The Canary Dave

Isn't this a bit prejudicial against wolves Fez All of this comparing to animals eg. the heart of a lion, man or a mouse etc. is no longer PC is it ?

 

Morning all. Lovely morning, 20 °C already, and I am having to do some plumbing. Discovered a water leak under the kitchen sink and on investigation found a plastic pipe from the pressure controller had become brittle with age, and was starting to crumble. I hate plumbing at the best of times, but trying to get ready for my England trip next week, it is the last thing I need. Daughter and granddaughters arrived in England yesterday evening, and had their UK passports and other documents looked into four times before being let into the country. Quite what is going on I don't know. I will find out more in due course. Have a good day everyone.

 

Morning all. Not bad at the minute, but rain and storms forecast for later. Body is not feeling great after my plumbing yesterday. Elbows, knees, shoulders and hands all aching. What could have been a simple enough job if not trying to work in a very restricted place, turned out badly when I mislaid a washer. I fully understand why my neighbour in England retired from his plumbing business as his knees were shot having spent so much time on them. As for French plumbing systems, don't get me started. I will be in recovery mode today I hope. Have a good day everyone.

 

Look after yourself, ofh.

 

Morning all. Overnight rain, but dry for the moment. More storms are forecast for this afternoon, but if similar to yesterday they will not amount to much crashing and banging. According to BBC reporting the Presidential election today is on a knife edge, whilst the polls here suggest that Macron could have a 8% to 16% lead over le Pen. Looking at the first round results in this area, the villages and hamlets voted for her, but the towns wanted Macron. My French friend believes that the EU reducing CAP payments each year impacts far more on the agricultural communities, so they will vote for change, even if there is nothing suggested that would bring about the change. I do wonder how people in the UK would react to being asked to visit the polling station twice within the month. Not well I suspect. Have a good day everyone.

 

Morning all. My last offering for a week as I head north, and my first visit to England for two and a half years. It will be great to catch up with family, but apart from that I would rather have stayed here. So Macron won with a lead at the high end of projections. The first President for twenty years to be reelected. So will le Pen and her National Front return after three losses? We will see, but not only her, but her father also have been rejected for two decades now. Macron will have his hands full trying to unite the left and right in the country as they both move further away from the centre, but he has had some success along with the failures in his first five years. So pack the car and head towards the Channel with a few hours sleep onboard the ferry I hope before a cross country drive to the west. Have a good day whatever you will be doing.

 

Safe journey ofh...

 

Thanks BB. En raison de contrôles supplémentaires ..... says the e-mail, looks like I had better not leave it all to the last minute.

 

Enjoy!!

 

Morning all. Instead of my usual view of trees, hedgerows and fields, today I am looking out on the Gloucester canal. People jogging along the towpath, pleasure boats chugging by, and instead of buzzards hanging on a thermal, there are seagulls landing with a splash on the water. All very different. At 1.30 am just north of Rouen Monday night, half the autoroute was coned off, with flashing lights to guide you into the outside lane. More roadworks I suspected, but no, it was the time of night to send the grass cutter out and tidy up the verges. Makes sense as it would have held traffic up on a very busy stretch of road during the daytime. Contrast was noticed over here with the mile after mile of 50 mph restriction where they are creating a smart motorway, which I read is now regarded as unsafe. I have also been told since arriving here, not to even think about driving into Gloucester due to the roadworks. Anyway I will be taking it easy today, enough driving for the time being. Have a good day everyone.

 

have a great time.... chilly up in leeds where i am currently painting gates... enjoy the UK roads!

 

Good evening everyone! I try not to post (anywhere) when I've had a beer or three but tonight I just want to say that I've been for a night out with some of my besties from University and it's been fantastic! One of this particular life's little victories.
Friends: god's way of apologising for yer relations! (I actually said that in a Best Man's speech )

 

We went to see the film Downton in our local aged independant cinema last.... a def feel good movie if the values are def from a past era....... off to Yorkshire Sculpture Park today for a prebooked tour... .so will 'miss' the game

 

Morning all. Back from my trip across the Channel, with quite a lot happening one way and another. Hand over your carte de séjour along with your passport at French border control and you almost get waived through if you remember which commune you live in. Ferry company has under their terms of travel that you must provide a full three dose vaccination certificate, and masks must be worn on board apart from the outside decks.
Having joined the queue to board in Newhaven yesterday, I watched a very heated debate taking place between the owner of a large camping van and ferry management. Lots of shouting and arm waving before the motor home was turned away and not allowed to travel. Guess it must have been no covid pass as you cannot book now without a valid passport. No sympathy from me whatsoever.
Now to unpack the car including a few items that probably shouldn't have travelled, but as they were low cost I wouldn't have cried if they had been confiscated. A steady day ahead, then must get active again. Have a good day everyone.

 

Welcome home!

 

Morning all. A beautiful Spring day, mild and just a few wispy clouds in an otherwise clear blue sky. While I was away I found out that one of my English friends that we had our monthly get together with had suffered a large heart attack, and had been wisked off by helicopter to the hospital in Poitiers. The paramedics called for the aircraft, and within half an hour he was in the specialist treatment area 60 kms away. Helicopters are used a lot here for transporting people in need of rapid attention, and when Mme was hospitalised a few years ago she was entertained by watching them take off or land just outside her bedroom window. My friend is home now thankfully, but somewhat shaken by the experience. Have a good day everyone.

 

Morning all. Lovely day once more, and although I would like to do some gardening, a bit of food shopping is required after the trip across the water. Also need to get batteries for watches as both mine and Mme's stopped in England. Rarely do I wear mine, gone are the days when you do want it and could just wind it up. Rather like cars no longer coming with a starting handle. Have a good day everyone.

 

My watch strap broke during the first lock down.... it is still waiting to go to the repairer!

Prepping here for next trip to France in two weeks....

 

I am reminded of an entertaining little scene that played out at Cherbourg one midsummer afternoon. It was a beautiful day, and seats on the upper decks outside were going to be at a premium. Anyway, in the 4/5 lanes of cars, across a couple of lanes from us was the absolutely archetypical Engish git. Stout build, a bit short, sports jacket, flannels, handlebar moustache and 2.4 MK2 Jag - the classic. As boarding time came and went. and the cars didn't start moving, he got a bit cross, pointing up to the decks, and remonstrating with the French port/ferry company officials , obviously to no effect, as he was in a queue going nowhere. I think he thought his car should be moved to the front or that his lane should move first - even though none were moving. And French officials are masters at completely ignoring protestations. It was mildly entertaining for the rest of us. I thought he would have realised he didn't have any bargaining chips whatsoever. Anyway, the last straw came when ,as we could see on the gangway above us, all the foot passengers were let on first , and were happily established on the upper decks looking down on the car queues. This was too much for Col Tufton Bufton ( retd). He really let those frogs have it. At which point, 2 gendarmes appeared and carted him off to their offices, whilst the rest of us then shuffled on board. Quite made my day.