Evening all. I have been rather under the weather for the past couple of days with flu like symptoms. One minute hot and the next shivering with the cold. Slept for twelve hours last night and think it would have been longer if Mme hadn't brought me up a cup of tea. Hopefully it will pass, and your daily weather forecast for rural France can recommence.
At a time when the government is under the most incredible financial pressure, they will now have to start the process of changing all that money, stamps etc that have ER11 on them.
I'm not sure that 'change' is the correct word. I would have expected there always to have been a contingency plan in place to introduce new currency - with the old currency still being used but gradually withdrawn? I never had access to paper money as a kid, but well remember coins with previous monarchs in general use - some even with Victoria's head on them. So it surely doesn't need to be a costly process.
Afternoon all. So just as I was thinking about how to report the reaction this side of the Channel to the death of the Queen, the internet goes down for several hours. Beyond any doubt she was regarded as one of the greatest leaders Europe has ever seen. Political leaders have all paid glowing tributes to someone who they described as having wit and charm.
Morning all. Current events remind me of an unusual event that happened when I still lived in England , and received some income from funeral directors. One day I was playing at a village church far longer than normal, as the hearse was late arriving. Funerals run to time, so this was unusual. It is not obvious, but the bier in a hearse is designed to carry two coffins, one on view and the other one hidden. On this occasion the undertakers had been to the crematorium and had stopped in a lay by, well screened from the road to bring the second coffin out of the dark, and place it on view. Some well meaning member of the public had driven into the lay by just as the transfer was to take place. Quite what they thought was going on only they knew, but they phoned the police, who turned up en masse. Soon resolved of course, but one of those events that stay with you.
Morning all. 32°C so it is not time to think about violent exercise. Not a soul in sight, despite English holiday home owners still being around. Pottered slowly towards the bread machine, and was almost put in the ditch by a white van delivery service man. Without seeing anyone else I arrived at the bread machine to find a notice saying the baker is on holiday until the 26th. No bread, so returned homewards, only to meet the same white van man again, although on a straight piece of the lane. Not my morning! Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. My days are all over the place at the moment. Visitors one minute, need to go and find the habitat of the physio the next. Meanwhile the wisteria is going potty sending out shoots that need cutting back, so it starts to rain. Have a good day everyone.
Morning all. It is bright and dry, but you can see and feel the transition from summer to autumn taking place. By 8.00 pm it is time to close the shutters and the temperatures are now back in the 20's rather than the 30's. In England I had neighbours that lived in a cottage without electricity. As they went to bed when they could no longer see, they had very long spells there some periods of the year, and very short spells other times. As they didn't have indoor sanitation either, a swap deal had been agreed with a neighbour that allowed them to use an outside privy that was nearer to their cottage. Have a good day everyone.
Good morning from Edinburgh We are supposed to be in Norway but gale force 8-10 weather forced our ship to divert.... So off to visit family today. Will be reassuring to be able to walk again after 24 hours of torment... Journey changed and we head up to the Shetlands tonight and then a sprint eastwards...
Not quite in the same league , but whilst working in Dublin, I was being taken to one of our sites. As we journeyed, all the traffic slowed. Not that traffic in Eire ever travelled quickly. Anyway, on the far side was a line of parked cars, all fully occupied . Clearly a funeral procession. Presumably waiting for the hearse to start. Not quite. At the head of the queue was a filling station. In the filling station, at a pump was the hearse - with coffin and flowers, being filled up by a beautifully dressed chauffeur in full black mourning ( morning ?) dress , enhanced by the wearing of green wellington boots. Unforgettable.
