What made you smile today?
#1
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What made you smile today?
Although the title mentions 'smile', if I was honest this is more cringeworthy than something to smile about. And THESE pro-Brexit people get paid too! Unbelieveable.
As one whimsical reader commented, "This is the quality of our politicians right now. The intellect of a boiled cabbage." Now that made me smile. And how true!
As one whimsical reader commented, "This is the quality of our politicians right now. The intellect of a boiled cabbage." Now that made me smile. And how true!
#2
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Re: What made you smile today?
Although the title mentions 'smile', if I was honest this is more cringeworthy than something to smile about. And THESE pro-Brexit people get paid too! Unbelieveable.
As one whimsical reader commented, "This is the quality of our politicians right now. The intellect of a boiled cabbage." Now that made me smile. And how true!
As one whimsical reader commented, "This is the quality of our politicians right now. The intellect of a boiled cabbage." Now that made me smile. And how true!
A propos the GJs, I'm surprised that no one has started a thread about their activities, but maybe every one has been thinking "if you ignore them, they'll go away"...
#3
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Re: What made you smile today?
I was doubly affected by the GJs. On Saturday I was waiting for a van load of stuff from UK to my new house in Carcassonne. The man in the tabac had warned me of the impending unrest, so my hopes weren't high. Sure enough I got a call from the driver saying they had got one mile out of Perpignon and were held up by the strike and had been sitting there for half an hour. With the aid of satnav, directions from the GJs, no spoken French and driving the wrong way up a motorway ramp they phoned again to say they were on their way. Then I had to face the fact that I couldn't organise parking since I hadn't given the mairie 10 days notice having only been given 6 days notice from the removals firm. A lovely man across the road let me use his personal space outside his gite, but the van was still going to overflow into a bright yellow hatched space next to it. But the GJs. Of course, there were no police to be seen in Carcassonne, they were all out patrolling the Gjs. No one free to come and check on parking 'au pied de la cite', which is apparently ferocious. The irony of that certainly made me smile.
#4
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Re: What made you smile today?
A propos les gilets jeunes. On Tues I ventured out. A short 5mins drive to the local town. One main roundabout had half a dozen GJ's milling around together with two gendarme vans, all very amicable and for the very few motorists circulating, the flow around that main junction was fluid in all directions, i.e. no blockages or traffic filters.
Just minutes later I was heading home, and on the same roundabout as previously, the very last exit (mine) was blocked by a single gendarme van, there were no GJ's in sight, just ahead of me two other motorists were halted waiting to take the same exit as myself. They were directed around the roundabout back towards the centre of town, and then my turn, I approached the gendarme stood by his blocking van, and mentioned I wanted to take that exit, as 600 yards further I'd do a right turn into our village. He said I couldn't, the road was closed. I said it wasn't closed a few minutes before as I'd just come that way, and had there been an accident? There'd been no accident was the reply, but that section was now blocked off. I asked why, and was given an icy stare. Again I politely said I just wanted to drive the next short 1min stretch and take a right into the village, all that section I knew wasn't blocked. I was given a positive no, and directed to the centre of town from where I'd find another exit to my village. That I knew made no real sense and was just bloody-mindness on his/their part. It was now 11:45 and driving through the local town took me 15mins, and another 10mins on the other side to my village. A total of 25mins, and arriving at the same junction where I would take a right into the village there was definitely no blockage, accident or GJ's anywhere in the vicinity.
Had I not encountered a 'plod', brain-washed by some higher authority who didn't have a clue either to the realities of the situation on the ground, I would have been comfortably home in 5mins and with far less frustration. I no longer have a dog (or mother-in-law), but at that particular moment I felt like kicking something on arrival.
I hasten to add, all that definitely didn't make me smile that day.
Such is typical of the current situation associated in part to the social unrest in France. For those B.E. newbies just arriving, or those planning to in the future, you are just going to 'love' it here. I guarantee it!
Just minutes later I was heading home, and on the same roundabout as previously, the very last exit (mine) was blocked by a single gendarme van, there were no GJ's in sight, just ahead of me two other motorists were halted waiting to take the same exit as myself. They were directed around the roundabout back towards the centre of town, and then my turn, I approached the gendarme stood by his blocking van, and mentioned I wanted to take that exit, as 600 yards further I'd do a right turn into our village. He said I couldn't, the road was closed. I said it wasn't closed a few minutes before as I'd just come that way, and had there been an accident? There'd been no accident was the reply, but that section was now blocked off. I asked why, and was given an icy stare. Again I politely said I just wanted to drive the next short 1min stretch and take a right into the village, all that section I knew wasn't blocked. I was given a positive no, and directed to the centre of town from where I'd find another exit to my village. That I knew made no real sense and was just bloody-mindness on his/their part. It was now 11:45 and driving through the local town took me 15mins, and another 10mins on the other side to my village. A total of 25mins, and arriving at the same junction where I would take a right into the village there was definitely no blockage, accident or GJ's anywhere in the vicinity.
Had I not encountered a 'plod', brain-washed by some higher authority who didn't have a clue either to the realities of the situation on the ground, I would have been comfortably home in 5mins and with far less frustration. I no longer have a dog (or mother-in-law), but at that particular moment I felt like kicking something on arrival.
I hasten to add, all that definitely didn't make me smile that day.
Such is typical of the current situation associated in part to the social unrest in France. For those B.E. newbies just arriving, or those planning to in the future, you are just going to 'love' it here. I guarantee it!
Last edited by Tweedpipe; Nov 23rd 2018 at 8:08 am.
#5
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Re: What made you smile today?
This raised a smile today.
The caption reads:
Spoiler:
The caption reads:
Spoiler:
#6
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Re: What made you smile today?
My friend nicked a sachet of tomato ketchup from the works canteen.
It split open in his bag and went over everything.
It split open in his bag and went over everything.
#7
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Re: What made you smile today?
This was something that made me smile again today just thinking about it, although the event actually occurred over the weekend.
We'd been to our local cinema to see one of the Metropolitan Opera live HD transmissions, La Fille du Regiment. Between acts 1 and 2 there was an intermission, during which one could participate in a quiche and glass of champagne in the foyer for an additional few euros.
A few moments later we were sat at one of the many small tables surrounded by many other French folk chatting, enjoying a bite and with a small glass in their hand.
I love observing people, and almost at the same time my wife observed something too and gave me a nudge. "Look at that couple over there!" she said.
My eye had caught the same scene: a couple sat at a table enjoying their own plastic packaged snacks, and filling up their glasses from a full bottle of wine that they'd obviously brought along too. Within a few minutes they were joined by another couple, and the wine kept flowing.
I'd never seen this before on similar events in the same cinema foyer, and a thought crossed my mind.
I said to my wife, "I bet they're Brits!" She replied, "Well it looks a bit unusual, I wonder if they are?"
She was then a little surprised to see me get up and nonchalantly walk over and past that particular table, hopefully to overhear a few spoken words from the group and confirm my intuition.
Arriving back at my table I said to my wife, "Yep, just as I thought, definitely Brits!" She smiled and added, "Yeah, the bottle of wine was a dead giveaway!"
We'd been to our local cinema to see one of the Metropolitan Opera live HD transmissions, La Fille du Regiment. Between acts 1 and 2 there was an intermission, during which one could participate in a quiche and glass of champagne in the foyer for an additional few euros.
A few moments later we were sat at one of the many small tables surrounded by many other French folk chatting, enjoying a bite and with a small glass in their hand.
I love observing people, and almost at the same time my wife observed something too and gave me a nudge. "Look at that couple over there!" she said.
My eye had caught the same scene: a couple sat at a table enjoying their own plastic packaged snacks, and filling up their glasses from a full bottle of wine that they'd obviously brought along too. Within a few minutes they were joined by another couple, and the wine kept flowing.
I'd never seen this before on similar events in the same cinema foyer, and a thought crossed my mind.
I said to my wife, "I bet they're Brits!" She replied, "Well it looks a bit unusual, I wonder if they are?"
She was then a little surprised to see me get up and nonchalantly walk over and past that particular table, hopefully to overhear a few spoken words from the group and confirm my intuition.
Arriving back at my table I said to my wife, "Yep, just as I thought, definitely Brits!" She smiled and added, "Yeah, the bottle of wine was a dead giveaway!"
#8
Re: What made you smile today?
This was something that made me smile again today just thinking about it, although the event actually occurred over the weekend.
We'd been to our local cinema to see one of the Metropolitan Opera live HD transmissions, La Fille du Regiment. Between acts 1 and 2 there was an intermission, during which one could participate in a quiche and glass of champagne in the foyer for an additional few euros.
A few moments later we were sat at one of the many small tables surrounded by many other French folk chatting, enjoying a bite and with a small glass in their hand.
I love observing people, and almost at the same time my wife observed something too and gave me a nudge. "Look at that couple over there!" she said.
My eye had caught the same scene: a couple sat at a table enjoying their own plastic packaged snacks, and filling up their glasses from a full bottle of wine that they'd obviously brought along too. Within a few minutes they were joined by another couple, and the wine kept flowing.
I'd never seen this before on similar events in the same cinema foyer, and a thought crossed my mind.
I said to my wife, "I bet they're Brits!" She replied, "Well it looks a bit unusual, I wonder if they are?"
She was then a little surprised to see me get up and nonchalantly walk over and past that particular table, hopefully to overhear a few spoken words from the group and confirm my intuition.
Arriving back at my table I said to my wife, "Yep, just as I thought, definitely Brits!" She smiled and added, "Yeah, the bottle of wine was a dead giveaway!"
We'd been to our local cinema to see one of the Metropolitan Opera live HD transmissions, La Fille du Regiment. Between acts 1 and 2 there was an intermission, during which one could participate in a quiche and glass of champagne in the foyer for an additional few euros.
A few moments later we were sat at one of the many small tables surrounded by many other French folk chatting, enjoying a bite and with a small glass in their hand.
I love observing people, and almost at the same time my wife observed something too and gave me a nudge. "Look at that couple over there!" she said.
My eye had caught the same scene: a couple sat at a table enjoying their own plastic packaged snacks, and filling up their glasses from a full bottle of wine that they'd obviously brought along too. Within a few minutes they were joined by another couple, and the wine kept flowing.
I'd never seen this before on similar events in the same cinema foyer, and a thought crossed my mind.
I said to my wife, "I bet they're Brits!" She replied, "Well it looks a bit unusual, I wonder if they are?"
She was then a little surprised to see me get up and nonchalantly walk over and past that particular table, hopefully to overhear a few spoken words from the group and confirm my intuition.
Arriving back at my table I said to my wife, "Yep, just as I thought, definitely Brits!" She smiled and added, "Yeah, the bottle of wine was a dead giveaway!"
Same goes for Dutch or Belgians though
Remember first time my little brother visited us here, he brought pre-cooked baguettes (!!!) with him along with all sorts of charcuteries
#9
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Re: What made you smile today?
For those who don't understand Brexit, a little light relief in these crazy times. The perfect read for le petit coin! The Ladybird guide to Brexit.........
#10
Re: What made you smile today?
I'm smiling today...or just maybe dreaming!! I have made contact with some of my old school friends from France (I am British but live in Canada). I keep thinking about the idea of having a holiday home in France in the Haute Saone where I grew up. I was just looking at prices and it's super cheap. So I'm smiling!!! Have to figure out the cost of buying as a non resident...
#11
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Re: What made you smile today?
I'm smiling today...or just maybe dreaming!! I have made contact with some of my old school friends from France (I am British but live in Canada). I keep thinking about the idea of having a holiday home in France in the Haute Saone where I grew up. I was just looking at prices and it's super cheap. So I'm smiling!!! Have to figure out the cost of buying as a non resident...
Regarding a holiday home, please keep in mind that so many available cheap properties on the market here are cheap for a very good reason; they are of low interest to many purchasers, i.e. unattractive, need a lot of maintenance, unsatisfactory location/flood areas, neighbours from hell etc, just to name a few. Other french language forums abound with cringe-worthy tales of buyers remorse.
Imho a holiday home needs as much planning and caution as purchasing a main residence.
Of course there are some absolute gorgeous bargains too, which obviously attract far more attention from the canny buyers.
Last edited by Tweedpipe; Mar 15th 2019 at 12:51 pm.
#12
Re: What made you smile today?
I'm smiling today...or just maybe dreaming!! I have made contact with some of my old school friends from France (I am British but live in Canada). I keep thinking about the idea of having a holiday home in France in the Haute Saone where I grew up. I was just looking at prices and it's super cheap. So I'm smiling!!! Have to figure out the cost of buying as a non resident...
I knew an American couple who rented a flat for 12 months a year but only spent 6 months in the summer there.
They spent the winter in Florida and made sure that they didn't exceed 183 days in France.
After several years, they got tired of the location and moved to another region.
If some disaster strikes then it would be the owner who would have to deal with it.
Property in France is not an investment and can sometimes take a couple of years to sell.
Food for thought?
#13
Re: What made you smile today?
Don't just look at buying - give renting a thought.
I knew an American couple who rented a flat for 12 months a year but only spent 6 months in the summer there.
They spent the winter in Florida and made sure that they didn't exceed 183 days in France.
After several years, they got tired of the location and moved to another region.
If some disaster strikes then it would be the owner who would have to deal with it.
Property in France is not an investment and can sometimes take a couple of years to sell.
Food for thought?
I knew an American couple who rented a flat for 12 months a year but only spent 6 months in the summer there.
They spent the winter in Florida and made sure that they didn't exceed 183 days in France.
After several years, they got tired of the location and moved to another region.
If some disaster strikes then it would be the owner who would have to deal with it.
Property in France is not an investment and can sometimes take a couple of years to sell.
Food for thought?
Last edited by Novocastrian; Mar 15th 2019 at 5:01 pm. Reason: typos
#14
Re: What made you smile today?
I post on here to try to be helpful to other members.
If they take on board my opinion then good and well.
If they don't because it perhaps isn't appropriate or suitable to what they need then that is also good.
#15
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Re: What made you smile today?
True. I like to think that myself and many others post on the forum not only directly in answer to the OP's or subsequent queries, but for anyone who may benefit from additional info on a given subject. And I'm sure that more than once the replies have proved useful to those 3rd parties.
Last edited by Tweedpipe; Mar 16th 2019 at 1:54 pm.