Skip to main content

An admission

I hate double negatives but you hear them a lot in the UK.  My favourite is 'don't know nuffing about it', often used in police interview rooms.  This week, though, the double negative triumphed when Trump said, 'anybody that doesn't think there wasn't massive election fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election is either very stupid or very corrupt.'  A  perfect description of yourself Mr Trump.

On Sunday I played a match in the inter club tournament.  As my opponent was only 32 I didn't have high hopes but much to my amazement, and hers I imagine, I won the first set 6 1.  By the second set she had caught on that I can run most balls down and she upped her game, winning 4 6.  At 4 5 in the third set I looked doomed but after 3 hours of play I managed to eke out the last 2 games, winning 7 5.  She was not happy.  I was happy, and somewhat surprised, although I didn't show it, or couldn't, as after 3 hours I was lucky to be standing.  Monday morning I got up and played again, losing fairly  spectacularly.

I have been pumped full of vaccine but I will have to take a test before I go to the UK, take another one when I arrive and another before I return to France.  Someone is making a fortune out of us and I wonder how many British MPs have shares in the testing companies.

I don't have a vote in the UK because despite Tory promises I am still disenfranchised.  I tried to explain this word to French friends but they struggled to understand the concept.  After all the French get a vote wherever they live and there is even an MP representing French people living abroad.  Judging by Johnson's latest antics I suspect he is scared that we British people living overseas won't vote for him.  It would be nice to have the option though.

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