Monday, July 27, 2015

Brush Up Your French with The Daily Mail (Revised 2015)


Regular readers may be aware of my first brush with this book, published in 1931 (4th Edition 1937).  It has been very useful to me in the seven years  since I found it in a 'bazar' run by nuns, and many has been the time that have I been heard telling the greengrocer in almost perfect French that "I have a big order", or telling myself that I am "becoming stoutish". Why, only yesterday I asked my husband if he was "ending his toilet with a good brushing".  

But times change, and with that change comes the need to update the conversations that would be of  use to today's Daily Mail reader.    Therefore, armed with no more than a good look through the comments section of Mail Online* (and a perfectly bilingual husband), I give you: 

Essential Conversation Starters : taken from Brush Up Your French with The Daily Mail (2015 Version)

Anyone who thinks skateboarding in a city centre is acceptable needs psychological assessment.
Quelqu'un qui croit qu'il est acceptable de faire du skateboard dans un centre-ville aurait besoin d'un examen psychiatrique.

I would like a huge refund for all the years my BBC licence fee has been used to fill the bank accounts of numerous sex predators.
Je voudrais avoir un remboursement pour toutes les années ou ma contribution à la BBC a servi à remplir les comptes en banque de prédateurs sexuels.


This is what happened when labour opened floodgates to the world and European masses, 4 million and climbing.
Voilà ce qui c'est passé quand le parti travailliste a ouvert les vannes au monde et aux masses européennes, 4 millions et ça monte toujours.

That is why you should never listen to a liberal: no morals, no ethics and all politics.
Voilà pourquoi il ne faut jamais écouter un libéral: aucune morale, aucune éthique, c'est tout de la politique.


Is it me or does Kate always seem to wear that outfit (striped top, jeans and those shoes) when dressed casually?
Est-ce que je me trompe ou est-ce que Kate semble toujours porter cet ensemble (un dessus rayé, des jeans, et ces souliers) lorsqu'elle s'habille en décontracté ?


Soya products and things like Quorn and tofu aren't actually good for people and THAT needs exposing too.
Les produits du soja et des choses comme le Quorn et le tofu ne sont en fait pas bons pour la santé, et ceci aussi doit être rendu public.


Why don't she get a proper job like the rest of us have to.
Pourquoi ne se trouve-t-elle pas un vrai emploi, comme le reste du monde doit faire ?


We can only be grateful no same sex weddings to be endured - Downton is nice I think !
Nous ne pouvons qu'être reconnaissants qu'il n'y avait aucun marriage gai à subir - Downton est bien je crois !

Useful, non?

Pipe Pipe!

NWM


* I didn't put SIC throughout but you will see where I would have done.


5 comments:

Unknown said...

Zut alors! Hope you had some mind bleach handy after that little foray into the murky underworld of les opinions britanniques!

Bytowner said...

I have been idly reading old posts from this catalogue of hilarity as am at home sick, and cannot stop laughing at at your review of a Rush documentary from years ago.
I wish you the best in your intercontinental move. I have only moved provinces (though that was a long way) and my recommendation is Gravol. Also agree w gin, though best not to mix the two.

NON-WORKINGMONKEY said...

Dearest Bytowner, thank you for your words of comfort and encouragement in these difficult times. I am thinking Gravol, Gin and Pepto Bismol all in one glass. Burp! Also Rush. Rush!

NON-WORKINGMONKEY said...

Also Bytown due to your kind words I revisited said Film Review (now I know why there's a Search thing in my web-blog) and I must tell you that I spat my water out AT MY OWN JOKE. I do not know if this is a good thing.

Bytowner said...

I will send an image to make you spit your special pink gin cocktail as described above. Rush indeed. If my fever addled brain can figure out how to send.

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