The totally off-topic thread

[Solid]

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

Will check with the boss to confirm the map shop and report back TV. Will post and send a PM to yourself and Amaroo. They did ship the reproduction on the pin board framed with hooks to hang to home as well so

Of course being a present I can't comment on cost.

Although not the same place if you are ever looking for maps or travel books I wholeheartedly recommend the chart and map shop in Fremantle. I visit Perth a bit for work so am lucky to visit often, but they do online as well. An amazing range if you are ever in that part of the world and if I have spare time I'm in there browsing. I see they do big world maps as well but as laminate from the looks.

Buy Maps, Marine Charts, Globes, Country Flags & Travel Books | Australia | The Chart & Map Shop

 

[rogerkambah]

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.

Our cats have both been excellent mousers and ratters, especially the younger one San Dee (see post 1194, Discussion on Cats, Moggies and Felines in general). One day she brought home a brown snake that was longer than her and then dispatched it under the rear deck. Neither have shown much interest in birds though.

 

[Milboo]

Kitty has his stripes in rat/ mouse catching but he was a lot younger and more agile then. It's beyond him now.

 

[rogerkambah]

Very pleased to see that the fed health minister has approved Opdivo for inclusion on the PBS for renal and lung cancer treatment.

Having a vested interest it was rather frustrating to know that the drug had been approved for some time for treatment of advanced melanoma but not for CCRCC or NSCLC.

Also gratifying to note that the manufacturers had been forgoing profit and supplying free for some 3000 sufferers under their compassionate provision scheme.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

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.

There is NO timetable for trains in QLD at present - as they haven't got enough drivers !

 

[amaroo]

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.

Standard Fox Terrier

 

[anat0l]

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"?

Quite amusing how they do that!

Of course, not sure how much French you've spoken and/or can imitate, but the giveaway signs might have been:

• Unless you've been to the venue more than 10-15 times, that's not really how you ask for a table (I assume you tacked on "s'il vous plait")
• Accent might have given you out
• The inability to pronounce un (nasal) and deux (quite a difficult sound to make, even more difficult if you're in the south of France)
• "table" in French is feminine, not masculine, so it should be "une table pour deux"

That said, when my sister and I visited one of the last traditional bouchon in Lyon (basically a Lyonnaise pub), even though they have an English menu and probably have English speakers, I went through the motions to ask for a table completely in French. They asked if I had a reservation and I replied, "No, will that be a problem?" - all in French. So far, so good. They found us a table and motioned for us to sit down. So I thought I kind of got away with it all, then, in standard paced French came the question from the waitress, "Voulez-vous des cartes en anglais ou français?" (Would you like menus in English or French?)

Ah well - I replied to have menus in French. Ended up having an excellent night and even had a conversation with the very sociable manager of the establishment (yes, in French - not easy, but it was short and sweet). I think some of the tables around us could easily tell I wasn't anywhere near a French native, but at least I seem to have spoken well enough to be understood... or accepted.

One thing is that since French consists of so many little words (and lots of de), French in fluent, standard paced conversation is insanely fast for the learner at times. I suppose it's a similar thing for non-English speakers trying to learn English from listening to English natives....

 

[drron]

Mine is very definitely an old fashioned Aussie accent.

 

[anat0l]

Mine is very definitely an old fashioned Aussie accent.

It's quite odd. When I was still in high school, you would hear stories from teachers who have travelled or other adults saying that when you go to France and even if you try to speak their language, they'll be quite snobbish and won't give you any time or respect unless you actually "speak it right". Not even a simple "non" reply to "Parlez-vous anglais?" (This was in the days way before broadband internet, smartphones and what we now know as social media).

Even before I learned to speak French, and even in Paris, most people are quite obliging or otherwise they try their best, or at least are civil when refusing. Things may be changing not because of some staunch pride in a language, but rather that since even Paris is riddled with cons and crooks (and now, potentially terrorists), giving the cold shoulder is akin to "discretion is the better part of valour".

 

[Major]

Happy birthday to all the horses out there

 

[VPS]

In Marseille once I asked the waiter in the bar parlez vous anglais his reply with a sneer un peu so I asked for verre de vin Blanc and verre de vin rouge and his comment was Parlez vous Francais and my response was un peu and he just laughed and spoke perfect English the rest of the time. I've never had any more trouble in France than in any other country and believe you should learn yes no please thank you and I'm sorry in every country you visit

 

[drron]

It's quite odd. When I was still in high school, you would hear stories from teachers who have travelled or other adults saying that when you go to France and even if you try to speak their language, they'll be quite snobbish and won't give you any time or respect unless you actually "speak it right". Not even a simple "non" reply to "Parlez-vous anglais?" (This was in the days way before broadband internet, smartphones and what we now know as social media).

Even before I learned to speak French, and even in Paris, most people are quite obliging or otherwise they try their best, or at least are civil when refusing. Things may be changing not because of some staunch pride in a language, but rather that since even Paris is riddled with cons and crooks (and now, potentially terrorists), giving the cold shoulder is akin to "discretion is the better part of valour".

I have to say even in Paris the French were very friendly and helpful.Only had one surly waiter-and it was about the worst restaurant we tried.Even a couple of waiters went out of their way to help us.
Totally different in Japan.If you murder your attempts at Japanese then they are very willing to speak English as they then are not afraid you will think them hopeless if they get things wrong.

 

[Bindibuys]

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

Ours was just a map purchased from a map shop in Pitt St, Sydney, which I believe has now closed or moved. We then had the map "framed" so really it was the framer that made it "pin-able" He was in Newcastle. We had to take the box trailer in to pick it up, as it is far too big to fit into a car.

 

[blackcat20]

It's quite odd. When I was still in high school, you would hear stories from teachers who have travelled or other adults saying that when you go to France and even if you try to speak their language, they'll be quite snobbish and won't give you any time or respect unless you actually "speak it right". Not even a simple "non" reply to "Parlez-vous anglais?" (This was in the days way before broadband internet, smartphones and what we now know as social media).

Even before I learned to speak French, and even in Paris, most people are quite obliging or otherwise they try their best, or at least are civil when refusing. Things may be changing not because of some staunch pride in a language, but rather that since even Paris is riddled with cons and crooks (and now, potentially terrorists), giving the cold shoulder is akin to "discretion is the better part of valour".

I went out to dinner with a group in Paris and the waiter would only converse with the Canadian girl, as she spoke fluent french. The rest of us had enough to get by but we were completely ignored.

 

[drron]

Vale Les Murray at age 71.
Enjoyed his soccer reports.

 

[TomVexille]

Will check with the boss to confirm the map shop and report back TV. Will post and send a PM to yourself and Amaroo. They did ship the reproduction on the pin board framed with hooks to hang to home as well so

Of course being a present I can't comment on cost.

Although not the same place if you are ever looking for maps or travel books I wholeheartedly recommend the chart and map shop in Fremantle. I visit Perth a bit for work so am lucky to visit often, but they do online as well. An amazing range if you are ever in that part of the world and if I have spare time I'm in there browsing. I see they do big world maps as well but as laminate from the looks.

Buy Maps, Marine Charts, Globes, Country Flags & Travel Books | Australia | The Chart & Map Shop

Thanks, appreciate it and will check out that link.

Ours was just a map purchased from a map shop in Pitt St, Sydney, which I believe has now closed or moved. We then had the map "framed" so really it was the framer that made it "pin-able" He was in Newcastle. We had to take the box trailer in to pick it up, as it is far too big to fit into a car.

Thanks and good to know about the framing.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Has anyone been to the Western Plains Zoo and stayed overnight in recent times.

I am flying to Dubbo in a few months and looking at staying at the Zoo for a night.

Would save me having to fly to Africa for something similar.

 

[Denali]

So yesterday I worked back in the office and the cleaner thought it was funny to make comments about me being there and how "its must be daylight savings because Denali is here!"

The cleaner.

I pulled him into an office and told him that I start 60, 90mins before everyone else in the office, I work from home, I work weekends and I work while on annual leave and if he has another bloody comment to make, embarrassing me in front of other staff then his contract will be cancelled.

I hate outsiders that think they can police my time and not have a freaking clue. (and I rather go home/have dinner & work than stay in the office).

 

[cove]

Our office cleaner is autistic so you have to be smart and move your feet/body out of the way or you could be put out on workers comp. His use of the vacuum cleaner is quite vigorous.

 

[Denali]

Our office cleaner is autistic so you have to be smart and move your feet/body out of the way or you could be put out on workers comp. His use of the vacuum cleaner is quite vigorous.

We use to have a cleaner that,

1. Complained about a framed photo on someones desk because it was from a halloween party and the person was dressed up as a witch and he thought they were santanists and was offended by it.

2. When we moved offices, we were suppose to leave the old office in as in condition because the owner had a new leasee that was happy with everything to take over. Old cleaner did final clean up and totally cleaned out. Cut wiring and removed security cameras, intercom systems, towers in IT room ect. Police had to be called on that one.