Re: More Ferrero Rochers for Richard Boyd Barrett and Patricia McKenna

[905]

It's not difficult French; I spent all day trying to read the first paragraph of l'Assommoir the other day. That put manners on me.

Emm, you're probably a bit close yourself when it comes to French decay. Ye're still looked upon quite well as European neighbours go. A neccessary evil to balance the English. Anyway, a bit of debt instills trust, right?

[arnaudherve]

I don't know. France seems in decay, Italy seems in decay... In countries like Bulgaria a strong proportion of the young population wish to go away... In Germany generations are not renewed...

Yet I enjoy good standards of living, that's true. Economies are complex, I sense danger but there also positive prospects.

BTW you should not try 19th century novels if you're not already fluent. Try something simpler like a press article about Ireland.

[Squire]

The impression I get of Sarkozy's visit is that of a headmaster summoning a few pupils to his study for a stern talking to. He's not even bright enough to see how counter-productive it is. Both sides in the Lisbon debate should ignore his visit.

Yes, agree. One thing we Irish are good at is collectively getting our backs up at the prospect of a sneery little foreign upstart telling us what to do..

So so like the British really.

[Ard-Taoiseach]

I don't know. France seems in decay, Italy seems in decay... In countries like Bulgaria a strong proportion of the young population wish to go away... In Germany generations are not renewed...

Yet I enjoy good standards of living, that's true. Economies are complex, I sense danger but there also positive prospects.

Do you think that decay can be stopped and reversed, arnaud? I remember reading about la trente glorieuse, the decades after the Second World War when the French economy went from strength to strength and exhibited significant economic vibrance. Do you think it's possible for France to see those sort of days again, where the average growth rate is more 3.5% than 1.5%?

[Kate P]

905 wrote

It's not difficult French; I spent all day trying to read the first paragraph of l'Assommoir the other day. That put manners on me.

Sod the French, (sorry arnaudherve), and read it in English, marvellous book, possibly the best ever self-help book and way before its time. Little brother is asleep in my study at the moment but will check the translation I have in the morning - a Penguin version, beautifully translated.

No one does decay like Zola... (to tie in with the post above from A-T)

[cactus flower]

Not you inside the furry green suit then arnaudherve?

I was thinking about Sarko and the difference between him and previously apparently weightier heads of state in France.

The last election between him and Royale had the aura of farce with two loose cannon firing off at the same time.

But in fact Sarkozy I think should be taken perfectly seriously, as should Bush and any head of state - no stupid, agenda-less or un-backed person ever got into that position. Sarkozy' s line is to agressively promote France's international interests, particularly trading interests, at all costs, and anything he proposes in the EU is linked to that.

[johnfás]

Sarkozy' s line is to agressively promote France's international interests, particularly trading interests, at all costs, and anything he proposes in the EU is linked to that.

Would be nice if we had politicians who were so engaging.

[arnaudherve]

Not you inside the furry green suit then arnaudherve?

How did you guess?

[cactus flower]

fumo fumo fumoffu fumo fumoffu fumoffuru -
Our member TheBear would have enjoyed that furry story.

[arnaudherve]

Teddy bear Bunta-kun overtakes the Yakuza any time... Next step: The European Commission buildings in Brussels !