Day five in France - All that Jazz

As we start to get ready for bed, we listen to the sounds of Jazz on the quay outside.

Today my daughter and I went to get breakfast only to find the food we had been sent out to get had sold out and I had forgotten to order the giant pan-au-chocolat that they also sell. Before this we had been watching a film together while her mother and brother caught up on much needed sleep.

Later it was a trip to the river beach where my wife and I watched the kids playing in the river and later make a sort of sandcastle. It was altered later when a boy found it unattended and destroyed part of it, but that is another tale.

Come dinner time I attempted to use the barbecue but failed miserably, the charcoal heating up for a short period of time before cooling. Fortunately my wife had food that mostly did not need to be cooked on the BBQ and instead we used the cooker in the cottage.

But, while we did not do much, the kids loved today.

Day four in France - films

Today has been one travelling about in the area.  We had a trip into town to find one of the least helpful Tourist Information centres that we have found and then after that, it was a journey to find another. Luckily our hosts had told us where they could be found and we then found one of the most helpful Tourist information centres ever.  The good thing about the tourist information centre was the museum above it, which while sparse was free and offered information on the basics of the Stone and Bronze Age, which I presume included local finds.

We were fortunate enough to be told more information to augment that which our hosts had given us both today and yesterday.  And armed with this information, due to the day being one with weather reminiscent of England (the stereotyped version) we traveled. We visited a chateau and tried some wine. The kids were great but we felt it would be too unfair on them to take them round looking at furniture when they were hungry so instead we went to a nearby restaurant were we had good food. I always love the idea of fried cheese but the Camembert with breadcrumbs today accompanied by a salad with raspberry vinegar was amazing.

Once back near our temporary home, it was a trip to a local patisserie to reward the children for their patience with a treat for them and a Cafe au lait for us.  At home while my wife slept, the children watched the end of Transformers 2 (as bad as all the other sequels) and then we watched Batman vs Superman which was a far better film.  Anyway they are in bed now, no doubt sleeping about superheroes and the argument we had over dinner as to if Buffy The Vampire Slayer is a superhero (or heroine) or not. For the record, she is one, and an awesome one at that.

And the picture is of a snail is one that we picked up somewhere along our travels today.

Day three in France - civilised

Today has been more relaxed.  Breakfast was relaxed and great. My wife is far better at French than I am and is speaking less Italian now when speaking French.  I am not one to judge however as I am terrible with both, only speaking a few words despite having lessons in both languages in the past.

Lunch occurred after a trip to the local supermarket and then, for the children and I, a walk down the river bank to a beach on the river. I do not think the kids were too happy with this, but they came along anyway but when there, loved it.  There is a park as well as two areas, one to swim in, the other to wade in. We didn't take the appropriate clothes so were not able to stay for as long as we would have liked.

Dinner today was outside our cottage to the sound of music, a delight we were never going to have in Italy.

Day two in France - La Batellerie

Not the best photo but one I intend to improve on. We are at our destination and it is great. The couple that run La Batellerie are as lovely as the place itself. My wife booked it and as with the holiday last year, the place is amazing. Unlike last year it is in the town which makes it much better for exercise. Anyway we are watching Iron Man. Good night all!

Day one of our holiday in France

Knackered, that is the way to describe all of us.

My amazing wife has arranged a holiday for us in France and we are now enjoying the effort she put into this.  The last two days have been busy as I have been finishing off what work I can do before the holiday. Some of this will require me to catch up on e-mails when on holiday but otherwise we will be spending much needed and valued time together.  The big downside of this was when I was late for a lunch invite with some good friends yesterday. I owe them lots for this and will have to find a way to make it up to them.

As for today, the trip down to the Tunnel was essentially uneventful and though there were a lot more security checks than before the journey under the Channel went well. And then it was the long drive.  But the roads in France are great, as are the service areas.  My wife just kept saying how civilised things are in France.  Service areas in the UK are improving but have some way to go to catch up with the standard set in France.

Anyway, we are how resting in our hotel before setting off again tomorrow.  And I hope to be able to update the blog then.

The myth of White Genocide

For those of you on Twitter, you probably know that I post a lot and I like to learn from the site.  However one thing has intrigued me, that being the term White Genocide.

I have encountered this idea in the past when I used to be more active on Yahoo! answers, there the Far Right, most of whom supported the BNP being active in spreading hatred and intolerance.  But that was several years ago while now, I am encountering intolerance and fear once more.

The term White Genocide is an emotive one. I live in the UK and there is a city where the white population is now less than 50%.  But, while it may appear to be so, it is not white genocide.

KILLING MEMBERS OF A GROUP - Violence occurs and this affects all skin colours, but I have yet to see selective ethnic cleansing of white people in the UK or elsewhere.  It has happened in the past, this being in Nazi occupied Europe in the Second World War as well as in Bosnia which sadly was more recently.

CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY OR MENTAL HARM TO MEMBERS OF THE GROUP - Again, no evidence exists of that happening to white people at the expense of others now in the way it happened in Nazi Germany before the Final Solution.

DELIBERATELY INFLICTING ON THE GROUP CONDITIONS OF LIFE CALCULATED TO BRING ABOUT ITS PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART - Places like the Warsaw Ghetto.

IMPOSING MEASURES INTENDED TO PREVENT BIRTHS WITHIN THE GROUP - The Nazi's forced black people to be sterilised.

FORCIBLY TRANSFERRING CHILDREN OF THE GROUP TO ANOTHER GROUP - While genocide wasn't the aim, this has happened with Aborigines in Australia.

And one issue that white supremacists bring up is how the issue of forced immigration and assimilation in Tibet is viewed by many to be genocide.  There is no doubt to me that the intention of China is to destroy the regional identity and culture of Tibet.  However in Tibet, the people there have no choice in this matter whereas in the democracies of the west, people have a say and as yet, since 1933 no major democracy has voted to permanently end immigration. This means that immigration is not forced (though it may be against the wishes of a minority) and people have the right to retain their languages and beliefs.

If you read this and think I'm wrong, please comment so I have the opportunity to learn. x

Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder

Life has been interesting for the children, they are off school and at present they seem to love it. And most of the time they appear to be getting on.  Which is great for my amazing wife who has to look after them most of the time.  On Saturday, as normal, I went to work, but instead or working around East Anglia has I have been doing for the last few years, I am now catching up on paperwork in my normal job.  While it means that I am still working, it means that it is closer to home, which means that I can use the bike that I had bought years ago to ride to work.  Which I feel is great for me as this means that I am getting fitter.  While I still may have a heart attack or stroke, it means that statistically, I am more likely to survive it.  But it is the enjoyment at doing this as well which is amazing.  And of course, the children now ride their bikes, which means that they are becoming healthier, though I have not had the chance to ride with them recently.

So, on Saturday, after getting back from work, we went to a friends where we were going to have lunch, but for one reason or another, things did not work out that way.  Later that day, it was off to another friends.  There in addition to dinner, we did have wine and a drink that I have not had for ages, absinthe.  Come the morning, while my wife wanted us to have a day in Mersea, instead we stayed at home and did some much needed gardening.  The kids got to play in the inflatable pool, though I am not sure this is something that can be used again, and they helped us while the garden got some TLC (it needs a lot more).  Apart from one event where my daughter attacked my son, things were great between them.
 As I type now, the kids are in bed.  My mother-in-law has come to help us while we are working, and the kids have watched the BFG today.  Anyway, it is time for me to get some sleep, so good night!

Mrs. Green lived in two story house together with an elderly widow. After not hearing from her for a few days, she got a bit nervous. “John”, she called to her son “do me a favor and go find out how old Mrs. Robinson is.” So six year old John went down the stairs and knocked on Mrs. Robinson’s door. “So how is she?” asked Mrs. Green when John came back up. “How is she?” repeated John “I’ve never seen her so mad in my life, she said it’s none of your business how old she is.”