Stilllearning

Just saw a most interesting programme that featured this https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Observer

Fonctionnaire is a great word. My youngest brother used to work at the EU in Brussels and when I asked him one day what his job was, his memorably precise answer was: I’m a fonctionnaire, I don’t have a job, I fulfill a function. For all those EU baskets out there, he was joking and having fun at the expense of the French language. About the French bureaucracy as we find it: yes it can be complicated, but as long as you have the right papers, and can speak enough French then most times it is easy. The most noticeable thing is that the fonctionnaires all seem to really know what they are doing. Oh, and it is vital to ask the right questions. Our local Notaire is very efficient and has a sense of humour too, which helps, but like any good lawyer, she has a need to be precise, not to say picky, about details.

The wear on the base plate at the swims is very obvious, once you get used to looking for it, and as was stated, is an easy job to fix. I’ve welded strips onto customers boats in the past and it’s not complicated.

Wasn’t there even a photo of it on the forum, a few years ago?

Take the opportunity to have a good look all round, under the waterline. The more you know about your boat the better you will understand how it handles. Check the bottom rudder bearing for wear. What dor and dccruiser have said is spot on too. Oh, and if you live onboard, and are going to be staying onboard, get used to the boat not moving when you get on or off, and do remember that there is a big drop rather than nice soft water if you miss your footing.

You would perhaps enjoy seeing a sales contract for a house here, they are rarely completely straightforward.

Our local Notaire does Notary work for us, for free, which is handy. Thanks to the B word, my wife is applying for Irish nationality and on Monday we were at her office (Cabinet), getting documents attested as genuine. I like to think that she does the attesting for free because I am a competent translator.

Usufruit is a word I come across regularly in house sales contracts here. I’m no longer an agent, but still work as an official translator for some local Notaires.