Blimey.
Is that a banana in your pocket or you just happy to see me?
2 Likes
Officials? Everyone has issues with French officials, even the French.
I know. Is it just us Brit they don’t 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 “madam x does that, not me”. Madam X it turns out most likely sits right next to this official.
I’ve 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.
1 Like
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 “half birthdays”
1 Like
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, Scally’s 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.
5 Likes
Sadly no, we weren’t really a present giving family apart from Christmas 
1 Like
Still being able to chuckle at childish things!
2 Likes
Sooty😺. I loved Sooty
1 Like
Headbanger
I’m guessing that’s not The Sooty Braden Show band he’s listening to…
. At my age of 81 nobody say a word when I give out a huge long fart, if it smells only others can smell it. I can be grumpy as hell and no one complains . Others who walk ahead fast have to wait for me to catch up, Scratching lower private parts are acceptable in company. Pretending to be partially deaf is one way to make others repeat what they say several times.
OH the absolute joy of being able to do things when younger one got told off for.
I will be 89 later on this year and my partner is 10 years younger. She has osteoporosis and is a bit unsteady on her feet. Over the last few years she has broken her pelvis and hip. She is currently nursing a broken arm. I have to do most of the chores and cooking which keeps me on my toes. I just keep taking the tablets.
3 Likes
having older friends always makes you feel young if you are the youngest in the room
1 Like
Or, if you look young and everyone assumes that you are younger than them … even though you know that you are at least 3 or 4 years older than them. Does that keep you young?
I looked much younger than my age for many years and used to pretend to not know about things from the 1970s. Once you get into your 50s such denial becomes less convincing…
Everything has drawbacks, my OH and her two brothers were blessed with good genes (and hair) all mid to late sixties, they would all pass for early forties, the problem is, the age is the age, no getting away from that, but, to possibly end up in care with that outward aesthetic could bring with some unique problems.