Conservative party conference outcomes

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Another mean comment Alegrias. You excel in so many fields.

We get by. We try but mostly we socially se with British friends and holiday makers so we speak English. We spend our pension money in bars & restaurants on the Costa del Sol. The owners are happy to accept our euros! We don’t need to look for a job so our disposable income is just very welcome there, helping to support their economy.

So, you own property in Spain which you visit regularly and can order food and drink in Spanish?

Claro

I have married friends who come from 2 different EU countries who speak to each other in a third language and to their child in all 3. None of those languages is English. But the speak English too. And one of them speaks a bit of Mandarin.

Just seen the title of this thread and thought we are really digressing aren’t we?

My comment was a bit tongue in cheek I admit Alegrias! It’s just that too much ‘aren’t we all so clever’ excludes the majority (in my opinion) and therefore comes across as rude really. Imagine monopolising a conversation like this in real life whilst most of the group looked on in bemusement.

As for other countries learning English as a second language that’s no surprise is it? It’s spoken in America, Australia, Canada. It’s the shared language of business and communication world wide. So Europeans learn it at school.

When we Brits go on holiday it’s less easy. Sure we learn a few phrases of French, German, Spanish, Italian to get by. That’s only polite. But heck we’d have to be amazing linguists to learn so many of them fluently!

I’m good at ordering food & drink in Spanish! No surprise there! Himself is good at directions - left, right, telling the time etc. Maybe that’s a male perspective but between us we do okay. The Spanish appreciate the fact that we do try.

Kali2

Alegrias1

Ouf!

That's me off the posh list then.....

How do you say 'boom boom' in French?

Et toc!

Sounds better in German Kali2.

Bumm, Bumm.

Alegrias1

Ouf!

That's me off the posh list then.....

How do you say 'boom boom' in French?

Et toc!

No posh posturing, but I am in lurve.
This is a good read. All about Raymond's philosophy on food and life. Some simpler recipes too. I enjoyed his anecdotes about his mother and how his brother accidentally got injured by a wild boar!

Ouf!

That's me off the posh list then.....

now now Alegrias, it is

n'est-ce pas! (MDR)

We'll have no fun here everyone, especially if its in French!!

The fact that people think that knowing a bit of French makes you posh gives a little clue into how we ended up with Brexit, n'est pas?

Can you speak Spanish though?

M D R

mort de rire = LOL in French.

Had to look up OKLM too btw!

No posh posturing from me- for sure. The FACT is, that students all over Europe continue to learn a second language, and often a third- right up to leaving education- be it at Uni, Tech College, or even apprenticeships. Whereas in the UK this is not the case, and even less so now than in even recent past.

Apologies - I must have pressed the q’quote’ facility somehow before adding my post. It really doesn’t add anything to my comment. In fact it makes me seem dimmer than I am. Oh heck! Not only can I not speak French I’m coming across as an English dimwit.
?

MayBee70

Kali2

''as you so happily have a pop at this country and the people in it,''

you will find that those of us who are sincerely worried about what is happening in Great Britain currently - are deeply concerned because of what is being done to it, and its people. Absolutely the opposite.

I love my country so much. As Kali says, this is why it’s heartbreaking to see what is happening to it. The lunatics have definitely taken over I’m afraid….

There’s a lot of posh posturing going on here! Excludes all of us plebs who can’t speak French or understand the French acronyms used for texting . I had to look them up. A cosy little club indeed!

Once you’ve all finished showing off your superior intellects the rest of us could join in once more?

Josianne

JaneJudge

Raymond Blanc is such a hateful man

for example

NPTK

OKLM

Students from EU all continue to learn English for the Matu/Bac- aka A'Level equivalent. And also those doing apprenticeships and vocational training.

The students I taught use to quote Shakespeare and James Joyce at me. . And they were engineers!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202110/medium-20849-52d040e269bedd90156aed51-jpeg.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202110/medium-495159-unnamed.jpg

Alegrias1

^Je travaillais dans une grande école.^

There were no Gallic shrugs where I was concerned.

Only a whole lot of students who understood their country's place in the EU and who were desperate to go out and see how people lived and worked in other countries. Because their "pride" didn't extend to belittling other countries, no matter what the Daily Mail says. Although its mostly the Daily Express now, n'est-ce pas?

I love it. A 1000 words couldn't convey better meaning!
I have never taught in a prestigious French school. The kids I taught were more likely to say "bof!" I think they must be born with the shrug.
It's fine to have a little joke about other countries, but belittling is stupid.
The Daily Express is not one of the papers I read, so I can't comment.

"When thieves fall out, honest men come by their own."

Let's hope it's soon or there will be nothing for this country to "come into".

Perhaps we should have a thread entitled "This forum believes this government is not fit for purpose".

The lying seems to be catching!

“Shortly after Kwasi Kwarteng says he’s engaging with Treasury over ways they can help industry, a Treasury source said:

“This is not the first time the BEIS secretary has made things up in interviews. To be crystal clear the treasury are not involved in any talks”

Je travaillais dans une grande école.

There were no Gallic shrugs where I was concerned.

Only a whole lot of students who understood their country's place in the EU and who were desperate to go out and see how people lived and worked in other countries. Because their "pride" didn't extend to belittling other countries, no matter what the Daily Mail says. Although its mostly the Daily Express now, n'est-ce pas?

I am sure the French elite at the grandes écoles are taught the gallic shrug when it comes to matters concerning the UK and other countries. I doubt if they lose any sleep over what is happening elsewhere.
I just wish my own country had as much pride in itself.

The only problem the French government have with Britain is the one the Daily Mail have invented as their current bête noire

This fabrication has been taken up greedily by people who don't enjoy reading widely and who hold a quiet admiration for Nigel Farage.