Older articles - "The Frenchman"

I thought re-publishing a few "older" items could make my life easier and yours more interesting. So - just now and then....Some items go back to the early century...! Since the lay-out policy from Blogger has changed, follow the link by clicking on the title or on the link below, if you can't see all the page !
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https://sites.google.com/site/ianwmitchellswebsite/europe--the-frenchman

Europe-"The Frenchman"

Gallic flair. That's what one calls it. In the past, the most required tool in any French garage was a hammer,  or rather a collection of hammers to match the size of the task. Ridiculously enough, a good hammering often worked (didn't lower the bill)  and maybe this very fact was typical of those things which happened to  'non-Gallics' mainly on the paying end, and generally on holiday, which  made English people apopleptict, even redder than usual, utterly mad  and at a complete loss for words. Germans were seen to go off marching  'goose-step' manner, muttering things that darkly resembled political  statements from a while back, Dutch and other northern climate people  just didn't understand anything, and preferred to put the 'being pleasant  and friendly' smile and attitude on (later-amongst themselves it was different).  Italians, being basically the same as the French said nothing, and went off to  find a way of revenge, the Spanish spread their hands in desperation, and  talked about sending Armadas (although with all the Spanish already installed  in France, the chances that his Gallic persecuter probably originated from  Spain were high). Arabs and other such-likes beamed an absolute meaningless beam, disappeared - never to be seen again. The origin of all these emotions  simply shrugged the shoulders in that Gallic fashion, and said "C'est la vie- hein?" It had always been like that, always will be like that, and no amount of  'modernising' will change that fact. In days gone bye, when, for  British/Dutch/Germans, etc, the country of France was as excitingly unknown  and remote as the South Pole, the charming image of the Frenchman on his bike, baguette under a sweaty armpit, Gauloises in the mouth, an endearing odour  of Garlic before, during and after his passage, was something that everyone  looked for.  De Gaulle was well named, and knew his Gauls............ (To read more, follow the link.......) https://sites.google.com/site/ianwmitchellswebsite/europe--the-frenchman Next one up (sometime or other) - the famous 'nothing disturbs me' Englishman. iwmpop (mrlemarquis)     -    Vauvert, France.