tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2009-11-08:/Living in Windsor and rants about anything that gets up my nose!MokoFeed2009-11-08T14:28:23+01:00tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2007-04-13:/2007/04/13/on_the_road_again_part~2085458/Smiley2007-04-13T16:50:31+02:002007-04-13T16:51:53+02:00 <p><u><strong>East Hartford - Fri 13th April.</strong></u></p> <p>God, it's cold here. 40 degrees F (not C) and a bitter wind. Yesterday we had sleet and snow, and more is forcast for Sunday. Today is bright and sunny, but still cold. Apparently it's the coldest April for a very long time (in contrast to January which was the warmest January on record).</p> <p>As well as being cold, it's still quite dreary and drab. The trees still haven't got any leaves and most of the ground seems to a dull browny colour. I know from experience that in the summer, it's a pleasant place. In the autumn, when the leaves change colour, it's a positively beautiful place. But now, in late spring, it's just drab. I drove over the Connnecticut River this morning, and even that was a muddy brown colour.</p> <p>Despite this, my spirits are undampend. I just love being here. Driving to work this morning, I felt as if I could have just kept on going. The traffic in this part of the world is light, the car (a Ford) just cruises along effortlessly and with a free coffee from the hotel and some good music on the radio, everything was pretty cool. Of course, tomorrow is the weekend and I WILL keep going (to Boston, maybe) but today it was work.</p> <p>Stangely enough, I think other people must have felt the same as me; the office is pretty much deserted. I have some training this afternoon, but hopefully it will be a quick getaway after... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2007/04/13/on_the_road_again_part~2085458/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2007-04-12:/2007/04/12/on_the_road_again_or_get_with_the_progam~2080715/Smiley2007-04-12T20:28:06+02:002007-04-12T20:28:06+02:00 <p><u><strong>Thurs 12th April - East Hartford</strong></u></p> <p>My last post extolled the virtues of the Americans. But as well as being wonderfully friendly, they can also be quite blunt.</p> <p>Last night, in my befuddled jet lagged state at the airport, I was going to the restroom when for some reason, I hesitated which way to go. A huge guy nearly bumped into me and expressed his annoyance with the following bark "Hey buddy, you need to get with the program here". In England there might have been a surly "tut tut" or maybe an "excuse me". But over here, it was some red necked idiot shouting to the whole airport that I need to get with the program. What exactly does that mean anyway - get with the program.</p> <p>Despite this, my views on the natives haven't changed. </p> <p>On my way to the airport to pick up my hire car this morning, the bus driver spent the whole journey giving me advice on where to eat, what to do, and the state of the nation. Finally he also filled me in on "those god dammed <strong>*</strong>** Yankees" (I presume he was talking about the baseball team, rather than Americans in general).</p> <p>As predicted, I slept like a log last night, and my jet lag has gone (seems I haven't lost my touch after all). This morning, I realised that after two days of traveling, I hadn't eaten properly for some time and that I was ravenous.</p> <p>Well, if there is one place to be if you're hungry then America is it. Breakfast consisted of an unfeasibly large mound of scrambled eggs, corn beef hash and about half a bottle of Tabasco. As ever, lashings of free coffee finished it off. What a meal and all for 5 dollars (£2.50) - compare that with the £20 quid or so you'll pay for a hotel breakfast in a good hotel in the UK/Europe.</p> <p>Arriving at the hire car office, I was offered a complimentary bagel and the inevitable coffee. For the sake of my figure, I turned down the bagel, but was unable to resist the coffee!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2007/04/12/on_the_road_again_or_get_with_the_progam~2080715/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2007-04-12:/2007/04/12/on_the_road_again~2080381/Smiley2007-04-12T19:48:21+02:002007-04-12T19:48:21+02:00 <p><u><strong>Wednesday 11th April - East Harford</strong></u><br> Am absolutely knackered!</p> <p>As predicted, after about an hours sleep, I was wide awake. I did drift off to sleep again, but it was very fitful.</p> <p>Up at 0500 to get my shuttle to the airport. Good humour was partially restored by the provision of free coffee by the hotel. It seems most hotels in the States that I go to do this - a complimentary pot of hot coffee in the reception area. It can't cost much, and it is such a nice gesture, why can't hotels in the rest of the world do it? So while I was checking out and then waiting for the bus, I managed to gulp two cups of restorative coffee - marvelous!</p> <p>Arrival at the airport provided another contrast between UK and the States. Check in was painless, security was tight but the guys doing the checks were polite, friendly and efficient - the complete opposite to the surly people at LHR. Yet another contrast - we had a delay and the gate staff explained everything and told us what was what.</p> <p>While I was sat by the window waiting for our airplane to arrive, I looked longingly at Phoenix in the distance. I spent a month here in 1992 and it was wonderful. I had hoped to have a couple of days rediscovering the place, but my plans changed hence my departure some 12 hours after my arrival!</p> <p>A lot of people seem to dislike America and Americans these days. I can perhaps understand that, but to all those detractors, I would say go and see the place and meet the people before judging them.</p> <p>Wherever you go here, you can't help but bump into friendly, helpful people. They are just dying to either help you or just be generally nice to you. When our plane finally left for Pittsburgh, I found myself next to an old lady. By the time we were airborne (15 minutes after leaving the gate) I felt as if I had known her all my life. It was exactly the same at Pittsburgh while I was waiting for my connecting flight. I found a bar to eat some dinner, and within 5 minutes was involved in a not too serious conversation on the poor old Pittsburgh Penguins (an Ice Hockey team who were getting a beating last night) with 3 other guys. This sort of thing just wouldn't happen in the UK. </p> <p>So, anyway, after a few hours in Pittsburgh, I caught another plane and arrived in a bitterly cold Hartford at about 2300. I have spent the last 2 days flying and am now exhausted. Jet lag or not, I suspect I'll be sleeping well tonight!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2007/04/12/on_the_road_again~2080381/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2007-04-12:/2007/04/12/on_the_road_again~2080143/Smiley2007-04-12T19:18:42+02:002007-04-12T19:21:56+02:00 <p>Not entirely sure when the next few posts will get onto the net - I am traveling and have limited email and internet access.</p> <p><strong><u>Tuesday 10th April - Phoenix</u></strong><br> Just spent 10 and a half hours on a plane. Even in business class, with a 'lie-flat' seat it's not good. Better than cattle class but still not good.</p> <p>Leaving LHR was the usual mess. Loads of jobsworth security guys (and gals) whose only aim in life is to make everyone else's life a misery. </p> <p>Then the world's favourite airline were up to their usual tricks. The flight was an hour late, but did we get any updates from the ground staff - did we hell. Had there been an announcement, I could have gone and got a coffee, or done some shopping, or done anything rather than stand round expectantly waiting for a boarding call that never came. Turns out that the first officer's car had broken down. BA then had to find another crew member to take his place. It all sounds suspicious to me. Just to complete the day, the boarding process was a scrum with just one announcement - 'board now'. </p> <p>Once airborne however, comfortably ensconced in my lie-flat seat, my usual good mood returned and I have to say that the food was excellent. I don't normally like seafood, but I had a crab salad and then a prawn masala curry that were both wonderful. A large glass of whiskey, and then a few hours kip.</p> <p>Reading that last paragraph, it sort of contradicts what I was saying about business class. Well, yes it is infinitely better than being cooped up in an economy seat, but it is still a pain.</p> <p>Entry into the states was absolutely painless. Incredibly I was first off the plane, and we were the only international arrival at the airport. So it took just 2 minutes to clear immigration. Even those who had to queue were processed quickly, and but the time our luggage arrived, pretty much everyone had cleared - well impressed with that.</p> <p>So now, I am sat in my hotel, at 0500 british time and 2100 local time and the prospect of a disrupted night's sleep beckons.</p> <p>Before I got married, I used to travel a lot and jet lag was never an issue. I guess this is because 1) I traveled so much that I was used to it, and 2) I was a lot younger and could recover much quicker. </p> <p>Anyway, I am pretty sure this is going to be a sleepless, night and I have an early get up to catch another flight.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2007/04/12/on_the_road_again~2080143/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2007-04-02:/2007/04/02/hot_soup~2017689/Smiley2007-04-02T07:33:55+02:002007-04-02T07:33:55+02:00 <p>Seen in a branch of Cafe Nero (in Windsor) on Saturday</p> <p>A large sign proclaiming</p> <p>"Hot Soup Fresh From The Fridge"</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2007/04/02/hot_soup~2017689/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2007-03-22:/2007/03/22/happy_days~1954031/Smiley2007-03-22T16:08:08+01:002007-03-22T16:08:08+01:00 <p>According to some little ready reckoner on the BBC Website it seems I am about 170 quid better off after Gordon Brown's budget. Not sure if this is true, but it has cheered me up anyway. <img src="/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif" alt=":DD" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Click here to try for yourself <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/business/budget_calc/html/budget_calculator.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/business/budget_calc/html/budget_calculator.stm</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2007/03/22/happy_days~1954031/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2007-02-26:/2007/02/26/the_shame_of_it~1808789/Smiley2007-02-26T16:37:54+01:002007-02-26T16:37:54+01:00 <p>Got overtaken by a Volvo this morning.<br> A bloody Volvo!<br> I mean, really, a Volvo.<br> Still can't believe it even now.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2007/02/26/the_shame_of_it~1808789/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2007-02-05:/2007/02/05/a_lunch_from_the_past~1684618/Smiley2007-02-05T14:13:14+01:002007-02-05T14:13:14+01:00 <p>Last week I saw a TV progamme featuring Ray Mears in some woods. Ray is the guy you often see on TV demonstrating survival techniques in jungles and other inhospitable places. Despite the unlikelyhood of me ever needing such skills (or remembering them should I need to) I find these programmes quite watchable. </p> <p>The current series deals with how Ray thinks our distant ancestors lived in the woods thousands of years ago. Part of the programme dealt with mushrooms and to demonstrate he cooked a meal with some of the 'shrooms. Here's the recipe.</p> <p>Mushrooms<br> Tomatoes<br> Garlic<br> Basil<br> Balsamic Vinegar<br> Olive Oil<br> Butter<br> French Bread </p> <p>Finally, he used a teflon coated frying pan.</p> <p>Now, call me picky but in a programme dealing with how our ancestors lived in the woods, I find much of the above a bit hard to swallow! One minute Ray was showing us how to cook acorns with a hot stone, the next he was frying mushrooms in olive oil and eating a baguette!</p> <p>I'll give him the frying pan, maybe there was some other way to heat the food. Prehaps there was some early form of bread too (although I very much doubt it).</p> <p>I don't know, but I can imagine that mushrooms, garlic and basil were around in these early days (although Ray himeself admitted there was no evidence that our ancestors used to eat mushrooms). But I'm reasonably sure Tomatoes came from South America a few hundred years ago, and as for olive oil, butter and balsamic vinegar! </p> <p>Anyway, yesterday lunchtime found us at home with no plans for lunch, and I decided to try out Ray's recipe. It was bloody marvelous!</p> <p>Fry the mushrooms and garlic in a little olive oil (I decided to be healthy and didn't use the butter) add the tomatoes, basil and a 'splash' of balsamic vinegar and continue cooking.</p> <p>Serve on a fresh baguette and hey presto you have a healthy, tasty lunch.</p> <p>Just call me Gordon Ramsey!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2007/02/05/a_lunch_from_the_past~1684618/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2007-01-29:/2007/01/29/a_dog_s_life~1643665/Smiley2007-01-29T14:23:22+01:002007-01-29T14:23:22+01:00 <p>What is it about dogs and sticks? Perhaps more correctly, what is it about dogs, sticks, and water. Darling Wife and myself were in Windsor Great Park yesterday afternoon. If I saw one person throw a stick into the lake for a dog, then I must have seen fifty or more.</p> <p>We were near Virginia Water where there is a great big lake which has easy access from the path that runs around it. It was almost a perfect winters day. Blue skies, not too cold, but with a bitter wind that reminded us that we are still in January. Despite the wind, it was just the sort of day for wrapping up and going for a walk. An awful lot of people seemed to have the same idea as us, and it seemed that the vast majority of them had dogs.</p> <p>Big dogs, small dogs, yapping dogs and barking dogs. There were dogs of pedigree and dogs of uncertain ancestry. Dogs with shaggy, dirty coats and dogs that looked like they had come straight from the poodle parlour. </p> <p>Whatever the dog, there were two common themes. They were happy, and their masters were throwing sticks for them (invariably into the lake).</p> <p>So, back to the question. Why do dogs love chasing after sticks? Now if it was a rabbit, or a cat then fair enough. But a stick?</p> <p>This is apparently how it works. You hurl a stick (or ball) as far as you possibly can and your dog hurtles off barking grabs the stick and brings it back to you. Having chased down the stick, and brought it back the owner promptly throws it again, and bugger me if the dog doesn't go chasing after it with the same boundless enthusiasm. And here's the real rub. If you don't throw the stick, the bloody dog will start barking at you until you do so!</p> <p>Such is the allure of this game, that if some poor mutt is being neglected by his master and does not have anything of his own to fetch, then he'll chase after some other dog's stick and then all hell will break loose.</p> <p>I like dogs, I think they're great. But boy, are they stupid!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2007/01/29/a_dog_s_life~1643665/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2007-01-24:/2007/01/24/what_s_happening_to_me~1614306/Smiley2007-01-24T17:11:17+01:002007-01-24T17:11:17+01:00 <p>My last two CD purchases have been by Nelly Furtado and Jamelia. Nothing wrong with that some of you might think. But considering that my favourite bands include, Nirvana, The Pixies, and Led Zepplin; the two additions to my CD Library are rather out of character. Other recent purchases have inclued Neil Diamond and Johnny Cash, and perhaps a little more in character, My Chemical Romance. </p> <p>I know tastes change as we get older, but this is ridiculous!</p> <p>Anyway, Loose by Nelly F and Walk With Me by Jamelia.</p> <p>Buy them!</p> <p>Now!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2007/01/24/what_s_happening_to_me~1614306/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2007-01-24:/2007/01/24/some_women~1613730/Smiley2007-01-24T15:50:09+01:002007-01-24T15:50:09+01:00 <p>Below is a transcript of a conversation I just had. I was trying to ring a lady in my main office. Name have been changed to protect the inocent (the lady I was trying to reach) and the stupid (the silly bint who answered the phone and who also shares the line).</p> <p>SMILEY "Hi, is that Mary?"<br> JULIE "No, it's Julie"<br> SMILEY "Is Mary there?<br> JULIE "Yes"</p> <p>Long silence</p> <p>SMILEY "Can you put her on?"<br> JULIE "Oh, do you want to talk to her?<br> SMILEY "Of course I want to talk to her, you dumbwitted cow, that's why I called"</p> <p>But, of course, I didn't say that last line. Instead I just meekly said yes.</p> <p>Did she think I was some mentally retarded idiot who just rings up random numbers in the phone book asking to talk to people.</p> <p>I mean, really!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2007/01/24/some_women~1613730/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2007-01-24:/2007/01/24/coffee_shops~1613556/Smiley2007-01-24T15:29:10+01:002007-01-24T15:29:10+01:00 <p>I've never really been one to complain about the world dominance of Starbucks and the other coffee-shop chains. As someone who travels around the world, it's nice to know that I can go in to a shop and get something the same as I get in Windsor. I'm not saying I'm not adventurous because I'm not. I'll willingly eat the local fare and drink the local alcohol. But when it comes to coffee, I know what I like and Starbucks, Costa Coffee and the others can provide it. In the distant past, I've had some pretty awful 'coffee' and I have no desire to repeat the experience. In France, you could go to pretty much any café and get an excellent cup. Alas, the rest of the world does not have the same exacting standards and so if I'm in a new place and see a recognisable coffee-shop I'll head for it.</p> <p>I do realise the big boys have a negative effect on the local places though. In my home town of Haywards Heath, there are 2 local cafes. They used to be bustling little places serving good, reasonably priced, coffee and tea. Now Haywards Heath has a Costa Coffee as well (still no McDonalds thank God).</p> <p>I was down at HH this morning and both local cafes were pretty much empty and the Costa was packed. As I know the other places serve good coffee, I decided to strike a blow for small independent trader and went into one of the other shops. I was the only customer. As I was walking to the counter my mobile rang. It was one of my customers and I knew it would be a long call, so I told him I would ring back in a few minutes (after I had ordered my brew). Arriving at the counter, the lad serving opened the conversation with,<br> "You can't use mobiles in here, it upsets the customers"<br> I made a show of looking round before pointing out that I was a customer, indeed I was THE ONLY customer and that as I wasn't upset I couldn't see the problem.<br> "Doesn't matter, it's the rules"<br> I asked him that if I wanted to use my mobile did that mean I had to stand outside in the snow?<br> "Yes, it’s the rules"</p> <p>Now, I know lots of people detest others using their mobiles, and if there had been customers in the shop, I would probably have just turned my phone off. As well as good coffee, the shops sells particularly tasty pasties and I had my heart set on one. Indeed if I'm honest, it was the pasty I was in the shop for. Never mind the small independent trader, I'll take a big fat pasty over a sticky, over-priced, cake any day! </p> <p>But there weren't other customers. There was no sign that there ever had been, or ever would be other customers. Of course, for all I know, the shop might be the haunt of the local 'We Hate Mobile Telephones Society'. Maybe in the afternoons, it is a welcome haven for those who have no desire to have their lattes interrupted with cries of "I'm in the coffee-shop mum!". It just seems to me that if I had a business that was under threat from a large multi-national concern with a strong brand appeal, then I might be willing to make concessions to try and attract and keep customers. </p> <p>Anyway, I decided that I had spent enough time and effort on the small independent trader and went and joined the other good citizens of Haywards Heath in Costa Coffee!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2007/01/24/coffee_shops~1613556/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2007-01-05:/2007/01/05/last_chance~1517385/Smiley2007-01-05T15:25:21+01:002007-01-05T15:25:21+01:00 <p>Ok, this is it. The last chance for this blog. Having only posted 3 or 4 times last year, I guess this attempt will also fail, but here goes anyway. I have decided to blog about all the stupid annoying people that get right up my nose!</p> <p>The title of the blog comes from a recent comment made to a colleague in the office. Upon ordering a latte in a coffee shop, the dimwitted twat behind the counter asked if he wanted milk in it? Hello? I can understand some customers not knowing that a latte was a milky coffee but the staff? </p> <p>Coffee shops such as Starbucks and Costa Coffe (Costa being the relevant word there) are supposed to be trendy and the 'in-thing'. </p> <p>Yeah, right. You queue for an hour, pay an extortionate amount of a money to some spotty little moron who doesn't have a clue what he's selling for a cup of frothy milk and a dash of coffee. I can almost understand the gormless idiots who work in PC World not knowing a thing about the PC's they sell; after all a PC can be quite complicated. But a coffee shop attendant. It's not really rocket science is it? </p> <p>Anyway, it's just this sort of thing that irritates the hell out of me and will hopefully inspire me to keep blogging. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2007/01/05/last_chance~1517385/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-11-12:/2006/11/12/the_birds~1323260/Smiley2006-11-12T21:22:53+01:002006-11-12T21:22:53+01:00 <p>We saw a Green Woodpecker in the front garden yesterday morning. It’s not the first one I have ever seen, but I have never seen such a bold one. Normally they seem to be shy birds. This one was quite happily exploring our front lawn for about 10 minutes or so and was quite oblivious of the occasional passer by. A nice start to the weekend.</p> <p>On the subject of birds, when we arrived we went to a local garden shop and bought a small plastic container of nuts. I hung it in one of the trees and within 10 minutes some finches had found it. Since then, the word has obviously spread and now it is quite common to see 15 birds squabbling around the nuts. Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Blue and Great Tits are the ones I can identify. Boy, can they scoff. We have been here for 5 weeks or so, and already we are on our third tube of nuts.</p> <p>I feel a little sorry for our resident Robin. He (or She) can’t take the nuts from the feeder (I am not even sure if Robins eat nuts) and he spends his time sat on a branch just watching the action.</p> <p>I am thinking about buying a bird table for him and the other non nut eaters. More on that if it happens.</p> <p>Last week, Darling Wife took some old swede to the park for the gulls that are spending their winter vacation there. There about 50 Black Headed Gulls in residence and they are obviously quite streetwise as they were circling eagerly overhead before Joanna emptied the swede on to the grass. Having dutifully dumped the vegetables Darling Wife was then forced to retreat hastily as the gulls descended as one. They took about a minute to devour the lot.</p> <p>There was similar carnage down on the river today. We had lunch in Windsor and then went and sat by the river for a few minutes. It was quite pleasant, cold but not excessively so. We tried to feed the Geese and Swans but of course the Gulls gate-crashed the party. They are incredibly agile, and whenever a piece of bread was thrown into the air, a Gull always caught it before it hit the water. </p> <p>Some of the Geese got bored with seeing their lunch being intercepted and so decided to hop up onto the bank and come and get the food themselves. One particularly large brute began impatiently pecking at me and very nearly got himself booted back into the river for his pains.</p> <p>As you might expect, Darling Wife thought this was all jolly good fun. It must be noted however that she stayed well away from the action at all times. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/11/12/the_birds~1323260/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-11-10:/2006/11/10/a_short_update~1317559/Smiley2006-11-10T23:46:01+01:002006-11-10T23:46:01+01:00I am not sure if any readers are still with me after my long self imposed absence from blogging. I guess not many, but for anyone who is and of course for new readers; here is a quick rundown of the last few months. We (Darling Wife and myself) relocated back to the UK from Paris in August. I am now working at Heathrow and expect to be here for 3 years or so. We spent 5 weeks in a small apartment on the edge of the airport while we looking for somewhere more permanent. We had two main criteria for our house. It had to have three bedrooms and I wanted it to be within 30 minutes of the Airport. Despite knowing the airport well, I had no idea of the area around the place. So mainly because it was somewhere I had heard of, I decided to start looking in Windsor. True, I had also heard of Slough but it didn't have quite the same allure (I realise I maybe doing that town a disservice, but there you are). So Windsor it was. The company provide a relocation agency but we found they were pretty useless. Darling Wife eventually found a house in the local property paper and we agreed to rent it within 5 minutes of seeing it. It's got 4 bedrooms and a small garden and is pretty much what we looking for. It's a little further out from the town than we wanted, but we can live with that. The drive to and from the office takes 25 minutes in the Skateboard and that is just about perfect. The only fly in the ointment is that we are under the flight path for Heathow. It's not really a problem at the moment because it's winter and we are keeping the windows closed. If we are still here next summer, then it might be a different story. So that's it really. Not really sure what the next 3 years will bring, but hopefully you'll be able to read all about it here.<p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/11/10/a_short_update~1317559/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-11-10:/2006/11/10/the_joys_of_driving~1315367/Smiley2006-11-10T12:14:01+01:002006-11-10T12:14:01+01:00While I was away on my travels in Asia and Europe I kept my car in storage. It's a little Honda CRX (AKA the Skateboard). It's not the first model which was a souped up Civic, but the Mk2 which is a 2 seater with a lift-off roof (I think Targa Top is the correct term). It wasn't regarded as a fast car when it was new, and now 14 years later it is positively pedestrian. However it's still a joy to drive. It sits very close to the ground and even doing 30 miles per hour feels a lot faster than in a normal saloon. It handles like a dream and if pushed it will accelerate quite sharply (but it does need to be pushed). There are drawbacks. It's has an appallingly hard ride - hence the name Skateboard. The slightest bump threatens to knock your teeth out. The removable roof leaks. It's noisy. Worst of all (or maybe it's the best thing) if I pull up tight against the kerb, it's so low to the ground that Darling Wife can't get out and a bout of grumpiness usually ensues. But on a cold, frosty, sunny morning like this morning, with the roof off and me wrapped up like an Eskimo it's just utterly wonderful. A quick 25 minute dash through the back lanes to Heathrow is always guaranteed to put me in a good mood for the day. In a word - Marvelous!<br><p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/11/10/the_joys_of_driving~1315367/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-11-07:/2006/11/07/i_don_t_believe_it~1305391/Smiley2006-11-07T16:00:07+01:002006-11-07T16:00:07+01:00One of the unexpected things that has come into my life since marrying Darling Wife is my evening stroll. Darling Wife firmly believes in exercising after Dinner and so, more often or not, I am kicked out of the house at around 7pm with strict instructions not to return for 30 minutes or so. In the summer, Darling Wife quite often accompanies me, but since the clocks have gone back and (more importantly) the temperature has dropped, her enthusiasm has diminished quite remarkably. In Paris, this constitutional used to lead me by the Eiffel Tower, or along the Seine. Even in the depths of winter this was always interesting. There was always something or someone to watch. Alas, the delights of Dedworth do not quite come up to the same standard. However, there is a small park to wander round, and it is a safe enough area so I am not complaining. What I am complaining about is this. Last night I passed a house with not one but two illuminated Christmas trees in the window. What is all this about? It's only just past bonfire night, and we've got Christmas decorations up in peoples houses. It's bad enough that the local Tesco has is playing Christmas music and has started exhorting us to have fun and be jolly, but for the locals to join in early November seems pretty pathetic to me. What is wrong with these people? Do they think December 25th will come quicker if they stick a bit of green plastic and some lights in their window? Are their lives so boring that they need to focus on the forthcoming celebrations to take their mind off of things? As I think I mentioned last year, in France most places (shops, towns, whatever) don't really embrace the Christmas spirit until a few weeks before the 25th and that is a practice I fervently miss. Oh well, whatever! If the good citizens of Dedworth Road are happy who I am to criticize.<br><p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/11/07/i_don_t_believe_it~1305391/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-11-04:/2006/11/04/away_day~1295287/Smiley2006-11-04T17:34:01+01:002006-11-04T17:34:01+01:00I had fully intended starting blogging again last week but events transpired against me. Now I am in Bristol with my parents and I thought I would take the opportunity to try out my latest toy. It's a PDA / Phone that allows me to send and receive emails. I guess this is pretty old hat these days but I still find it amazing that something the size of a matchbox can surf the net, send emails and do all sorts of other amazing things. The other thing that is useful is that my blog allows me to post via email So if this works I'll be doing some more remote blogging.<p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/11/04/away_day~1295287/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-10-27:/2006/10/27/blogging_part~1267749/Smiley2006-10-27T15:38:05+02:002006-10-27T15:38:05+02:00 <p>This is the second attempt at blogging. Since my last post myself and Darling Wife have moved to Windsor. Although we don't live on the banks of the Thames, we do walk by the river a lot and it seemed an appropriate name for the new blog. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/10/27/blogging_part~1267749/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-03-25:/2006/03/25/general_strike~674431/Smiley2006-03-25T21:06:35+01:002006-03-25T21:06:35+01:00 <p>Oh dear, another vaguely political post – what’s happening to me?</p> <p>As mentioned a few weeks ago. France is in turmoil at the moment over a new labour law. The gist of it is that the Government want to make it easier to sack people. More specifically, they want to make it easier to sack young people.</p> <p>Perhaps not surprisingly the good students of France are not happy with this. They believe that unscrupulous employers will hire and fire at will, and generally exploit the young workforce.</p> <p>In keeping with tradition, the students have been striking, protesting and occasionally rioting in attempt to get the Government to change its mind over the law.</p> <p>We have a had a few ‘days of action’ already. There have been 3 mass protests in Paris over the last 10 days and many more around the country.</p> <p>Now, if you watch the BBC or CNN then you would be under the impression that these protests have been nothing but a series of running battles between the Police and the Students. It’s quite depressing how the news channels continually focus on the negative all the time. In reality, the protests have been very peaceful. It has generally only been at night when the Students have retired to the bars and cafés to discuss the days events, that the various lowlifes that always seem to be attracted to this sort of thing have crawled out of their holes and started fighting and throwing petrol bombs. Yes, there has been some violence between the legitimate protestors and the Police, but very little.</p> <p>Things are now due to come to a head. A number of large Trade Unions have called a strike for next Tuesday. Crucially, the transport workers are joining in. This means that the Paris and large parts of the country will be pretty much paralysed. It’s hard enough getting around Paris when the Metro and busses are running. When they’re not it’s a nightmare. So, even those who disagree with the strike will probably stay at home because it will be so difficult to get work. </p> <p>For my part, I am going to be safe in Brussels for the week, so no day off for me.</p> <p>The guy at the centre of this is the Prime Minister. You could almost feel sorry for him. He has his eyes on the Presidency which is up for grabs next year. But now, it is all slipping away from him. If he holds his ground, he is going to alienate a large part of the population. Yet if he caves in or even compromises (which to be fair he has shown no signs of doing) he will be accused of being spineless by everyone including those clamouring for him to climb down now. </p> <p>As I say, you could almost feel sorry for him. Almost, but not quite.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/03/25/general_strike~674431/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-03-25:/2006/03/25/title~674425/Smiley2006-03-25T21:04:33+01:002006-03-25T21:05:27+01:00 <p>I’m not really a political sort of person, and I have what I consider to be healthy disregard for anyone who aspires to be a politician. But I feel I must comment on the latest antics of the French President M. Chirac. Ever since his recent stroke he has been acting a little strangely. The country was burning in the riots of last Autumn and what did we here from the Palais de l’Elysee? Nothing. Now the streets are awash with revolting (in every sense of the word) students and again a deafening silence from M. Chirac.</p> <p>But during the week, he excelled himself. At a meeting of the EU in Brussels he left because one of the French speakers at the meeting had the cheek to speak in English.</p> <p>M. Chirac has never hid his dislike for his cousins from across the channel. He takes every opportunity to deliver subtle and not so subtle snubs. That may be fair enough – after all everyone has their own prejudices.</p> <p>More worrying is his naïve campaign to restore the French language to its rightful place as the #1 language of Europe and maybe the world. Millions are to be spent on an international all French language 24 hour TV News service that no one but the French will watch (and given that it might yet not be available in France, that begs the question as to who exactly will watch it). There is to be a French language only internet search engine to rival Google. Cabinet ministers have been forbidden to speak anything other than French when meeting visiting dignitaries in France. French Radio stations have to play at least 40% (possibly more) music that is in French. The list goes depressingly on.</p> <p>Despite his best efforts, the official language of the EU is now English as it also is at Airbus (which the French always seem to mistakenly regard as a French company).</p> <p>Anyway, getting back to M. Presidents latest tantrum. He walked out of the meeting because he claims that “the world shouldn’t be built on one language”. What this means of course is that the world shouldn’t be built on English. If it was a case of an Englishman getting up and addressing the meeting in French, would M. Chirac have done a runner? Like Hell he would have.</p> <p>I've read elsewhere that there were deeper political reasons behind the protest. Whatever! I don’t really worry too much about theses things, but it has crossed my mind that if the President of one of the strongest nations in Europe is acting like a spoilt 5 year old, then what chance has Europe got of ever really uniting.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/03/25/title~674425/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-03-22:/2006/03/22/out_in_the_cold~667103/Smiley2006-03-22T18:45:24+01:002006-03-22T18:45:24+01:00 <p>A few weeks ago, I was casting dark aspersions on the UK’s Met Office for announcing to the world that it was spring, when the UK and indeed much of Europe was still in the grip of winter.</p> <p>Well then friends and neighbours! Yesterday was what I regard as the first day of spring. So it may not surprise you to know that it was snowing when I drove to work this morning. Spring, let alone summer, seems as far away as ever.</p> <p>Today was one of the rare days when I had to work outside. On these occasions I don’t really do much in the way of physical work, it’s usually more a case of watching what the customer is doing and occasionally giving helpful comments along the lines of “You don’t want to do it like that!” I find that sort of thing irritates them immensely. You can see it in their whole demeanour. Of course as representative of my company who is there to promote my company in every way possible this is not the most obvious way of doing that. But sometimes it just has to be done!</p> <p>So, anyway, today I was out in the elements trying desperately to find somewhere to shelter. The lads I was watching were as unimpressed as I was. Driving rain, blustery wind and a sarcastic Englishman giving them “helpful” tips and advice – just what they needed.</p> <p>At least they were doing something. I was just stood there getting colder and colder and thinking dark thoughts about the French weather forecasters who had predicted a cloudy but dry day. </p> <p>Eventually they finished and we headed back to the office for some restorative coffee. </p> <p>There is something truly wonderful about a hot cup of coffee when you are freezing cold. Even the evil French brew that they were serving was gratefully accepted. From the fist sip, I could feel it racing around warming me up – Marvellous!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/03/22/out_in_the_cold~667103/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-03-15:/2006/03/15/cold_callers~646810/Smiley2006-03-15T21:18:53+01:002006-03-15T21:18:53+01:00 <p>As I have mentioned before, there are many similarities between the UK and France. One of these is the Cold Caller. These are the annoying twats who call you on the off chance that you might want to something and yet presume that you are too lazy to have already gone and bought it. </p> <p>I can’t see the point myself. If I suddenly decide one day that the house needs double glazing, or could do with converting to gas, I’ll go and find out about it. I won’t wait for someone to ring me up at 7 o’clock in the evening to ask me.</p> <p>Whatever, mum and dad Smiley have done a good job and brought me up to be a polite person. So in the UK (on the occasions I am there) I am usually cold but polite in my dismissal of these people. I do sometimes say ‘wait while I turn the cooker down’ and then go back to whatever I was doing, leaving them waiting until they decide to hang up on their own. But generally it’s a firm ‘No Thanks’</p> <p>In France though it’s a different story. I can’t think of anyone in France who has our home phone number who doesn’t speak English. Most of the companies who might need to ring me have my mobile number and use that. So when the phone rings at 6 o’clock at night, and it’s someone who can’t speak English, I know it’s either a wrong number or some twat trying to sell me something.</p> <p>So having established that they don’t or wont speak English, I indulge myself in a few choice phrases of quite unrepeatable Anglo-Saxon. This usually includes some succinct advice on where they can stick their phone. Or maybe I might call their some observations about their parentage and sexual preferences might be in order. I am sure you get the drift!</p> <p>Childish? – Yes<br> Immature? – Undoubtedly<br> Puerile? – Indisputably<br> Does it put a smile on my face? – EVERY SINGLE TIME!<img src="/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif" alt=":DD" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/03/15/cold_callers~646810/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-03-14:/2006/03/14/coffee_in_the_morning~643912/Smiley2006-03-14T22:53:38+01:002006-03-14T22:53:38+01:00 <p>A couple of weeks ago on a Saturday, I had to pick Darling Wife up from the airport early in the morning. When I say early, I mean early – 0600. Being a Saturday, the traffic was light and we back in Chez Smiley by just after Seven.</p> <p>Having not slept much on the flight, Darling Wife retired to bed, and I was left pondering the unique experience of being wide awake early on a Saturday with nothing much to do.</p> <p>I decided to buy my paper and go for an early coffee. </p> <p>At least once a week, I take the metro to work, and during the walk to my customer’s office at the other end, I notice that the cafés are usually full with commuters. I often wonder why they don’t wait until they get to the office before getting a coffee and usually come to the conclusion that it must be a social thing.</p> <p>Even on a weekend, my favourite café was reasonably busy. Any thoughts of this being a social activity were immediately dispelled – the place was deathly quiet. Not a sound could be heard apart from the rattle of crockery. Most of the clientele were hunched over their coffee, minding their own business. So I am still no nearer understanding the reason for these early morning visits.</p> <p>One thing you have to learn about French cafés is not to expect to get served quickly. I used to take this personally, but now I know it’s just the way it is. It’s not a problem for me as I am invariably in the café to read my paper and watch Paris wander past the window. I have to confess, this is a most agreeable way to waste an hour or so. In fact it is only beaten by being able to do it outside on the pavement on gloriously sunny day. Speaking of which, the temperature is forecast to rise this week, and I am already anticipating Saturday morning!</p> <p>Anyway, I occupied a large table, shook out my paper and settled down to study the sports pages (it was far to early in the morning to attempt the crossword!). </p> <p>Eventually, the waiter appeared. Being a wimpish Englishman, I normally drink “Un crème” (milky coffee). But this morning, in honour of the early occasion, I decided to do as the French do and ordered “Un café”. In case you don’t know, this is a very strong, undiluted coffee that is very similar to an espresso. If you ask for a coffee in France, this is what you get.</p> <p>Jeez, no wonder the bloody French are so cranky if this what they normally drink in the morning. It was foul. It was like a jolt of electricity! Yuk, I can still taste in now. </p> <p>One thing though. It jump started my brain, and the crossword was a piece of cake!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/03/14/coffee_in_the_morning~643912/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-03-07:/2006/03/07/crossing_the_line~621203/Smiley2006-03-07T18:58:20+01:002006-03-07T18:58:20+01:00 <p>I crossed a picket line today. That’s something I haven’t done for a while. I do take these things seriously. While in the UK, I would never cross a picket manned by the union I belong to. If it was not my union, then I would have to consider the issues before deciding. Being in France I have learnt the strike could be about some major political issue, or for something as trivia as the weatherman saying it was going to be sunny when if fact it rained.</p> <p>There is also the issue of safety to consider. I enjoy my job, and I have to say that over the years, my company has been good to me. However they don’t pay me enough to risk life and limb by irritating some brainless 6 foot moron who may or not have a legitimate reason for being on the picket line. Having said that, they don’t really pay me enough to drive amongst the French idiots I encounter every day on the roads but I do it.</p> <p>Anyway, I had no idea what the protest was all about, and decided to go ahead anyway. Everything was very civilised and no comments made as I passed the small group of men. I was given a leaflet to read (being in French, it meant little to me) and after making a sympathetic comment about the weather (another cold Parisian morning) I was on my way. </p> <p>Having arrived safely at my desk, I decided to find out a bit more. The strike was supposed to be countrywide, but in reality it didn’t get much support. I guess this was because the transport workers didn’t join in. Had they have done so, most people would have followed suit purely because of the difficulty in getting to work.</p> <p>It seems there is reasonable cause for the strike after all (in the sense that is a genuine grievance rather than a petulant strike about not having enough free coffee in the workplace).</p> <p>The French Government has just passed a law making it easier to sack people. The reason for this is increase employment amongst younger people. Confused? I was until found out some more.</p> <p>Because of the French employment laws, once you get a job you have to do something pretty bad to loose it. The law is most definitely on the side of the worker. So because of this, a lot of firms are reluctant to employ people. After all, as a small business owner, you wouldn’t want to employ some person, find out they were useless and then have to make a huge payout to get rid of them.</p> <p>So to counter this, the government are hoping that by making it easier to terminate employment, companies may be tempted to take more people on. The new law is aimed at people under 26 and allows companies to offer a 2 year contract. If at the end of the 2 years, they decide the employee is an asset to the company, they have to offer him a more normal contract that is in line with those usually offered. Of course, if the employee is a waste of space it’s goodbye, close the door on your way out! </p> <p>That’s the theory anyway. Of course today’s protesters are firmly of the opinion that the unscrupulous Frenchie bosses will just sack people after 2 years and take on more low paid slaves in their place.</p> <p>Now, I know the question on your lips is ‘Would I have joined the strike I if I had known the reasons in advance?’</p> <p>The answer is a firm ‘Non’ I think the French workers have it good enough, some reality won't go amiss. Judging by the amount of traffic on the roads tonight, I guess the majority of people in Paris agree.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/03/07/crossing_the_line~621203/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-03-06:/2006/03/06/winter_s_last_hurrah~618508/Smiley2006-03-06T20:31:00+01:002006-03-06T20:31:00+01:00 <p>According to the wonderful people in the Metrological Office in the UK, it is already spring. When I grew up, the 1st day of spring always used to be the 21st March. It just shows their general grasp of the seasons is as bad as their forecasting abilities in general. Anyway, I’m not here to grumble about that…</p> <p>I don’t know if it’s officially spring in France or not, but the weather is definitely still winter like. We did have a spell of mild weather a few weeks ago, but that is now just a fond memory. Frost most nights, some snow over the weekend and again this morning, and a bitterly cold northerly wind. The trees that line our road are still devoid of their leaves and the blackbirds that live in our communal garden haven’t yet started their early morning choruses. Flocks of seagulls still frequent the Seine and have yet to depart to where ever they go in the summer. All of which serve to remind one that whatever the weathermen may say, it’s still winter.</p> <p>However, spring is on the way. I am now getting up in daylight, and it’s not getting dark until nearly 7 in the evening. Sunday was a pleasant day if you could find somewhere out of the wind. There is a general feeling of anticipation in the air. The local cafes have started putting their tables and chairs out on the pavement again (I feel this is somewhat wishful thinking though). I also noticed a few workmen pottering away around the flowerbeds in one of the local park.</p> <p>So, however reluctantly, winter is easing it’s grip on the city. </p> <p>I have to be honest and say I have never felt really at home in Paris, but there is no doubt that when the sun is out, it is a completely different city. The whole place just seems to glow in the sunshine. The buildings seem to have been made for the sun. Even the people are a bit friendlier (well, maybe I am getting carried away here). </p> <p>Our walks along the riverbanks will become a pleasure rather than a battle against the elements. Although I enjoy the Seine at anytime of the year, it’s so much nicer when the sun is out!</p> <p>This is probably going to be our last year here and I am looking forward to the move, but I really am also surprised to find that I am looking forward to the spring here for reasons other than the fact that it will be our last here.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/03/06/winter_s_last_hurrah~618508/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-03-04:/2006/03/04/what_a_load_of_bullocks~612638/Smiley2006-03-04T18:40:52+01:002006-03-07T18:56:49+01:00 <p>We went to the Paris Agricultural Show this afternoon. I have never really thought of Paris as being a thriving centre of agriculture, and despite this being an excellent show, I still don’t. But as I say, it was quite an impressive show. There is a very large exhibition centre in the southwest of the city, and the show filled all of the halls and could have probably have done with some more space besides.</p> <p>I am not sure if it was the meant to be the main attraction, but certainly the most popular hall was the one containing the livestock. This hall was mainly devoted to pigs, cows and sheep. Now, I knew that some cows and bulls get to a fair old size, but I never realised that pigs also get very, very large. I suppose that explains the term ‘a real porker’. Some of these beasts were huge. Fortunately, they were all very calm and mostly sleeping (possibly even drugged). </p> <p>There were large numbers of different breeds of all 3 animals. It was obvious to see the differences with the cows and pigs, but the sheep were a different matter. There was pen after pen each containing one or two sheep, with each animal looking pretty much like the next. The only difference I could see was that some had black faces and legs and some had white. Other than they all looked, well, pretty woolly I suppose.</p> <p>It struck me as funny that upon entering this hall, the first thing you saw was a McDonalds exhibition. Obviously, McD’s gets through a large amount of beef every day, but I still never expected them to have such a prominent position in an agriculture show, and certainly not one promoting the excellence of food in France!</p> <p>Away from the animal hall, there were a number of halls devoted to other aspects of agriculture and fishing and pretty much anything that could be related to the countryside.</p> <p> One hall seemed to be pretty much devoted to French Wine, alas Darling Wife was with me, so I was unable to give this the attention it undoubtedly deserved. </p> <p>There were hunting exhibitions, arts and crafts, and all manner of country style clothing. There were even exhibits from Ford and SAAB. They weren’t displaying 4x4’s or tractors but just normal saloon cars. Not really sure of the agricultural connection there.</p> <p>Another popular hall was one with the Pet Show. By pets, I really mean dogs, cats and rabbits. Well, what I really mean is rabbits. There must have been 200 of them. As with pigs, I never realised that rabbits got so big. I suppose there may be an element of force feeding them, but maybe not. Anyway, there were some real monsters on display. I couldn’t help thinking that the future of the rabbits on show here is probably a lot brighter than that of the poor old pigs. As I say, there were also some dogs and cats, but none of these seemed as charismatic as the rabbits.</p> <p>Anyway even though I am of the opinion that once you’ve seen a pig, you’ve seen them all (no matter how large) it was certainly a different way to spend an afternoon. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/03/04/what_a_load_of_bullocks~612638/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-02-09:/2006/02/09/at_the_post_office~549937/Smiley2006-02-09T20:23:59+01:002006-02-09T20:23:59+01:00 <p>Some things seem to be same the world over. One of these is undoubtedly the Post Office.</p> <p>Normally, my excursions into French Post Offices are pretty painless because the majority of them have self service machines for dispensing stamps and also for weighing / pricing small packages or letters that need to be sent abroad. That just about covers my usual reasons for having to visit ‘Le Post’.</p> <p>Last week though we had some registered mail that the postie tried to deliver. Both Darling Wife and myself were out, and so we had a small slip left in the letter box instructing us to go the post office to collect it. </p> <p>I have to confess, that I can’t remember what the drill is in the UK, but I thought you get 2 or three chances before the letter gets returned to the post office – anyway here in France it’s ‘One strike and you’re out’.</p> <p>So I duly presented myself at the post office. I was appalled to see that just like the UK, there was a queue of about 20 people. Worse (or, depending on your point of view, better) there were quite a few chairs provided for the punters. So obviously queues are pretty much the norm.</p> <p>There were 4 windows open, and despite the queue I was hopeful that things might move along reasonably quickly. Alas, it was not too be.</p> <p>Window 1 was occupied by a chap who was posting over a 100 parcels. I kid you not. He had an accomplice who was ferrying parcels in an out. All the time I was in the building, this guy was at this window posting his seemingly unending supply of boxes.</p> <p>Window 2 was occupied by an old lady who was talking animatedly to the person behind the counter. I have no idea what they were talking about, but as with the guy at the first window, they were still at it when I left!</p> <p>The person behind Window 3 seemed to be the sort of jobsworth that you meet now and again who’s only aim in life is make everyone else’s life hell. It seemed that everyone who went to this window had not completed the correct paperwork or whatever. Just about everyone got turned away and had to fill out a form, or do something extra. Even people who just seemed to posting letters, were subjected to a lengthy interrogation.</p> <p>Window 4 on the other hand was manned by a scruffy individual who was the exact opposite of his colleague at Window 3. Maybe he was on drugs or something, but he was all go. Arms were waived, papers were stamped and there was generally an air of frightening efficiency about him.</p> <p>It was this guy who provided the real reason for this post. One of the customers wanted to post 3 bottles of wine. The young guy behind the counter produced a large piece of preformed cardboard. With a few deft moves, he had turned the cardboard into a ready made container for 3 wine bottles. It was like something off of Blue Peter! The wine bottles were fitted snugly in box and hey presto – sorted.</p> <p>I suppose if there is any county in the world that would have preformed cardboard wine bottle containers, then it would be France. Even so, I have to admit to being very impressed by it all. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/02/09/at_the_post_office~549937/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-02-09:/2006/02/09/at_the_supermarket~549751/Smiley2006-02-09T19:36:39+01:002006-02-09T19:36:39+01:00 <p>It’s all very easy to criticise French shop assistants for being rude and unhelpful, and of course not all of them are. However some of them are very rude. Until today, I’d never considered that the reason for this might be that because they spend all day dealing with the French public. Yes, I know that’s not a very fair comment, but the following will illustrate my point of view.</p> <p>I was in a supermarket earlier this afternoon. As per usual in the quieter hours, there was only one person working the tills. The queue wasn’t too big and things were going smoothly until it came to the turn of the lady who was two places in front of me in the queue. </p> <p>She wanted to pay by credit card and her shopping only came to a total of 11 euros or so. The shop has a policy of a minimum of 15 euros for credit card payments, so the miserable middle-aged lady on the till, gave a very firm ‘Non’. After some explaining, the customer decided to go and get something else to boost her total over the 15 euros mark. Off she went into the depths of the store. </p> <p>After a few minutes, the guy in front of me began asking the check out lady to abandon the first customer’s transaction. He too got a very firm ‘Non’. </p> <p>Anyway, after what seemed an age, the first lady came back clutching two packs of yoghurts. She then proceeded to pull out a money off coupon for them. It then transpired that the price of the yoghurts after the discount, was not enough to go over the magic 15 euros mark. After some spirited discussions, the lady finally accepted that she had to buy something else if she wanted to use her credit card.</p> <p>So, did she buy a packet of chewing gum? or a bar of chocolate? or even a TV listing magazine, all of which were invitingly on display at the check out. No, you guessed it - she again disappeared into the back of the store.</p> <p>This was all too much for the chap in front of me, and he started abusing the till lady in a fine manner. While he was in full flow, the lady came back clutching another pack of yoghurts. The man then started in on her too. There was a fine old row developing. In fact I was beginning to wonder if Jeremy Beadle was going to jump out in a minute.</p> <p>And then, hallelujah, praise the lord, another check out lady materialised from nowhere and opened a second till. Employing some nifty footwork and surreptitious elbow or too, I managed to beat everyone else to the front of that queue. I gratefully paid and made my escape. As I looked over my shoulder the altercation was still going on over at the first till. </p> <p>The French? Don’t you just love ‘em?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/02/09/at_the_supermarket~549751/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:smileystravels.blog.co.uk,2006-02-09:/2006/02/09/back~549636/Smiley2006-02-09T19:02:38+01:002006-02-09T19:02:38+01:00 <p>I have spent most of the year travelling, and haven't had the time or the inclination to blog. I am away next week too, but I have a couple of things to complain about before I go! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://smileystravels.blog.co.uk/2006/02/09/back~549636/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>