tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post579039791168567288..comments2023-06-11T11:29:40.315+02:00Comments on Zut alors!: Birthday tripTommohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-14082637335098496962013-11-01T11:02:43.900+01:002013-11-01T11:02:43.900+01:00Thanks for taking the time to explain a little abo...Thanks for taking the time to explain a little about your experiences with the French language. It seems to mirror mine perfectly!<br /><br />I have built up a unusual collection of farming related words from our friend and neighbor as I will help him on the farm whenever he asks.<br /><br />Whilst on holiday last week, before I had a chance to fully understand what was going on, I ended up helping to search for a sheep that had escaped, prepare some lunch, helped to slaughter (and pluck for the first time) seven cockerels and then ate some of the said lunch which comprised a dish of cockerel blood drained into bowls of seasoned onions, fried and served with a salad!! Absolutely delicious and very much like black pudding.<br /><br />By contrast, that same evening I ended up in the kitchen of a friend of a friends house I probably said about half a dozen words and felt completely out of my depth!!! <br /><br />"c'est la vie"Craignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-76050067568247956922013-11-01T10:43:08.384+01:002013-11-01T10:43:08.384+01:00Bonjooah Craig, Thanks for reading this stuff. Gla...Bonjooah Craig, Thanks for reading this stuff. Glad you enjoy it. Er, my French was rubbish when I moved here and is now only marginally better. I get verb tenses wrong and haven't a clue whether nouns are 'le' or 'la', but I don't care. Fear is the enemy. Without fear one can natter away using a limited vocabulary and thereby communicate even though one makes a complete fool of oneself. But, I've found, Frenchies appreciate the effort. Another thing is to try and learn a new word every so often and build it in to your repertoire. However, my problem, being an old fart, is remembering the new words. Funnily enough, I learn quite a few new words by reading car and motorcycle internet ads. which come in useful when getting one's car serviced (echappement is exhaust, embrayage is clutch, bougie is spark plug etc. - now I'm showing off), but introducing such words into general conversation can be tricky. I once reduced my neighbours to giggling wrecks when I didn't know the word for 'a bat' (the one that can fly) so described it as a 'souris par avion'. They find my French rather entertaining, but, as I said, it's gradually improving. Long, long way to go yet though. And yes, mimicking Harpo Marx while others are rabbiting on in French is perfectly normal for us Brits. Tommohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-29325573019534613722013-10-31T15:48:00.995+01:002013-10-31T15:48:00.995+01:00I too love reading about your goings on in the Cre...I too love reading about your goings on in the Creuse. Fascinating stuff and very funny.<br /><br />We spend about 12 weeks (all seasons) at our place an hour North of you and we can't wait to move lock, stock and barrel.<br /><br />On a side note, what was your French like when you moved out there, what is it like now and do you have any tips on imroving the vocab?<br />Although my French has definitely improved over the last 4 years since buying our house I do get really frustrated that it isn't better!<br />I throw myself into uncomfortable social situations to force my self to interact but depending on my mood I either have something to say or I stand around a like the silent one out of the Marx brothers!<br />All the French language evening classes (beyond an introduction to French) have disappeared here in Liverpool due to people only wanting to learn Spanish and I am terrible at self study.....moan, moan, moan!!Craignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-17341370923995169362013-10-31T06:45:06.168+01:002013-10-31T06:45:06.168+01:00Thanks for commenting. Good to know you enjoy my s...Thanks for commenting. Good to know you enjoy my scribings. Tommohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-39414239718951598922013-10-31T06:41:09.953+01:002013-10-31T06:41:09.953+01:00Yes, it was an interesting sort of day in a specta...Yes, it was an interesting sort of day in a spectacular part of France.Tommohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-85587185762448425152013-10-30T23:38:17.616+01:002013-10-30T23:38:17.616+01:00Well I for one love to read your drivel here..what...Well I for one love to read your drivel here..what you haven't realised dear Tommo is that what you may find boring is still a window to your world that I have no idea about. Reading about your winters and crazy neighbours etc are interesting for me.<br />Thank goodness gracious for Georgie to get you off your arse and start bloggeauing again.<br />Yes, next year you will do better and make her special day a real special day....one she will treasure always.<br />Glad to know that you're all okay, even little Jock.<br />Happy Belated Birthday Georgie!!!VirginiaChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17282569773671179047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-54362072917821215792013-10-30T19:55:10.813+01:002013-10-30T19:55:10.813+01:00Sounds like the sort of day we would have, but it ...Sounds like the sort of day we would have, but it all turned out alright in the end! Lovely countryside.Verahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13235143664894609891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-56635368949650494682013-10-30T16:49:53.408+01:002013-10-30T16:49:53.408+01:00Ah! Jolly good. Ah! Jolly good. Tommohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08719434939540551535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084273967488814558.post-43959484161794708042013-10-30T16:32:33.737+01:002013-10-30T16:32:33.737+01:00Well, I'm interested!Well, I'm interested!Allyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12005808036236733190noreply@blogger.com