Blimey.
Is that a banana in your pocket or you just happy to see me?
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Officials? Everyone has issues with French officials, even the French.
I know. Is it just us Brit they donât like? Or it those French officials?
It is not just the British - to think that is simply one example of British exceptionalism. To experience a French being unhelpful or rude does not mean they are picking on you or your nationality. They are being officious which is something they are very good at.
So applications for many things in France, when it was all paper based, must be completed in black ink. A perfectly completed very legible form in blue ink will be rejected out of hand. The local tax office will close precisely on the hour. The allocation of responsibilities in the tax office is such that a simple request (can you change that address please or change that to a maiden name) may well be deflected by âmadam x does that, not meâ. Madam X it turns out most likely sits right next to this official.
Iâve witnessed a queue of travellers (a flight from the UK but over a third of passengers were French) build up in front of passport control booths. After ten minutes one official entered one of the three booths. He then took another 5 minutes to get himself and his computer ready, and to chat to a colleague who stuck his head round the door). Interestingly the Brits in the queue were getting very frustrated. The French in the queue just shrugged.
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Yes, I pretty much agree with you. For me it just the French officials and them removing my kit, that special oscilloscope. As it happens I carried on to where main equipment was located (South of Paris) and guys there gave me their various items and pieces so that we do the job I intended.
I had 2 birthdays when I was young.
. My cousin was 6 months to the day older than me. We celebrated our âhalf birthdaysâ
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Did you get birthday presents on both days Murphy?
Two things keeps this 86 yr old feeling young and those are my splendid cardiology team and running my home, Scallyâs Manor, with its plethora of occupants.
Although my wife is somewhat younger than me, she became disabled following a disastrous fall, so now I care for her; that too needs and agile mind and a fully responsive physical body.
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Sadly no, we werenât really a present giving family apart from Christmas 
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Still being able to chuckle at childish things!
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