May day is a national holiday in France which means that it is treated as a Sunday and nothing but nothing is open for trade, Oh for such times at home. It very quickly becomes apparent when you spend time in France that this is clearly good for the soul, the family and the countries general well being. No jams of cars hurtling to the supermarkets for vittles that really could and should have been bought the day before. Just a little fore thought required but we haven`t got time for that of course, not in our manic schedules. You see they have got us by the short ones. Management are in total control, dear old Lenny Scargol will be turning in his grave at the total lack of respect for workers rights and despite the fact that everybody is seemingly working ridiculously longer hours added to the massive increase in the numbers available for work, as a result of the influx of women into the workplace since ww2, and yet, our production capabilities appear to be in free fall. This despite the fact that with this massive working community, hour upon hour of unpaid overtime in the name of office politic and job security and or job progression is now worked by our consumer, retail, borrowing driven lifestyles., As Gordon Gecco said in the Iconic 80`s film “Wall street”,
“The point is ladies and gentleman, that greed – for lack of a better word – is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms – greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge – has marked the upward surge of mankind.
I could completely agree with this speech if the last sentence had read “ has marked both the upward and downward surge of mankind” Harry got it spot on “loadsamoney”!
Any way enough on our 80`s legacy, I can only apologise for my ranting and I digress from the point of sacred Sundays. Consider, No mass exodus to marks and spencers to check out the same dresses that have been available til 8pm 6 days a week. Could we ever again see a boxing day news programme without the item on the queues of consumer retail driven mad English, all bleary eyed having spent Christmas day and night sleeping rough to save a fiver on a T shirt.
No, a return to spending Sunday genuinely relaxing or god forbid going for a walk and a family picnic seems so idyllic and oh so obvious when you get over the fact that “Sevens” is not open. Oh England, who do we blame because we always have to have someone to crucify don’t we? Maybe Power and celebrity seeking politician's, advertising agencies, eastenders, Greedy bankers, was it all Maggie's fault or perhaps we should blame ourselves for allowing it all to happen. Alright I will calm down now and get back to the blog.
In the name of entente cordiale with neighbours England, being a national bank holiday, It hammered down all day. I needed a baguette having forgotten to pick one up yesterday (ha ha) so slipped into Migennes and discovered that the big may 1st day is marked by everybody buying small posies of Lilly of the valley. A very nice tradition. They were even selling them in the boulangerie.
We spent the day hunkered down. The crew had finally, after a years needle twiddling, knitting, unpicking, knitting and unpicking again, finished Stacey`s beautiful jumper. Just the sewing together now apparently so should make a nice crimbo pressy. God I hope it fits! Looks dangerously petite to me. It is gorgeous though and Clo is justly proud of her efforts.
I cracked on with a few more coats on the wheelhouse floor. We watched some TV and enjoyed the first portion of my chicken and potato curry. Lovely with a couple of very old beers. 1664 to be exact.
No comments:
Post a Comment