can't stand this place anymore
Discussion
Fatt McMissile said:
I was hoping that you weren't reading this thread, but I'm very impressed by your coolness under fire Éric. I am embarrassed by some of my fellow immigrants' comments.
..
Please don't feel the need to be embarrassed on my behalf, no-one is making any personal comments about anyone. ..
On the other hand, if you get over to News, politics and economics you'll find all you need to fuel your guilt complex re the French.
Fatt McMissile said:
I was hoping that you weren't reading this thread, but I'm very impressed by your coolness under fire Éric. I am embarrassed
by some of my fellow immigrants' comments.
We all have things that we don't like about the country that we live in and fortunately in the EU, with it's freedom of movement, we can go elsewhere.
Steve
PS I'm not too keen about new PAD as a traffic calming measure..........
If I was that pissed off with France and the French I would have left but I'm still here because I like it and them.by some of my fellow immigrants' comments.
We all have things that we don't like about the country that we live in and fortunately in the EU, with it's freedom of movement, we can go elsewhere.
Steve
PS I'm not too keen about new PAD as a traffic calming measure..........
Expats everywhere moan and groan.
Hi Steve,
Moreover I'm not a Nationalist who takes criticism personally.
Some concerns exposed in this thread, even if offensively worded, are valid.
Éric Masson
Fatt McMissile said:
I was hoping that you weren't reading this thread, but I'm very impressed by your coolness under fire Éric.
Boards are written media where one can easily over rant Moreover I'm not a Nationalist who takes criticism personally.
Some concerns exposed in this thread, even if offensively worded, are valid.
Fatt McMissile said:
PS I'm not too keen about new PAD as a traffic calming measure..........
Well, removing road signs forces drivers to adapt and pay attention to others, it's not perfect but probably better than disempowering them with a pile of strict & inapplicable rules.Éric Masson
Mileage will vary for everyone, to those thinking the UK is the height of customer service, I was recently at my local post office, the clerk behind the desk was answering text messages and even took a call on her mobile while dealing with my parcels.
A few days ago - same place - took forever to walk into her office from the back of the shop while I waited (she knew I was there), not even an acknowledgment of delay or a word spoken. There are many such examples, shop assistants who can't speak English, don't acknowledge you, forget basic courtesy rules, etc...
Conversely, recently in France in an Orange shop, the young sales assistant there couldn't have been more helpful. More so than whoever I spoke to on the phone a few days before mind you...
I'm moving back to France where I was born in a few weeks after 23 years in the UK, I am fully aware that it won't be all perfect, neither was the UK which has been good to me overall. There are pros and cons wherever you happen to live.
If you think the grass is greener on the other side, it's probably because cows s**t there and it rains a lot more.
A few days ago - same place - took forever to walk into her office from the back of the shop while I waited (she knew I was there), not even an acknowledgment of delay or a word spoken. There are many such examples, shop assistants who can't speak English, don't acknowledge you, forget basic courtesy rules, etc...
Conversely, recently in France in an Orange shop, the young sales assistant there couldn't have been more helpful. More so than whoever I spoke to on the phone a few days before mind you...
I'm moving back to France where I was born in a few weeks after 23 years in the UK, I am fully aware that it won't be all perfect, neither was the UK which has been good to me overall. There are pros and cons wherever you happen to live.
If you think the grass is greener on the other side, it's probably because cows s**t there and it rains a lot more.
thefrog said:
Conversely, recently in France in an Orange shop, the young sales assistant there couldn't have been more helpful. More so than whoever I spoke to on the phone a few days before mind you...
After I had my bad shopping experience the other day, see earlier psot, we had occasion to go into the an Orange shop to renegotiate our package. We came out not only feeling like we had had good service but also that we had been offered a much better deal than we were on. The Mrs also told them that the service man who came out to solve some problems was very good indeed. The only thing we could see that that was slightly negative was that service takes time and there is always a big queue at the shop. But main point is good service is possible in France. 
I've lived in France since August, and am generally loving it, but the paperwork and endless bureaucracy drives me absolutely insane. I've been attempting to apply for a particular grant for three months now, have sent off what feels like every single document I own, have visited countless offices and state buildings (often having to wait for hours to see somebody) and yet still, after three months, they cannot find me on their system and I'll need to complete another set of forms with documents from my employer which I haven't even been given. It's probably the most stressful thing I've ever had to do - everyone contradicts each other and nobody I speak to seems to have a clue what they're talking about. If they run the country in the same manner then I'm not surprised that their economy is suffering!
Geekman said:
I've lived in France since August, and am generally loving it, but the paperwork and endless bureaucracy drives me absolutely insane. I've been attempting to apply for a particular grant for three months now, have sent off what feels like every single document I own, have visited countless offices and state buildings (often having to wait for hours to see somebody) and yet still, after three months, they cannot find me on their system and I'll need to complete another set of forms with documents from my employer which I haven't even been given. It's probably the most stressful thing I've ever had to do - everyone contradicts each other and nobody I speak to seems to have a clue what they're talking about. If they run the country in the same manner then I'm not surprised that their economy is suffering!
apparently if you think this is bad you need to try IndiaBlib said:
emss said:
Well, removing road signs forces drivers to adapt and pay attention to others, it's not perfect but probably better than disempowering them with a pile of strict & inapplicable rules.
Éric Masson
Blimey. Adapt or die.Éric Masson
Had a chat to Durr Dental UK on the phone today, God they were so breezy and friendly and nice on the telephone, made me want to cry.
Edited by Driller on Thursday 27th November 19:44
Hi Eric, I'm sure you're open minded enough not to take anything I said about France personally. Obviously it was a generalisation but it's the generalities that get you down. It is true that no country, even the UK, is perfect ;-)
For the PAD I have to say it's just a mad idea. There is one a few kilometers from my house and people just fly out of it instead of waiting for oncoming cars to stop for themhich results in much slaming of brakes and skidding.
There is a constant pile of shattered glass and sand in the road to mop up oil from accidents so it's obviously not safe but they don't do anything about it, no reaction, no modification.
The idea of having cars pulling out on what is invariably a major road, and so cars moving at speed, seems crazy to me. The car coming up to the road from the side turning has to slow right down anyway to turn, so why not make him stop with a stop sign, it would be so much safer.
For the PAD I have to say it's just a mad idea. There is one a few kilometers from my house and people just fly out of it instead of waiting for oncoming cars to stop for themhich results in much slaming of brakes and skidding.
There is a constant pile of shattered glass and sand in the road to mop up oil from accidents so it's obviously not safe but they don't do anything about it, no reaction, no modification.
The idea of having cars pulling out on what is invariably a major road, and so cars moving at speed, seems crazy to me. The car coming up to the road from the side turning has to slow right down anyway to turn, so why not make him stop with a stop sign, it would be so much safer.
t hole of a place along with the rude people. 
Driller said:
Hi Eric, I'm sure you're open minded enough not to take anything I said about France personally. Obviously it was a generalisation but it's the generalities that get you down. It is true that no country, even the UK, is perfect ;-)
For the PAD I have to say it's just a mad idea. There is one a few kilometers from my house and people just fly out of it instead of waiting for oncoming cars to stop for themhich results in much slaming of brakes and skidding.
There is a constant pile of shattered glass and sand in the road to mop up oil from accidents so it's obviously not safe but they don't do anything about it, no reaction, no modification.
The idea of having cars pulling out on what is invariably a major road, and so cars moving at speed, seems crazy to me. The car coming up to the road from the side turning has to slow right down anyway to turn, so why not make him stop with a stop sign, it would be so much safer.
Had one near us two weeks ago, car came out of side road at PAD straight into the path of a tanker lorry carrying domestic fuel oil who had no chance of stopping. It was quite nasty as you would expect and luckily there was no fire.For the PAD I have to say it's just a mad idea. There is one a few kilometers from my house and people just fly out of it instead of waiting for oncoming cars to stop for themhich results in much slaming of brakes and skidding.
There is a constant pile of shattered glass and sand in the road to mop up oil from accidents so it's obviously not safe but they don't do anything about it, no reaction, no modification.
The idea of having cars pulling out on what is invariably a major road, and so cars moving at speed, seems crazy to me. The car coming up to the road from the side turning has to slow right down anyway to turn, so why not make him stop with a stop sign, it would be so much safer.
Hi,
I do prefer the give way method, but whatever I can think, one single priority rule applicable everywhere and known by everyone would be an improvement.
As deadly accidents are exceptionnal, you could get 1 or 2 years before the next one, one will then tell that previous accidents were the result of excessive speed.
There are great thinkers in french "Pouvoirs Publics".
Sometimes it would be good to have that british pragmatism and apply the appropriate solution (one that works) without any kind of dogmatism.
Éric
Driller said:
I'm sure you're open minded enough not to take anything I said about France personally. Obviously it was a generalisation but it's the generalities that get you down. It is true that no country, even the UK, is perfect ;-)
France is far from perfect despite French people with their superiority complex would think Driller said:
For the PAD I have to say it's just a mad idea. There is one a few kilometers from my house and people just fly out of it instead of waiting for oncoming cars to stop for themhich results in much slaming of brakes and skidding.
PAD has been a simple rule that was working well at the beginning of cars generalization. As traffic was growing, new rules were partly introduced, now you get a mix of priority rules that may vary from a crossroad to the next.I do prefer the give way method, but whatever I can think, one single priority rule applicable everywhere and known by everyone would be an improvement.
Driller said:
There is a constant pile of shattered glass and sand in the road to mop up oil from accidents so it's obviously not safe but they don't do anything about it, no reaction, no modification.
In 2 or 3 accidents with deadly injuries, one will place a speed camera round this crossroad.As deadly accidents are exceptionnal, you could get 1 or 2 years before the next one, one will then tell that previous accidents were the result of excessive speed.
There are great thinkers in french "Pouvoirs Publics".
Driller said:
The idea of having cars pulling out on what is invariably a major road, and so cars moving at speed, seems crazy to me. The car coming up to the road from the side turning has to slow right down anyway to turn, so why not make him stop with a stop sign, it would be so much safer.
I couldn't agree more, but in France, "Pouvoirs Publics" can't be wrong, so changing the crossroad layout or signals will take a loooong time.Sometimes it would be good to have that british pragmatism and apply the appropriate solution (one that works) without any kind of dogmatism.
Éric
For all it's fault's I still love it here, glass of red Ventoux in hand sitting by the fire and silly smile on my face. SWMBO want's to go back to the UK but I'm putting up a stern fight and keeping busy improving the marvellous place we have here, rather this than a 2 bed terraced in the UK any day. Have to go back to the UK Tues to Thurs next week and not at all looking forward to it....
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