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RoryD

Joined: 02 Jun 2005
Posts: 692
Location: West Yorkshire

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 07 8:14 am Post subject: france

All good advices. My mum is recently widowed. My OH's parents are moving from Cambs to live in the next town (and their grandchildren- well mostly their grandchildren really). They say they would not mind but it would I'm sure upset them. We're 2 hours from Mum, who is 70ish and I can't ask her to trek 6 hours to see us. Besides, if she came she'd stay for a fortnight which might test my marriage unduly!

It just does not seem fair on them really. Friends we love but could work around but I'd feel just mean really taking our kids away from their GrandP's. Hey ho.

Stuck with this reality, we're thinking of taking a fools compromise in the form of a month camping in somewhere like Brittany instead next August. Needs to be on the coast and have access to Wifi to run the business- any tips gratefully received. Do you get Wifi on campsites?

Andrea

Joined: 02 May 2005
Posts: 2260
Location: Portugal

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 07 11:09 am Post subject:

Green Rosie wrote:

I am relying on the kids to help me along the way

Relying on a 7 year old to deal with all your household disasters is just SO mortifying. Take it from one who knows!

So far he hasn't worked out that he could use this skill to his own advantage. Long may that remain the case!

Green Rosie

Joined: 13 May 2007
Posts: 10498
Location: Calvados, France

Posted: Sun Oct 14, 07 11:48 am Post subject:
Mine are only 4 and 5 so have not realised, like yours, the advantage they could have over their parents if our language does not improve soon - hence why I am off to French lessons on Tuesday

yelloh

Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 19
Location: Up North & sometimes way out west in Brittany

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 07 1:31 pm Post subject:
Bonjour, je suis un nouveau membre du forum de Downsizer!?! Je suis Britannique mais j'ai une maison en France. Elle est dans la région 22, cotes d'armor et je visite chaque vacances d'école.

Green Rosie

Joined: 13 May 2007
Posts: 10498
Location: Calvados, France

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 07 6:27 pm Post subject:
Bonjour - welcome to Downsizer. Tres bon francais!! Enjoy our petit forum - nous sommes tres amicale mais not so good at french.

Vanessa

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 8324

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 07 7:37 am Post subject:
Hi Yelloh and welcome to France!! I'll second the bit about good French ... mine is "passable" spoken, but I lack confidence writing it at the mo.

yelloh

Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 19
Location: Up North & sometimes way out west in Brittany

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 07 9:16 am Post subject:
I can speak a bit of french but the only problem is........... I find it difficult to understand spoken french!!

Vanessa

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 8324

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 07 11:18 am Post subject:

Buy a TV in France. Connect it to a standard aerial, and watch French terrestrial TV with the subtitles on. It's amazing how much you pick up that way - AND you learn more new words plus new ways of saying things. It's worked for MOH and me!

Plus, of course, you've got your local regional accent to "tune into" - we're mostly taught a Parisien accent at school. When we first looked to buy down here, we wondered what strange language they were speaking!! We're used to it now, and understand most of what's said - or at least, get the gist. When they go off full-steam amongst themselves though, we still get lost!!

ksia

Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 2320
Location: Mayenne, France

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 07 5:30 pm Post subject:
I second watching French TV. We've still got no UK telly (and don't miss it) and even banned Radio 4 (apart from GQT) from the house for the first 2 years. Listen to France Inter or France Info. My listening skills are now far superior to my speaking/writing

yelloh

Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 19
Location: Up North & sometimes way out west in Brittany

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 07 1:16 pm Post subject:

vanessa wrote:

I have bought a box and dish from 'Leroy Merlin' and now have french TV in the UK! The equipment was only 45 euros (£30) but we can't get subtitles.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 07 1:32 pm Post subject:
Ah, TV So that's what I'm lacking.

pricey

Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 6444

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 07 1:49 pm Post subject:

Simon wrote:

Ah, TV

So that's what I'm lacking.

No Mate your just lacking

Sorry.

Vanessa

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 8324

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 07 3:09 pm Post subject:
Now Pricey, BE NICE!!

pricey

Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 6444

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 07 4:57 pm Post subject:

vanessa wrote:

Now Pricey, BE NICE!!

He knows I'm only joking

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 07 5:13 pm Post subject:
I'm not lacking a USB hub and four nissan gloplugs tho'

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