Skip to main content

Day 4

The day of protest was Saturday, then Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.  Yesterday I joined the 5 kilometre queue of traffic trying to either get into the town or round it.  Every vehicle was stopped and asked to sign a petition.  I didn't dare ask what would happen if I didn't sign and clearly all the other drivers willingly took the pen and scribbled their name.  I was very late for my tennis game.  As I left I gaily said to my tennis partner, 'At least they don't stop people leaving the town.'  I spoke too soon.  Every driver was again being asked to sign the petition.  Although I had already signed it there was nothing I could do but patiently wait in the traffic jam.

Despite everything that is said in the UK on the subject of Brexit and all the false reassurances, the French do what they want.  The latest official French government announcement is that if there is a no deal Brexit then none of the British living in France will have any status whatsoever.   Will we be herded into buses, I wonder, and sent to the ferry port with our meagre belongings?  Will old resentments from history resurface so that our homes are seized by the revolutionaries?  Well we all need a bit of excitement in our lives.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Temper, Temper

I played tennis with Yvette today.  Yesterday I asked if we could play early before the day gets too hot.  She suggested 9.30am.  I was thinking of 8.00am but Yvette has been married 46 years and her husband still brings her breakfast in bed every morning so 9.30 is probably the crack of dawn. I thought I had got used to Yvette's little antics but this morning she behaved like John McEnroe.  I was 4-1 up in the first set when suddenly she announced that the score was 4-3.  I am used to these little tricks so I stood my ground.  She argued, she shouted.  I ignored her and took my position ready to receive serve but her shouting got louder, calling me a cheat and then using some choice words.  Her ploy worked.  I lost concentration and started to lose, eventually losing in a tie break.  I was not happy but said nothing. At the end of the set Yvette asked me if I was angry with her, using the expression 'tu me fais la tete?'  I sa...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is normal?

The UK seems to be operating on the basis that there is no virus.  Masks are rarely seen, little is being reported in the papers,  it is not the main topic of conversation in the street and social distancing doesn't exist.  I did see a testing table set up in Chesham high street but it was for one day only and they didn't seem to be doing much business. I went to Brighton on Sunday with my son and sister.  The old 'Lanes' have been reduced to a few jewellery shops and lots of cafes and the town was packed.  Openly gay people walk hand in hand through the streets in great numbers while others stroll around in gold lurex dresses. As we were heading back to the station the police arrived and blocked the road for an approaching cycle rally.   Living in France I have seen many cycle races go past but not quite like this one.  Here were 200 totally naked cyclists pedalling by while people cheered them on enthusiastically.  Some of them had put on s...
Post a Comment
Read more

The problem with language teaching

I volunteered in a French school yesterday.  The aim of the day was to engage French children in English conversation.  The children had questions written down which they had to ask in English.  They were aged between 12 and 16.  Faced with 2 pupils aged 15 I answered the first question clearly and simply but they didn't understand the answer.  A rapid conversation in French passed between them and they then asked me in French if I would write down the answer. 'If I write down the answer you won't learn anything,' I said in French.  They asked the teacher what to do. 'Of course you can write down the answers for them and they can study them  later'! Listening skills?  Speaking skills?  I give up
Post a Comment
Read more