(Pagnol + Friends) There is a type of character,created largely by the cinema director Pagnol, which simply expresses exactly the type of male personnage one is very likely to meet here in the Provence, or in the Midi de la France. Rather in the style of the Cockney for London, or the cloth cap for Lancashire or Yorkshire etc., this character is more lovable than ridicule, and this is the story of my meeting with one of them, very recently. For two whole days we had been molested mentally by a complete army of Doctors, Nurses, Diaticiens, Psychologists, and goodness knows what more. "We" is me and my little group of fellow sufferers in a "re-education" treatment course for people who, like myself, had suffered an operation on the heart. The idea of this one month long course was to prepare us for our "new" style of life, which imposed itself upon us. New diats, new habits, avoiding old...

Here are some other things which make me depressed, and some which make me happy! (Arrange them yourself!) Chippie and Tinkerbelles's ban on me Smoking! Chippie's French accent! Tinkerbelle in summer! Tinkerbelle's candid attitude to French food! My Bank manager! Bad TV Programmes Chippie walking back from the Village festival!!! My Girlfriend! Figure out yourself which category these things fall in, depressive or happy!

Depressed and Depressive One is warned, if one looks. On all the websites dealing with surgical matters in general, and in my case with cardiac problems and operations, in particular, it is always listed as a “condition to be expected” after surgery. On almost all of the little bits of paper which accompany the pills and other medicaments, it is shown as “undesirable syndromes” Depression. Not something I’ve had reason to deal with before in my life, but I have to deal with now, and I can assure you that it is quite difficult. The very fact that it is to be expected, and to be aware of that, does help – but it is still a strange sensation. It happens that I will be sitting at table, eating or watching the TV (or both) and suddenly I sort of “wake up” and maybe 5 or 10 minutes will have passed, during which time all I can recall is having questioned myself, time and time again, “what purpose all this suffering and medical attention can possibly serve – after all, as a pensioner in his...

I had often heard of the syndrom, had never really beleived it, but NOW I am forced to change my thoughts, because I have become a Human Barometer. Since returning from hospital, I am capable of telling you, before I even look out of the window, if the weather is cloudy, grey, raining, likely to rain, etc. All this from the difference and/or absence of pains around my scarred area! This never happened before, and I don't know whether it is a result of the medicaments or of the actual incision. Strangely enough, it's not only my latest scar which hurts in certain situations, but even my nose (which I broke playing football some 40 years ago) now hurts, exactly at the spot it was broken. My knees, elbows and all the other joints throw in their little bit, and basically, from awaking until about 2 hours later, I'm a total wreck when the weather is humid or covered! I haven't had the occasion to see whether I'll be able to tell the difference (without look...

My Girlfriend. For those of you who know me a little, it may come as a surprise to find out that I have a girlfriend! “What” – you cry, “how come we’ve never seen her?” Well, it may come as even more of a surprise, nay shock, to find out that she has almost turned her 105th birthday, has a beard, is covered with hair, sees very well in the dark, has had around 17 little ones (we gave up counting), and (if upset) can scratch like mad! Apart from these somewhat singular features, she is pretty much like all girlfriends – she loves me, tries to take care of me, tries to change some of my (for her) annoying or disturbing habits, she tries to “train” me (to her advantage, of course), but she just can’t help creeping up on me, anywhere, but particularly in bed, to get her ration of caresses! Occasionally this tactic of creeping up goes wrong, and all she gets for her pains is a large foot on her tail! Oh yes – did I mention that my girlfriend has a long tail as well? She has, like all girlf...

Img_0002 Originally uploaded by iwmpop . Just to show that life goes on! Mlle Granite de l'Oasis (my pussy willow) is caught in the act of having a quick wash!

Img_0004 Originally uploaded by iwmpop . Here you are - Download a photo of the local hero!Strangely enough, those of us who were operated upon by the same Surgeon can recognize each other from the straightness, and shortness of his "cut"!!! Funny way to make a mark in life!

"Bits and Pieces" - a rubrique which will contain things of no consequence (like all the other articles) but which don't need lots of thinking about! Examples? 1. Just decided I may become a labour MP after all, since I saw the latest news that they have appointed a lady as their chief Whip - delicious! 2. Modern life is strange. My TV remote control lets me pick channel 1, which is (of course) next to Channel 2, at least on the control panel. Actual difference is almost one day, the language used, roughly 7,000 kilometers in distance. CH 1 is French, from Paris, CH2 is Australian from Sydney! 3. Look out for a new amusement shortly, a series all about our Christmas Heroes, Ron and Eff, but this time what happens to them on holiday! Regular reports about their daily life as well! (MAYBE WITH PICTURES!!!!!!) There you are, bits and pieces, of no real importance, but it lets me practice on the keyboard!

I left it for quite a while, since I wasn't too sure about the "good taste" or not, and I didn't want the female readers to swoon (over my masculine beauty, of course) and in any case, the item photographed was too recent and therefore too "violent", but now, WELL - here it is, decide yourself about the good taste or otherwise, but at least you won't have to ask me for a "peek at yours"in the future!! (I may republish the same photo on the "flickr" system, so you can make a copy of your hero!)

Vauvert,France. Le 4 Janvier 2006-01-04 Bonjour Mr/Mme, ami(e) ou non! Si je viens de recouvrir une page en Français, sur le site, c’est parce que j’ai fait allusion à ce site sur http://www.webspawner.com/users/mrlemarquis/index.html - mon “Webpage” qui contient des liens aux autres sites, et je n’aime pas décevoir!! Pour celles parmi vous qui tombe par hasarde sur ce site/groupe, sachez que j’avais arrêtée les pages Français, car les Français concertateurs (les membres Français) n’ont jamais contribue le moindre article ou autre, appart 1 seule photo! C’est possible que maintenant, un an plus tard, il se trouvera des Français capable de s’en servir de leurs PC’s, qui sont capable d’un peu de creativitee, et (qui sait) capable de parler la langue de Shakespeare également! En tout cas, je propose de mettre, de temps en temps, des articles en Français, comme essaie! La problème des PC’s, entre autre, c’est que l’utilisateur devrait être capable d’utiliser un clavier, et être capab...

I'm often asked for the origins or definition of "Galipot"- Well here you have it, in black and white, and the address of a useful and funny/amusing little dictionary as well! May well be a stinky old turpentine residue, but it's as near as most of you will get to Nobility!!! Atlas Dictionary Encyclopedia Geography History Music Quote Translation Zip Quote of the DayBeing powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't. Margaret Thatcher more Famous Quotes Dictionary Home Add the "Word of the Day" to Your Site - it's Easy! Play Sudoku ! Web brainydictionary.com definition of galipot Galipot An impure resin of turpentine, hardened on the outside of pine trees by the spontaneous evaporation of its essential oil. When purified, it is called yellow pitch, white pitch, or Burgundy pitch. Related Word Definitions: An , Burgundy , By , Called , Essential , Evaporation , Hardened , Impure , Is , It , Of , Oil ,...

As you can see from the following article, not EVERYTHING works! The link seems not to work, to let you see the funny picture in question. Never mind, it was a try, and now we all know that Mr le Marquis is not infallible-but nearly!

Bonjour :-) Ce courrier vous est envoy� par mr le marquis (iwmpop@gmail.com) fid�le visiteur d'Humour.com (http://www.humour.com), qui souhaiterait vous faire profiter de l'image humouristique suivante: http://www.humour.com/affiche/chantier.asp Son commentaire est le suivant : This is the way to be sure to keep your job - perpetual employment! Pour vous abonner gratuitement � la mailing liste d'Humour.com, cliquez sur ce lien : http://www.humour.com/mailingliste/ok.asp?email=marquisdugalipot.granite@blogger.com Humoureusement v�tre

Halles 1 Originally uploaded by iwmpop . It's Springtime, and the most changes find themselves at the fruit and vegetable stalls. Here in Vauvert, it is the middle of the Asparagus season, strawberries from Spain, little turnips from France, New potatoes from all over, lettuce fresh and crispy, new carrots etc etc..... The list is long! AND I'M OUT OF HOSPITAL-so I can eat them all!

Halls fish1 Originally uploaded by iwmpop . Fish in Spring? Yes please, with those lovely little new vegetables!

Halls fromage1 Originally uploaded by iwmpop . It's Spring, and even Cheese has it's spring productions!

All first days back are always difficult, this one particularly so, since I honestly don't know where to start! So much has happened in the last 3-4 months that (although I was asleep for at least half of the time) subject matter is too freely available, and all mixed up in my mind! Obviously I have already started with a little piece about "hospitals and those who work in them", which isn't finished, and will be continued over the weeks to come, and there is the other side of the coin, my side-that of the patients and the problems they have, and the amusing things that happen. That will take months to work over in my head, and should certain details seem to be mixed up, or should the time plan seem to be deranged, bear with me, that is because it is deranged, like me, at the time! I intend to break up the Health and Hospital accounts with little amusing articles, as and when I feel the urge! This is to give my brain a chance to slow down, and give yours the chance to...

= Tomorrow is the 1st May - Labour Day - another one of those days on which nobody does anything. I thought that I'd better get on with it, if I am to have the same rights as others- to stay in bed on labour day! I also found something called the cinco de Mayo (5th of May) which would seem to have some importance down Mexico way, I don't know why, exactly, but the dancing girlies are always welcome on this site, just to wake up my mate Chippie! Have a nice Mayday, parading or protesting or whatever, but don't shout "Mayday" too loudly, you may have a torrent of willing emergency helpers descend on you to help you out! My Mayday/Labour day will be filled with lots of work on the Blogspot, for you lot out there! (Nice looking little lady, isn't she?)