But if now that I see well, is my colleague Leighbloke...

I didn't remember him (mainly for a problem in my computer). We are having some chats in private. I had to write him, but already I have told him here something, if he wants that our chats are of public domain, like he prefer...

It's exactly how the French behave when we don't get their language quite right.

I keep hearing that, when travelling abroad, the locals really respect you if you try to speak their language, however poorly.

Not in bloody France, they don't.....

Ahh the French. Now there is real arrogance. As soon as they know you're a 'rosbeef' it doesn't matter how well you can speak their language - they'll still hate you. Mind you, my SIL is French and she's a sweetheart, probably came to live in the UK because her niceness was unacceptable in France.

Just for the record - I don't have an aversion to the Spanish, or anybody else - well maybe Man U fans (so that's most cockneys) Scousers, the Scots, and all things French, except for the word Lingerie - and I don't know how my post could be interpreted that way.

All I said was all of Europe should speak English.

Oye! I miss Primark! There are some great spanish shops BUT when you buy in the UK at least you don't have to cut 30cm off the bottom of a pair of trousers to make them fit.

Why do they make them so long? Ths spanish aren't particularly tall. Is a one-size-fits-europe thing to cater for the dutch?

I find the ass room in Spanish tracksuit bottoms is very limited you know!

True, I remember one holiday at a French resort, and was staying in an apartment, I was told that all the girls on reception spoke excellent English, BUT only if you tried to talk to them in French first. Had a cpouple of things wrong in the apartment so went to complain. My French is adequate, so I decided to try this out. I just went in and explained what was wrong, she repleid in French, I continued in English and the converrsation went on. Another guy came in, and she just interrupted her conversation with me to ask him what the problem was, he tried to explain in very halting French, so she spoke in her excellent english, but then came back to me and continued as though she had no English whatsoever. Would never have tried it if my French hadn't been good enough to have understood anything she had said, but it did prove the point.

OK....here's a true story that happened to me 2 years ago. I'm not going to pass any comment, you just make of it what you will.
We got to Spain Nov 2nd 2005 in a UK hire car, and five days later I had to take it back.
About 3am in the morning I found myself lost near Lyon, so I pulled into a service area to try and get help.
There was a large group of truckers in the cafe so I tried to explain as best I could that I needed help with directions. They weren't remotely interested, and most of them just blanked me.
So in case they hadn't understood I showed them a map which highlighted my destination as Cardiff and mentioned Pays de Galles (Wales). They said to me...."You're a Welshman? You're not English?"
Now anybody who knows me here will tell you that I'm very proud to be Welsh.....I was born a Welshman, and I'll die a Welshman. I'm not anti any other nationality.....I just take people as they are, but I'm proud of being Welsh.
The French truckers obviously picked up on my defiant "I'm bloody Welsh" tone....and they completely changed. "You're Welsh? Come and sit down".....they bought me coffee, other truckers came over to meet me and I even found one who spoke reasonable English. He explained how many of them go to Cardiff for the rugby, they're made so welcome, and how they have so many friends there.
Then they drew me a little map, and one of them even led me out to the right road in his truck to get back on my journey.
So no comment from me....make of that what you will. But that's my only experience with the French.

My grandfather, who has been dead many years, ran away from home at 16, lied about his age and joined the British Regular Army in 1910. He fought at Mons and throughout the First World War on the Western Front.

In later life, on the rare occassions he chose to mention that period of his life, he always said that the British and Germans should have got together and shot the French and the Top Brass.

Your English / Welsh hangups just stretch the imagination too much sometimes
Most people Ive met outside the UK on "Mitzy on tour travels" cant distinguish the difference between Welsh & English and couldnt care less anyway
You're British and always will be ...... get used to it

They'll know the difference when I get there Jon!
Especially when I drop my pants....give 'em a moonie....while shouting "'Ave it".
I think it's better to break the ice gently you see!

Hey
Pete is correct Mitzy and others.
Just returned from France taking my daughter to do her year abroad for her degree, anyway,back to the story. Now there where some rugby matches on and there were Aussies, French, Irish English and Welsh supporters in a bar.
All the other nationalities got on well, ordered their food and drink in their pigeon French except the English who just raised their voices to try and get themselves understood. What made it even more funny was that the fluent French speaking owner was Irish but did not let on.
And the English wonder why they are disliked everywhere??
Leighton
awaiting the flak with bated breath.
ps Supporting France on Saturday Pete?

Did you have a team in the competition ? lol

Right, I have been on a month long break, my course and bank manager felt it was time I took a break from BE, but after only a week, this post caught my eye!!


I hope that you are kidding with this tripe?

While I am a loyal AB fan, I for one will be supporting England in the WRC, why?
Well, its mainly because it is England, NOT BRITAIN, that gives me a living, it governs my day with rules and regulations devised and regulated in ENGLAND, it is the country I live in, the origin of my mother tongue and more importantly it is a country that hasn't been my mortal enemy for a thousand plus years........and I am Scottish by descent!!!

I lived in France for 2 years and worked there.......the French don't hate the English, they hate arrogant, ignorant, racist, stereotypical, feckers, and sometimes they can be welsh, as we can well see here!!!