Is it a type of shoe?

Don’t mind if I do!

 

 What’s bugging me this month

 J'en ai mar!

Great french expression which means that you've had enough/fed up! And the reason I feel like this is because we are still without internet- 2 months now!

 In desperation (and the fact that I am trying to work and I can’t keep going to McDonalds) we have invested in Starlink which was very simple to install and is very quick. It is ideal if you are like us and live in a rural area, plus I cannot get Orange to put in fibre optic even though I have begged them -I literally got down on my knees in the local store.

 Talking of Mc Donalds, I have be visiting our local one to access their free Wi-Fi and of course I buy a coffee (can’t really sit there all day if I don’t). They open at 10.00 and silly me thinking I could get a coffee then, they told me that they would not be ready to serve till 10.30! but at least they bring it to your table on a nice tray - in the UK it’s just chucked out of the window at you. A group of youths (said in a Miranda Hart voice) came in the other day and sat next to me and I groaned internally as I thought they were going to be noisy but they just sat chatting quietly and said bonjour and au revoir to me. Youths (again in a Miranda Hart voice) also use salut a lot for hello and good bye, which I like. 

Needless to say the diet is not going well, it’s all the bacon and egg McMuffins that I am consuming. Also, it’s got very chilly here, so how can I not have a glass of red in front of a crackling fire? plus it’s too cold to go jogging ( I am a bit of a fair weather runner, too hot or too cold- forget it). Poor Tim has been very out of sorts without Wi-Fi. Yesterday I caught him watching in- door bowls, such is his desperation to watch something. We’ve only had terrestrial tv, thank God for Traitors.

 In other news:

So, other news (or nouvelles as they say here – I find that I use that word a lot-“ do you have any news on my ……”) is that I flew from Charles de Gaulle, got the train into Paris and then the RER to the airport. It’s a very good service and very reasonable, just advise you to allow a good hour and a half to get across Paris.

I had to change from the metro at St Michel to access the RER (think I I did that bit wrong), whist doing this I caught sight of the Notre Dame looking magnificent.  I am hoping to go soon and from January 10, the Holy Crown of Thornes (not to be confused with the Game of Thrones- something entirely different!!) is on display every Friday until Good Friday, if that sort of thing floats your boat.

Other nouvelles is that Virgin might be bidding on the Channel Tunnel and competition will hopefully make things more competitive as it has got very pricey. We used to be able to buy a block of tickets for £43 each! but I can hear you saying that everything is more expensive.

A few of our friends are packing up for warmer climes for a month or so and I can’t blame them. We can’t go away just yet due to work commitments but as soon as I can I will be out the door shouting  “allons- y! Charles de Gaulle Aéroport nous attend!."

One observation I have made recently is that the French love to chat, when they are serving a customer they do not rush to get rid of them. It still amazes me how polite people are here, total strangers wave to you as you drive past!. It’s quite heart warming to witness such friendliness and politeness- just don’t expect them to fix your phoneline!.

Keep warm, it’s nearly Spring !