Living in Brittany

The weather has reverted to type for January cold, wet,windy but the temperature is +5 as opposed to -5 which we had for the first 2 weeks of the year. I even planted some onions in my new raised beds. I made 7 of them from old beams I found in my store they measure 1.2 x 3.5m and should make gardening much easier as the soil doesn't get compacted and I can give them a coating of compost at the start of the season.
The recession has made its mark in Plestin the upholstery shop is closing down we know the owner well and her work is good and she doesn't appear to be incompetent as a business person. She told us she hasn't paid last years taxes and this year she had a demand of 21k from the RSI (regime social independent ) which includes social security payments and pension contributions. It seems very excessive for a small business I think French economists go to the same school where they invented the square wheel.
The Lannion harmony band seems to have the opportunity of going to Bavaria for a week as part of an exchange the only problem is only half the band is interested and we would be short of trumpet players so it would effect the total sound of the band. I guess after the locals have had a few beers it wouldn't sound too bad.