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Permanent elections

 Somewhere in the world there is a country holding a national election but in the states they are in the midst of election fever on a permanent basis.  Biden became President at the end of January yet 7 months later the main topic of conversation across the pond is the mid-term elections in 2022 and whether Trump will run in 2024.  I can understand the anxiety on both sides with the senate and congress so closely divided but wouldn't it be refreshing if all these well paid politicians would get some work done in the meantime?  Individual states are passing ridiculous laws restricting voting rights, relaxing gun laws, banning abortion and interfering in sensible rules on covid restrictions while the federal government sits on its hands doing nothing but hurling insults and talking about the next elections.  Give us a break.

Meanwhile in France all sorts of people are jumping into the presidential race.  Will France finally vote for a woman?  I am not holding my breath.  Interesting as French and UK politics are, and the effect they have on my personal life, I can do nothing to influence the outcome as I am disenfranchised from voting in either country.  The UK has promised (I have lost count how many times) to scrap the 15 year rule, which means anyone living outside the country for that amount of time, loses the right to vote.  I am still holding my breath on that one but Johnson has broken so many manifesto promises that I may be on a fool's errand.

Yesterday my son and I went to the zoo in La Fleche.  My son  was wearing a tee shirt proudly announcing 'Espagne'.  The girl at the desk asked if I was happy with a map in French and I said I was.  She then turned to my son, smiled and said 'Spanish' and handed him one in that language.  I said he would like one in English.  She looked surprised and queried my request and then reached below the counter for a different one.  When we got outside we looked at his map.  It was in German.

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