluting the planet, maybe cheap petrol isn't so good? But public transport would have to become a darn sight more reliable and cheaper before I'd want to give up my car! Ooops, may have opened up a major can of worms here! I'd sooner pollute the atmosphere cheaply, than spend a lot of money doing it. The significant owl hoots in the night.
Caroline	Air's free down the road in the next town. Hey- €€€€€€€€€€€€- it was next to the letter 'E', observant artist wot I am. This keyboard is an AZERTY !I agree about the English being ignorant abroad, when I used to go into Dinan with my daughter, at the height of the tourist season, she used to say ' talk French, Mum, don't let anyone know we're English!' we get a lot of people complaining that ' none of them speak English'..... Petrol IS expensive, but it still works out cheaper than public transport, and until that's subsidised to make it cheaper, I can't see people giving up their cars, more's the pity . When we go back to England, it seems so congested, the roads are really quiet here. I used to come home from giving evening classes- a 15 minute drive at around 10.30, and sometimes saw as many as three vehicles! Downside of course are French drivers, rude, aggressive, self-important and useless!
LDunlop76	quote: When we go back to England, it seems so congested, the roads are really quiet here. That's what comes of England having a similar sized population to France, but crammed into a smaller area! What I enoy about visiting the French countryside is that areas with street lighting are few and far between, so the lack of light pollution means you can see so many more stars in the night sky. Daughter and I return from the campsite loo block last thing at night, staring up at the sky and admiring the twinkling display the universe puts on for us! Living here between two major connurbations, we can't see half as many stars. The only French public transport I've tried is in Paris. Now that does seem to be good value! The Metro costs about 80p and for that you can travel from one side of the city to the other. Got to keep your wits about you, mind, as there are plenty of thieves on the trains looking for unwary tourists - last time hubby and I went, we had a pact not to speak on the Metro, so we wouldn't give ourselves away as foreigners! But the theft problem isn't confined to the Metro .... and it's not confined to Paris either - it's a fact of life in any city. So enjoy the Metro, I say..... just don't keep your dosh in obvious places!
Caroline	Yeah, you can actually see the Milky way as you go along in the car. We only got street lights a few years ago in the village, and at first they were only on e.g. in winter from 6 to 9 pm. Now we get them till 11, like the next town. I've been in shops where they put on the light when you go in, and when our neighbour came round once, he told us off for leaving the stairs light on- ' It's not free, you know!' They're either ecologically- minded or tight- pursed.. They just opened a new Metro system in Rennes, the smallest town in the world to have one, I haven't tried it yet, but it was free the first day.
LDunlop76	quote: They're either ecologically- minded or tight- pursed.. Don't know whether it still is, but electricity used to be a lot dearer in France than over here. We were once on a campsite which had a superb system of waterslides in the pool, but the owner would only turn them on for 2 hours in the afternoon because of the cost of pumping the water!
Caroline	Dunno about the price of electricity, we don't pay a lot, but don't use a lot. We heat the house mainly with wood stoves, wood seems expensive and it's sold by the 'corde', which is about two cubic metres costing 900FF. Brittany's one of the least wooded areas of France, I expect that's because of all the boat-building that went on. Round here, they cut off all the lower branches of the trees to use as kindling, which makes them look like toilet brushes! Most gas is bottled, unless you live somewhere really sophisticated like Rennes, and that's quite nice because we don't get huge bills, just buy it as we need it. I've been reading 'McArthy's Bar' by Pete McArtney, and, as I suspected, S. Ireland is very similar to Brittany, I'd recommend it as holiday reading, Linda, it's a good laugh, too.
LDunlop76	Thanks for the book recommendation, Caroline, I'll keep an eye out for it. Have you read "Angela's Ashes"? Set in Ireland, it's heart-rending stuff, and supposedly true to life, though the author's siblings have disputed some of it. We've just got some Euros. Don't know if it's just because the notes are brand new, but they feel a bit like Monopoly money. Since our Sainsbury's re-opened, they've introduced the trolleys which need a coin to release them. They have 2 slots: 1 for £1 coins and 1 for €1. Do Sainsbury's know something we don't? At least when we get back I can keep my reserve supermarket €1 piece in my purse for use at Sainsbury's!
Caroline	You're the second person this week to recommend ' Angela's Ashes', so I'll try and get a copy.. how interesting about the Sainsbury's trollies! 'spect they're hedging their bets. Foreign money always seems like Bank of Toytown, doesn't it? No good news yet on the Weather Front , but the longer it's bad here, the more chance of better weather later, well that's my theory anyhow. Went to see about painting EMPTY shop windows in Morlaix this week , and I thought it would be lovely to go along the 'Corniche Bretonne' on the way back- coastal road taking in fishing ports, rocks, and a coastline dotted with small islands.... no such luck, the place was heaving - traffic jams in every village stuffed full of tourists, unusual round here, so we quickly drove inland again, promising ourselves to come back in September..
Caroline	If Linda's away, she's had some pretty good weather for the last week, we've actually been for a swim, sea coolish and choppy, but beautiful sandy beach near St.Cast, with a kestrel hovering over the cliffs, never very busy with folk... even the busier resorts are lovely and old-fashioned, Dinard being one of them, where there are lovely blue-and -white striped changing tents on the beach, and you can buy waffles filled with chestnut purée and chantilly.
LDunlop76	Yes, Caroline, we did get some very good weather..... we also had some lousy weather our first few days, but when we saw the newspaper pics of floods in Dresden, the 12 hours of rain in one day (our first Sunday) didn't seem too bad! Our holiday would have been better had we not had a large family of mice living in the hedge demarcating our pitch. They were in our tent frequently and at night would scurry over the tent innards leaving drops of urine everywhere - YUK! After they got into a bar of chocolate through 4 layers of wrappings and containers, we had to keep any food we couldn't fit in the cool boxes in the boot! Thank God for zippable bedroom compartments! But we had lots of good times too - rediscovered a lovely cove near Piriac we went to years ago and had a "promenade en barque" on the waterways of the Briere - saw a pair of otters there! However, to anyone visiting Oiustreham - don't go to the Miramar restaurant. We arrived at 7pm and by 9pm had only received our starters! I complained to the management and told them we had a ferry to catch, after which our main courses grudgingly arrived. We had no time left for dessert (so much for our leisurely last night meal, eh?) and then were over-charged for what we had had. Needless to say, after correcting the bill, we did NOT leave a tip!
Caroline	Glad to hear you had a good time! The good weather's continuing so far . We went to La Grande Brière a few years ago, on our way to St.Marc where they filmed Mr. Hulot's holiday, it's really lovely, isn't it, and a boat through the marshes must be great. Haven't read ' La Grande Brière' tho', I still find it difficult to read a whole book in French. Pity about the mice! When we were at St Marc camping, we were pestered by a cat, perhaps it was there to keep the rodents at bay.... we have one in our kitchen at the moment, I think our cat must've brought it in. When my daughter was here with us, she was making breakfast before school and one popped out of the toaster she was using! We only had our old blind cat we brought from England with us at the time, so he wasn't up to much hunting, tho' he was alright in other departments and fathered lots of kittens round here!
LDunlop76	I suppose mice are a fact of life in the countryside - we had one in the house here a few years back - sneaked in through the open back door when we were barbecueing - but we've never been pestered by what felt like dozens (was probably more like half a dozen actually coming in) of them inside our tent before. We had moles too this year, but they were more amusing - every morning we got up to find new humps of soil under the ground sheet where they'd been burrowing! However one night son and heir was awoken when the mole burrowing under his sleeping bag caused him to involuntarily roll over, such was the volume of earth-shifting going on! LOL! I'd shift your mouse if I were you, Caroline - what if it's a pregnant female? You'd soon be over-run! Eeeeek! Yes, the boat ride on the Briere was lovely, but we never got down to St Marc's - I'd quite forgotten my Dad had recommended a drive that way - the mice must've addled me brain!
Caroline	They say if you've got one mouse, you've got a whole family of them.........had a bad experience with mousetraps, so can't put them down, and one of our cats died fromeating a poisoned mouse, so I'm relying on Sparky to do his best! The weather's so beautiful, we went to the beach yesterday & had a swim, water not too cold at all. If you go South of La Grande Brière, you get to La Guerande, medieval walled town, and the coast with salt pans. The town's a bit touristy in that medieval way- shops with calligraphy on parchment and those weird 'heavy metal' mythical ornaments, dragons, dwarves etc. Worth a look tho'.
LDunlop76	We've visited Guerande a couple of times - spent an afternoon strolling round and had dinner there this year. What I've begun to notice happening in these lovely (but tourist-trappy) old towns is that the souvenir shops, which used to sell lots of local produce, are now becoming very much the same - loads of ethnic stuff from the Far East. Well, I can get Tibetan singing bowls and statues of Ganesha in the Ethnic Emporium in Wigan..... I'd like to see French stuff in Guerande! I have salt from the salt pans on me chips every week - but what I'm using now comes from Noirmoutier, Caroline. Fascinating how it's produced though... and at least the little stalls selling at the side of the road are still there!
Caroline	I just sent parcels to my kids with a friend who was going back up North, included sea salt! Also baby food for 'Babyben' , in Ratatatouille , Pomme Tatin and Courgette et Semoule flavours! I agree, Linda, about the Ethnic shops ; I was quite pleased at first to see them, but they're proliferating a bit. And part of the attraction of Brittany is its old-fashioned seasidey charm- I like the Breton cider cups and speciality biscuits in tins with Bigoudan on. How long have you been coming over here? I hadn't been here before we came to look for a house ( seems a bit mad in retrospect), but partner Al had been as a fat baby and a youngster . The reason for this is interesting ; his father had a correspondant when he was at school who lived at Saint Quay Portrieux, North coast of Brittany , before the war . During the war , he heard nothing from him, but after, the young man's sister wrote to him to tell him that he'd been in the Resistance and had been killed by the Germans in Rennes; Al's Dad continued writing to the sister however, and the family visited them now and then in Brittany. When we came over here, we took up the contact and visited them at Saint Quay- the sister was very old and ga-ga, and died a couple of years ago . She has one remaining son, Yann, who lives in the South of France, but comes up to the old family home every August,with his family and we take it in turns to give a big meal, usually in the garden , once a year . It's lovely to keep in touch this way! I have been quite busy ( hence the silences) designing a mural for a 'mediatheque'- French word for a posh library wot also has computers, videos, CDs. Subject being the history of communicating ideas, and we are hoping to get this done before the weather gets too cold to work outside......
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by Caroline How long have you been coming over here? We visit France most years - first came over in 84 on our honeymoon (Dordogne)- though I had spent 3 weeks in Paris on a French exchange circa 74. We've done hotels and gites and then we got into camping - first with Eurocamp and then with our own gear. The areas we've visited have been largely dictated by the children - their desire for a beach-based holiday and the limit on how far they can tolerate in the car! - though we did get to the Dordogne with them in 2000. I'd love to explore further South and East in the future, though there are still parts of Brittany we haven't seen (not warm enough for hubby) and also the very Southern reaches of the Vendee (no rockpools for the kids). We've stuck to France as I feel happier visiting somewhere where I can speak enough of the language to get by, but hubby got a bit cheesed off this year and wants a change next summer. Perhaps he'lllearn another language for next year and then he can do all the talking in restaurants! LOL!!! How lovely for you to have kept in touch with the family of Al's father's friend. It's good to keep links going like that. How's the mural painting going? If the weather in Brittany's been as good as it has been here, you're probably finished by now. I can't remember an Autumn as nice as this one has been up to now - last Saturday we were paddling on a beach in Anglesey all afternoon! [8D]
Caroline	You probably know Brittany better than me! I've seen a bit of Vaucluse as a French friend lives down there- searing hot in summer, tho' I haven't been since my daughter was 2, and she's got babies now!I get to Paris now and then if Al has a gig there.I really like it . We start our mural tomorrow, due to it having to be approved at several meetings, of course we missed a lovely week for doing it, and the weather's going to change a bit next week... I envy you your trip to Anglesey! I used to go to the Lleyn Peninsula with my kids, do you know it? It's heavenly! Children are always happy on a beach, which takes some of the slog out of it...there's a gallery to one of my favourite artists on Anglesey, Tunnicliffe, he illustrated early Ladybird books, we use them a lot for our window illustrations, he lived on the island.
LDunlop76	Yes, I know the Lleyn Peninsula, but not very well. I'm drawn more to Anglesey - possibly because of a superb holiday there one year as a child. I like the abundance of prehistoric sites in such a small geographical area. I do feel an affinity to places like that - I feel the same about Brittany and the Dordogne - something about continuous inhabitation for thousands of years..... Enough rambling! How's the mural coming along? Hope the weather holds out for you!
Caroline	It's been blazing hot all week, apart from Tuesday when it rained . So we've been sweltering in the sun in front of a glaring white wall ( have to wear sunglasses, shorts , suncream) and have nearly got the drawing bit done. The building is a pristine modern library/cybercommune but, typically we have behind us when working a run-down old building where the old men go to play 'palettes' and sit in the gloom on wooden benches at formica tables with beer bottles .. such is the diversity of Brittany! We have some standing stones in the village, small and covered in brambles. There was a sweet old house for sale a few years ago and you got one with it! My favourite stone circle is Castlerigg, Cumbria. Do you know it ? We always try to get up there when we're over.
noel	I alwya get Castle Rigg and Castle Crag mixed up. Think Castle Crag is the one near Keswick? I backpacked from there one Spring Bank about 4 years ago down into Borrowdale then over Stake Pass by Great End and down into Wasdale. Beer prices nearly crippled me so as soon as the hurricane or what seemed like a hurricane passed 2 days later scooted off over Great Gable down through Haystacks and back up to Keswick as quick as we could with a 40lbs back pack. Nearly killed me. Never again. err where is Castle Rigg?[img]http://www.earthrod.co.uk/casrth.jpg[/img]
LDunlop76	I've heard of Castle Rigg, but haven't visited it yet. The last stone circle in this country we've visited was Arbor Low in Derbyshire - lovely place!
noel	Have you visited the monoliths at Carnac ? They are quite something. Rows and rows of them , what for?
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by noel Have you visited the monoliths at Carnac ? They are quite something. Rows and rows of them , what for? Yes, but such a pity they are fenced off and you can't walk amongst them.[:(] As to what they were for.... blimey, Noel, people have written books on the theories - it's beyond me to give you an answer! [?] However, the theory with sits best with me is that they were for worship - so the long lines of stones might correspond with the aisle in a church. With so many of these places, light only shines between certain stones to hit other stones on specific days such as Summer Solstice, which were important dates in the calendar in those times. When so much depended on good harvests, it was important to be in tune with nature and the turning of the Earth. That's me best offer, Noel!
Caroline	Lovely photo, Noel. I looked at my map of the lakes and found part of your route- felt exhausted just looking!-but yet to find Castle Crag . Castlerigg stone circle is South of the road from Keswick to Penrith, a couple of miles out of Keswick . My book on prehistoric England says it may be one of the oldest stone circles in England. The sun rises at the spring and autumn equinoxes over a hill to the East. A network of astronomical indications can be worked out from the circle . Aubrey Burl ( big Boff on megaliths) says the same about Carnac, so we are all of the same opinion, Linda. There's been quite a bit of press recently about Carnac, there's a group of people rallying against its 'Disneyfication' , and they forced their way into Josselin chateau with a huge cardboard menhir which got stuck under an arched doorway...then a ' tarte' was thrown at the Duke.....all sounds a bit farcical!
brian	Hello Noel and Caroline, Imagine my surprise and delight to find both of you in this forum. I have spent many happy times in the Lake District and in France. I ahve been visiting the lakes for most of my life. For many years we had a static caravan at Newby Bridge. Unfortunately we could not make enough time for visits to justify the expense. Our friends and relatives were using the caravan more than we were. I have done a lot of hill walking with a group of male friends for many years and we have walked most of the major peaks includine over ninety of the 212 Wainwrights. We have spent many holidays in France including visits to BegMeil and Quimper in Brittany. This year we toured part of the Rhone valley visiting Dijon, which we particularly enjoyed, Avignon and Nimes. In the past we have visited the Ile d'Oleron, La Baule, Carcassone, Castelnaudary, Nice and Collioure. Fascinating hearing about other people's holiday experiences, isnt it? It's almost as good as seeing their holiday photos. Regards Brian. PS. I think that is twice in one week I have posted a message.
LDunlop76	Hello, Brian! Nice to meet you! Post some more!!
noel	I walked through the monoliths in 1984 I think it was , they weren't fenced in then. My theory is the French were trying to learn how to play cricket and couldn't hit the stumps so they made them a bit bigger oh and more of them. Read a brill book while I was in Santorini, well several including The Fellowship of The Rings crikey what a bore that was, Robert Rankin, never heard of him before but what an easy amusing read that was. Caroline , I must have been at Castle Rigg it's so close to Keswick and I've wandered all over there. Never knew the names, just wandered.Love the area and in Keswick there is a wonderfull chippy in the square, nice crunchy batter on the fish. My stomach's rumbling now. Brian visited many ofthe places you mentioned. Lovely area, and made lots of French pals. Why can't our politicians and theirs get along!!!
Caroline	Finished our mural at Mauron yesterday. There's a bit on it where the French and English don't get on . A peice of the Bayeux Tapestry where Harold takes an oath on the sacrament, which he later breaks. We've had to explain what the mural's about to loads of French folk, I usually say 'that's your Duke William who killed our king Harold!' In the library where we've been painting, there was a really good exhibition of wild mushrooms yesterday. The French are really keen on eating wild mushrooms. I noticed they kept a jar over the very smelly stinkhorn, I'd say its Latin name but Martin's extra-censory system would wipe it out! I saw Chris Bonington in the pub in Keswick once!Also saw him in the Bar National in Chamonix. This was in 66 and I watched the World Cup in another bar, we English sat on one side of a long table, Germans on the other....you can imagine the tension.......I don't think I remember any of the opposite number shaking our hands in congratulation after.
LDunlop76	Heard on Radio 4 the other week that some of us Brits are getting keen on mushroom collecting too. I think (wouldn't swear to it) it was the New Forest area where wild mushrooms are getting in danger of being over-picked and there's talk of limiting people to one picking session a year each!
William R	When I lived in Leyland we rarely went to the Lakes because it was always raining (Singleton`s Coach Trips).A few years ago I went with the Chamber of C. to visit Sellafield and see the parts not seen on conducted tours (thats another story) and no, we didn`t come back and shine in the dark!! When we left Sellafield we went north up the coast past Whitehaven, Workington to Cockermouth and the inland to pick up the M6 motorway near Shap. The scenery in the evening sunshine was wonderful from coastal , through the mountains to the motorway. It made me realise what I had missed, and then only lived some thirty miles away. We never learn. Tell me more. Regards, Bill.
Caroline	What a shame you missed the Lakes, Bill. My dad is 80 next year and I plan to take him up there for lunch, we used to go up to Bowness every New Year's Day then carry on to Keswick, one year we had to turn back as heavy snow began to fall. Used to camp in a farmer's field with my kids for the holidays near Staveley, lovely . Forgot to say HELLO to Brian! He definitely knows more of France than I do . However, I'm off this week to work in Morlaix, rented a gîte that seems to have no sofa..and no telly, looks like a week of Scrabble and 'The Pub Quiz Book'..
LDunlop76	Have fun in Morlaix, Caroline. We passed through there a couple of times when we were staying in Carantec 5 or 6 years ago. I seem to remember there being a large prehistoric grave site just to the North of there - though the name of the place escapes me. Worth a visit, if you get any free time. What you paintin' this time, by the way?
Caroline	Morlaix is still lovely, even when it pours down all week ! Didn't get much chance to see the scenery apart from between town and the gîte we rented. We did paintings on empty shop windows, which has brightened things up considerably, the theme being 'metiers', trades, etc. , so they got stuff like a basketmaker, wood carvers, clog-maker, dressmaker, laundress,cheesemonger, etc. Still got a few to do next week.....we were in the papers, in COLOUR!!! Was the megalithic site you saw on a beach? Otherwise, I can't see it in my Megalithic Brittany book. There are a lot of of huge manor houses round Morlaix, one was in ruins down the lane where we were staying. Apparantly it's due to the linen trade as was. The town still seems quite affluent ( as opposed to round here which is more EFFLUENT!) More trendy-looking people, restaurants, shops that sell more than slippers, pinnies and rabbit food....
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by Caroline Was the megalithic site you saw on a beach? Otherwise, I can't see it in my Megalithic Brittany book. Not on the beach, but on a headland..... I did a quick Google search for it and found it. Barnenez was the name which escaped me. [url]http://www.paleologos.com/cairn.htm[/url] I wish the UK was as civically minded as the French seem to be - there are not many buildings over here with murals by professional artists. I can think of lots of boring municipal precincts which could do with a bit of brightening up. Our Sainsbury's used to have a fresco on the side, but that disappeared when they added on the recent extension and now it's just a boring brick wall. We need your talents for some community arts projects, Caroline! [:)]
Caroline	What an amazing place that looks, I just hope we have a little time when we return to Morlaix this week to go and see it.Thanks for that! Do recommend us to any councillors you may have influence on, won't you? We keep trying for work in England, but it's often difficult to get past the 'Little Hitlers' on the front desks!
LDunlop76	I would if I could, Caroline. This is such a Labour stronghold, they don't even bother to send out election leaflets, so I couldn't tell you our councillor's name! I do know who our MP is though - maybe I should lobby him? Or maybe you'd have better luck with public-spirited private companies? Surely M&S have need of the odd mural or two?
Caroline	Took me ages to refind this. Sorry about the pause, mural problems and ensuing grimnesses! Been to Morlaix again, rain, rain, rain.. I wonder what sort of mural M&S would have? Could ladie's lingerie be linked visually with oven-ready lasagne? A challenge for any discerning artist!
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by Caroline I wonder what sort of mural M&S would have? Could ladie's lingerie be linked visually with oven-ready lasagne? A challenge for any discerning artist! LOL! Or you could claim to be a dyslexic artist and give them an S&M mural.... though that might give the crimplene slacks brigade a heart attack![:o)]
Caroline	Yeah, I'd had the same thought but I was much too nice a girl to mention it!! I think I already said we were once asked by a butcher to paint a leg of mutton with little limbs, riding a bike, for the Tour de France.....refused of course. Started painting Christmas windows last week, did the first few metres of several kilometres of red ribbon and yesterday painted snowmen decorating a Christmas tree, didn't feel at all Christmassy.I keep seeing old blokes who'd make excellent models for Père Noël,but never have my camera handy.....
LDunlop76	I can't work myself up to feeling Christmassy yet either. I think it's largely due to the stubborn part of me rebelling against the shops ramming it down our throats from September onwards! And then there are one or two self-satisfied people at work who casually dropped it into conversation just after the August Bank Holiday that they had finished their Christmas shopping! For goodness sake! Well, what is it? Five weeks to go now? And I just started my Christmas shopping today! But I doubt I'll feel like I'm in the Christmas spirit until we decorate the Christmas tree - about a week before the 25th!
Caroline	In August- how unimaginative and unchristmassy! Mums and Dads are the worst to buy for, if I get my Dad a book he always gives it me back to read a few weeks later. I sent him a 'Rebus' gift wrapped by Amazon last December, and he opened it right away, he'd wondered why the wrapping had stars on it.. I've bought nowt yet, wondering whether to buy them when we come over, or here. Masses of leaflets have started coming through, the difference between the French and the English is that they show lots of pictures of RAW meat, and sell big made-up meals for their enormous family get-together on Christmas eve.
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by Caroline I've bought nowt yet, wondering whether to buy them when we come over, or here. There are lots of companies with websites - you can order online and have the stuff delivered to a UK address. M&S do it - though I haven't tried their site. Past Times have some good stuff in their online shop and Lakeland Limited have a huge choice and give excellent service. Quite a few UK charities have online gift shops too. However I think your family might appreciate French gifts - things you can only get over there. I like the idea of a special meal on Christmas Eve. We usually have something a bit more special than usual, but just for the four of us, not a big family gathering. We had hubby's mother with us for Christmas Day for several years and we've had my mother the last couple of years, so we enjoy a celebratory meal that's just for us on Christmas Eve - we can have a drink cos no-one has to do the 60 mile round trip as taxi service and the kids don't have to be on nest behaviour! [:)]
LDunlop76	.... or best behaviour even! LOL!
Caroline	That must be your nesting instinct! Sorry about the quiet, but have been Christmas window painting . I'll have a look at some of the sites you mention, I want Tartan Trousers! Parents are getting boxes of French goodies, which reminds me, thank you so much for the Uncle Joe's. Our postman gave them to Pierre ( old man, sells us eggs, smells of wee) from up the road as we were out, so they spent the night in his house first . We ate some as we went to work the next day. I gashed my gum on the first one, then , later on, chipped my tooth on another . You will be hearing from my solicitor forthwith!
Lady Griffin	Caroline what a lovely cameo sketch of your eggman!Is he just a bit careless? Hope you get your tartan trousers. In February 1959 I boarded the Captain Cook in tartan pants.My father was horrified as real ladies didn't wear trousers in those days-except during the war when it was OK because they had to do 'men's work' They were Black Douglas as I recall.
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by Caroline thank you so much for the Uncle Joe's. Our postman gave them to Pierre ( old man, sells us eggs, smells of wee) from up the road as we were out, so they spent the night in his house first . We ate some as we went to work the next day. I gashed my gum on the first one, then , later on, chipped my tooth on another . You will be hearing from my solicitor forthwith! OMG! [:0] Sorry, Caroline! But you are meant to suck them, not chomp them! [;)] E-mail me if you want to see me in my professional capacity while you're in the UK.....
Caroline	Firstly, a very Happy New Year to those who read this! Sorry about the silence, due to my visit to England and The Festivities etc. Lady G., I first wore trousers around the same time as you, my Mum made me a pair of 'pedal pushers' in black with white laces at the side- very Rock 'n' Roll for then, I remember someone in the street shouting ' Teddy Girl!'.... Linda, teeth and gums healed nicely now, it would've been nice to see you, tho' I don't think very condusive to a good natter! Had French friends round for a three-hour meal on New Years Eve. We saw in the French New Year at THEIR midnight, champagne..then, oh-dear-what-a-shame, had to do it all again at British midnight..........more champagne!!!
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by Caroline We saw in the French New Year at THEIR midnight, champagne..then, oh-dear-what-a-shame, had to do it all again at British midnight..........more champagne!!! Aww, I really feel for you, Caroline, having to force down 2 lots of champagne in one evening! [;)] And at those high French prices too! LD<~~ running off before Caroline thwaps me with a baguette! Happy New Year!
Caroline	In case you get too jealous, I can tell you I spent my day buying coal, chopping wood, dismantling and cleaning out the old range with a wire brush, and shovelling up cat poo from the alleyway! Also went to the bins, which are behind the church, we don't have our own here......
LDunlop76	Having had a very elderly Aga come with this house and having spent 6 solid hours chiselling (literally) the encrusted grease and grime the previous owners had left on it (after the Aga engineer had managed to resuscitate it), I can sincerely sympathise with your range cleaning, Caroline, and I am no longer in the least bit jealous!
Caroline	I think this is the last year the range will serve us..belonged to some English friends who went back, we also had their 2cv, came with a free cat called Pudding . If anyone's interested, there's a house for sale just outside our villge, the owner's asked me to pass the word on. Habitable, and the rest of the property would renovate to make two more houses; email me .
noel	Is there a place called Vitre close to Rennes Caroline/Linda? A friend of mine is being moved to there with his company from Huntingdon. He gets 6 months rent free then either has to buy out there or return to England. What's property prices like in that part of Brittany? Any ideas?
LDunlop76	Vitre is between Rennes and Laval, Noel. I'm sure we've driven through it in the past, but I can't remember the least thing about it! As for house prices, Caroline's in a better position to advise on that.
noel	quote: Originally posted by LDunlop76 Vitre is between Rennes and Laval, Noel. I'm sure we've driven through it in the past, but I can't remember the least thing about it! As for house prices, Caroline's in a better position to advise on that. OK thanks Linda, I must have driven through it without knowing . Laval certainly many times, Rennes I tried to avoid after a bad experience trying to go "centre ville" rather than round the ring roads. ( I was young, it was my first time in France. My wife was navigating. HONESTLY)[:)]
LDunlop76	Hey, Noel, if you think Rennes ringroad is bad, try Nantes! It nearly reduced me to tears once - and I was only navigating!
Caroline	I'll find out prices soon,I know someone teaches out there. Yes, Nantes is really bad, but Rennes is usually OK. I think your friend can rest assured he'll get a house for a lot less than in England! Have you seen my cartoon on the recycling plant topic??? Fish fish fish for reactions.......
Caroline	Noel, I found out a few houses in Vitré, pricewise . EG Stonebuilt renovated house in a village 15k. from Vitré. Large living room withe fireplace and beams . Fitted kitchen. 3 bedrooms. Bathroom. Attic to convert. Garden 237m sq. 88130 €. Stone house in countryside , renovated .Large kitchen, living room. 3 bedooms, bathroom. Attic to convert. CH . Garage, gardens . 93000 € . To remember- houses in the countryside here are usually cheaper than in town ; driving to work is easier than in England..... rooms are generally larger ( I've been watching House programmes on English telly!), so are gardens . I found out these prices on http://www.ouestfrance-immobilier.com/maville
noel	Thankyou very much Caroline. Much appreciated. I'll pass the info on. He goes out in May for 6 months and if he has any sense he'll stay there.
Caroline	Anyone had snow today? We had a bit, huge flakes that didn't stick, they rarely do here. Our old neighbour called with one of a bargain pile of slightly damaged cauliflowers he got at Broons market. His hens aren't really laying and he bought three new ones up the road for 2€ each! He still sells us his ' free range eggs ' though- he makes up any deficit with bought ones and thinks we won't notice!
noel	quote: Originally posted by Caroline Anyone had snow today? We had a bit, huge flakes that didn't stick, they rarely do here. Our old neighbour called with one of a bargain pile of slightly damaged cauliflowers he got at Broons market. His hens aren't really laying and he bought three new ones up the road for 2€ each! He still sells us his ' free range eggs ' though- he makes up any deficit with bought ones and thinks we won't notice! None in Leyland Caroline. Lovely sunny but cold day. East of the country has got it I do believe . Talking to somebody from Suffolk today, heavy snow where he lives.
Karen	Just talking to my daughter PJ in Norfolk .. they are having blizzards right now!!
rocketmanjohn	One snowflake here and we get sent home from work. Although it did freeze hard last week. John
Lady Griffin	There are two questions to ask about snow. Will it stick? and Will we see a robin? LG
Karen	This year we are praying for snow and colder weather......so far we have only 1-2 feet.... we usually get 3-4 feet of powder and temps -15 to -40. It 'sticks' for 4 months!! The kids go to school on skidoos. We need the run off in the Spring for our water supply and hay. Our robins are HUGE, not a bit like the cute little Engish birds. (Everythings bigger West of the Rockies ..so they say)!!!
LDunlop76	No snow here so far....... thank goodness! Pity those poor souls stuck on the M11 overnight! But it is bloomin' cold! However..... spring is in the air - snowdrops and aconite are blooming inthe garden and I can see the first buds on the elder tree, which is always the first to show leaf.
Lady Griffin	Ahhhh! Spring in England. Here in Auckland it's hard to tell the diference between the seasons at times.No snow in this part of the country even in the depths of winter. Middle of summer now.It's 8.50 am here and I can feel the heat beginning to build up but very crisp and pleasant at the moment.Apologies to those of you who are shivering. No robins as in Redbreast but we do have a small native black robin,in conservation areas as it's very endangered. Plenty of fantails and silver eyes around and a pair of tuis with the white tufts under their chins.
noel	quote: Originally posted by LDunlop76 No snow here so far....... thank goodness! Pity those poor souls stuck on the M11 overnight! No pity Linda. They're all a load of soft southern nancies. One flake of snow on the window pane and they're calling the gritters out. [:D]
Lady Griffin	Maybe there'll be just a little snowfall when I visit and I don't understand the time lag very well ,Noel, but you always seem to sneak into the middle of my posts. Do you ever Sleep?
noel	I'm not sure either Linda but mine was written 9-30pm our time and yours is showing as 5.32 am I presume your time?? . Are you an early getter upper??
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by noel No pity Linda. They're all a load of soft southern nancies. One flake of snow on the window pane and they're calling the gritters out. [:D] ROFL! You are very wicked, Noel! [;)]
Caroline	They want to come up North to see some proper weather! I've painted hundreds of robins on shop windows in the last 8 years, and some of them are enormous,over a foot long- they look quite threatening ! Noel, about something you mentioned in another topic- last time we were over we went to 'Royston Vasey' and had a drink in the pub.........
noel	quote: Originally posted by Caroline They want to come up North to see some proper weather! I've painted hundreds of robins on shop windows in the last 8 years, and some of them are enormous,over a foot long- they look quite threatening ! Noel, about something you mentioned in another topic- last time we were over we went to 'Royston Vasey' and had a drink in the pub......... Hadfield in Derbyshire. Did you try the local beer Caroline?[8D] Not Low Cal, local. Royston Vasey is Chubby Brown's real name.
Lady Griffin	Have been known to be up at 2am tapping away at the keys.Definitely a night owl. Also up with the lark!
Caroline	Yes, I had a half .And I experienced a' Royston Vasey moment' when a bloke came in the Baker's and asked for a gingerbread man, saying 'Have you got one with clothes on, love, it's a bit chilly today?' Also overheard 4 workmen in the local café discussing plans for the weekend, one if them said ' Four Stellas and a Spliff and I'm out of it, me!'
LDunlop76	Yes, that does sound very Royston Vasey, Caroline! For those in foreign climes without the benefit of BBC TV, Royston Vasey is the fictional setting of "The League of Gentlemen" - a TV show which has reached cult status!
noel	It's a local show for local people.
LDunlop76	<smile>
Caroline	We've forced several of our friends to watch an episode, they're really amazed by the dark humour- the French still think Benny Hill's really funny!
Caroline	The bloke who lives next door, Jean-François- a huntin' shootin' fishin' cockle-gatherin' man- also showed us delightful photos of a deer he and his fellow huntin'..etc. mates shot a couple of weeks ago . It was one of the ones which used to come to the end of our field to lie in the grass and sun itself. I kept my cool but said I'd much rather see them alive.....to which he replied ' there's still three more in the wood, y'know, Caroline ' Of course, that made me feel a lot better- ha!
Caroline	Taking time off digging a drain ( it's started raining) to catch up on the Forum... A few English tourists around Côtes d' Armor as it's half-term. Had an evening at some French friends in Rennes. I was sat next to ' Mr. Theory ' and had to discuss the finer points of everything for 4 hours, including the inevitable question of Iraq, I felt like my head was going to burst! New web address http://artistsmock.com
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by Caroline A few English tourists around Côtes d' Armor as it's half-term. Not us......wish it was! By virtue of living on the boundaries of Wigan and Lancashire Education Authorities and having kids in different schools, my two have different weeks for half term, yet again! [:(!]
Caroline	Sorry, www.artistsmock.com Shame about the kids, still it avoids quarrels between siblings, also you get to have each of them to yourself- or are you at work all week? I used to have to take mine in with me now and then. As I was an artist's model, I have some lovely and amusing pictures my daughter did of me! When will this rain stop? It's a good job you aren't here camping Linda!
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by Caroline Shame about the kids, still it avoids quarrels between siblings, also you get to have each of them to yourself- or are you at work all week? Well..... I don't get enough leave to cover all their holidays, esp when they get different ones! Plus another difficulty reared its head this year. Son and heir has moved up to VIth form college so we don't get parents' letters with holiday dates any more. I kind of assumed both children had the same week, so booked last week off work (thinking how lucky I was that most people wanted the week before off, as clinics have to be covered and it's not often possible to get the full week off)only to be told that the elder kid was off the week before. [:(!] Under threat of mother's ire, he has now provided me with the list of this year's remaining holiday dates from his student diary. As it happened it was no big deal I was in work all week while he was off - 1. he doesn't surface from his bed till mid-afternoon when not at college, and 2. hubby was at home every day except Friday anway. Up until Christmas we had a childminder, so holiday cover wasn't a problem, but she had to give up work when she adopted a child in January and our younger one has gone up to secondary school this time, so is getting beyond childminders. I wouldn't want her home alone all day though yet, so if I can't get leave for future holidays, she will have to come into work with me. I've taken the children with me occasionally in the past - the receptionist passes on all the tedious jobs no-one likes, like stamping the clinic address onto appointment cards - but the kids have always enjoyed those minor clerical roles! Are you still rained off ditch-digging, Caroline? I clicked onto your website, but it says "under construction" (just like my husband's then!) - does it replace your previous one?
Caroline	How awkward kids are! Mine would've liked me to stay at home all day every day, so that when they chose to come home and grab something to eat, I'd be there chained to the cooker, making delicious meals with one hand while knitting or something with the other........ The website's taking ages to start up! Yes, the same one as before..... we were pleased with our pun in the address. Should be putting up more new work soon. Gave scones to the French rock band on Monday.......
Caroline	As the 'French correspondant' on the Forum ( or am I getting a bit 'luggage in advance'??), I feel it's a good time to reveal to you what the French think about the English . This 'll take the form of an essay I had to put into ' Good English', written by a French friend's brother, who was sent to Nottingham as part of his training as an engineer. It's really amusing, but I'm not starting it this time, as I just wrote loads out and it got lost somewhere- I blame the computer! And it 'll cheer us up........
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by Caroline As the 'French correspondant' on the Forum ( or am I getting a bit 'luggage in advance'??), I feel it's a good time to reveal to you what the French think about the English . I look forward to it, Caroline. I just hope they don't lump us in with the Yanks after someone in the US called the French 'cheese-eating surrender monkeys'! There was an interesting article in the Guardian this week about what other nations think of us.... I'll hunt down the hyperlink in a tic....
LDunlop76	[url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,926975,00.html[/url] There you go....... [:)]
rocketmanjohn	Please don't judge the USA by the comments of one idiot, that is'nt fair. True, most Americans are upset with the French, I think it was in December that the French Government promised to support the USA with military help if a solution was'nt reached by the end of January, I saw the French presentation myself. The Turks were also supposed to come on board as well, unfortunately none of this happened as we all know. The US was silly enough to base all its tactics on these promises and feels betrayed, who would'nt. I don't insult any nation or it's people, and I don't think it's very nice that other people do, especially on this Forum. By the way it's not nice to call anyone here a 'Yank' unless they come from the north east. Here in Louisiana our heritage is all French, the Cajuns speak an old fashioned version of the language and are very proud of their heritage. As an odd twist to all this, it was the British who expelled them from French Canada before they settled in the Louisiana swamps. John
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by rocketmanjohn Please don't judge the USA by the comments of one idiot, that is'nt fair. True, most Americans are upset with the French, I think it was in December that the French Government promised to support the USA with military help if a solution was'nt reached by the end of January, I saw the French presentation myself. The Turks were also supposed to come on board as well, unfortunately none of this happened as we all know. The US was silly enough to base all its tactics on these promises and feels betrayed, who would'nt. I don't insult any nation or it's people, and I don't think it's very nice that other people do, especially on this Forum. By the way it's not nice to call anyone here a 'Yank' unless they come from the north east. Here in Louisiana our heritage is all French, the Cajuns speak an old fashioned version of the language and are very proud of their heritage. As an odd twist to all this, it was the British who expelled them from French Canada before they settled in the Louisiana swamps. John John, I think you have taken my comments not as they were intended. I was certainly not judging a whole nation by one man's comment, but I know that comment caused a great deal of hurt to the French and scarcely a day goes by without some media commentator here mentioning that that was what had been said. And I was not intending to insult the US by my comments, but other nations are judging us alongside the US because we have allied ourselves to you. Radio 4 reported this morning that many restaurants and cafes in Russia are refusing to serve any US or UK citizens because of the war in Iraq - regardless of the fact many in the US and UK also oppose the war. The international reputations of both the US and the UK have taken a dive by entering a war without UN backing. The UK's was low enough in many countries due to our treatment of the colonies back in Empire days (cf your comment re French Canadians) and now the US is being accused of imperialism too. From what we were told over here, the Turks were very willing to come on board, but wanted to do their own thing, not be under the comand of US forces and the US was concerned about possible mis-treatment of the Kurds, so turned down Turkish support in the end..... whereupon Turkey dropped its offer of the use of airbases. I apologise for the use of the term "Yank", but I had not realised it was considered perjorative. After all, the song "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" was composed and used as a patriotic song for US troops in two world wars. There was no intention to cause offence.
LDunlop76	Ooops, wrong song! Meant to say "Over there" (written by same bloke) which has the lyrics "The Yanks are coming". Soldiers didn't mind marching to that; obviously times have moved on.
rocketmanjohn	I guess we are told by our respective governments what they want us to hear. We are told that Turkish support was withdrawn because of Turkish public lack of support. Also, that the U.S only wanted to use Turkey as a staging post, the Turks were offered a huge bribe, but wanted more, this was'nt forthcoming and the new government was reluctant to go against its own people. I suppose there's a lot we are'nt being told. Another twist is that it seems everyone hates the U.S. and the U.K. except the general Iraqi public, who now love us. No offence taken over the use of the word 'Yank', I just thought I'd explain what it meant. Sticks and stones etc. John
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by rocketmanjohn No offence taken over the use of the word 'Yank', I just thought I'd explain what it meant. Sticks and stones etc. John Phew, because it has been preying on my mind this last few days (HATE causing offence) and, of course, the forum's been down..... You're right in what you say about governments only telling us what they want us to hear. After all what I heard on the radio re the Turks may not have been correct either. Who knows in these days of spin and sound bites? Yes, the US and UK are the pariahs of the world, esp, it seems, in islamic countries. I wouldn't be too sure all the Iraqis are for us either. I was at home yesterday afternoon when the live footage of Saddam's statue coming down was shown. The camera moved to another part of the crowd and a small group of Iraqis were holding up a placard saying "Go home, US w*nkers". (I was surprised by their knowledge of the vernacular!) Funnily enough, this footage was edited out of the evening news programmes! And this morning Radio 4 reporter "embedded" with the US troops said he'd been with a GI yesterday talking with an Iraqi civilian who'd said he was glad Saddam had gone, but he wished the Americans weren't there either, to which the US soldier replied, "You and me both". I think our two countries will have to play this very carefully over the coming days and weeks if we want to be seen as liberators and not installers of some puppet regime.
Caroline	An interesting Guardian article . The opinion of the French re. our part in the war seems generally to be one of disbelief that Tony Blair sided with the Americans, I usually reassure them that we don't all feel that way ....fortunately I rarely see the Tabloid headlines. 'Any road up', here's something to lighten our hearts- as promised. I'll let 'our hero' explain himself. In the framework of the training of engineer, it us has been asked to realize an internship in an anglophone country for the purpose to improve our knowledged and our practice the language , in a city to the centre of England. The first thing that has amused me by arriving in England was the arrival to Poole. It is always very impressive to disembark in a foreign country when you have not the habit to travel often . As I am concerned, I have gone there only one time. What I have been able to see in England, the English life is well different that in France . I have had my first surprise when I am descended to Poole and when I have it to accustom me to roll to the left. Just this small detail has convinced me that this country has something truly different. After some small frights, the English conduct has become for me a child's game! I have asked the first English person that I have crossed why they roll to left, he couldn't reply to me ' I do not know but I know it's stupid' has he recognised. In the totality, English do not roll very fast despite their long expressway and motorway that crosses the country, and that, more, is free. This was the opportunity for me to see for the first time roads constructed with concrete. I have learnt that the totality of the English property belongs to the Queen. If someone decides to buy a house, the former will belong to him only during 99 years then it will become the property of the Queen. That explains surely why English houses are generally so ugly. Proprietors do not want to invest, therefore houses are not renovated and ugly scrub red old England are wrecked. That can equally be caused by the price of purchase of the property that seems me to be highest that in France. On the other hand, English cars are remarkable and noticed: BMW, Porsche, Ferrari.....I have never seen so much beautiful cars in my life. I think English people identify their financial situation through their car. * drive * brick To be continued.
LDunlop76	<<English cars are remarkable and noticed: BMW, Porsche, Ferrari.....>> Where HAS your correspondent been if he thinks these arre English cars? LOL!!!
Caroline	Exactly! This episode, our hero's opinions on the cost of living... ' About the cost of living in England,I will tell a few word. Even if I expected there, it is always very impressive to see that one could pay until £35 for a full of diesel oil. Effectvely, life is very expensive in this country compared to France. That this is to buy cigarettes, clothes or well again the alcohol, it's a hole in the purse. Nevertheless a positive point emerges from this calamity, it is the fact that you can look to more of 2 meters of you in an evening in a place closed. 'The number incredible of cameras everywhere in English cities feel us a sentiment of insecurity of the different places frequented. That this is in apartments, even or public olaces in enterprises the cameras watch the lesser potential incident.' anyone got any idea what he might be trying to say here?
LDunlop76	Not a clue, Caroline, but it makes for some amusing head-scratching, pondering it out!
LDunlop76	Mind you, how many of us could write about our opinions of France in French without errors?
noel	Now I'm going to amaze you with my knowledge of pigeon English, it means that when you are in a confined area you can see clearly or as he puts it (approximately puts it,) see further than 2 metres . ( No smoke). I'm not too pleased to read that my property will become the queen's after 99 years. Hasn't she got enough with that big palace?
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by noel Now I'm going to amaze you with my knowledge of pigeon English, it means that when you are in a confined area you can see clearly or as he puts it (approximately puts it,) see further than 2 metres . ( No smoke). Merci beaucoup for putting us out of our misery and solving the mystery, Noel.
Caroline	Well done, Noel, I've been wondering about that for ages ! This episode, our hero gets some boots.... For me, English are very nice. Effectively, English that I have met have been particularly welcomed and hesitated to devote the time of their work with me to reply to my questions, as numerous as they was. A day, the engineers with that we have worked have offered us an evenings in city. Program: pub,pub,pub,pub.....chinese restaurant! When I have asked them where I could find shoe Dc Martens to Nottingham, it have replied me 'Does not move, I am going to inform me'. The following day, two pairs of shoes were arrived and we have ever paid- present! Next time, a search for a night's lodgings in Rugby almost spells disaster......
LDunlop76	Keep 'em coming, Caroline! LOL!
anacortesdamp	Linda: I have an interesting insight into the vernacular "wnker". Most Americans have no idea what it means, so the Iraqi sign writer wouldn't have got his point across at all. In what was "frontier America", especially Oregon and Washington, it was common to define an area by the name of one of the landowners at a rural cross roads, using the word "corner". As a result we have a local area in Anacortes called "Sharpe's Corner" and another one close by called "Thrasher's Corner". The territory just south of Portland (OR) was settled by a lot of German immigrants, and the same technique was used there. The name of one family so honored was pronounced "Vohnker", but it was spelled like Wagner, with the "gn" replaced by "nk". As the area became urbanized, a shopping mall was built around this intersection. It included a restuarant. Motorways often have signs telling you what's close to the next off ramp, particularly gas stations and restuarants. There was a big sign on Interstate 205 that read "Food next right - Wnker's Corner". Either someone told them what it means in British vernacular or the restaurant went out of business. Last time I was down that way, the sign had gone. I took a picture, but I can't find a copy. I'll get it on the forum if I come across it. Frank Damp
LDunlop76	Oh, please do post it, Frank! I rather thought the term wanker would be lost on the US soldiers. I gather from an old school friend who lives in the US that bll*cks isn't understood there either and one ex-pat has it on his car reg plate! LOL!
Caroline	I probably said this before but the French brand of chocolate drink 'CACO-LAIT' is probably best avoided, and I never feed my pet tins of ' DEFI-CAT' !! On with our young French engineer's report on English Life.... ' An other anecdote . I am remained in England with a friend for the purpose to improve my English and to visit the country. we have passed a small stay in Ireland then we have returned in England to go to London. On the road of the return, we have stopped to Rudby, the city of the national sport to sleep. Our first sentiment was to notice that in the city, peoples seemed truly great and very strong and looked us a little manner reassurance. We decided then to earn the countryside by hoping to find a B&B. Unfortunately, excepted a B&B that was closed, there in was not. We have therefore decided to return to Rudby by hoping to find something to pass the night. The alone B&B that we have found opened in 10pm was a pub .Unfortunately it was closed. Resigning to the idea to pass a * white night, we have remained in the pub and ordered a pint of beer. There, we have met two persons that have proposed us to lodge us. Incredible! We have therefore slept at one of them. As what, it never is necessary to trust the appearances.. *sleepless Next time, restaurants and the start of a long treatise on pubs.....
Spitfire	Caroline, Realy brilliant, please keep them coming. I`ll be very disappointed when you say we have reached `your hero`s` last episode. I was always facinated by technical instructions we received that had obviously been translated word for word from the Japanese dictionary. Has we followed them, goodness knows what may have resulted![:)]
Caroline	As promised, our young French friend's 'critique' of English food and drink... 'RESTAURANTS The town possesses a great quantity of restaurnts by leaving from the classic English restaurant until lounges of tea by passing by Chinese restaurants, Thai, Lebanese, French, Italians and Indians It possesses also a great quantity of fast-foods ( Mcdonalds, Burger King, KFC, Loan for Eat, Kebabs... But with some experience, we finished to prefer restaurant that fast food. PUBS It is unthinkable to take a stay in England without visiting a pub. English pubs are in general very small, one is therefore the most often upright or leaned to the bar. Beer drinks there by 'pint' ( a half liter) or by 'half a pint'. If you decide to be a real gentleman, you can always ask the boy of café ''would you like a drink?'', that corresponds some leaves to our tip, put aside that here, it is the boy himself that will choose some the amount according to the drink that it will have require ( generally it will choose the most expensive...) Pubs are excellent places to observe usage and British customs. One touches here the real culture of the country which us has been easy to adopt.' to be continued.........
LDunlop76	<<wondering what the heck "loan for eat" is - can't say I've seen that one on the high street! Caroline - thanks for the post card of Barnenez! I sent an email via the forum, but I'm not convinced it went!
dedwardsa	It's literally "pret a manger"...
William R	Hey Caroline, do we get a translation, or am I just thick. Don`t you dare say it!!!! Anyway, I`ll keep trying to decypher, perhaps Wiganer will take pity on me and fill in the blanks. Cheerio from Yorkshire, Bill.
LDunlop76	I thought 'pret a manger' meant ready to eat? We don't have posh places like Pret a Manger up here! Eh, Bill, I'm usually mystified by Caroline's french friend too - don't rely on me to decypher! <grin>
dedwardsa	quote: Originally posted by LDunlop76 I thought 'pret a manger' meant ready to eat? It does! Pret can mean ready or a loan. Mind you, the prices they charge in pret a manger, our man might be right first time!!
LDunlop76	Thanks for clearing that up for me!
Kath smith	Most deisel cars would run on vegetable oil. just think of the environmetal implications of fuelling cars on a sustainable fuel. (And it'd smell great too) There are web sites telling you how to sort out your car to run on waste oil from chippies, apparently you can do so legally as long as you pay the relevent taxes, which I think is probably the base of the matter, like why alcohol and cigarettes arent illegal but other substances are it comes down to how much money the government can get out of it. And there'd be wars over fields of rape seed and sunflowers,the world may get madder yet.
dedwardsa	There was a little to-do in south Wales last year. The local supermarkets were forced to ration the amount of cooking oil they were selling after the local police (evidently with nothing better to do) investigated the odd fragance coming from some diesel vehicles...
Martin	The tax people don't like anyone using cheap alternatives to the highly taxed fuels on sale. That's probably why they don't build engines that run on water. They would have to tax that too.
dedwardsa	Funnily enough, I wondered about that at the time. A little research shows that if you find an alternative to the fuel on sale at Shell, as soon as it runs a car it's liable to the same tax :(
Caroline	Yeah, I heard a bit back that France could produce all the fuel it needed, but didn't because of agreements with the States, they do add a bit of their own rape seed oil (?) now, though. On with our adventure, our friend is still in the pub... 'Pubs.... it exists some a hundred in a two ray kilometers in Nottingham,- them have a real historical interest like the most ancient pub in England located in the city, others are simple convivial places where one can find in eat. People finds there a good atmosphere and friendly to take a glass and to relax. Other goes there to meet peoples and to chatter, play darts or only to relax after a hard day, one is sure there well to eat and there well to drink because the choice of beers was is varied. I have been knocked to see me the world in pubs the week and the atmosphere that reigned there, almost as much that the weekend. All generations unite there to share good moments. Thus it is that the maintenance team, all of dressed silk, has offered us an evening in pubs of Nottingham an evening Wednesday after the work. Typical English, is not this? In France, you will see rather workers to drink a glass in the small café of the corner without being preoccupied with their held clothing hardly presentable. I think not to be near to forget this evening which has been finished in a restaurant.' ( Interesting dress habits of the Midlands!! Coming soon- our friend makes several 'faux pas' in English pubs, and the popularity of the French in England...)
rocketmanjohn	Caroline, this is ace, keep it coming. I must confess though, it's a damn sight better than my French. On the fuel question, a diesel can be made to run on anything inflammable [liquid], and I do mean anything. They don't like fuels with too high an octane rating though, but they will run. Using starting fluids [ether] will melt the glow plugs, as I know to my cost. I seem to remember Leyland Motors running diesels on a variety of odd fuels, Bill, can you help? Gasoline engines [sorry, petrol, although gasoline is the correct technical term] can be made to run perfectly on a variety of gases including propane, butane and methane. More than one car has been converted to run on methane collected from rotting manure. Cars arriving here in the USA without the necessary emmision controls are converted to gas [propane], Morgan being one.
noel	I remember sometime back a claim being made that a car had been adapted to run off pea-nut butter. Not the crunchy kind of course. Quite an expensive fuel I would have thought. We angles do tend to frown on the word gasoline. Not sure why, maybe because it sounds American? Like "soccer" ( spit).
William R	Sorry, I don`t know a lot about fuel, except that its expensive, and you need it to make the engine function. I remember once, way back, we got some duff engines on the test benches which ran dog rough and wouldn`t fire up. Investigation showed that they had only been fitted with four piston groups each, instead of six, because the feeding conveyor was out of synch. but thats another story. Some may still be around to remember the occasion. Cheers Bill.
Martin	Bill, I think my car has one of those engines in it.
Caroline	It's just a year today since I 'joined up'!!
Spitfire	Happy `Birthday` Caroline.[8D]
noel	Happy anniversary Caroline, keep up the good work.
William R	Same goes for me Caroline, Happy Anniversery!!!
Martin	Tha cakes are on you Caroline!
Caroline	What does everyone want? A 'Paris-Brest' for Noel perhaps? And who wants a 'Religieuse' (Nun!) or a piece of ' Far breton' ?? Thank you for your good wishes! And now...... our young French friend's recollections continue.. 'Anecdote: One of the first evenings, one goes to the pub. Lack of attention, we were in baskets, and the guardian has left us because we had the chance to be French and therefore to be excused for this time. Believer well to make, I order a pint of Guinness, their national drink, by pronouncing badly. But the bartender, death of laughter, makes me repeat and tells me: " Oh, a paiiinte!" by insisting well on iii. Same pub, some days after . I order a Folster's. the waiter asks me "How old?" Believer that it asks me the age of the whiskey I reply:"I don't know, which years do you have?,"- "No, no, how old are you?" Good, I know that I make less than my age, but nevertheless ,to ask to see its identity card in order that they verify that I have more 21 years, I was furious!!' trainers, or 'fancy plimsolls' to our more mature readers!
dedwardsa	At least he's in Northants.. GOK how he'd cope with Elephant's Foot translating to Café Renoir...
noel	LOL Caroline. However I'm just wondering what a paris brest is. Did you miss a vowel out ? :-)
LDunlop76	Happy Forum Birthday, Caroline! Save a religieuse for me - I'm rather partial to them!
Caroline	I've been busy painting portraits of French cyclists on shop windows in the next county........ The cake called 'Paris-Brest' is named after a famous cycle race between the two towns, I can't remember what it looks like..will but one and report back! Our French student's report on the popularity of the French in England.. ''Attention nevertheless to well verify the limit of age to go to the pub. To some, it is 21 years, for others 25. Curiously, if you are accompanied,it is far more easy. Once, we were four ( 2 boys, 2 girls) The two girls are past without problem (I didn't understand why...!!)For us, we has to negotiate it the entry with the guardian. To the pub, we never remains long alone.As soon as someone learns that you are French, you can be on that it is going all will to know you. English people like well this gender of ephemeral and improvised encounters, and they do not lack to tell you travel their on the continent. I have the impression that they travel a lot of. It is necessary to tell that it is easier to commit the conversation after some pints of beer... they told me that a French arrive in a pub, it exerts a sort of magnetic attraction! I have verified and without wanting to praise me, it is true!''
Martin	quote: Originally posted by Caroline It is necessary to tell that it is easier to commit the conversation after some pints of beer... Now that is very true. Some of my best conversations happen when my voicebox has been lubricated.
Hayleypink	no its doesnt...
noel	LOL Good 'un Hayley. Keep him in his place.
LDunlop76	Hello, Caroline! I was wondering where you'd got to... and now we know! <g>
Martin	quote: Originally posted by Hayleypink no its doesnt... Oh yes it does![:o)]
noel	I think it fair to say we're all with Hayley on this one Martin.
Martin	quote: Originally posted by noel I think it fair to say we're all with Hayley on this one Martin. Noel, are you the first volunteer for having their account locked? It would give everyone else a chance to catch up.
Hayleypink	thanks for the support. martin talks about silly things when he is drunk
noel	quote: Originally posted by Hayleypink thanks for the support. martin talks about silly things when he is drunk Only when he's drunk? [:)]
anacortesdamp	Martin: Maybe at 13 pages, it's time to retire this thread and transfer the last page to a new title? Frank
Martin	I think you are right Frank... [xx(]
Caroline	Still here!! Let's get on with the last episode, I fear, from our french friend in the Midlands.... "This told, they have also their sides aggravating, with their ringing of portable that torture our ears. I have seen to the pub 4 girls that exited all the 4 portable, and that posed them on the table, beside their pints. BREAKFAST English breakfast to something of unique in one gender: eggs, sausages, beans, tomatoes,mushrooms, bacon, the accompanied whole by a tea. And this, hold you well to 8:00AM!! A general manner, the English gastronomy has not me seduced but nevertheless English breakfasts have convinced me so that I ate them morning, midday and evening. CONCLUSION This internship was an experience very interesting because it has permit me to improve considerably my English language, which for me is a universal language and today essential to our interest personnel and professional. It has equally allowed me to insert me in another country, with a culture and system different. I think that it me will be necessary to return in an anglophone country after my studies." My thanks to 'Celine's little brother' who has unwittingly provided us with an amusing insight into our national characteristics! I'm going to restart this long topic under the title 'French Connection'. Cheers, Caroline
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by Caroline "This internship was an experience very interesting because it has permit me to improve considerably my English language, which for me is a universal language and today essential to our interest personnel and professional. It has equally allowed me to insert me in another country, with a culture and system different. I think that it me will be necessary to return in an anglophone country after my studies." He's got a good graps of vocabulary. Now if he could just let go of that urge to use French word order, people might be able to make better sense of what he writes! <vbg> (Shouldn't criticise - I couldn't do half so well in French as he does in English!)
Caroline	It was an excellent last paragraph!
Spitfire	Have placed my order for issue 1 of the `French Connection`.
LDunlop76	quote: Originally posted by LDunlop76 He's got a good graps of vocabulary. Of course, that should read "grasp"! Looks like I can't even get English right! [:o)]
Hayleypink	LOL Linda xxx

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