tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42774663907588556732024-03-13T21:34:24.724+01:00Chez RigsbyMoving to, and living in the Ariege region of FranceRigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.comBlogger365125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-26168473162367195552014-11-19T20:01:00.000+01:002014-11-19T20:41:05.167+01:00State of affairesBonjour mes ami(e)s<br />
Yes, I am still here in the south of France. Nothing much has changed since my last post, but here is a short update.<br />
I am now in my third year working part-time at the local college, helping children with behavioral and /or learning difficulties. The future for the French education system looks pretty grim. Cutbacks, followed by promises of more teaching staff, hints of a chance of permanent contracts for people in precarious posts like mine. The latter is extremely unlikely for all but a few. Tomorrow there is to be a big demonstration in Toulouse. It is clear that something has to be done. Teachers are already stretched and proposed changes to their working hours / conditions will only make an unhappy bunch of people even more unhappy.<br />
Even in the few years that I have worked in primary and secondary education over here, there has been a noticeable deterioration in the behavior of the pupils. Classes with 5 or 6 constantly disruptive pupils now seems to be the norm. The parents of these children say that their kids behave the same way at home "Qu'est-ce qu'on peut faire?" they shrug, their children's behaviour is not their (the parent's) problem. I suppose that it is the same in the UK these days, but I don't know.<br />
The teachers spend a lot of their time trying to keep order and actually teaching anything becomes secondary. Teaching staff are now babysitters!<br />
A fair percentage of the pupils have low literacy and maths levels and lack comprehension skills when they arrive in College at about 11 years of age. Their knowledge of the world, current affairs and history is low, and reading a book is not on their agenda. Concentration is not something that they are familiar with, except when it comes to playing computer games, when an 8 hour concentration span is achievable. Of course they arrive at college exhausted. Obviously not the fault of the parents then.<br />
The jobs situation here in this part of France? Well prospects are almost non-existent unless you work for Airbus at Toulouse. There are no job prospects for youngsters or indeed oldsters here, The outlook is bleak, so why should the kids bother to learn anything. The Government appears to have totally lost the plot and we wait for the latest news of the President's complicate love life.<br />
On the other hand I did have most of today off, the sky was blue and the sun was shining...<br />
"Always look on the bright side of life..." (exit stage left en sifflant)Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-82150713589293815822013-02-13T15:00:00.001+01:002013-02-13T15:18:28.888+01:00Back to College<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Well, hello again. This is an
update on my vie en France.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">After 5 months of signing on as unemployed, following the end of
my 2 year contract as an EVS administratif in two primary schools (10
hours per week in each school), I was successful in being successful in getting
a one year contract as an AVSco. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I am currently based in a large College in the departement,
working in a class of children who, for various reasons need varying degrees of
help to progress with their education and with their integration into
"normal" school life. Most of their time is spent in a classroom
working through a curriculum consisting of various subjects, e.g. maths,
French, history, geography, history etc. There are also lessons with the other
pupils in classrooms out with the comfort zone of their own classroom. I either
assist the children under the direction of the professional teacher, or
I accompany a child in a classroom of their peers, helping them to keep up
with the lesson, writing the information down for them, clarifying what they
have to do etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It is very interesting and rewarding work, but very poorly paid.
Working 21 hours per week, I now take home about 30 Euros less than I was
making last year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The move from an office in a small primary school to a large college
with 1,000 pupils was a culture shock. From not having to speak or listen
to much French during my working day, I was having to immerse myself in the
French language. Listening to lessons, instructions, communicating with pupils
and staff, my brain really did hurt for the first week. There was also the self
doubt making things even more stressful and difficult. Then of course there was
the size of the college itself, all of the new rules, the new systems and
procedures.....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">My contract started on the 1<sup>st</sup>
of September and I have survived thus far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Like every other facet of French
life, the bureaucracy is a real struggle and communication (not due to language
difficulties) is often nonexistent or last minute as an afterthought. I am
still trying to get the password that I need to log in to the official system
to collect emails etc. Obviously as I want to keep my job, I will not go into
further details of school life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">So that is where I am at the
moment. Apparently these contract can, in principal be for a period of up to a
maximum of 6 years. You can be asked to work in any school, college or lycee in
the department and your timetable can be changed at very short notice. However,
as I said, I am enjoying my new posting and learning a lot at the same time. I
am told that my French language is improving, although I am not noticing much
of an improvement myself, except for having to learn vocabulary of the college.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">A bientot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-88144423700787729752012-05-11T16:00:00.000+02:002012-05-11T16:00:01.143+02:00Air on a C stringI have been struggling to learn the electric guitar since last August. I have bought books, computer tutorials, DVD's. Apparently this is not enough. Something called "hours of practice" is required, and not just any old practice. Targeted practice.<br />
The only other thing that I haven't tried, and which is strongly recommended, is taking lessons from a professional teacher.<br />
Searching the Internet, I have found a man who lives on the outskirts of town. His web site is complete crap, inaccurate and not up to date. However, he has been a professional musician for over 30 years, so web sites are not his main area of expertise. He can teach many different styles of guitar, types of guitar, and also the drums. For the drums, you have to have your own set, and he will come to you for the lesson. There are lots of photos of him teaching children, but he is willing to teach octogenarians.<br />
What he doesn't say, is how much lessons cost. This always pisses me off. If you are selling a product or service, the customer wants to know how much they will have to pay.<br />
So I continue to procrastinate. The other thing that pisses me off, is that they use the French equivalent of Doh, re, mi etc to name the notes / chords. instead of the sensible C, E, F, G, A, B, C etc<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X08U4JlUtgo&feature=topics">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X08U4JlUtgo&feature=topics</a><br />
<br />
It is hard enough learning the chord / note names / shapes in English, without having yet another barrier placed in the way. The first lesson is free and lessons will be structured to the needs of the individual student.<br />
Did I mention that 2 weeks ago I bought a Lanikai L21 soprano ukulele from a supplier in Germany?<br />
The You tube prophets say that they are, and I quote one Youtube teacher here "piss easy" to play, having only 4 strings, and, in my case 12 frets instead of the 6 strings and 21 frets on my guitar.<br />
I am trying to learn "king of the road" after struggling with "twinkle, twinkle little star" , "frere jaques" in the free booklet that came with the ukulele. <br />
Us experts refer to them as "Ukes". I thought that this was going to be my musical grail...... I am having problems with my C string, it is in tune, but it just doesn't sound right. I doesn't ringgggg.<br />
There is no Uke club in my departement and no listed Uke teacher. Perhaps I could start a club by leaning on the lamp post and the corner of the street .... It might look good on my CV.Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-1633923740603469142012-05-10T16:30:00.000+02:002012-05-10T16:30:02.298+02:00Health, wealth and and the pursuit of happynessOn the financial front, things are looking up. I have a new tenant that has just moved in to the studio apartment below me, so that will help towards paying my income tax bill in September, and because I meet the criteria, the French government are going to pay me some unemployment benefit. This will be up to 70 percent of what I was earning from my school job. If I earn any money, I have to send Pole Emploi a copy of my payslip. I presume that they will then deduct that amount from my benefit money.<br />
Since I worked 3 hours teaching English last month, and will be teaching for a final 3 hours later this month, I will have to declare this, when they decide to send me a payslip. This can take months... and with this being the month of public holidays .......<br />
Now that I have received some documents from Pole Emploi, I need to take them along to my health insurance / social security provider MGEN, so that my advisor there can make copies of them, and file them in my dossier. <br />
Things are beginning to move in the right direction. Now if only I could sort out the long spell of bad weather, I could start working on my tan.Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-75620114963433840752012-05-09T16:00:00.000+02:002012-05-09T16:00:07.995+02:00En FormeTwo weeks ago I began my "formation" or training with Pierre, my advisor. I had taken along the bag that I use for cabin luggage, stuffed with a big French / English dictionary, copies of all my pole emploi documents, my CV and lots of other papers concerning my previous employments here in France and in the UK.<br />
Pierre had been a bit worried about me coming to see him as he doesn't speak English and his only other English client not having spoken any French. They had tried to communicate with her using the dictionary that she had brought along, and with him typing things into Google Translate. This was obviously tedious and not very efficient or accurate. <br />
He had ended up phoning his daughter, who spoke some English, putting his mobile on speakerphone, and his daughter translating for them as best she could as they went along. Lord knows how the client managed with filling in the paperwork.<br />
As usual there is lots of paperwork. I had to sign at least 6 different documents, presumably a contract, agreeing that I understood and agreed to do anything that I am asked to do, or my money (should they give me any) would be stopped.<br />
I had come prepared for a possible full day of training, perhaps in a large room stuffed with computer terminals, but no, it's just me and Pierre in a room.<br />
Do you know what the training entails? he asked. I replied that apart from CV's, letters of motivation and how to search for a job, I had no idea no idea. <br />
Were you told any other details of the training?<br />
No, I said, and I don't know how long the training lasts....<br />
He explained that I was to come along once a week for up to three months, or until I find a job, whichever comes first. He qualified this by saying that although these meetings would be once a week, some of the meetings would be carried out over the phone. He then gave a sheet with the "training" overview. Sessions would last from 25 minutes up to an hour. After 25 minutes I emerged into the sunlight, 8 pages of questions nestling in my heavy bag, my homework for the next week's meeting.<br />
Last Thursday, I returned to see Pierre with my questionnaire filled in to the best of my ability. I left an hour later, with another 8 pages of questions to fill in. Once this first 4 week phase is completed, Pierre will have all of the information he needs to make a judgement on what firms / jobs to target.<br />
He has told me that only 20 percent of the available jobs are advertised on the open market. We will be targeting the hidden jobs.<br />
Whilst arranging the date and time for our next meeting, Pierre explained that May was the month when the French make "le pont". There are about 4 bank/public holidays in May. If for example the holiday is on a Tuesday, most workers make le pont / the bridge, and don't go to work on the Monday, to enjoy a long weekend. This means that I have until 31 may to do my homework. Vive la France!!<br />Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-32136852067302365162012-05-08T16:23:00.000+02:002012-05-08T16:23:00.035+02:00Stand and deliverBack at chez Rigsby, I logged on to the Internet and filled in an 8 page form which was similar to the paper one that I had just filled in at Pole Emploi.<br />
This generated a choice of three rendezvous dates/times to return to Pole Emploi to meet with an advisor.<br />
On the allotted day, I arrived at Pole Emploi in good time and waited in the queue. I told the lady at the desk that I had arrived and she ticked my name off the list.<br />
I sat and waited. My fashion model advisor kept me waiting at least 15 minutes, but finally she acknowledged my presence, shook my hand and ushered me into interview room 2.<br />
She found me on their computer system, checked details, then started to fill in a form. We were doing splendidly, but I said that form is very like the form that I filled in online, and the paper form that I filled in here last Monday, but which the lady kept.<br />
My advisor left the room, returning 10 minutes later to say that they couldn't find my form and other paperwork that I had left, anywhere, but that they would have a good search for it that afternoon.<br />
I was asked for more paperwork, which wasn't on the original list of things to bring along. I was now subscribed on a course to learn how to write a CV, a lettre of motivation, and how to search for jobs.<br />
<br />
So off I went home again.<br />
The next day, my "lost" paperwork arrived in the post. <br />
I returned to the counter with it more of my evidence. The lady took away my passport to copy it for my growing evidence file. Then she looked at my language teaching contract. She decided that it wouldn't fit the bill, and went off with it to see her boss.<br />
No it wouldn't do. I needed to contact my employer and get a proper contract, then return once I had that.<br />
2 weeks later, the required document arrived in the post. Hands shaking with excitement, I opened the envelope and discovered that the last two dates were missing from my contract. <br />
F**** it I thought, and set off with my pile of paperwork to face Pole Emploi. Before I set off however, I riffled through, only to discover that the copy of my passport was missing from my file (a further delaying tactic perhaps?). I therefore copied my passport.<br />
At Pole emploi, the lady barely glanced at my new "contract" but started hunting for my passport copy. What a surprise it was there....<br />
We will now process your dossier, and you will hear from us in about 18 days, she said.<br />
I headed off into the sunset, no hint of a smile of triumph on my face, lest some punishment excercise be handed out.Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-15826944093957165372012-05-07T17:55:00.002+02:002012-05-08T10:23:11.954+02:00To begin at the beginning<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a newly unemployed person, I was at the door of my local Pole Emploi, just after opening time on the 2nd of April. A young man with a spring in my step eager to embark on the next player level of my "life in France" adventure. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Knowing the love affair that France has with bureaucracy, I was clutching a carrier bag of documentation which might aid me in my quest for unemployment benefit "allocation" and perhaps even a job.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I've come to sign on" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here's a form, you can sit at the table over there and fill it in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I filled in as much as I could, then went to the counter again (a tip, early morning is the best time to turn up, otherwise you risk standing in a long queue). I explained that there were some bits on the form that I wasn't sure about. The young man came back over to the table and we went over the form. Next came checking through the necessary supporting documentation that I had brought "Oh dear" he said looking at my major weapon, my confirmation of the end of my contract. "They haven't filled it in properly"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a section which was blank" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Can't we just fill it in now" I asked. He sucked in a breath through his beard and looked at the form again. There was a pause, then "Non"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I packed up my forms and headed off across town to the Lycee that had sent out my document.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reaching the office, I explained my problem. The lady apologised and it transpired that all that was missing, was an X in the box to say that my contract was finished!!! If only I had looked at the form, I could have saved myself the trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in the Pole emploi queue, I handed over my paperwork again. The lady riffled through the papers. Have you signed on? she asked. I thought, this is a bit odd, but I went along with it. "</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"But that's what I'm here for" I said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh no, she said, you have to sign on by telephone or via the Internet. She hung on to my paperwork, and I set off home to sign on.....</span><br />
<br />
<br />Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-52543096525635757452012-04-03T16:00:00.000+02:002012-04-03T16:27:21.362+02:00French letters<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since my Portuguese labourer left mid December, I have 2 vacant studios to let. The boss of the labourer continued to be a pain in the arse as he did not come and collect the furniture until 3 weeks ago. So if there had been people seeking a studio to rent I would not have been able to house them. I notice from my bank statement that the agency failed to get me any rent for December, January or February, so they continue to impress me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, for the first time ever, someone from the agency has come out and put a "to rent" sign in the window (facing out to the road no less!!). This is the first time that they have ever shifted off their backsides, so perhaps my notaire has changed the letting agency.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Times continue to be hard here on the employment front, with unemployment continuing to rise. This being a rural area with very little industry, except the seasonal tourist outdoor pursuits, such as skiing, climbing, canoeing, etc the area is suffering more than most.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a modern block of flats opposite my tumble-down lodging house. Sometimes he has had vacancies, but there are already tenants waiting to move in. At the moment he has at least 4 empty flats out of a possible 8. No jobs = no workers looking for a place to live = no tennants for little ol' wine drinker me.</span><br />
<br />Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-33291192136972656982012-04-02T20:42:00.001+02:002012-04-03T11:17:43.145+02:00Au chomage lycra or not<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello everyone</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As of the 1st of April I am now unemployed. I have 3 hours left of a contract teaching English to student nurses then zip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">All is not doom and gloom however. Last Monday I went to the Inspection Academique for an interview to become an AVS. Assistant de la vie scolaire. Whereas my last job was for a maximum of 2 years, renewable in 6 month chunks (or possibly not), this post is for a maximum of 6 years, renewable (or not) in 12 month chunks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So, notionally I have a job, but it may not start until at least the start of the next school year, in September. I am on their waiting list. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">What does the job entail? Well you are paired up with one or two children who have a disability, and who need a bit, or a lot of help to fit in to a normal school class, and to help them keep up with the classwork as necessary. The post does not entail teaching, that is the class teacher's job.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So I wait for the call up. Because I have been working and paying my cotisations, I will be entitled to some unemployment money. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I was at the local Pole Emploi this morning to start claim process. I then had to return in the afternoon with my completed form, RIB, copy of my carte vitale etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I also had to sign on to claim benefit. The only way to do this is by telephone, or on the Internet. So once back home I went online and filled in pretty much the same form that I had just filled in in hard copy. (If only I had done this first). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I was then given a choice of 3 interview times to meet with an adviser, to discuss my claim and my proposed project to get back to work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Tomorrow I will try and sort out my health cover. I believe that I can remain with the very efficient MGEN for some months if I continue to pay them a fee monthly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I started looking to buy a breath test kit for my car. This will be a compulsory piece of kit for all cars, from the start of July. Leclerc had none, so I will have to try elsewhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now some cycling news. The Tour de France will pass about 30 metres from my house, so I will find it very difficult to miss seeing it. I must by some lycra cycling gear and a flag to wave, I have the time to shop now that I am "resting".</span>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-59851209158404832702011-11-21T11:27:00.001+01:002011-11-22T12:02:00.622+01:00Chestnuts at dawn<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I attended another annual event this weekend. A chestnut festival. Last year as well as munching on chestnuts there was a group of storytellers to provide the entertainment, this year it was a group of 9 French female "Country" dancers. Line dancers to you and me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I arrived the dancers were already ensconced at a table, kitted out in their cowboy hats, boots, scarves etc. They were keen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last year the venue was full, with kids running about all over the place. This year the crowd was at least halved, but the 3 children who did attend, ran about non-stop for the duration of their stay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started with the roasted chestnuts, which were nowhere near as nice as the ones that we ate last year. This year they were dry, some were bad, and some had dead bugs inside them. In addition to the roasted nuts, there were boiled chestnuts. These were difficult to open and even more difficult to eat. The flesh of the nut was reduced to a white paste. Yuck! not to my taste.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were pancakes and various drinks that you could buy, and there was also a plastic cup of mulled wine for the adults.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dancers were very keen and after dancing to several of their pre-recorded songs they invited people to join in. I managed to stay in my seat. Having been a "Square dancer" for a year in the mid 90's I know to look down on this inferior form of dancing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I left at about 10 past midnight, but the dancers were still going strong to their selection of about 10 songs and some local ados had arrived to bulk up the dwindling numbers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a short video of the dancing, The teeny-tiny lady in the white trousers is the school and town hall cleaner and although she was struggling to keep up, she was having a whale of a time. Good on you Z!</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx5_qWuCgbWSa0bl-xtfVbq6oJkrlV6ZkX2eTAZQJgBvouZRE1xMvTu7XahxHECDXvGuJoWr5ROJ7doQLRjMA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-89516301865617387732011-09-15T19:47:00.001+02:002011-09-15T20:20:38.813+02:00The two marquises<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nothing much to I have started at my new school and have done 2 stints of 3 hrs 20 mins each time. The little office that I work in is also the head teacher's office. Her admin day is Tuesday, but she was busy elsewhere for most of that afternoon. Unfortunately there is no internet access in the office, although a new pc workstation was installed the morning before I arrived. Hopefully the internet access will not be long, the town hall needs to do a bit of cabling work. The school staff, teachers and ALAE staff all seem pleased to have me there, but as the classrooms are on the first floor and I am on the ground floor next to the school's main doors I am rather out of the way of them and the life of the school, unless the phone rings and I have to go and find the relevant person. It is going to take me a while to get settled in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Friday one of Madame's friends friends came to help me install two perspex porches over the two front doors. All was going well, and my side of the porch support for the "marquise" was safely screwed into the wall. Unfortunately things were not going well on the other side of the door, as two of the screws broke off in the wall as he tightened them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We continued with the marquise over Madame's door, and that was installed without any problems. Of course Madame (who had pestered me for months to buy and install this object) immediately lost interest in the proceedings and had to go and lie down on her <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: FR;">canapé</span>. I offered to test the porch by getting her to stand under it whilst I poured a bucket of water out of an upper window onto it, but she declined. So the next morning I was at BricoDepot to try and buy or blagg replacement screws and raw plugs to restart the failed installation. I was passed from person to person and finally the 4th person indicated which bits and pieces I should buy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I returned home, Madame phoned her pal, and the bloke returned. Fortunately all went well, but some of the screw covers have disappeared.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do they stop Madame getting water into her flat when she opens the door when it is raining? I have no idea as it hasn't rained for about 2 weeks now and we have had to put up with temperatures in the 80s. At last summer has arrived!</span>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-52072765258514479742011-09-09T16:48:00.001+02:002011-09-09T16:53:55.437+02:00Schooled<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday afternoon I received a phone call from the college that controls my school admin post contract. The lady told me that my contract was now ready to sign and gave me the name of the schools that I will be working at until my contract runs out at the end of March 2012. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am staying at my current school for 10 of my hours, and the remaining 10 hours in a school in a village which joins on to the outskirts of my town, about 12 - 15 minutes drive away depending on the traffic. I could walk there in about 50 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So on Monday afternoon I will be going to visit my new school and the directrice, staff, kids etc. This school was built in 1994, so it will make an interesting contrast to the old school buildings where I have spent my time so far.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am still waiting for confirmation of my 20 or so hours teaching English in a nursing college. I am due to start my first session of the teaching year in about 2 week's time......</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that is the way my working life is shaping up at the moment. Someone has asked me if I will give some English tuition to a lad of 14, who has been doing English for 3 years, but who for some reason during the last year attended hardly any English lessons. I met him briefly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What's you name?" I asked. He thought about it for about 30 seconds, during which I repeated the question slowly several times. In the end I had to ask him his name in French. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then tried "How old are you?" "I'm fine" he eventually replied. The 7 year olds in my school can answer these two questions without any problem. I think that he will need to put in an awful lot of work if he wants to reach the required standard for his year...... I am not sure if I will do it or not.</span>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-56517284410196636002011-09-08T16:58:00.111+02:002011-09-08T16:58:00.926+02:00Dancing Queen<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fete was due to continue at 9pm with a procession with majorettes, old cars, marching bands etc but it had been raining almost all day. What to do? I put on my pac-a-mac, slung my camera round my neck and set off into town. Rigsby is not afraid of rain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I neared the centre of town I knew that something was wrong. There was traffic coming towards me. Usually the road is blocked off to allow the procession to take place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was raining quite heavily as I arrived at the Halle. I sat at a table and drank a couple of beers while some of the bands played under cover of the Halle's new roof.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally it was time for l'orchestre Mission to take the stage. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday there had been a little old lady dancing to the music with the whole floor to herself. She was back again. As the music began a shuffling figure complete with her shopping trolley and clutching a band publicity sheet. She was hot to trot once again.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBW8Cap68-SF1tSSX2FTNDuMxkGZ7JYHA9Sze6d2j0g94qDT1eduyVdarPioc-0Cj5vyIhTTrCB3JcieuRPzsrrgnOkNJ8bnL2Qq3INacU9CDOUEIlz-i-wIx9El0ad9Y5L7l0r1FL1dB/s1600/DSCF2680a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBW8Cap68-SF1tSSX2FTNDuMxkGZ7JYHA9Sze6d2j0g94qDT1eduyVdarPioc-0Cj5vyIhTTrCB3JcieuRPzsrrgnOkNJ8bnL2Qq3INacU9CDOUEIlz-i-wIx9El0ad9Y5L7l0r1FL1dB/s1600/DSCF2680a.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dancing with your shopping trolley can be tiring, luckily the wheels makes the transition turns quite smooth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However she got tired of trundling it about and attempted to park it behind the security barrier, through a convenient gap, which was just not big enough for her to squeeze it through. The lead guitarist was watching her as she switched to plan B and started trying to lift the trolley over the barrier. He gave up playing and came to assist her. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvITDbYuYWrhgV7LJ48Gf1L6tDB8pehnpwwbtRFRHNGx3MWSIfrscI7eW0GVz4zP3CjGH6mb98szkogFT8jrRDAWi5dVfzCLCjOTJOJcJNcnuwLLWWpWjcQYJOzqVgHEHxQf4aAHL3JkQN/s1600/DSCF2703a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvITDbYuYWrhgV7LJ48Gf1L6tDB8pehnpwwbtRFRHNGx3MWSIfrscI7eW0GVz4zP3CjGH6mb98szkogFT8jrRDAWi5dVfzCLCjOTJOJcJNcnuwLLWWpWjcQYJOzqVgHEHxQf4aAHL3JkQN/s320/DSCF2703a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She decided that her dance partner would be safer on the stage, so this is where it ended up.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhERovTaCQsNivyEiuu3R2Rnk-MRttQ1g2WLD3LFlC_yXX_95MjLU3CeAVdRTQq1x9xYqaYz3xoBVwYdPS4kHsfFk4EN0JeeaNoKAq0PWsjMDQGUYp1gZ35iVSNwKEUDDmzIK0TPdnset/s1600/DSCF2706a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhERovTaCQsNivyEiuu3R2Rnk-MRttQ1g2WLD3LFlC_yXX_95MjLU3CeAVdRTQq1x9xYqaYz3xoBVwYdPS4kHsfFk4EN0JeeaNoKAq0PWsjMDQGUYp1gZ35iVSNwKEUDDmzIK0TPdnset/s320/DSCF2706a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now unencumbered, she was able to shuffle about and wave her arms, she even shouted noises into the proffered microphone from time to time</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, just like a scene from Mama Mia she was hoisted up onto the stage to join in the band's final song.</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYXjqBJ5c5KhvF42gLr0d_SZXlQluXfDpWeBW2QbF28utnOEnBoCLFXhJLeuWTPC1cEY8CPKKPb3VT35CkGKp1lEzI1tVYVQfZq0So3RfuSfhxZzTv5_K8JNOAvajFVPinP9WVJXn6QwI/s1600/DSCF2724a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYXjqBJ5c5KhvF42gLr0d_SZXlQluXfDpWeBW2QbF28utnOEnBoCLFXhJLeuWTPC1cEY8CPKKPb3VT35CkGKp1lEzI1tVYVQfZq0So3RfuSfhxZzTv5_K8JNOAvajFVPinP9WVJXn6QwI/s320/DSCF2724a.jpg" width="320" /></a><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyKwCY4aW5sJAad2hwVUY6GE-mNk6nIsTbASw71e4fjVKmsZVMPHg9byjQkMZyZTw5fPAHdo-3y8aq7Wa1tDg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAfLNRFZNG45Q84K0EifU_nGSPWYvMtkmyws1XtR6W2SY5k_OQ1Oi4FguyNOG33n8W82Y7iD4_1pXxu9ltQayz8dR_3IYtJzaU_AEfPjjs7Umay9oi79s4bTkLt47017Cgsd6Lx-HDQVx/s1600/DSCF2728a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAfLNRFZNG45Q84K0EifU_nGSPWYvMtkmyws1XtR6W2SY5k_OQ1Oi4FguyNOG33n8W82Y7iD4_1pXxu9ltQayz8dR_3IYtJzaU_AEfPjjs7Umay9oi79s4bTkLt47017Cgsd6Lx-HDQVx/s320/DSCF2728a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So a very successful night for the dancing queen. Thankfully France is full of characters. (and I should know, I'm one!)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sg4T2uZnlRyajS31ATO5QYebxfDKQ2BIIEFAAUPM4iDRxLAXkQAVAiQXi9VRIiq7aku-mKnle69li-5-PYtb8YclrNvyN1W2Rk4XsziGpapnsos8s5hhRkhylWKs7VEO6CZCOrJLwC78/s1600/DSCF2719a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sg4T2uZnlRyajS31ATO5QYebxfDKQ2BIIEFAAUPM4iDRxLAXkQAVAiQXi9VRIiq7aku-mKnle69li-5-PYtb8YclrNvyN1W2Rk4XsziGpapnsos8s5hhRkhylWKs7VEO6CZCOrJLwC78/s320/DSCF2719a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY-xEqiKJdUQw_zVvcDzB5hvE01uhC-iu4otXVEpUhqEBwCzNwThak2_OBoXP0ubVyrHMSmOwFU6LmdBmlWpJDt9h8H_2aQgGVvUAwE3cg3IIDhjKAvlxW5JkTSWP6_ciWs9rMbvsW1e8/s1600/DSCF2720a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY-xEqiKJdUQw_zVvcDzB5hvE01uhC-iu4otXVEpUhqEBwCzNwThak2_OBoXP0ubVyrHMSmOwFU6LmdBmlWpJDt9h8H_2aQgGVvUAwE3cg3IIDhjKAvlxW5JkTSWP6_ciWs9rMbvsW1e8/s320/DSCF2720a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwlrNLL5dVGv88zPf6Iu-eu4vlG7tuDasvEDLV09V66HUW1NYe4sOxqCja4-FykSbMwNDIZjHKvHKYJVlE4uJaeLjY25Rvg8-TRSM4mOzLFjTbnvkOtSSDWwn4DAHrjZ6Y7Tu65c3mm13/s1600/DSCF2733a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwlrNLL5dVGv88zPf6Iu-eu4vlG7tuDasvEDLV09V66HUW1NYe4sOxqCja4-FykSbMwNDIZjHKvHKYJVlE4uJaeLjY25Rvg8-TRSM4mOzLFjTbnvkOtSSDWwn4DAHrjZ6Y7Tu65c3mm13/s320/DSCF2733a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOZ8lKN6H0iH7oDJhgBT1awWgKf1yvd29oTbQi492141rRzauSRyOX37UhvPadSOM1GG0c1gsYVNaSLKI87GEMLXmqrf9b5VOVPSecaMV2l1f-0x-uLnKkF29PodsGB-sK9-_CHHtsK7n/s1600/DSCF2732a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOZ8lKN6H0iH7oDJhgBT1awWgKf1yvd29oTbQi492141rRzauSRyOX37UhvPadSOM1GG0c1gsYVNaSLKI87GEMLXmqrf9b5VOVPSecaMV2l1f-0x-uLnKkF29PodsGB-sK9-_CHHtsK7n/s320/DSCF2732a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgx_krHYdKlC7kNEPkt8cvUx36IMRAfJntpTDF4Bf7kxymd-EF_i6oG5r2URATZ4jONQPvsGYqqdIpebMtj-HlfBzOu8lE840xuMVPiZ6MorJM5cVZLWWFHTwjvOBp4KPVcKFuhbAg7ldy/s1600/DSCF2711a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgx_krHYdKlC7kNEPkt8cvUx36IMRAfJntpTDF4Bf7kxymd-EF_i6oG5r2URATZ4jONQPvsGYqqdIpebMtj-HlfBzOu8lE840xuMVPiZ6MorJM5cVZLWWFHTwjvOBp4KPVcKFuhbAg7ldy/s320/DSCF2711a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7c5zAVPHMXqSSjZFro96FVpDeibe5dzbGQ0bWLXuy0eLGhmDQ08hdlPTYBGbEbcvgeLxLXVnbO9B7uSFuwfEuBPrkRkCBmWZk72fbHTviHo3o8IEGeFk6urCnBJCnMk9ufTjRJfG7uKec/s1600/DSCF2710a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7c5zAVPHMXqSSjZFro96FVpDeibe5dzbGQ0bWLXuy0eLGhmDQ08hdlPTYBGbEbcvgeLxLXVnbO9B7uSFuwfEuBPrkRkCBmWZk72fbHTviHo3o8IEGeFk6urCnBJCnMk9ufTjRJfG7uKec/s320/DSCF2710a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5thGXeWGYTqzXXmTzJeBY8BWLCm4y2LlryBQ38p8tq9A4Jub6X5SkasQcNyZyVcfWwhoFneY8VdQDm1DyBflhYS0j_VpO6ayzC5ceHATTtA-bI709M1i-ZRCG5KVnB0iWRyRo5gYvfewa/s1600/DSCF2712a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5thGXeWGYTqzXXmTzJeBY8BWLCm4y2LlryBQ38p8tq9A4Jub6X5SkasQcNyZyVcfWwhoFneY8VdQDm1DyBflhYS0j_VpO6ayzC5ceHATTtA-bI709M1i-ZRCG5KVnB0iWRyRo5gYvfewa/s320/DSCF2712a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial;">Meanwhile the rain was hammering down. The band stopped at 1.30am but the rain didn't so Rigsby paddled home in his new shoes.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxpewzjHaBmmzT9TrVX_a6_KzauA-xQWX2RQsIe6T6Ehjb7N6_uZHroqhO2fz7MDgLtB2dsrJ__L1YW48d9' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-71405250739990373482011-09-07T16:10:00.001+02:002011-09-07T16:10:00.218+02:00What’s new pussycat?<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Since January a lot has changed. I still have my 2 tenants. Madame has erected a huge pergola on her terrace and had purchased chairs and an extremely heavy table (mosaic tiles on top of a concrete table top). There are strips of cloth, weighted at each end that can be draped over the pergola to provide shade. Due to the weather this summer though, a month of constant rain, followed by a month of rain or temperatures between 90 – 100 degrees F, here new ensemble has hardly been used. She recently acquired a bicycle, which is now kept in the hall cupboard inside the main part of my building. She has not used it as she is too fatigue, and as she recently fell over and injured her legs, it is likely that the bike will stay blocking up my cupboard. I doubt if she will purchase a storage box to keep it on her cluttered terrace. </span></span> <span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Portuguese man arrived back from his holiday early on Friday morning. He too seems to have acquired a bicycle which he keeps in his studio on the first floor.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The French family that I used to go on outing with, or to their house for BBQ’s and for crepes etc have put their house on the market and moved to a small town 3.5 hours drive from here. After 2 years of unemployment Monsieur a short fixed term contract, which he hopes might be made permanent, so the family of 5 has all been uprooted to go and live in a small apartment with no garden. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I may have mentioned that I don’t intend to join the choir this year. I feel in need of a rest from it. I had not been enjoying it and as my move to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">France</st1:place></st1:country-region> has been a life change, why do things that you are not enjoying if you can avoid it.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial;">This past choral year was a nightmare as far as I was concerned. I cannot write too much here about the many reasons I have as there is always a chance that my blog will be stumbled upon, and there are French people who speak a fair bit of English. The last straw for me was when the choir’s public performances were announced about 5 weeks before the first concert. By that time I had already found other things to do on those dates. I must state that the choir members are lovely, friendly people and I will miss their company. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Now I have my guitar, choir time may be replaced by guitar lessons if my newly arrived CDrom course doesn’t move me along towards guitar god status. </span></span><br />
Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-35013958841499716172011-09-05T12:15:00.000+02:002011-09-05T12:15:00.459+02:00Outdoor fireworks<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Friday night at 22:10 I set off walking into town to claim my usual spot to watch the firework display from. The pavements on both sides of the roads had cars parked on them, leaving only the road to walk on. The French tend to park anywhere that there is, or isn't a space.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The display began a few minutes late, which is good for this part of the world, where usually at least a quarter of an hour Ariege lag is added.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a perfect evening and the thunder storm rumbling in the distance held off until the early hours of the morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We only have a population of 10,000 but no expense seems to be spared for the annual fete fireworks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The display was 17 minutes long and it was made up of 14 or so different tableaux. The usual section of fire dripping down the castle walls was not included this year, but the display was as spectacular as ever, with hearts, arrows going through hearts, I am sure that I saw the letter J inside a heart or a circle. All very clever and greatly appreciated by the crowds, lots of "putain"s of admiration.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here is a video of the finale.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwXl0F5AX4fsBk4-nM-FlboBSO_zDgxJKIdH12DD8i9GUypAMVXo1gYC7eaPXKGxffIXY8VtDiWY770PKfe1w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the display I wandered up to see the fun fair which has taken over all the parking areas in the centre of town. The crowd was too dense to make any progress, so I crossed the main road, weaving between the gridlocked cars, and went to watch the "orchestre" which had wisely been set up under the roofed Halle au Grains. As usual, the musicians and the various singers were very good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enough blogging for today. I must get my guitar out and play, or rather, practice. My finger tips are still burning and I am finding out that it is not going to be as easy to learn as I had hoped. Perhaps if I had a music stand....</span>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-13651267302543343262011-09-03T16:24:00.003+02:002011-09-03T16:24:00.484+02:00The clear white light<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Thursday morning I went along to my local College for my reunion. We sat at desks while a man, new in post, introduced himself and then commenced on a history of les handicapes in France and their integration into the national education system, which began in earnest in the 1970's. Then there was a section on what was and what was not the remit of someone assisting a enfant handicapes in the classroom. Fortunately the man spoke clearly so I could understand most of what was said. He was followed by a young lady who was something to do with the Psychologues who spoke very quietly and although I was in the front row, the constant chatting of the two women behind me made following what she said almost impossible.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The meeting finally drew to a close. Did anyone have any questions? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lady asked, where am I supposed to go now? I do not know what schools I am working in. Lists were consulted. You are working with x at y school, but I don't know yet where else you will be working.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This opened the floodgates. Of the 60 or so staff in the room 70 to 80 % did not know where they were supposed to work. The panelists looked embarrassed and it was suggested that a queue be formed so that the admin staff could consult their lists. The majority of them, me included left the room none the wiser. So I just went to the one school tthat I did know. I am still an admin assistant, not an assistant to one or more enfants handicapes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I asked when I might find out where else I was working, the lady smiled and shrugged. It was not for her to say, it was the responsibility of M l'inspecteur....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following day all the teachers and then the head teachers had an audience with M l'inspecteur.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My head teacher had M L'I on one side and the lady to whom I had posed my question the previous day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It is M L'I's" decision she said, "It's not anything to do with me" he said.... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Personally I think that there might be a slight delay before I find out where my second school is.</span>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-76559051329685975582011-08-29T21:49:00.000+02:002011-08-29T21:49:27.232+02:00Ticking away to the big bang<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My 2 month summer holiday is nearly over and on Thursday or Friday I will be going back to school, or rather schools. My directrice telephoned me this morning at 9.30am. She phoned the College at 9am and was lucky enough to have the phone answered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She has found out that 10 of my admin assistant hours will be spent at her school until my contract ends 31 march 2011. My directrice told the lady about the letter that I had received from the college, inviting me to attend a meeting at the College on Thursday morning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">"Why did they send him that letter? This meeting doesn't concern him. But as he has received the letter, he had better attend."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I am teed up to look a complete plonker on Thursday. My directrice asked which school I would be spending my other 10 hours in. However the Inspectors have not yet decided. Still 2 days is plenty of time, if they send out a letter first class today or tomorrow......</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The weather has been good for the last few days, but rain clouds are on the horizon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The town's annual fete starts on Friday evening with live music and of course the highlight of the year, the 17 minute firework display which is due to kick off at 20:30. and which is well worth coming to see.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I expect that all 4 of my readers will be dropping in to visit me for the weekend. Don't forget that the fig festival is on the first weekend in October in a town only 20 minutes away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A bientot alors.</span><br />
Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-6772178166800763992011-08-28T11:06:00.000+02:002011-08-28T11:06:00.125+02:00Night after night, who treats you right?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course you all remembered this song by David Gates so you will probably guess what is coming next.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before moving to France I made a list of things that I wanted to be, do and have within a certain timeframe. One of the items on the list was to learn to play the guitar and have or be in a band.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last year I bought a blu-ray copy of Jeff Beck performing live at Ronnie Scotts. I had of course heard his name over the years, but I didn't know any of his music. Amazon reviews gave the DVD 5 stars, some hinting that he blew Eric Clapton out of the water (I disagree). It is a very good DVD and most interesting too. I also bought Rainbow live in Munich 1977, Queen rock Montreal and live Aid and Roger Hodgson's take the long way home live in Montreal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Subconsciouly I was exploring guitar playing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having just returned from Ottawa's Bluesfest I had been subjected to many different types of guitar and styles of guitar music. Buddy Guy, Peter Frampton, Steve Miller, the Flaming Lips etc etc</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone has to start somewhere, so after some research I am now the owner of an electric Squier black and white fender style strat, practice amp, headphones, 2 picks, clip on tuner, bag, useless starter CD, an allen key, a spring and an enormous cardboard box.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have bought the "learning guitar for dummies" DVD, Guitar all-in -one for dummies 8 books in one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have ordered a 2 year guitar course on cdrom, and I am investigating online course too, possibly </span><a href="http://www.jamplay.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.jamplay.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> as a future avenue to follow. There is a guitar teacher who lives a few miles away, so that is also a possibility. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For now though, the fingers on my left hand are too sore to "play" for more than 5 minutes or so at a time. It looks easy. People play without looking at their fingers don't they? I am still struggling with my first 3 chords..........</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there you are. You are one of the first to know about my latest venture and perhaps that knowlege will keep me practicing. Meanwhile I am available for parties who require "Frere Jaques" or "Row,row,row your boat", both requiring only the E chord, Baby it's the guitar man!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even better news is that there are all kinds of guitar gadgets on the market....</span>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-30813637817971539492011-08-27T16:25:00.002+02:002011-08-27T16:25:00.263+02:00Out to lunch<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday I went out to lunch with the head teacher, maternelle teacher and one of the school's EVS helpers. They all drove into town (market day so parking is scarce) but I walked in to meet them. Of course just before I set off it started raining. The French weather, like elsewhere in the world has been all over the place. The wettest July since records began and not much improvement in August, except that last weekend we had a canicule (heatwave) over most of France.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The temperaratures soared up to 40 degrees C, with only a small reduction during the night. I don't have air conditioning, except for the draught that prevail during the winter months. I did buy a fan on a stand 2 years ago, so after more than a year of being redundant, it was put into service for a few nights.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to the present, and the promised sunshine shyly peeks out from behind the mass of grey cloud after a night of heavy rain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to lunch. We went to the town's Leo Legrange centre, where the choir usually have their practice days. I had chicken paella (very small portion with a rather dried out piece of chicken carcass on top) while the others had steak frites (steak and chips), so not very adventurous. In fact I find that the French are not very adventurous when it comes to food. For example they don't seem to like curries, mexican food, traditional chip shop fish and chips........ Normally steak frites is a small piece of very chewy meat with hard, stick thin chips. Of course this time the steak was big, the chips fresh and chunky and it came with salad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the meal the head teacher said that she doesn't think that I will be returning to her school, and that it is possible that I will be assigned to a pupil with some kind of disability in one of the schools. She said that she will do some phoning around on Monday to see if she can find out anything for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a meeting for all EVS on Thursday to which I have received an invitation to attend so I may have to wait until then to find out my fate.</span>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-83364143773216602862011-08-26T08:51:00.003+02:002011-08-27T11:49:09.971+02:00The waiting game<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello to anyone still out there. A lot of things have happened since my last blog and perhaps I will get round to adding some of them to this blog. However as a blog is supposed to be an up to the minute account of one's life as it happens, perhaps it would just confuse folks and / or just be tooo boring. For example I have been on holiday to Canada, spent a few days in New York, visited Niagara Falls, been to the 2 weeks of music that is Bluesfest in Ottawa.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">There, you are all nodding off already.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I am still alive and kicking and back in France again. Some of you may recall that I was working as an AVS (assistant vie scolaire) as an admin assistant. The French government continues to make big cuts to the education system. As well as closing schools, shutting down classrooms and thus getting rid of teachers, cutting the number of EVS posts (people who asist one or more children with disabilities in the classroom) the number of AVS posts have also been cut.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I am lucky because they are honouring the last 9 months of my 2 month contract, but I will have to split my 20 hours between two schools, instead of spending all my time at one. For the first 2 months of this final stint of my 2 year contract, the schools have been closed for the summer holidays. I therefore start work again for the last 7 months, on the 1st of September. The only question is WHERE???? I will not necessarily work 10 of the hours at the primary school where I have worked up until now. I could be put anywhere within the area covered by my regional school board from some small village up in the mountains, to one of the towns. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I am lucky as I have my own car, but there must be many others out there who have to rely of the almost non existent public transport system and who will now possibly have to double the number of journeys that they have to make per week. Travel costs are not paid by the state or by the education department. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hopefully I will get some instructions as to where to go before I start next Thursday.... so I sit and wait.</span>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-12015823855241774002011-01-07T19:44:00.002+01:002011-01-07T19:44:00.207+01:00Putting the clocks back in time.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE8IjLoAith7aCh_xHlJ27LtmI3VrmbhY7hpqo-lTB9-JIeslanQU-a3rhGZ3W9-I54rTNFnyj388gjtzTYGXGxgGSNCg2C-lyY0knrlID-3i86vM18HXZftzCXio7k1JMMTKTmVNZO5_/s1600/2010_11050043a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE8IjLoAith7aCh_xHlJ27LtmI3VrmbhY7hpqo-lTB9-JIeslanQU-a3rhGZ3W9-I54rTNFnyj388gjtzTYGXGxgGSNCg2C-lyY0knrlID-3i86vM18HXZftzCXio7k1JMMTKTmVNZO5_/s200/2010_11050043a.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of you will be wondering whether the <u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://chezrigsby.blogspot.com/2010/11/all-along-watch-tower-all-tock-and-no.html">renovation of the clock tower</a></span></u> in the village where I work was refurbished in time for Christmas.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a week and a half to go, the clock faces suddenly reappeared and the scaffolding came down and the bells began striking the hour and the half hour once again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn’t have enough time to climb the hill to make a closer inspection of the works before the end of term, but perhaps I will get a chance soon this year.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Hcfjv_9FNhLxBo88UynTu3tmxWJ-Sh_RPOjlsNiJ74kzyw4qAezBvVjTblAcDCZxviXXZsvhS8__DLRTJeXnYXzZ8pi-07MR7N-HckiQsn_9AwogXSy2fw5aqDu0G1utKtWD_cNS8m7l/s1600/2010_12170103a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Hcfjv_9FNhLxBo88UynTu3tmxWJ-Sh_RPOjlsNiJ74kzyw4qAezBvVjTblAcDCZxviXXZsvhS8__DLRTJeXnYXzZ8pi-07MR7N-HckiQsn_9AwogXSy2fw5aqDu0G1utKtWD_cNS8m7l/s320/2010_12170103a.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway it looks very nice from the main road with its new creamy coat of paint.</span></div>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-90402556790939153262011-01-04T17:21:00.000+01:002011-01-04T17:21:00.520+01:00Not a rockery then.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the 8th of December I was sitting in Rigsby towers when I heard a loud “Beep! Beep!” reversing noise coming from the main road. Grabbing my trusty camera I looked out of my window.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHMneCaXbd_FXi-XiS3ly1yG-_oxdCVs_dGif3Td40wNDbJn-EV1R2WVIau320vgaEcRmjNpXTqreETFTS4VSbEiJL6VfXAa21WGzFK9I5_QeV0cymGJU2eJqQsZPYYpKDwHVGOk2Vck1/s1600/DSCF8662a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHMneCaXbd_FXi-XiS3ly1yG-_oxdCVs_dGif3Td40wNDbJn-EV1R2WVIau320vgaEcRmjNpXTqreETFTS4VSbEiJL6VfXAa21WGzFK9I5_QeV0cymGJU2eJqQsZPYYpKDwHVGOk2Vck1/s320/DSCF8662a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes it was a load of earth in a big tipper lorry. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was the most exciting thing that had happened all day so I felt that I had to monitor its progress.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddydMhNEGPkFsjjOcwT7Hum4InfyImjEJJ3Veyzrwazc-ZieBE3-F9aCIF_HCozI1zasy4ele9_Nu1wXBeOJeyn6NVGEpxog4FGSvpg7Kg0UL2H2ZcqAzpCefHLIYWglIwkdLy5yHsCiO/s1600/DSCF8667a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddydMhNEGPkFsjjOcwT7Hum4InfyImjEJJ3Veyzrwazc-ZieBE3-F9aCIF_HCozI1zasy4ele9_Nu1wXBeOJeyn6NVGEpxog4FGSvpg7Kg0UL2H2ZcqAzpCefHLIYWglIwkdLy5yHsCiO/s320/DSCF8667a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The soil was tipped and a few days later some small bushed appeared. Lovely!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEP2zMlpmgFJ39pkoyl4cw_z-7JM6k40ZqFFr_Le2E2p8O7JVBVphbzIuJ3J2R0_6Z4AJK5pf4AFuJ69buejpOqvN6L8zxyfXfg_qk_OdD8xlyqMw0sD0qr35Lo4UrkLTDf87JbTlicl3Q/s1600/DSCF8672a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEP2zMlpmgFJ39pkoyl4cw_z-7JM6k40ZqFFr_Le2E2p8O7JVBVphbzIuJ3J2R0_6Z4AJK5pf4AFuJ69buejpOqvN6L8zxyfXfg_qk_OdD8xlyqMw0sD0qr35Lo4UrkLTDf87JbTlicl3Q/s320/DSCF8672a.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surely this is the end? Don’t worry, as your reporter on the spot I will keep you posted.</span></div>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-25779896574365140212011-01-01T15:04:00.004+01:002011-01-01T15:04:00.505+01:00I talk to the trees. Is it a dinosaur?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walking into town I noted that many of the trees lining one bank of the river had been chopped down. Looking more closely I saw an animal looking back at me.</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw3zBaNmdBpI2o1gaNLJXw8bfRA90FC67F-gfbgtjxoz48X8y6rz9LfFxkRRmEBHreidvqShR86cswn3qnLWeMJBySWG7L2a-qwRYbajkO6APNL9vjaCfB2HBGUYDe7oTT7R1Q15rK-RT/s320/2010_09210006a.jpg" width="320" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is it a horse? I asked myself, “or is it a <strong>dinosaur</strong>?” </span></div><strong>Happy New Year!!!</strong>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-82470377135845716882010-12-28T18:55:00.001+01:002010-12-28T18:55:00.247+01:00All in all it’s just another brick (in the wall)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps some of you will remember the saga of my neighbour’s wall, which has been ongoing for a few years now.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well I thought that it was all over and done with, but no.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few months ago I was having a siesta when a loud rumbling noise disturbed my slumbers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a period of “surfacing” I made my way to the window.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBvSat9jIO2gkZYv-p875sN9TigG8zJuiyqEZZNz1Ps4ewUyiZsOtsjoDKqItgwaM2Ywj_oOfoo158XmIVm0FPHVmwMd9mCtnjPlNRt-zah38S-hGGCaZU_wgGaDjJxhMTGVykzb9_lNY/s1600/2010_09210002a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBvSat9jIO2gkZYv-p875sN9TigG8zJuiyqEZZNz1Ps4ewUyiZsOtsjoDKqItgwaM2Ywj_oOfoo158XmIVm0FPHVmwMd9mCtnjPlNRt-zah38S-hGGCaZU_wgGaDjJxhMTGVykzb9_lNY/s320/2010_09210002a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was now a number of large boulders in my neighbour’s garden.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the next few days a new trench was dug, foundations laid and two more walls and a gap appeared.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_ZAtm2CzLqxSDkE06riL4VjphFDbvBNDIO8ksuQPvg1tukEmsGhE70DWotZJRXWTOgH1DDejlDbz4_s43915ki12YjafdhR46H_2ymrbLPj0ppTo-IFHOOcsKCeYHd_mYc0k-qHVdPO7/s1600/2010_09210050a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_ZAtm2CzLqxSDkE06riL4VjphFDbvBNDIO8ksuQPvg1tukEmsGhE70DWotZJRXWTOgH1DDejlDbz4_s43915ki12YjafdhR46H_2ymrbLPj0ppTo-IFHOOcsKCeYHd_mYc0k-qHVdPO7/s320/2010_09210050a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where will it all end I asked myself?....</span>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4277466390758855673.post-88464081936382537692010-12-25T15:23:00.001+01:002010-12-25T15:23:00.147+01:00Merry Christmas<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello everyone. The castle and I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Now stop reading blogs watch some festive television instead. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a recent photo of the castle to prove that it is still standing. It has been too cold in the evenings to go out and take photos of it bathed in blue light from numerous flood lights, golden lights at the windows and twinkly chasing lights on some of the turrets. The lighting will cost around fourteen and a half thousand euros this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quite who is looking at the castle at night, I do not know. Everyone closes their shutters as soon as it starts getting dark, and there are no tourists around.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This photo is unique. Someone had splashed the plant in the foreground with fluorescent green paint, loverly!</span>Rigsbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203124202863566211noreply@blogger.com0