The totally off-topic thread

[Denali]

I learnt french at school for 4 years - all I can say now is, open the window / shut the door (or mouth)/ I have a ham and cheese sandwich/ please :shock: definitely not enough to get you around rural france !!!!

And another issue is dialects. The italian I learned from my northern italian parents is different to the southern italian. Even my mum has issues understanding some southern italians.

 

[drron]

And another issue is dialects. The italian I learned from my northern italian parents is different to the southern italian. Even my mum has issues understanding some southern italians.

It's like our American friends complaining about Aussies and Indians not being able to understand English.Have seen this with a review on FT about the Westin Sydney checkin and on CC with the Indian butlers-of course they speak proper English.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I learnt french at school for 4 years - all I can say now is, open the window / shut the door (or mouth)/ I have a ham and cheese sandwich/ please :shock: definitely not enough to get you around rural france !!!!

All you need is "Plus de vin, s'il vous plaît".

 

[Denali]

Talking to a newly engaged person in my office about their venue and how they can BYO their own booze and they are planning on buying wine/other every month.

I mentioned the Cleanskin wines that Ive heard good things about and shes didnt have a clue what I was talking about so hopefully its good stuff as she seemed excited.

 

[APAC747]

I learnt french at school for 4 years - all I can say now is, open the window / shut the door (or mouth)/ I have a ham and cheese sandwich/ please :shock: definitely not enough to get you around rural france !!!!

On the plus side, you likely won't go hungry if you get lost - no shortage of bread, cheese and ham in France.

 

[drron]

So I walk into a restaurant in France and in my best French say'Un table pour deux" to which the Maitre'D always answers "and the English menu for monsieur"?

 

[RooFlyer]

I learnt french at school for 4 years - all I can say now is, open the window / shut the door (or mouth)/ I have a ham and cheese sandwich/ please :shock: definitely not enough to get you around rural france !!!!

So I walk into a restaurant in France and in my best French say'Un table pour deux" to which the Maitre'D always answers "and the English menu for monsieur"?

I got sent to Quebec for work for a year, armed with my schoolboy French. Completely useless (my schoolboy French that is) - because of course they don't speak French in Quebec, let alone with an Aussie accent. Waiters snootier than the worst in Paris because they resent Anglo Canadians not speaking their language and can't tell accents.

A mate of mine visited and we went out to dinner. Waiter was haut-snooty, no English 'understood'. My mate then says sotto voce, 'of course if you can't understand them, you don't have to tip'. Service and communication improved instantly.

And you WILL go hungry in rural Quebec, unless you want 50% fat and gristle containing 'tortiere' or cane sugar dominant 'tarte de sucre' (should be maple syrup based)

 

[JohnK]

Yes, 2 weeks maximum from HS. You must apply for both weeks at the same time in the same application form. I'm not sure if the weeks have to be consecutive though. (I did consecutive)

Don't think they need to be consecutive. I guess it doesn't hurt to apply and find out if eligible.

 

[Denali]

So I walk into a restaurant in France and in my best French say'Un table pour deux" to which the Maitre'D always answers "and the English menu for monsieur"?

First time we went to France, Paris to Lyon and a very nice FA points to us and says, "You will not attempt to speak my language. Ok? I will speak your language. You will not butcher my language" .

It was quite funny.

 

[AisleSeat]

Don't think they need to be consecutive. I guess it doesn't hurt to apply and find out if eligible.

Just having a read through the site again. On this page about halfway down: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/eligibility-dad-and-partner-pay

Your Dad and Partner Pay period must be taken in 1 continuous block.

 

[JohnK]

Just having a read through the site again. On this page about halfway down: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/eligibility-dad-and-partner-pay

And in other parts of website there's mention you can nominate when you take the time off but they will only pay once merging all periods together.

Very confusing.

 

[Pushka]

First time we went to France, Paris to Lyon and a very nice FA points to us and says, "You will not attempt to speak my language. Ok? I will speak your language. You will not butcher my language" .

It was quite funny.

I think that's a bit rude actually. And she assumes she speaks perfect English. I think it's nice when people go to the bother of at least trying to speak the language.

 

[Denali]

I think that's a bit rude actually. And she assumes she speaks perfect English. I think it's nice when people go to the bother of at least trying to speak the language.

Nah, it was all good. 24hrs of flying in Y, we must have ticked every bogan check point so he was 100% accurate we would have screwed up.

 

[Solid]

We brought it in Singapore, it's 3 foot x 2 foot. Not a bad size for a kids room. Every time I walk pass a Flight Centre I say to myself .... must get one of those maps.

My better half got a world map blown up and put onto a "pin board" as a present, it's about 6 feet wide and however many feet down.

Will check the back again but was made by a map business is Sydney, from memory something like Parramatta maps. They can do any size,

We put a pin into every city we visit, got a couple of variations of pin colour depending on who visits but only rule is no "solo visit pins".

 

[RooFlyer]

First time we went to France, Paris to Lyon and a very nice FA points to us and says, "You will not attempt to speak my language. Ok? I will speak your language. You will not butcher my language" .

It was quite funny.

Ha ha! Back to my time in Quebec. I used to have a local field assistant to go out bush with me. Main job was to make sure I wasn't killed by a bear and to carry rocks on the way home (and in exchange he was paid well and learned a bunch of stuff they didn't teach in the local college). His English was pretty good.

I used this time with a local to have him act as my language coach. As we walked through the forests, I tried out my 'Quebecquois' and his secondary job job was to correct grammar, pronunciation etc.

After one day he came to me and said "Er, RooFlyer, I think we will speak English only today. I cannot have you speak my language so badly to continue..."

 

[JohnK]

Here's a new one. The 8:41pm train has left 3 minutes early. I ambled down from the office to see train leaving.

Aren't trains supposed to run to timetable? Very disappointing.

 

[amaroo]

We visited Quebec City not long after the Funicular incident... local cab driver told us it was ok as it was only French that was killed. Strange given it was an English lady.... been back a few times, they are unique!

 

[Bindibuys]

My better half got a world map blown up and put onto a "pin board" as a present, it's about 6 feet wide and however many feet down.
Will check the back again but was made by a map business is Sydney, from memory something like Parramatta maps. They can do any size,
We put a pin into every city we visit, got a couple of variations of pin colour depending on who visits but only rule is no "solo visit pins".

Sounds like what I have, pin in each city, but as we do travel solo sometimes, they are allowed.

 

[TomVexille]

My better half got a world map blown up and put onto a "pin board" as a present, it's about 6 feet wide and however many feet down.

Will check the back again but was made by a map business is Sydney, from memory something like Parramatta maps. They can do any size,

We put a pin into every city we visit, got a couple of variations of pin colour depending on who visits but only rule is no "solo visit pins".

Sounds like what I have, pin in each city, but as we do travel solo sometimes, they are allowed.

Any recommendations as to where to get one? As this is something that we'd love to put into our house.

 

[Milboo]

Any tips for moving on the freeloaders in my garden? Seems I have the offending neighbourhood rat burrow there, or at least the escape exit.

Baiting is not really an option as have a dog and cat on this property, dog next door and one house over again. Not so worried about them getting bait but potentially getting a dead rat.

In the meantime I have packed the entrance with rocks.