Read more articles from iwmpop – Mr le Marquis Look at hundreds of his favourite photos and download them free of charge – for personal use at: http://www.webspawner.com/users/mrlemarquis/index.html (EN/GER/FR – choose the site required) *********** From: Embarrassed Scotsman! For quite some time now, I've been a little bit embarrassed at the situation in UK. Although I have very little - or rather - nothing to do with the place, I would have to be blind and deaf not to notice the influence of certain people in all aspects of daily life in that "green and pleasant land" - England. Seems that the English have now finally woken up to the fact that they are a part of the UK, and not vice-versa! And....... It seems they don't like it! Lots of mutterings are going on about another one of the United Kingdoms'. A little place, that up till recently had to be content with being a sort of Englishman's Castle, a place where the Englishman could drain of...

My wife Kathleen (nee Odell), was quite an exceptional woman. I suppose many husband's say the same thing of their wives, but through the 25 years of our marriage, up to her death 14 years ago today, I was constantly surprised by her resilience. We were often the only two "British" people in whole areas of Germany or France, and although unable, at the beginning, to speak the languages concerned very well, we learnt very quickly, and it's not easy when you have to deal with civil servants, speaking their own local dialect of German or French! My story with my wife started in 1963/64, when she found herself installed in Germany, as a condition to her being accepted by Guy's Hospital, London, to fulfill her 6 month's overseas "experience". Guy's insisted on this at the time, and it wasn't a bad idea, giving the ongoing State Registered Nurses a little more confidence in themselves. Not only 8 "O" levels, 6 "A" levels (good e...

On the 3rd March 1993, my wife Kathleen died. I miss her. Am 3 März 1993, Meine Frau Kathleen starb. Sie fehlt Mir. Le 3 Mars 1993. ma femme Kathleen est décédé. Elle me manque. Ian W. Mitchell. 30600 Vauvert, France.

In a couple of weeks, my 1st "new" birthday will be upon me, and all I can think of is the following: When I finally get to quit this wicked, wearying world, it won't be the the fault of the undoubtedly talented medical teams in Hospitals, who made it possible to open me up, cut and stitch here and ther, reclose everything and send me packing, no...... it won't be the fault of the same Hospitals' charging office, who being well informed that the Financial situation was critical on my side, decided nonetheless to force menaces of all sorts, to create the situation of stress demanded by the Doctors that must be avoided - at all price! No....... and it won't be the fault of the Politicians, who over years have made empty promises, or have given out deliberate "mistruths" (I use this word rather than "lies" - it sounds more politically correct!) and have constantly and persistantly ignored that their acts of bad management HAVE led to different...

(Click Title for French + German) ******************************************** With Christmas coming up, I looked at my situation, and came up with the following! In German there exists a word "Genussmittel", which has no translation into French or English. It's not the only German word that doesn't have a translation (like "Heimat" for example) but this is one that has implications in today's debates. The Germans even have a law called the "Genussmittelsgesetz" applied for many things, but particularly for Tobacco, Alcohol, as well as medecines, or drugs, and of all things, COFFEE, TEA and other beverages, innocent, but harmful! The nearest one can get to a translation is "semi-luxury" (given in some serious dictionnaries) and this can be applied not only to my current position, but is quite a good way to appreciate things and save money at the same time! If someone has a cigarette in their mouths, or a glass in their hands,...