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Wednesday, 22 August 2007 |
No, this has nothing to do with
leaves (foliage). Returning to the
subject of pronunciation, as I pointed
out in the August 2006 issue, the main
problem for English learners is the
vowel sounds. The ‘euil’ diphthong is
one of the vowel sounds we find most
difficult, so take the bull by the horns
(prendre le taureau par les cornes) and
practise a few common phrases
containing them until listeners no
longer ask you to repeat! For instance,
the vowel sound in feuille:
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Tuesday, 21 August 2007 |
Dear Jo,
After searching for a long time we
spent more than a million euros on the
perfect house in an area completely
protected from new buildings or any
construction whatsoever.
The owner of a small piece of land
next to us turned up with a caravan and
started living there. The cadastre office
confirmed that the occupation is illegal.
The mayor said that the situation was
“difficult” and asked us to write a letter.
After six months and another letter we
received our first reply: the mayor is
refusing to take action. There are now
three caravans, three cars and a lot of
dogs and cats.
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Tuesday, 21 August 2007 |
Dear Jo,
My husband and I badly
need legal advice for what
we think is simply crooked
dealing on the part of AXA,
who recently took over our
double-death insurance. I’ve
tried friends, contacts,
offices, the CAB and have
got nowhere. Can you
suggest a route we can try?
DH, by email
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Tuesday, 21 August 2007 |
Dear Jo,
We moved to the Corrèze
in August 2006 and read in
the regional paper that there
is a desperate shortage of
blood and blood products in
France. I decided to go along
to the next don du sang.
I have given blood on
and off for the last 35 years
and had my English blood
donor documents with me.
At the registration desk I was
asked for my ID and when I
had arrived in France. When
I said I had lived here for
less than a year I was told
that they could not accept
my blood. Because I had
lived in England during the
1980s there was a risk I may
have mad cow disease in my
blood and that there is no
accurate test to eliminate this
possibility. I assume they
would not want me as an
organ donor either.
Name and address supplied
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Tuesday, 21 August 2007 |
Dear Jo,
I find your page enjoyable and informative.
A recent promo at Mr Bricolage offered a pump of the
exact specification and price I wanted. The pumps available at
the store were very inferior to those advertised, although the
shelf price label described the original pump. I asked the
management to order the correct one, but received the
shrugged shoulder treatment [I speak French]. I wrote by
LR/AR (lettre recommandée avec accusé de reception) to
head office and have heard nothing.
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