05/07/2008
Do the French work in May
Someone in the bar told me there were only 11 working days in May as they have 3 or 4 bank holidays and if they fall on the middle of the week they call it "Le Pont" (bridge ) and have a long weekend so tomorrow is another long weekend as 8th May ( end of war , and my wedding anniversary ) is a "jour ferrie " so by next Tuesday the 13th the French workers will have done 3 official workdays in May so far.Nice work if you can get it.
We had a bit "barney " at Geant the other day ,we needed to buy a fridge and as we buy all our white goods there assumed we were considered good clients. Wrong thinking first we arrived during the period between 1200 and 2 pm you almost feel you should apologise for being there and the service was so bad I lost my cool and had to walk out. I think part of the problem is with the French labour laws making it differcult to sack any body so their customer respect has declined I find it a complete contrast to the Uk where I almost feel every one has been on a customer relation course.
I have at last managed to sideline my problem with "Echo " by playing the alto sax and my mate Rodger has to go back to playing the tenor and sitting next to him. Serves him right for not attending practises regularly and it gives me a chance to be more objective about his dismal playing. Tomorrow there is another run out by the remains of the Plestin Fanfare , we march up and down the hill , ( a bit like the Grand Old Duke of York ) play the " Marseillaise " a couple times and then go into the Marie to drink a few toasts.
07:55 Posted in Travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: gite, brittany, holiday, coat aillis, comments
04/30/2008
" The Marriage "
We set off for England last Thursday with great trepidation for Louise's wedding at the weekend we had all been kitted out with suits except me as I had to hire a suit with tails so I would resemble a penguin and having to give Louise at the church also had to give a speech later. We stayed with our good friends Jonnie and Francis near Amersham which was a half hour from the venue Taplow near Marlow and the reception was to be held at Stoke Park a superb country house where parts of the JamesBond film Goldfinger was shot.
Friday passed in a blur with a bit of shopping ( buying sad things such as baked beans and cheddar + books ) then being measured for my penguin suit and a rehearsal at the church afterwards we dashed back to Aylesbury for a meal at a noodle bar where they messed up our reservation to such a degree we got the meal for half price + free drinks to the point of embarrassment that we chucked in another £20 (it was for 11 people)
The big day arrived quickly first I dropped Paulien off to be beautified at Louise lodgings Red Roofs another very beautiful location later on I left with Louise in an 80year old Rolls Royce for the church at Taplow. The most differcult thing about escorting a bride down the isle is trying to avoid walking on their dress and ripping it. The service passed quickly although Louise had to give me a nudge to remember to lift her hand and place it in the vicar's to join the grooms. Afterwards they departed in the " Roller" for Stoke Park to be followed by the rest of us .
The reception was magnificent a quartet in the background playing classical music perfect weather for photo shoots good food and service and a sympathetic reception for my mumbling speech ( I spoke first and apparently pinched Adam's ( groom ) best lines ) The evening continued with fireworks then more music (rock ) and dancing we eventually got to bed in the early hours . It was a great time meeting up with friends and family ,Paulien's sister ( she is married to my brother ) and a really interesting experience ( although expensive , I seem to recall we got married for £25 but then I'm probably a tight "git " ) and then we wearily returned to France on the Sunday very tired
12:55 Posted in Travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: brittany, gite, holiday, coat aillis, comments
04/22/2008
The return of Mr Echo
The dreaded return of Jeano has happened, He spends the winter months in Paris ( I think he must play with a punk band which would account for his total lack of tonality, timing and loud volume ) and the summer in Plestin. Unfortunately for me and the other members of the Harmonie band in Lannion he thicks he can play the saxophone and even worse sits next to me as as the other sax player ( Sophie ) refuses to sit next to him. I think I'm going to have a musical nervous breakdown and can see myself picking up a music stand and attacking him ( they are quite heavy ) and trashing his saxophone and the bizarre thing is nobody other than Antony complains about him as if any idiot can turn up with an instrument and trash all our practise and concerts. I know we are short of players but at least we should have some standards.
The wedding is approaching and I guess I've got to sort out a speech so I have done what most students do now a days and trawled the internet for examples and jokes which aren't too offensive, apparently I have to hire tails which will be quite a shock as I usually hang out in jeans and some old trainers. Nobody will recognise me. The downside is I'll miss both semi finals for the HC but I suppose its a sacrifice worth making giving Louise away at least I don't have to give a dowry when I married Paulien I received 2 cows.
12:10 Posted in Travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: brittany, gite, holiday, coat aillis, comments