This one’s for Zoe
Because she likes firemen
Rob and I were out for our evening stroll around the village yesterday when we could see what looked like the road on fire. When we got closer it was obviously a car in flames. There were one or two other people around watching and pretty soon a fire engine arrived. I was a little disappointed that the siren wasn’t sounding, but there wasn’t any other traffic, fortunately. The four firemen soon put it out and I was surprised that, even though the car had been a ball of flames, the inside wasn’t burnt. One of the fireman opened a door and fetched out a coat and mini skateboard and handed them to the people who were the car owners. An electrical fire perhaps.
We don’t usually have such excitement in l’Houmeau on a Saturday night
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Up to my neck in suds
My new washer/dryer, an Ariston AML 135, arrived yesterday. When I checked the papers I ordered it two months ago. It’s so nice not to have to set the alarm clock to stop the spinning cycle and I can dry clothes without them being soaked in hot water. It's really quiet too. Bliss....
My new washer/dryer, an Ariston AML 135, arrived yesterday. When I checked the papers I ordered it two months ago. It’s so nice not to have to set the alarm clock to stop the spinning cycle and I can dry clothes without them being soaked in hot water. It's really quiet too. Bliss....
Round and round we go
I didn’t really drive in France until Rob broke his elbow in 1999, then shortly after that I got a job as a language assistant and had to drive to the 5 primary schools I was covering. It was very wet and windy that year. On the first day I couldn’t even see where I was going the weather was so bad, it was my first real driving in nearly 15 years, I was driving on the wrong side of the road and in a strange place. I got through okay but I don’t really enjoy driving.
To get to Olivier’s lycée I have to pass through (or around) a busy network of three roundabouts. I can do roundabouts if it’s quiet and the other drivers know how to do roundabouts too. But the last couple of times when I’ve given Olivier a lift, I’ve been tooted by people in a hurry who think the only way to get anywhere is by dodging into empty lanes and driving at break neck speed. I’m beginning to dread him missing the bus.
Yesterday I was coming home from a lesson when the road was barred because of road works. We were given an alterative route but somehow the arrows seem to disappear. It was dark and raining, the traffic was busy and I didn’t have a clue where to go. I found myself in a ‘difficult’ area so I didn’t feel as if I should risk stopping to look at the street map I always keep in the car. I eventually ended up by the airport. I know my way back home from there, I was half an hour longer than intended, the journey home usually takes 15 minutes.
I didn’t really drive in France until Rob broke his elbow in 1999, then shortly after that I got a job as a language assistant and had to drive to the 5 primary schools I was covering. It was very wet and windy that year. On the first day I couldn’t even see where I was going the weather was so bad, it was my first real driving in nearly 15 years, I was driving on the wrong side of the road and in a strange place. I got through okay but I don’t really enjoy driving.
To get to Olivier’s lycée I have to pass through (or around) a busy network of three roundabouts. I can do roundabouts if it’s quiet and the other drivers know how to do roundabouts too. But the last couple of times when I’ve given Olivier a lift, I’ve been tooted by people in a hurry who think the only way to get anywhere is by dodging into empty lanes and driving at break neck speed. I’m beginning to dread him missing the bus.
Yesterday I was coming home from a lesson when the road was barred because of road works. We were given an alterative route but somehow the arrows seem to disappear. It was dark and raining, the traffic was busy and I didn’t have a clue where to go. I found myself in a ‘difficult’ area so I didn’t feel as if I should risk stopping to look at the street map I always keep in the car. I eventually ended up by the airport. I know my way back home from there, I was half an hour longer than intended, the journey home usually takes 15 minutes.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
A real piece of History
I just had to share this with you. A while back I posted an image on my Time and Oft blog about the Hampton ferry; I knew the ferry and used it in the early 70’s. The other day I received a lovely comment from someone who was a ferry boy. I thought you’d like to read the comment from Tony. A real piece of history, he’s new to blogging so if you’d like to give him some encouragement. I think he’ll have an interesting blog when he gets going.
I just had to share this with you. A while back I posted an image on my Time and Oft blog about the Hampton ferry; I knew the ferry and used it in the early 70’s. The other day I received a lovely comment from someone who was a ferry boy. I thought you’d like to read the comment from Tony. A real piece of history, he’s new to blogging so if you’d like to give him some encouragement. I think he’ll have an interesting blog when he gets going.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
"Nor a lender be"
You wouldn’t believe this but although I worked in a bank when I was younger and was pretty well paid, I never seemed to have any money. I remember that one year I had to buy a new car because my old banger wasn’t road worthy anymore. I only needed to borrow £100, quite a lot in those days, and wasn’t in a position to take out a bank loan and pay their interest rates, this is where my sister stepped in. She was married to a farmer at the time and was pretty well off so she offered to loan me the money. I swore I would pay it back regularly and bought my new car. As it happens, some months I couldn’t afford to pay her and it went on for a lot longer than it should, but I eventually paid her back. She was kind because she never complained or mentioned the word ‘interest’. Sadly she and her husband divorced and financially, things got pretty nasty between them and the loan that my sister made me was brought up. Her husband maintained that she’d charged me interest. I don’t understand why my poor sister was made to explain our little transaction in her divorce proceedings, but I always thought that it was mean after she’d been so generous to me. The money came from her savings anyway. If only we’d had the internet in those days, perhaps I could have looked at a site that offers help in finding the best deals as quickly as possible for a faxless cash advance , without worrying about knock on effects.
You wouldn’t believe this but although I worked in a bank when I was younger and was pretty well paid, I never seemed to have any money. I remember that one year I had to buy a new car because my old banger wasn’t road worthy anymore. I only needed to borrow £100, quite a lot in those days, and wasn’t in a position to take out a bank loan and pay their interest rates, this is where my sister stepped in. She was married to a farmer at the time and was pretty well off so she offered to loan me the money. I swore I would pay it back regularly and bought my new car. As it happens, some months I couldn’t afford to pay her and it went on for a lot longer than it should, but I eventually paid her back. She was kind because she never complained or mentioned the word ‘interest’. Sadly she and her husband divorced and financially, things got pretty nasty between them and the loan that my sister made me was brought up. Her husband maintained that she’d charged me interest. I don’t understand why my poor sister was made to explain our little transaction in her divorce proceedings, but I always thought that it was mean after she’d been so generous to me. The money came from her savings anyway. If only we’d had the internet in those days, perhaps I could have looked at a site that offers help in finding the best deals as quickly as possible for a faxless cash advance , without worrying about knock on effects.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Two additions
Two very different additions to my blogroll today, first is the blog of a very special young man called Ben who you can visit at A Work Of Art: Raising Our Exceptional Son. Just wait till you see the paintings!
Second could be a useful blog for those in the U.S.:Ebates Online Shopping Blog, if you know about cash back you'll find this useful.
P.S.
I'm also putting Keith back onto the blogroll, hopefully he won't change address again!
Two very different additions to my blogroll today, first is the blog of a very special young man called Ben who you can visit at A Work Of Art: Raising Our Exceptional Son. Just wait till you see the paintings!
Second could be a useful blog for those in the U.S.:Ebates Online Shopping Blog, if you know about cash back you'll find this useful.
P.S.
I'm also putting Keith back onto the blogroll, hopefully he won't change address again!
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