France's finance minister François Baroin: 'It's better to be French than British'

[Serial_Apologist]

A Famous Belgian ...

... Wal... LOON!

[Anna]

The Daily Maul are loving this. Suddenly, it's The Germans Are On Our Side and two world wars and a world cup are .... well, forgotten and after Calais engraved upon her heart .... who could posibly trust the French!

[Serial_Apologist]

The Daily Maul are loving this. Suddenly, it's The Germans Are On Our Side and two world wars and a world cup are .... well, forgotten and after Calais engraved upon her heart .... who could posibly trust the French!

I start to visualise the next war. Scottish fisherpersons take it unto themselves to break the new ruling on fishing quotas, and are intercepted by French warships acting unileraterally "on behalf of" the EU. Cameron sends in the Royal Navy...

[scottycelt]

I start to visualise the next war. Scottish fisherpersons take it unto themselves to break the new ruling on fishing quotas, and are intercepted by French warships acting unileraterally "on behalf of" the EU. Cameron sends in the Royal Navy...

Scottish fisherpersons .... ladies only ...

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_a_l/0_around_edinburgh_-_newhaven_fishwives_moe011_fisherwomens_choir.htm

[Anna]

Actually, this is awful EU ruling

The British fishing fleet will be allowed to catch bigger quotas, it faces an estimated 15 to 25 per cent cut in the number of days at sea following marathon talks which ended at dawn on Saturday in Brussels.

As a result of the deal the UK’s fleet will be confined to port for longer than ever.

That will make it hard for trawlers to take advantage of some big rises in fish catch quotas agreed following the success of conservation measures in some regions.

So, once again the EU says the UK is not a food producer but is for tourism and quaint customs!

[ahinton]

Actually, this is awful EU ruling

The British fishing fleet will be allowed to catch bigger quotas, it faces an estimated 15 to 25 per cent cut in the number of days at sea following marathon talks which ended at dawn on Saturday in Brussels.

As a result of the deal the UK’s fleet will be confined to port for longer than ever.

That will make it hard for trawlers to take advantage of some big rises in fish catch quotas agreed following the success of conservation measures in some regions.

So, once again the EU says the UK is not a food producer but is for tourism and quaint customs!

Indeed so - and whilst I'm not about to agree or disagree, you're Welsh so, as it's not your problem, I'd not worry about it if I were you look you! - and, once the present "UK" has become the dis-UK, the French (and others) will have to think again as to who to deprecate or accuse of whatever the accusational flavour of the month might happen to be at the time.

[Anna]

Indeed so - and whilst I'm not about to agree or disagree, you're Welsh so, as it's not your problem.

My Dear Mr. Hinton, I may indeed be Welsh, but I am also a member of this Island called Britain, and I defend my right to fish every day of the month and not be dictacted to by some committee of some French self seeking aggrandising dilletantes as to how many herrings I may capture each month in favour of inferior French Sprats.

[ahinton]

My Dear Mr. Hinton, I may indeed be Welsh, but I am also a member of this Island called Britain, and I defend my right to fish every day of the month and not be dictacted to by some committee of some French self seeking aggrandising dilletantes as to how many herrings I may capture each month in favour of inferior French Sprats.

Indeed - but whilst you might defend it, would you actually exercise it?(! - wrote he whilst looking forward to some delicious Wye salmon for lunch)...

[Serial_Apologist]

Indeed - but whilst you might defend it, would you actually exercise it?(! - wrote he whilst looking forward to some delicious Wye salmon for lunch)...

Poaching, ahinton?

[handsomefortune]

in favour of inferior French Sprats.

steady on anna!

quite a history there! coincidentally, in my case, learned from folk singer johnny collins 'between song' banter. evidently, the fisheries v eu conflict lives on. he passed on a lot of traditional songs, before his demise in 2009, interesting for their historical/political value.

not a very good example, from limited utube postings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fVQwzv5Qfc&feature=related

our recent industrial/agricultural/fishing heritage is not taught, perhaps education is rather odd in this sense, and i wonder if the french do any better ... probably not! some historys are considered passe, others not!

[ahinton]

Poaching, ahinton?

No, not on this particular occasion, as it happens; pan-fried and a nice crust on the skin (though your joke is not lost on me)...

[teamsaint]

in favour of inferior French Sprats.

steady on anna!

quite a history there! coincidentally, in my case, learned from folk singer johnny collins 'between song' banter. evidently, the fisheries v eu conflict lives on. he passed on a lot of traditional songs, before his demise in 2009, interesting for their historical/political value.

not a very good example, from limited utube postings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fVQwzv5Qfc&feature=related

our recent industrial/agricultural/fishing heritage is not taught, perhaps education is rather odd in this sense, and i wonder if the french do any better ... probably not! some historys are considered passe, others not!

If I may go off on one for a moment, the way history is taught tells us much about our society and world.
We teach kids about kings and the battles they fought......or rather had fought by other people for their benefit.
We teach about oppressive and aggressive invaders like the Romans and Normans as if their oppression was a good thing for the enslaved natives.
WE fail to teach about the deep enslavement of the industrial revolution.
We teach about religion as if the battles between the major faiths/denominations had anything at all to do with spirituality.
And we teach that basically people are bad, and we need controlling.

In short, we teach the history that those who run our world want us to be taught.

[french frank]

If I may go off on one for a moment, the way history is taught tells us much about our society and world.
We teach kids about kings and the battles they fought......or rather had fought by other people for their benefit.
We teach about oppressive and aggressive invaders like the Romans and Normans as if their oppression was a good thing for the enslaved natives.
WE fail to teach about the deep enslavement of the industrial revolution.
We teach about religion as if the battles between the major faiths/denominations had anything at all to do with spirituality.
And we teach that basically people are bad, and we need controlling.

In short, we teach the history that those who run our world want us to be taught.

Hmmmm, the teaching of history must have changed a lot since my time, then. I gave it up after 'O' level, having been taught 'history' through primary school and I don't recall absorbing any of the lessons you refer to. Facts, facts, facts - it might have been rather dry and short on the whys and wherefores. But the 'Four Invasions' all had an importance, in varying degrees, for our history and culture. The industrial revolution did have its advantages for workers (where would we be now without it?), as well as the immediate hardships. I never remember the Crusades as being taught as the triumph of Christian spirituality (I have an abiding memory of Saladin presented as a 'good guy'), but the wars themselves had some importance to ordinary people, if not as much as the wars of the 20th century have done. I don't understand the final sentence: 'we teach ... we need controlling'? Who we?

I certainly don't remember being given the impression that people were bad, rulers were good; French bad, English good; Saracens bad, Christians good.I think the criticism of history teaching lies elsewhere (perhaps the chronological approach which customarily began with the Romans), but I think it has changed a lot since I was at school, I assume for the better.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

.... i fancy a eurovison masterchef instead of a song contest .... let's see who really cooks best eh? .... but my euro would be on the same ol same ol voting blocks

[amateur51]

No, not on this particular occasion, as it happens; pan-fried and a nice crust on the skin (though your joke is not lost on me)...

Not 'having a go' at you, ahinton as it has become a very common expression, particularly on poncey restaurant and gastropub menus but where else would one fry anything other than in a pan?