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Rubbish

I had a visit from a lady from the garbage department yesterday.  Apparently they are visiting all properties in the commune to explain the new system.  She brought with her 2 bins, one black and one yellow and she stuck a code on the black one.  The yellow one is for plastic only, she explained.  Paper and bottles will be put in the recycling bins at the edge of the village and the black one is for ordinary household waste.

The collection will be once a fortnight and I can't leave the black bin out unless it is full.  When I am here on my own that could take a long time.  'In summer that could be a problem,'  I ventured to say, but she said 'here is your ID card.  If the garbage starts to smell take it to the garbage centre and show your ID.'  Then without even blinking or pausing for breath she added, ' You will receive the bill for the garbage collection twice a year.'  What?  'You mean I have to pay for this new system?' I asked.  'Yes.'  was all she could summon up in reply.  So the way I see it I am having  to pay for delivering my own garbage.

I pointed out that at the moment we pay for garbage collection through our local taxes.  Does this mean that the tax will be reduced to avoid paying for garbage collection twice?   'I have visited nearly every household in the village,' she said,  'and you are the first person who has asked that question.'  I can't believe that none of my French neighbours haven't thought of it so when I saw my neighbour opposite I pointed out that we were in danger of paying for garbage collection twice.  'I hadn't thought of that,' she replied.  I give up.

Yesterday a bunch of us were thrown out of a cafe because it was 12 noon.

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