Napoleon Series Archive 2008

Re: bordel ambulant
In Response To: Re: bordel ambulant ()

Dominique,

a clear and precise explanation - thank you. I am sure you are right in this case, that the expression is used to indicate what we would call a 'snafu' today.

Interestingly, though, I discovered that the French army has had official brothels into the twentieth century. At the end of a long and very alcoholic dinner in Paris in company with a couple of retired generals just a couple of weeks ago, one of them told me the story of the establishment of an official brothel service to cater for Moroccan troops in order to prevent some of the excesses that had taken place beforehand. As I said - late in the evening, by which time my interpretation of regionally accented French was failing me, but I do need to follow it up - it would make a wonderful vignette sometime, if I could ever find a magazine to publish it!

This frank and practical attitude of the French towards things we Anglo-Saxons tend to sweep under the carpet wherever possible is one of the things that attracts me so much to the nation. The only time I ever flew Air France first class they managed to lose my luggage and so gave me a very chic and stylish overnight kit that included a nightshirt, toothbrush and toothpaste, various toiletries ... and three condoms! Presumably, those in economoy only got one!

Bon fin de l'année

Tim

Messages In This Thread

Soult's "thefts"
Historia del levantamiento
Re: Soult's "thefts"
Re: Soult's "thefts"
Re: Soult's "thefts"
Re: Soult's "thefts"
Did not Napoleon himself remark that
Re: Did not Napoleon himself remark that
It might be an over simplification but it seems
Re: It might be an over simplification but it seem
I ment in the fact
Re: It might be an over simplification but it seem
Long List
Re: Long List
Re: Long List
Proto Marxist Don!!!!
Fantastical American Memory - Collectivized
Hans-Lothar von Pivka and his work
a small reality gap
Re: Did not Napoleon himself remark that
I cannot remmember prescialy
Re: Did not Napoleon himself remark that
Re: Soult's "thefts"
Re: Soult's "thefts"
Re: Soult's "thefts"
Re: Soult's "thefts"
Re: Soult's "thefts"
Re: Soult's "thefts"
The Vicissitudes Of Pictures.
Re: The Vicissitudes Of Pictures.
"... The Mythology Of The Soult Collection ...."
Oft-Repeated Details About The Soult Collection
The "Monk's Tale".
Re: Oft-Repeated Details About The Soult Collectio
bordel ambulant
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Re: bordel ambulant
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the letter is about refugees
Refugees, try this
Re: Refugees, try this
Re: the letter is about refugees
Re: the letter is about refugees
Re: bordel ambulant
The Robert ! :-)
Re: bordel ambulant
Quite So, However ....
Re: Quite So, However ....
Re: bordel ambulant
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Re: trois capotes anglaises ! *NM*
Re: bordel ambulant
BMC
Stolen Masterpieces.
Soult's "art collection" and its provenance
Re: Soult's "art collection" and its provenance
Soult, Sevilla and Salvation
Re: Soult's "art collection" and its provenance
Re: Soult's "thefts" *LINK*
Saint-Chamans Downloads.
Re: Saint-Chamans Downloads.
Soult and the "Obras de Misericordia"
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