Church Christmas Party on the Beach

The party started with some of the baptisms needed for the many people who have become new Christians. There were 17 candidates, a few of woke were youngsters who had asked to be baptised and who had the permission of their parents and pastor. We baptised in the sea which was a little difficult because of the frequent large waves although out was not really rough. This was followed by presentations of songs by groups of all ages. 

Then we took communion, a rare feature being the French wine. Wine is not common in the Philippines, so usually grape juice is used. It was as we started the service that we discovered we did not own a corkscrew! (Amazing what you can do with an emergency tool kit). The baptism candidates gave their testimonies but I have no idea what they said in Tagalog.

The rest of the day was taken up with games and eating. The idea was to have fun but also ensure everyone, as far as possible, went home with something. For the children it was often a fluffy toy, for the adults, packets of rice, or spaghetti and sauce were keenly contested. These latter items were aimed at ensuring families had a decent meal over the holiday period. 

Photos are shared here but also a link to the many images on OneDrive. Once there, if you sort the pictures in name order by clicking on the up and down arrow icon, then the images will be in the correct order with title pages in between. 

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=D01A6E47041CD911!446&authkey=!AB_iiHb_iMONmIg&ithint=folder%2cpng 

Terry

terrywestoby@gmail.com

+33 6 75 91 87 71

Sent from Samsung tablet

Lunch on the run

A couple of days ago, lunch for the party was delivered. It was "securely" tired to a tree, but later in the night, at about bedtime, the dogs alerted us to something. So we looked outside. 

"Lunch" had slipped her rope and was busy digging up the garden. 

It is true that the dogs made a great fuss from the start, but soon only the younger dog needed to be silenced. So their alert was something we needed to take notice of. 

A pig is difficult to tie up when you don't know the method. We tied her as best we could after which she was more controllable. I recalled a joke of my father's, and it is true that a stick at the rear encourages forward motion. So at last she was limited to a circuit round the tree, always at full stretch, where she created hollows for herself to lie in. 

Today 4 men arrived and she is now being roasted over an open fire. Yes it is dark, but this was always going to be a long process. 

The party is tomorrow. 

Terry

terrywestoby@gmail.com

+33 6 75 91 87 71

Sent from Samsung tablet

<photo - the pig in happier times>

Photos for the previous blog

Having real trouble communicating at the moment. Everything is new or different. We have just noticed that there are no pictures in the last blog and there are reasons for that that I will try and avoid in future blogs. 

On top of that, I  cannot directly edit the blog from here. 

So assuming that I succeed, here are the photos you should have seen.

Terry Westoby
terrywestoby@gmail.com
+33 6 75 91 87 71

Sent from Samsung tablet

After the garlands, Bible school

I have just arrived, or it feels like it. With the slight delays, mainly in
the Manila traffic, I got to bed at 3am. Still, since that was like 8pm, I
was sleepy mainly due to the travelling. It was clearly worse for the
normal house residents!

We made the effort to go to the annual town celebration that evening. There
were lots of speaches and presentations. In English, but I still had some
trouble understanding. What was clear was that many ordinary people were
singled out and honored for their hard work and service- including
fishermen and nurses. 10 were presented, one from each category.

And those overseas were honoured too. Including an Englishman and his wife.
There were named seats in the front row of our district and we were called
forward to be photographed and presented with garlands.

Perhaps the highlight, or at least it was for me, was the folk dancing
competition. There was a hat dance, with the gentlemen wearing coloured
hats, a light dance, tea-lights in hand, but also later on heads or in red
paper pockets, and a couple of bamboo pole dances. The poles represent a
rickety bridge and the dancers nimbly dance between the polls as they click
together. (Photos)

We did not stop to see the decision on who were winners, I had made up my
mind that the second bamboo pole dancers were best!  As it was already very
late we returned to rest before the Bible school in the morning.

So this morning was up early to go to a village nearby where many children
gathered under the shade of a thatched home (picture). The adults were just
outside too but this was for the children. As well as Bible studies, there
were biscuits and squash, and as a special treat, little chocolates in
honour of the visitor from overseas.

And since the location was right next to the beach, we took a walk along
the deserted sands afterwards. It proved to be just a little too hot to
stay for long.

Terry

terrywestoby@gmail.com

+33 6 75 91 87 71

Sent from Samsung tablet

Animal flying friends

Dubai. I am transferring to my next flight but there is a 4hr gap. It's 11:30pm for me but in Dubai, 2:30am.

At last the gate shows our flight but there is no one there to 'process' us. Then a stewardess arrives and busies herself behind the counter.

The crowd grow restless.

Like animals at feeding time, they approach the keeper. They prowl, they wait. Instinctively they know they cannot hurry her. Like a troop of baboons they mill around together. Slowly a hierarchy emerges with the dominant animals to the front.

Other animals, not of this breed, pass by unconcerned. Then an ambulance vehicle passes with injured animals aboard. One of them, apparently female, is wrapped in black bandages, only her eyes showing.

The keeper brings out the food. She brings order expertly to the baboon troop who queue to receive their ration. The keeper has a uniform, but the rest are just natural.

I join the queue. I am just one of the animals.

The photo, by the way, has nothing to do with this.

I hope you can see a plane, the black shape of which is outlined by the lights as it comes into land. How did I take this picture?

There is a tail camera on my plane into Dubai, an A380, and this is the view on my screen. You can watch yourself land! If you can see the front of the plane, my seat is just a little back on the left. I got a glimpse into the cockpit before we set off, a bewildering array of lights and displays. It was easier to fly using the tail camera.

And now I wait for the second flight. If it too has internet, I will send this off to you today.

Terry


Envoyé de mon iPhone

A very Massy Christmas

Ok, it is not a pine tree, but it does stand out. Someone has spent a lot of time, and used a lot of bulbs, to make every branch shine. 

You can see it for miles (except for the built up area). What you can't see is the constantly changing colours, nor the flashes of the sprinkling of blinking bulbs. 

The picture gives you an idea, but it looks better than that! 

Terence Westoby

terrywestoby@gmail.com

+33 6 75 91 87 71

Sent from Samsung tablet

Revolution in the Square

As you can see, there is still a revolutionary spirit in France. This group were out one Sunday despite the rain to make a statement in the middle of Paris. They posed for pictures.

The Seine is just meters away and the square in the one that depicts the archangel Michel's victory over the "Prince of Persia" (the real one, not the game), but that statue is well over their heads as you can almost see in the third picture.

The banner says "Vivre Libre ou Mourir" - "Live Free or Die"; but I can't say the young soldier's face betrays much conviction in the message, more an interest in the young girl at his side. Perhaps the weather has dampened his spirits. Certainly they did not stay long. Just for a few photos and then they were gone.

And with the damp weather getting damper; so was I.

Martos

These 2 photos are from the same place at different times. Whilst not quite the same angle, they are one of the more elevated views over the town.

The night picture was clearer weather. As you may spot, the daytime view of the hill is obscured by mist.

The spot is near the large church on the hill, and in the evening it is well lit up making a clear landmark over the town. So you would think it should be easy to find. But no. The old town streets and houses below it cause the roads to twist and turn in confusing ways. And the houses themselves are not so much tall, but being close together they obscure any view of the church once you get close.

So you head for the church but the road turns you away. There are no-through roads, by-ways, and nothing straight. So the first time I tried to walk there I failed. These photos are the result of finding a route and the tracing the reverse direction the next day.

It is still not easy, but I am beginning to recognise some landmarks on the way.

Cordialement
Terry

Envoyé de mon iPhone

Wind

It was windy last night. It kept me awake for a while so I looked out of the window to see if it was raining too. But it was just wind, lots if wind!

I don't know when it stopped but this morning it was all gone and the day seemed very still. The clock on the hill across the valley from the hotel played its song to indicate the hour as I went down for breakfast.

Yesterday the breakfast room was full every table was occupied and even my spare chair was borrowed by one group. There had been some sort of event in the afternoon but this morning I was the only one there.

I looked out of the window onto the patio. The devastation reminded me of last night's wind (photo).

The owner came by to make coffee. I commented on the mess. He spoke in Spanish and I understood "photo" so at first I thought he had seen me take a picture, but his shrug of his shoulders led me to believe he was planning, without much hope, to make an insurance claim.

And that would explain why it has not been quickly tidied up.

Cordialement
Terry

Envoyé de mon iPhone

A Castle on the Hill

Saturday, and a chance to visit somewhere. 

Somewhere different. 

But Séville was a long way so I recalled a castle I had seen on the 'alternative' route to Grenada. 

I guessed where it might be on the map and got it wrong, but quite by chance, when I was leaving the small hilly town with tiny streets that my gps thought I could drive down, I found the sought after castle after it came in view. 

After a drive down country roads, I arrived at a fairly substantial town. I parked just after passing a pleasant town center and returned to seek a toilet. There were lots of elderly people around, I felt sure there would be one. There was. I tried the door to find it was locked, but the large building it was attached to proved to be a library with access from the inside. 

So it was that I was able to climb the steep roads to the castle in relative comfort. The photos are from the top. The castle is being hugely restored and you can't get in. There are loads of ruined houses below the walls, and a notice proclaims the restoration progress. You can see some of the view from the new road that skirts the ruins. It's rather industrial in places. 

So where is it? I don't know, I told you I guessed wrong and found it by chance! 

For fun I choose the country road back which made 10km of windy road feel like 30km. But I was not in a hurry and it was much more fun. The car was quite incapable of driving itself down such roads. 

It had to rely on me. 

Terence Westoby

terrywestoby@gmail.com

+33 6 75 91 87 71

Sent from Samsung tablet

Tapas Espagne

As I think I have said before, the best way to experience tapas is to let the Spanish organise it. 

Last night some of the team meet in a tapas bar and I was invited too. It is a Thursday, but people commute back for the weekend on Friday, particularly as Friday end early. So Thursday is the night out time. 

And a lovely mild evening it was. All of us live a short walk from the selected bar, my 400 yards was perhaps the furthest, and my walk boasted the only hill. The mild weather meant that coats were unnecessary but pullovers were advisable. 

As I had gone to get cash, I was a little after the stated time. I waited a while for someone to arrive and eventually thought I had missed them, but the first 2 had sneaked into a corner whilst I was not looking. I joined them, and 2 others arrived shortly after. 

Beer is small and fizzy, and there is a small plate of tapas with each one. But this team were here for more substantial stuff. 

As I hope you can see in the photo, here is meat and oil in abundance. Even the chips are covered in ham, oil, and mashed egg. It is all delicious, and this time I have the receipt so I can guess what they were called! 

The ladies passed by and stopped to say hello. They went off for more serious drinking, so I was told, but I was quite happy where I was. 

Terence Westoby

Sent from Samsung tablet

New things

Every time I come our to Spain, I have a new car to drive. Whilst arriving at the hotel now feels like coming home! the car experience is something to be learned every time.

This time the lady at the desk tried hard to ensure I had cruise control. I find this essential for traveling on the long empty routes through the middle of the country. She succeeded.

Indeed this car has almost everything except it is not convertible. There is a large touch-screen in the middle that does the air-conditioning. This then doubles as part of the cruise control, but I found that out only much later.

As usual with a new car, it takes time to find out how it all works. I got in all right but could not access a key. Still, since there was no ignition, all I had to do was leave the key on the passenger seat.

Now I had seen plans for this. The car detects the key and whether it is in or out of the car. In the car, you can start it (if you work out that you have to press the clutch at the same to was the start button). If out of the car you can open the locked car by pulling on the door handle, or lock an open car by pressing the back of the door handle.

Problem.
How do you check the car is locked? If you try the door it unlocks! But this one swings the wing mirrors in when it is locked so you can tell.

The lights are automatic, as is the hand break (a small switch). The car holds itself on hills and has proximity sensors front and back. The central display tells you how close you are. It is tempting to park without looking out of the windows! The rear mirror dims as required and the windscreen wipers are probably automatic, but this is Spain and I have had no chance to find out.

But starting the cruise control took me several kilometres. Part of the problem was that the error messages for my attempts were in German. And part of the problem was the control that was behind the steering wheel and out if sight. It had 3 switches and a rolling wheel. But 2 of the switches pushed in and pulled back. Once I pulled one back it all swung into operation.

But that was not all. I puzzled over the effect of pushing the switches. It caused the central display to change and offer lots of options. I tried one. It set the cruise control to a standard speed. I quickly found I could select the road speed when it changed and the car would adapt.

And then I came up behind a lorry. I lost power. What's up I thought, but nothing was up. The display over the steering wheel showed how close I was to the vehicle in front and the cruise control adapted to stay 2 seconds behind it. I adjusted that to 2 1/2 seconds- this car made you lazy and I wanted the extra time to be sure!

It is a little alarming coming up behind things and waiting for the car to slow up at the last minute. But it does. As you pull out in the dual carriageway to overtake, it notices the clear road ahead and accelerates. Freaky.

So I arrived at the hotel. As I stopped, the car turned the engine off for me and put the hand break on. I felt miffed at having to open the door for myself.

Now it is not a "drive it for you" car yet. And the headlamps don't notice oncoming traffic and darken parts of the beam to stop glare. These things are being worked on an will be coming one day.

I have a feeling it won't be long.

Cordialement
Terry

Envoyé de mon iPhone

Sorry for the last post

So those of you who saw the last blog (now deleted) will realise it was a bit spurious. It is so easy to publish a blog that I did it by accident. The information was stuff that I found and captured concerning French law of succession and so I sent it to myself .... but I chose the wrong email.

Now in addition to it being easy to publish the blog, many of you also get an email with the new blog post. That's easy too.

But if that is a little boring, here is something to make you think. At the French company I work for it advertised in English,

"There are more children leaning English in China than there are in England".

Those of you who live there may be able to tell me if they no longer teach English in school. But I suspect it is just a question of numbers really.

So now you know.

Hot springs

Now that I have lived in the outskirts of Paris for a while, I have noticed that it is a town which likes to boast a little. After all, it is Paris.

Certainly there are some lovely, or at least impressive, old buildings. Not to mention the Eiffel Tower, and there are modern ones too.

This town likes to be best at most things if it can.

But there are some things that are not usual in a town. One of these is a hot geyser. You see them in Iceland or the great parks in America, but not usually in the road!

But here in the outskirts of Paris they have achieved even that. I had noticed some geothermal activity at this manhole for a while. Now it has erupted and is a splendid display.

I suppose it has been a bit of a surprise, judging by the bollards in the road. A planned geyser would have been in a park. And now the geologists (I presume) are digging up the road to investigate.

I'll keep you posted if and when it becomes signposted as a tourist attraction, as I am sure it must be soon.

Cordialement
Terry

Envoyé de mon iPhone

No idea

I suppose that as I am getting older, it is getting a little harder to keep my weight down. So advises mother. But I intend to succeed whatever the scales say when I get home! 

Of course being in Spain conspires against me a little. Not only do I not speak the language, but I am constrained to "eat out" every day I am away. I combat eating out by buying snacks for my room, and I overcome the worst of the language difficulties with an on-line dictionary (Clare's suggestion). It works for the most part. 

And perhaps I am learning a little. I could see that there is a free town WiFi and the other day I tried signing up. Google helps, it translated the web page for me, so I invented a sign-in name and gave them my email. The next step defeated me! I had to retrieve a password within 3 minutes and sign in. With no Web available there was no way to receive the email with the code in it. I found the email much later in my spam box! 

But today I found I could see both the town Internet and the hotel one if I choose my location properly. With a bit of juggling between networks, I was soon a registered user of a Spanish site! And so a little earlier I was able to call my mum on Skype from the park. 

Tonight I took the easy option and ate in the hotel. I can order the main course and a glass of wine, but in Spain it is not as simple as that! What sort of wine is another question. Fortunately my host is very helpful and today he proposed wine from a bottle that I could see was exceptional. There was no boasting on the label, just a simple identification on a dark bottle full of promise. Uncharacteristically I was asked to taste it, either as part of the necessary ritual, or perhaps because my host was unwilling to part with the liquid if by some chance I did not like it! 

I did like it, it was instantly delicious. Soon along with the wine came the tapas. Impossible as it is (I am told) for the Spanish to drink without eating, so too the meals here come with tapas as a starter. It's automatic. 

But I don't order this dish, it is completely random. Today some toasties with orange paste on and a meat beside it was presented. I had it before and it is much nicer than it looks, and today a cup of something new came along too. I gathered it was a soup and very hot, the warning was in English.

The television is showing English football with Spanish commentary and I have no idea what I ate but I enjoyed it! So you see in the picture all sorts of things, the identity of which is a mystery to me, but they were all delicious. Mum says I am always going on about the food I eat, well it is true, but it is my adventure.

I wish I could point you to these delicious things, or be able to repeat them myself, but I can't. They remain a chance one-off to be enjoyed while I can.

And the brandy has arrived. Yesterday my host suggested this and it certainly was a good night's sleep afterwards! Now the brandy has returned but today it is the promised 1866 version. It is in my hand as I amend this post. 

I wonder what the scales back home are going to say? 

Terry 

Sent from Samsung tablet

Ados

You can see from the first photo, that all that is left from the wedding in the hotel are these flowers that fell from the bridal car. So for more a interesting image, here is a palm from the nearby park. Somewhere to walk off the night before.

Not that I was part of the wedding party. It is just that it started as I arrived at the hotel. I was tired and it was noisy. However, unlike most wedding parties, this one went quiet at about 11pm.

The person who told me what I should have expected from a wedding party, also explained what the Spanish think of when they use the word "adolescent".

It appears that to the Spanish, this word means "ado" as in adult, and "lescent" as in lacking something. So the word is full of meaning. It clearly states these are adults who yet lack a key "something". And this is a society that is very close as families all the way to adulthood; so I assume he knew what he was talking about.

Now I have to report that the 'key something' was never explicitly spelled out to me. It appears that this indefinable thing is both poorly identified and clearly obvious.

So this understanding, 'obvious' as it is, is still no help in coming through this awkward stage.

Cordialement
Terry

Envoyé de mon iPhone

Comments:
The explanation I saw said, “Adolescence is when you are expected to behave like an adult and let yourself be treated as a child!” So it’s not going to be any different any time soon.

White Night

Photo in the Jazz Club.

There has been another "nuit Blanche"here in Paris. I did not know it, but at church this morning, at the early service, it was mentioned. It appeared to me that the attendance was down- the night is an opportunity to visit lots of free events, all night if you want to.

But we did go down to Paris that night. It is our last weekend together and the best opportunity to celebrate the birthday that is soon to happen. So we ate out and then visited the Jazz Club near Montparnasse. Indeed we were out late just because of that. We caught the last fast train home and I wondered at the number of Parisians who crowded the train. I assumed this was normal weekend traffic at the time.

So today there was still lots of people about. On our walk back to the train station we passed dozens of coaches all parked in one street. Posters in the windows of some if these proclaimed a march for families. Details were unclear but it appeared that hundreds of people had arrived to make a difference.

The difference we noticed was that the temperature had dropped dramatically so we dived into the train station and headed home to warm up.

Cordialement
Terry

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England for 1/2 an hour

Last weekend was a rare opportunity - we could visit England during opening hours. And all without leaving Paris.

You see it was 200 years since England bought the impressive 18c town house from Napoléon's sister. Since then they bought the place next door and it has become the ambassador's residence and entertaining place.

As part of the British embassy, it is officially English and under English rule.

The doors opened from 10-16:30 and we arrived in time for the last half an hour. There were furnishings still there from 200 years ago along with an impressive banqueting table and a less impressive (because it was small) ballroom. We enjoyed the garden too.

No flash allowed but here are photos anyway.

Cordialement
Terry

Envoyé de mon iPhone

1. Ballroom
2. Dining room

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall may be a long way from Spain but the local Chinese restaurant has not forgotten it. It has been named after it!

They are open from 7:30pm but are usually almost empty until well after 9. The Spanish eat late, but 7:30 suites us Brits very well.

They bring out the only 2 English menus automatically but they can't speak English themselves so ordering is still complex. And then there are the descriptions. We want explanations. What exactly is "sizzling beef"? The answer is in Spanish with a Chinese accent- and often with sign language!

In the end we decide to be adventurous. We order "fried rice 3 delights" and "set fire to the chicken". The wine is served by the glass, but the bottle was cheaper than 2 glasses.

You can see that the chicken dish lives up to its name. 3 delights turn out to be 3 flavours, in this case ham, peas, and egg. Tasty at least even of you think it is not quite delightful 3 times over!

As we leave there are more people coming in. Often for a take-away. Over time, I am sure you come to understand the menu titles. Then it must be a little less like ordering from behind a Great Wall.

Cordialement
Terry

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Walking on ash felt.

Working out of a hotel can leave you unfit. So, despite the heat, we went for an evening walk.

At the edge of the town we made the decision to continue towards the countryside rather than turn right and climb the steep hill to the church. It was the "shade-less" option, but much less steep.

The route takes you out passed the olive processing factory. At his time of year the factory is quiet and the smoke from the chimneys has long gone. We followed a man walking along the prepared ash felt route and cyclists and runners passed us going in both directions.

It is a long path. After walking a while we passed a sign advertising the 22km point of the "green route". Not too encouraging but our man, an older gentleman, was still striding out so we took confidence in his confidence!

The path twists and turns so it was hard to see its final destination. We passed a stone bridge and a country road that crossed our path giving access to 4 houses.

21.5km point. Then the 21km point and no end in sight. By now some people had turned round and were returning. At the last, we lost sight of our man and since the path was visible for a long distance, we surmised that he had turned in somewhere. We had walked for an hour, our pre-decided limit, so we too turned back.

Soon we were with lots of groups returning to Martos. The sun going down offered a good photo opportunity and the other photo may give you an idea of the road and people. We arrived back at the hotel feeling like we had earned our nightcap. We explained our walk to the hostess. "Why?" She asked but it was too hard to reply with the English "because".

Cordialement
Terry

Envoyé de mon iPhone

Rome

First night in Rome.

Photos:
1. Yoghurt and fruit at an ice-cream parlour. The restaurant we ate at was disappointing so we had our desert elsewhere.

2. The moon. As seen from the roof of our hotel. The iPhone flash is creating lots of stray light but you get the idea. It was hot even at night time so the roof was the best place to relax.

3. Panorama from the hotel roof. Rome is full of ruins so some are always in view wherever you are. We visited the main ruin centre earlier, but I can't share the photos from my camera until I get home.

Cordialement
Terry

Envoyé de mon iPhone

The Top of Europe

Views from the highest points in Europe. The highest train station in Europe is buried in the rock.

Ice "palace" (more like a tunnel than a palace), the north face of the Eiger, and of course, great views.

Cordialement
Terry

Envoyé de mon iPhone

Central Paris

So I have just put Evangeline on the Eurostar to London, and I have a consolation lunch at the restaurant near by. It is one I have been to before with dad and Roger, if I remember correctly, Clare recommended it. Here is a poor photo of the place. 

They serve lasagne but this time salmon based. It is very interesting and comes with a salad that puts Evangeline's salad of yesterday to shame. Yesterday the salad was lettuce with salad cream, and with tomatoes only when these were requested. Today there was shredded carrot as well as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and grilled mushroom and aubergine. Salad cream was optional with French dressing an alternative. I had both.

I note that there is a call by some in France for restaurants that serve frozen food to loose their right to be called a restaurant. So it was with a little satisfaction that I noted the delivery of fresh vegetables during my meal. The chef came out to inspect them before they were considered acceptable, but from where I sat they looked to be excellent quality.

I left the place and went for a walk down to the river. It's quite a way from the station, but I was soon passing a market that I had seen the entrance to many times. It looked small, but curiosity caused me to walk down the steps and into the market area. This is the middle of Paris, but the space opened up and was surprisingly wide. There were restaurants and sellers of all sorts, including many very fresh vegetables, and more exotic things like octopus tentacles.

Presumably the restaurant gets their produce from somewhere like this. I will be happy to return.

The walk at this point is off the tourist haunts so the shops are more interesting. So too are the people. I found myself walking behind a reasonably elegant middle-aged couple who were pushing a very rickety pushchair. The back wheels rocked from side to side as the lady pushing it walked along. I wondered what the child inside thought, if there was one, so I glanced back as I passed. There was a dog sitting up in the pushchair enjoying his walk and obviously very proud of himself for his control over his owners. Further down, the Rex cinema has a huge moving display in tall thin strips as you can see here. I am getting closer to tourist Paris.

Near the river the shops are tourist style and much more boring. I play "spot the tourist", although "spot the resident" is probably more challenging, and the "Paris plage" is operating. Imported sand allows Parisians to sun themselves by the Seine as if on the beach by the sea. There are zip-wires and slides for the kids and most of the beach space is taken. 

Summer has arrived. But for me it is time to go home. The only trouble is, that the station I want is closed so it is a bit further to walk than I thought!

Cordialement
Terry

Envoyé de mon iPhone

Mobility

I could not resist this. Perhaps it is just my sense of humour, and so perhaps you, my reader, will think differently; but here is a juxtaposition of things that made me laugh.

The shop offers mobility to people who need assistance. And a great service it must be too. But I am sure some would like the mobility suggested by the object parked in front of the shop, rather than the very pedestrian transport usually offered.

What do you think?

Cordialement
Terry

Envoyé de mon iPhone

Too big for home

It is a cold and wet morning. Each day as I catch the train I check on the pigeon chicks and for some days I have been expecting them to have gone.

Today they are huddled together against the cold. As far as I can see, all their "puppy feathers" are gone and they are ready to fly. But they don't seem to think so.

So they huddle in their cosy nest. Except that it is not cosy any more, just far too small. So now you can see the foundations that were their home as the nest itself has been pushed overboard by the outsized chicks.

Still, I would not want to venture out in this weather unless I had to!

Cordialement
Terry

Envoyé de mon iPhone

Signs of silly times

The red sign says
"The circulation of trains on the line 'C' is very disrupted following the
limitation of speed on the sections under repair until the end of the evening".

I hope you can see this sign. It was what greeted me on the platform today and it shows the next 4 trains all arriving in 1 minute. It was the same yesterday.

In fact it was several minutes before anything arrived. Since the only train I did not want had been cancelled, I took the first to arrive. After all, who could be sure the others hadn't gone?

So I am on the slow train home. But it does go home and I have a seat out of the sun which today is sweltering, particularly through the glass windows.

We will see if the sign changes tomorrow. After all, the big clock opposite my flat got fixed in the end. It just took several weeks.

Cordialement
Terry

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BBQ en France

I went to a barbecue in France the other day. It was organised by the church for people who were old, like me. It started at noon, but I decided to be fashionably late and headed there for just after 1pm.

The location was a private house in the north of Paris. Since I live in the south, it was not difficult to be late. Here is a photo I took from the train during my journey on the "A" line, one I have not used before.

High Rise

 In Paris, most people live in flats. Big, usually rectangular, blocks of concrete. Here some Chinese people appear to have emulated the living conditions but with much more style! Notice also the clouds. This is barbecue day!

But to my arrival, I was over 1 hour late and I was the 4th guest there. All men, and drinking beer in the garden. No sign of a fire anywhere. I had brought a soft drink and I was not up on the world cup. "You're British?" was the comment, "but no beer and no footie?" They declared me a 'sub-standard Brit' and I was welcomed in (sub-standard Brit is probably an advantage in France).

Slowly over the next 2 hours, others arrived.

Helpers, more chiefs than Indians as usual

With the clouds in mind, our host decided to find his canopy, old and with one bit missing (not to mention the instructions) but no-one appeared to care. We got the thing up, and just in time before the rain. In time lots more people arrived so we had to decamp indoors where there was more room.

The barbecue is on the back corner of the photo, behind the swing. It was soon going and it produce loads of meat, as usual, but this is France, so there were loads of nibbles too. 2 ladies in the kitchen had been working hard and different sorts of food kept coming.

There was wine too. The gentleman on the left of the photo knew which were the best ones. And he placed some aromatic twigs on the barbecue to subtly add to the burnt taste.

This is church, so we had some inspirational time before the desert - then loads of sweet lovely stuff appeared. More wine and coffee or hot chocolate. And then the cheese! Which for France is unthinkable because it was after the desert. But our host had forgotten so we had the cheese English style.

Not forgetting that this is World Cup season, we vegetated round the TV for the Brazil match. Football is much better with a crowd of enthusiasts! Brazil won, just, on the very last penalty after extra time. So it was late when I set off for home in the rain.

So there it is, my first French barbecue. Rather like an English one (especially the weather) but with fancy bits.

Zumba

Here is the Zumba (spell-corrected from what I wrote, but close enough). Yes I went to a works football and BBQ but for the non-players there was the dance.

A young girl I met explained it was "à la mode" (all the rage) but it was news to me. You follow the actions of the man in front who moves actively to music. More fun than aerobics (she said) and it is supposed to burn off the carbs.

Certainly the instructor had no excess fat, and plenty of muscles in its place. I joined in at the back and it earned me a handshake at the end. He shook no one else's hand, so I must look older than I feel.

Never mind the quality, the photos are supposed to give you the idea.

Cordialement
Terry

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