Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

droopsnout

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

DS, I am sorry to hear of your accident. Are you sure you have not broken a rib or two? The only treatment is rest (although you must make sure you neither cough or laugh, because either will be excruciating!)

Many moons ago, I had to ring French Directory Enquiries, and the person at the other end answered with "'Allo", so I thought they were French, and in my best schoolgirl French (which really wasn't that good!) asked for the number of the family I was trying to contact. I was getting on quite well until I used 'y' instead of 'en' or the other way round, and he suddenly said "'Ere, you're not French, are you? You're English!" :rotfl: I explained that I'd thought he was French or in France.

Well, at least I tried. Very trying, I know ...

Thanks, Sue. But it was just a bit of bruising to the ribs and back - mainly down my right side. But there's no pain at all now, and I'm just fine. The heel has cured itself very quickly, with a bit of help from some anti-inflammatories the doc prescribed.

Wish I could be the great hero and say I had broken ribs (broken anything!) but I didn't. I did think I had cracked the heel bone, and was quite sure the doc was wrong in diagnosing a sprain. Well, it seems he may well have been completely right!

We frequently get Anglophones in the tourist office, and that's why I am there. But very often they are resident here, and they are making a great effort with their French. I always know that they are Brits (or Aussies, or whatever) because of their accents, but haven't the heart to tell them I'm English and we can chat in our own language.

As for your phone guy, perhaps you could have put on your best Zsa Zsa Gabor accent, and said, "What would you like me to be, dahleeng?"

droopsnout

Merrywidow wrote: »

I knew there was something wrong DS - I had a sixth sense - we are all so transparent. Hope you feel better soon, but I am sure you are making light of your injuries. You need a few laughs. How about this - I rec'd an email this week with a picture of the White House - but now its been painted black!! I will dig into my stock pile and send you a few. Veel Sterekte.

Thanks a lot! But my injuries were very minimal, and I even had the impression that the hospital staff thought I was exaggerating. It did hurt at the time, but really it has turned out to be nothing.

Jokes always welcome. I forward quite a lot, suitably passed through my sophisticated triage system ("That's too rude for so-and-so!"), but I think you may need an email address?

droopsnout

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

On a similar note, when we first came here, my husband practised his limited language skills on the locals.

Afterwards I said 'why are you talking to them in that silly voice?'

Then I realised....it was Spanish. :o

He says I speak Spanish with a West Midlands accent.:rotfl:

Reminds me of our childish behaviour in the staffroom ...

I used to answer the staffroom phone in a silly accent chosen on the spot. One of my favourites was to put on a Black Country accent, pick up the phone and greet the caller with, "Wolverhampton Steam Laundry, Enoch speakin' ..."

This was OK until someone in the office one day put a call from a parent directly through to the staff room ...

droopsnout

Merrywidow wrote: »

Even the eventual children had the same accent.

But did they try to flog CDs to everyone?

Merrywidow

Oh dear, DS - I guess you have been cold called by Time Life. Hubby and I were on the books section. Our head Honcho, went down on the Herald of Free Enterprise in Zeebrugge, along with his sister and Niece - I still mourn him - lovely chap.

Have sent you a PM. More soon.

seven-day-weekend

droopsnout wrote: »

Reminds me of our childish behaviour in the staffroom ...

I used to answer the staffroom phone in a silly accent chosen on the spot. One of my favourites was to put on a Black Country accent, pick up the phone and greet the caller with, "Wolverhampton Steam Laundry, Enoch speakin' ..."

This was OK until someone in the office one day put a call from a parent directly through to the staff room ...

Hey! Wolverhampton Steam Laundry was just up the road from my house! AND Enoch Powell was our MP!

(Anyway it should be 'Woolver'ompton Staym Laundruy - Aynuk spakin'' if you wish to speak Black Country - most Wulfrunians, don't speak it, they speak West Midlands )

droopsnout

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Hey! Wolverhampton Steam Laundry was just up the road from my house! AND Enoch Powell was our MP!

(Anyway it should be 'Woolver'ampton Staym Laundruy - Aynuk spakin'' if you wish to speak Black Country - most Wulfrunians, don't speak it, they speak West Midlands )

I remember him well. And I remember hearing lots of Enoch and Eli jokes from friends in the area.

Love your Black Country spelling! It reminds me of a couple we used to know who were both called Chris and whose surname also begins with C. It would be a HUGE coincidence if you knew them too.

Enoch wus a-towing of his boat along the cut,
When under a low bridge he found his mules ears daint fit.
He tried to chisel out the bricks for the donkeys ears to pass
Up comes Eli an ses to him: Yo ar a silly a$$.
Why do yo dig two trenches & let the blighters feert goo through,
The grournd is softer than the bricks, its easier on you,
But Enoch pozzles over this an answers with a frown,
It tay his feet as wo goo throo, its is noggin years, yo clown.

seven-day-weekend

droopsnout wrote: »

I remember him well. And I remember hearing lots of Enoch and Eli jokes from friends in the area.

Love your Black Country spelling! It reminds me of a couple we used to know who were both called Chris and whose surname also begins with C. It would be a HUGE coincidence if you knew them too.

Enoch wus a-towing of his boat along the cut,
When under a low bridge he found his mules ears daint fit.
He tried to chisel out the bricks for the donkeys ears to pass
Up comes Eli an ses to him: Yo ar a silly a$$.
Why do yo dig two trenches & let the blighters feert goo through,
The grournd is softer than the bricks, its easier on you,
But Enoch pozzles over this an answers with a frown,
It tay his feet as wo goo throo, its is noggin years, yo clown.

Er.... I do actually! Their surname was the same as an extinct breed of pigeon ?

Luv yr Aynuk and Ayli poem!

One day ower Aynuk was a-lookin over the bridge at the cut in Tipton.

His mate Ayli cooms oop and sez ,'wossa marrer, ower kid?'

Aynuk sez ' me mate's fell in the wearter'

Ayli sez 'well ay yo a-gunna goo in theyer and do summat?'

Aynuk sez, 'there's no point ower kid, I wo be able to ate it now. It'll be all soggy.'


(Links for the uninitiated:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aynuk_and_Ayli

http://blossomsblackcountry.freeservers.com/custom4.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/uncovered/what_is.shtml )

droopsnout

Wow! Yes, their name was as you say! Unbelievable!

Love the joke! Thank you!

It's nice that the Black Country folk chose two of their own to joke about, rather than picking out some other group (like the French take the mick out of the Belgians; the Canadians mock the Newfies; and the rest of the world goes for the poor old Irish). Another people who pick on their own are the Indians. Look out for Santa and Banta jokes. Very much in the style of Enoch and Eli, but strangely naive and innocent:

Santa Singh and Banta Singh landed up in Bombay. They managed to get into a double-decker bus. Santa Singh somehow managed to get a bottom seat, But unfortunate Banta got pushed to the top.

After a while when the rush is over, Santa went upstairs to see friend Banta Singh. He met Banta in a bad condition clutching the seats in front with both hands, scared to death. He says, "Are Banta Singh ! What the heck's goin' on? Why are you so scared ? I was enjoying my ride down there ?"

Scared Banta replies. "Yeah, but you've got a driver."

donny-gal

¡Hola! Buenas Dias

Well the results of the tests showed that there is no underlying cause to the BP, but it was still up so add additional tablet. Also said Cholesterol was very slightly up, so tablet for that. Don't shake me I'll rattle (who said I did anyway!) Very reassuring to know, but doesn't any my question as to why when pressure off I get high BP and when I had loads of it I had normal. The Dr. was well pleased with the 4kg weight loss since I last saw her 2.5 weeks ago. Starvation and no alcohol and the hours walk each day obviously did the trick. Will continue as would like to go down a size.

Sorry to hear about your fall DS think you may be exaggerating he size of your "bulk". Glad you are on the road to recovery. Fancy stretching my French, but did manage to get the essence of it!

Happy Easter everyone
DG