Just coming up to this age and not wearing it terribly well, you get to reflecting about the past events. The future doesn't really have any place, except for certain things. I thought that I would republish my article as follows with some additions and regarding my current  Currently my main preoccupation is the future of my current companion, Tina. To finally get her 'Carte Vitale' (an insurance card for the French National Health System) - this is taking a long time! To get a better and working 'top up' insurance for her and to try to get her walking more often, look after her health better and learn the French language well enough to communicate urgent matters or even just have fun speaking the language of Molière.......... For myself, whilst not clinging desperately to life, I would like a few years together with her, normal years with visits, friends, restaurants and all the rest..... who knows......maybe? My article, already published some years ago...

Let me tell you a story from the health front. Some time back it was decided in France that everybody had to have a 'top-up' health insurance, to cover what the National system doesn't pay. Workers would have it payed for by the employer, pensioners would pay themselves, or ask the Caisse Maladie (health authorities) for assistance to pay it depending on the level of their pension. Good idea one would think, but there are so many black sheep that the idea has become a nightmare. Everybody is allowed one only so as not to make being ill a Profession, but the companies (all private) don't care about the law! You can sign up by phone, e-mail, in writing - whatever. There are also what one calls 'Courtiers' (salespersons basically) who get a percentage each month from the incomings. They will promise anything, charge the maximum and generally do little. I signed up with a thing called Henner Mutuelle, and suddenly found myself with 5 other ones, all demanding m...