To the Maire of Blangy sur Bresle in Normandy.

[EvansofSprot]

I recently wrote this letter of complaint to the Maire of Blangy sur Bresle in Normandy.

Cher Monsieur (name removed),

Please forgive me for not writing to you in French, but I want to make my story as plain and accurate as possible.

I have just returned from a two month holiday in your wonderful, beautiful and friendly country. And all the time I was there I was thinking about the reception I received at 'Camping Municipal Les Etangs' in your town where I was intending to stop the night. I arrived at the gates to it at 18.30 on Sunday September 10th, and was met by the gardien who rushed out of his office saying rudely, "FermÇ, fermÇ."

I asked in my best French "Why?" to which he replied "FermÇ" once more!

I then asked him if he knew of another campsite nearby. I got no reply! He closed the office door behind him. As I turned to get into my car, I noticed a prominent sign to the right of the door stating that the camp was indeed open at that time of day and season.

I knocked on the office door to be greeted by an exasperated sigh from the rooms beyond it; the gardien came out and I pointed out the sign to him. And he again said "FermÇ. I got in my car turned around on the entry to the camp, noting as I did that there were indeed people camping on it. I did eventually find a site to pitch my caravan, but at Aumale.

Your loss was their gain I would venture to say.

I have asked myself what was the cause of his bizarre behaviour. I have stayed on the site before and your employee does something unique to his campsite, in that he escorts you to the emplacement, but then watches as you install yourself. I surmise that on this particular night, he could not find the energy to do this for whatever reason.

I am not seeking an apology or anything like that, but feel that you ought to know what one of you staff is doing when you or his supervisors are not watching.

I shall certainly look forward to camping in your country once more, but perhaps not at the campsite in your town for obvious reasons.

Yours sincerely,

Gordon Evans

I have not as yet had an answer

 

[EvansofSprot]

Just bringing this back to the top!

 

[ThePlotter]

I stayed on this site about five years ago and must admit I found the welcome somewhat lacking although the site was fine.I dont know whether it was the manager or me as I had a bad journey with a broken clutch cable en route by Rouen.The other thing I recall was across the road were maybe a hundred 'travellers'who were picking up electric from the lampposts!i look forward to the reply to your letter if you get one that is.

 

[mike_374297703]

This is so typical !!

In an effort to make your point, you write to the mairie in ENGLISH ???

If you really want to make your point and get a response, take the time and effort to write in french . It is not difficult with the free translators available on the net.

I suspect that all you really want to do is sound off against the french. Try another country next time !

 

[Le Chant]

Mike.

With respect, if you'd taken the time to read Gordon's post properly, you'd have seen the apology he made in the opening paragraph. He felt that for the sake of accuracy and detail it would be better to write in his native tongue, rather than use some inaccurate and possibly even rude translation dragged from the 'net. Having lived here in France now for almost 2 years, I can personally vouch for those inaccuracies of translation!

Knowing Gordon, having enjoyed his company here at Le Chant d'Oiseau, I can honestly say that a bigger Francophile you'd struggle to meet. His love of this country is what generated his letter in the first place, not his desire to 'sound off against the French'.

It's not so contrary to love a country so much, yet still retain your right to express yourself in whatever language you choose is it? Don't certain factions do it on a daily basis in the UK?