R on and Eff on holiday You’ve all had the pleasure of participating at the Christmas disaster of our heroes, Ron and Eff, a charming couple, who live a life far flung from the hustle and bustle, but somehow or other “things happen”. Things which make life bearable for us, looking in, and things which Ron often thinks make life intolerable, until Eff points out all the positive things to him. Now don’t think that they only have Christmas adventures, oh dear me – NO! They go on holiday as well! I will repeat, any resemblance to people living, dead or otherwise is purely coincidental, and the content should be treated as purely fictional, until proved otherwise! (Ed note). ************************************************************************************** ON HOLIDAY “Look Eff,” moaned Ron, “it’s not that I dislike swamps and things, I can even put up with one or two flies or mosquitoes, but when we booked up for this local safari, I thought we’d see some of the more exotic things, ...

Some more things that aren't important! I understand,from the News on French TV, that the Venise authorities are getting worried. They haven't got enough (in fact hardly any) new gondoliers, to replace the ones that are getting old! Apparantly the City has offered a one month PAID course to become an official gondolierri. Since this is all part of the European set-up, the offer must be open to all! How about it, Chippie or Wacky-Backy? At worst you get a months paid holiday in Venise. I'd go myself, but you know what they say - "See Venice once and die" - and I reckon I've chanced my hand enough for a while! Spending a lot of my time in making up dishes which conform to my supposed Diabetic and Cardiac state, I have come back to things forgotten, like that which we call the "pulses" (dried peas, lentils, dried white beans etc, and cereal products. By gum, did I enjoy myself this lunchtime, with an old fashioned "pork and lentil...

J'ai recu un message pour me dire que des amis ont pris la decision de se mettre "on-lin", et j'ai envoye cette lettre. Pourquoi vous n'essayerais pas - vous meme? *********************** Voila ! J’ai mon ordinateur et je vais aller « on-line ». Déjà je vois la première problème – Mon Anglais n’est peut-être pas a l’hauteur ! J’aurais du faire plus d’attention à l’école, mais je ne croyais pas avoir besoin ! Tampis – il y a des gens, très gentille, comme mr le Marquis du Galipot, qui écrive des choses en Français (de temps en temps) sur son site http://www.webspawner.com/users/mrlemarquis/index.html et (en plus) il rends les choses si facile, car tous que j’ai a faire est de cliquer sur l’adresse en violet, et attendre. C’est géniale, parce que sur cette site, j’ai pleine des liens vers des autres sites, et tous que je dois faire, est de cliquer sur un de ces liens pour y arriver ! Les liens sont en bas du page, donc je garde l’adresse principale sur « mes ...

Places we lived (Nr 2)-Civil Service and London 2nd time around! I didn’t have a great deal of luck after my Army Service, and before re-joining (this time as a Civilian). Just to bring you up to date, I had spent my years in the Army in the fashion described elsewhere (look in the various sites), had gotten myself married, had decided to quit the Army, and had been looking forward to a certain amount of time “relaxing”. None of that! In typical Army fashion, my release papers were signed the 31st March, and my engagement contract with Her Majesty’s Home Civil Service was dated the 28th March! I never did get around to checking whether I was paid by BOTH for these 3 or 4 days! Anyway, there I was, installed in an office at St. James’s Square, not far from the Strand, just around the corner from Whitehall, where my once upon a time Regimental compatriots would shortly be doing their tour, on horses! The amalgamation of the Regiment, The Royal Dragoons, 1st Dragoons (The Royals), with th...

Here you are - the article, just before your Annual Holiday, which gives you all the details you need, and then some more, about the area where Mr le Marquis lives. This is not only a holiday area, but a working area, not large Industry it is true, but large business, like the Wine trade, or the Agricultural business are present, and they all offer many things to the tourist who comes mainly for the weather and the beaches and sea-fronts( www.cr-languedocroussillon.fr ) Official site with all information, or ( www.sunfrance.com ) dealing with tourist stuff. Of course, don’t forget that we are in the South of France, and (as almost everywhere in France) food plays a large role in life. The so-called Mediterranean diet is easily applied, so you can do some good to yourselves, and enjoy it! Olive Oil is everywhere, and although less used than years ago (due to its price), it is still the predominant factor in the diet. ( www.le-guide.com ) Quite a number of producers have daily visits...

Vauvert-Marie en Printemps Originally uploaded by iwmpop . It's spring time and even the Mayor has the right to keep a garden!

Vauvert new parc Originally uploaded by iwmpop . This is a new square in the village-How long before the vandals find it?

 

 

Just noticed something on one of my tinned conserves. You see, I rarely use tinned foods, so I hadn't noticed before, but on all of my tins and packets etc., the English language bit has disappeared. It always used to be written in French and English, occasionally German as well, sometimes Spanish/Italian, but English was ALWAYS present. Now it ain't, any more! Makes no real difference, everyone knows how to open the tin and get the baked beans out, but the reason behind it could be interesting. Since the developement of the EU, and in particular since the introduction of the Euro monetary system, I've noticed that Britain, language and country, is much less respected than before. Maybe because although UK is a member of the EU, it is not a very enthousiastic member, and not a member of the Euro world at all, therefore less interesting for the sale of merchandise. Anyway, if you don't know how to do it automatically, bring a foreign dictionarry with you to open ...