Spotty's Little Known Facts

[Prufrock]

Aldous Huxley taught George Orwell French at Eton.

[Bijou Bob]

Aldous Huxley taught George Orwell French at Eton.

French what?

[Hoboh]

Aldous Huxley taught George Orwell French at Eton.

French what?

Kissing?

[Bijou Bob]

It's a little known fact that Spotty hasn't been seen in a good while. Or am I mistaken?

[Hoboh]

It's a little known fact that Spotty hasn't been seen in a good while. Or am I mistaken?

It is worrying a touch.

[TANGODANCER]

It's a little known fact that Spotty hasn't been seen in a good while. Or am I mistaken?

Spotski was not very well and took a break at his own request. I've sent him a pm in the hope he'll reply and be okay.

[TANGODANCER]

Good news. Contacted Spotski and he's okay and will post when he's ready.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

It's a little known fact that Priorite a droite still exists in France... or rather it was a very little known fact to myself, and consequently almost the very last known fact I might have encountered in my lifespan. I had been wondering all the way up from Strasbourg what the little signs with a yellow diamond on a white background meant, and then just a little short of the turnoff on the A16 for the Tunnel outside the small town of Marquise I happened upon the sign yet again only this time it had a black diagonal stripe through it, thus:




I nearly shat myself when a thunderous great lorry launched itself at me...

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Another little known fact which I recently encountered is that there's a language called Alsatian - or rather a series of dialects that make up a language called Alsatian. It isn't composed of barks, although it is quite gutteral. I came across this example and took its photo in a tiny village called Eguisheim. I'm told it is from the dialect called Welche (pronounced Velkay, and the name has exactly the same root as Welsh, i.e. it's Germanic for foreigner).

[TANGODANCER]

It's a little known fact that Priorite a droite still exists in France... or rather it was a very little known fact to myself, and consequently almost the very last known fact I might have encountered in my lifespan. I had been wondering all the way up from Strasbourg what the little signs with a yellow diamond on a white background meant, and then just a little short of the turnoff on the A16 for the Tunnel outside the small town of Marquise I happened upon the sign yet again only this time it had a black diagonal stripe through it, thus:




I nearly shat myself when a thunderous great lorry launched itself at me...

Came into contact with that rule many years back when I was in full flow against a tractor that meandered onto
a main highway in France. The driver gave me some Gallic flow in return and it was only later I found it was me in the wrong.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Came into contact with that rule many years back when I was in full flow against a tractor that meandered onto
a main highway in France. The driver gave me some Gallic flow in return and it was only later I found it was me in the wrong.

Exactement... I was in the wrong too but going too fast around the roundabout to do much about it. It's a good job for my sake that the lorry driver had bloody good reactions. It confused the hell out of me, in fact I'm still confused, thinking about it I can't remember whether the sign had the black diagonal through it or if that's the norm and this one particular roundabout just had the yellow diamond sign. Whichever, it's very naughty of the French to have two contradictory laws of the road in the same country...

[Montreal Wanderer]

Came into contact with that rule many years back when I was in full flow against a tractor that meandered onto
a main highway in France. The driver gave me some Gallic flow in return and it was only later I found it was me in the wrong.

Exactement... I was in the wrong too but going too fast around the roundabout to do much about it. It's a good job for my sake that the lorry driver had bloody good reactions. It confused the hell out of me, in fact I'm still confused, thinking about it I can't remember whether the sign had the black diagonal through it or if that's the norm and this one particular roundabout just had the yellow diamond sign. Whichever, it's very naughty of the French to have two contradictory laws of the road in the same country...

Happened to me in 1978, when they didn't even have signs. Guy just shot out of what looked like a driveway to me as O was heading for Alsace oddly enough. On that same trip I recall driving three times round on the inside track of the Place de la Concorde wondering how I good get to my exit with everyone entering at terrifying speeds. Finally put on the indicator, closed my eyes and booted it. What a daft rule. Welcome back.

[CAPSLOCK]

Spotski was not very well and took a break at his own request. I've sent him a pm in the hope he'll reply and be okay.

Do you need permission not to post?

[Lord Kangana]

I'm quite surprised about this, as the majority of roundabouts I see in France these days have "vous n'avez pas la priorite", "cedez la passage" and "priorite a gauche" plastered all over them to remind the old dears that giving way on the roundabout was abolished about the time of slavery.

AND another thing, they have funky new breathalysers that you just speak into. And they stop you on the f*cking roundabouts in moving traffic (thus holding everyone else up) to make you speak into it. They never learn, do they?

[Montreal Wanderer]

I'm quite surprised about this, as the majority of roundabouts I see in France these days have "vous n'avez pas la priorite", "cedez la passage" and "priorite a gauche" plastered all over them to remind the old dears that giving way on the roundabout was abolished about the time of slavery.

AND another thing, they have funky new breathalysers that you just speak into. And they stop you on the f*cking roundabouts in moving traffic (thus holding everyone else up) to make you speak into it. They never learn, do they?

I'm not quite sure when slavery was abolished in France but my experience was some years back...

[Lost Leopard Spot]

I'm quite surprised about this, as the majority of roundabouts I see in France these days have "vous n'avez pas la priorite", "cedez la passage" and "priorite a gauche" plastered all over them to remind the old dears that giving way on the roundabout was abolished about the time of slavery.

AND another thing, they have funky new breathalysers that you just speak into. And they stop you on the f*cking roundabouts in moving traffic (thus holding everyone else up) to make you speak into it. They never learn, do they?

You weren't as surprised as I was. I thought that they'd changed the law so that it didn't occur at all, but apparently they've just adjusted the priorities in the vast majority of cases. A few stick in the mud communes have though resisted the new modern ways and I happened upon one instance. The very dangerous thing about it was how close to Calais it was, on the back road from between Audreselles and Wissant heading into Marquise. About ten miles from thousands of Ros bifs roaring dangerously about.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Spotski was not very well and took a break at his own request. I've sent him a pm in the hope he'll reply and be okay.

Do you need permission not to post?

You do when you're me

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Came into contact with that rule many years back when I was in full flow against a tractor that meandered onto
a main highway in France. The driver gave me some Gallic flow in return and it was only later I found it was me in the wrong.

Exactement... I was in the wrong too but going too fast around the roundabout to do much about it. It's a good job for my sake that the lorry driver had bloody good reactions. It confused the hell out of me, in fact I'm still confused, thinking about it I can't remember whether the sign had the black diagonal through it or if that's the norm and this one particular roundabout just had the yellow diamond sign. Whichever, it's very naughty of the French to have two contradictory laws of the road in the same country...

Happened to me in 1978, when they didn't even have signs. Guy just shot out of what looked like a driveway to me as O was heading for Alsace oddly enough. On that same trip I recall driving three times round on the inside track of the Place de la Concorde wondering how I good get to my exit with everyone entering at terrifying speeds. Finally put on the indicator, closed my eyes and booted it. What a daft rule. Welcome back.

And 'ello to you too again.
Were you heading to Alsace for anything in particular?
I need to return. There and Switzerland, I just passed through and should have lingered a while longer.

[Montreal Wanderer]

Came into contact with that rule many years back when I was in full flow against a tractor that meandered onto
a main highway in France. The driver gave me some Gallic flow in return and it was only later I found it was me in the wrong.

Exactement... I was in the wrong too but going too fast around the roundabout to do much about it. It's a good job for my sake that the lorry driver had bloody good reactions. It confused the hell out of me, in fact I'm still confused, thinking about it I can't remember whether the sign had the black diagonal through it or if that's the norm and this one particular roundabout just had the yellow diamond sign. Whichever, it's very naughty of the French to have two contradictory laws of the road in the same country...

Happened to me in 1978, when they didn't even have signs. Guy just shot out of what looked like a driveway to me as O was heading for Alsace oddly enough. On that same trip I recall driving three times round on the inside track of the Place de la Concorde wondering how I good get to my exit with everyone entering at terrifying speeds. Finally put on the indicator, closed my eyes and booted it. What a daft rule. Welcome back.

And 'ello to you too again.
Were you heading to Alsace for anything in particular?
I need to return. There and Switzerland, I just passed through and should have lingered a while longer.

Many reasons of varying importance. Amongst these:
a) I was going from Strasburg to Beaune trying out wines and medieval architecture.
b) I had never been there.
c) I wanted to try Framboise Alsace of which I had heard but not partaken
d) We had booked a night in Colmar at the Restaurant Rapp mit raums. This restaurant then had two stars in the Michelin guide and we wanted one really good meal that trip. A quick check of google shows it still exists but is now l'Hotel Restaurant le Rapp but I couldn't tell if it still had the stars.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Came into contact with that rule many years back when I was in full flow against a tractor that meandered onto
a main highway in France. The driver gave me some Gallic flow in return and it was only later I found it was me in the wrong.

Exactement... I was in the wrong too but going too fast around the roundabout to do much about it. It's a good job for my sake that the lorry driver had bloody good reactions. It confused the hell out of me, in fact I'm still confused, thinking about it I can't remember whether the sign had the black diagonal through it or if that's the norm and this one particular roundabout just had the yellow diamond sign. Whichever, it's very naughty of the French to have two contradictory laws of the road in the same country...

Happened to me in 1978, when they didn't even have signs. Guy just shot out of what looked like a driveway to me as O was heading for Alsace oddly enough. On that same trip I recall driving three times round on the inside track of the Place de la Concorde wondering how I good get to my exit with everyone entering at terrifying speeds. Finally put on the indicator, closed my eyes and booted it. What a daft rule. Welcome back.

And 'ello to you too again.
Were you heading to Alsace for anything in particular?
I need to return. There and Switzerland, I just passed through and should have lingered a while longer.

Many reasons of varying importance. Amongst these:
a) I was going from Strasburg to Beaune trying out wines and medieval architecture.
b) I had never been there.
c) I wanted to try Framboise Alsace of which I had heard but not partaken
d) We had booked a night in Colmar at the Restaurant Rapp mit raums. This restaurant then had two stars in the Michelin guide and we wanted one really good meal that trip. A quick check of google shows it still exists but is now l'Hotel Restaurant le Rapp but I couldn't tell if it still had the stars.

Egiusheim is very close to Colmar. But very difficult to find. It's worthwhile finding it, I recommend another trip over...