Skip to main content

New Rules

Sometimes I feel as though we are going backwards. We are back to wearing masks outdoors in Saumur, day 2 test has to be a PCR one and now France wants people coming into the country to have a test 48 hours before.   The latter is fairly impossible to find if you are entering France from the UK during the Christmas/New Year period, which seems to go on until about the 8th of January.  All this and there is still no evidence that the new variant is anymore lethal than the previous variants.   Even with 3 vaccinations one is subjected to all these tests.   At some point countries will make vaccinations mandatory and then what?

I noticed in Angers that  about 50% of the people on the tram and in  shops wear their masks below their noses, or round their chins.  Do they think it looks more attractive that way?

I had lunch with friends in a Thai restaurant this week.  My share of the bill came to 25€ so I put down 3 tens and took a 5€ note from the others' contributions.  When the money was totted up it was 15€ short.  How could this be?  After some discussion all heads turned to me and one actually accused me.  I was indignantly protesting when I opened my wallet and there for all to see was a 20€ note, not 5€.  Mea culpa.  How embarrassing is that?

I had coffee with a neighbour who is terrified of catching covid.  All the windows in her living room were open and she was wearing a mask.  Rather  than drink her coffee she let it just sit there getting cold.  I on the other hand kept my coat on and drank the coffee quickly before the arctic blast coming through the window froze it solid.

I am playing a tennis match tomorrow.  My opponent is 32, tall, fit and strong.  What are the chances of me winning?  I agree, zero.

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