Here are two simple but warm French lifestyle experiences from today.
1. The butcher at Les Halles market... we haven't bought there for months......served me and then spoke English to bid farewell and to wish me a good day. I smiled and responded in French, he told the next customer I was English. Mostly English is not often heard in our region.
2. A treat at the cafe bar where normally I sit and watch the outdoor part of the market. Today I go inside ... and am greeted enthusiastically by everyone as one says Bonjour on entering. The owner and only waiter is rushed off his feet but he brings my Hot Chocolate to my table, shakes my hand and asks me how I am. Again we have not been there for several weeks.
I am sure there are places in uk and the world where this is repeated but for me they are small treasures. I might struggle to be understood and to understand on some days and then congratulate myself at other times.
However, I am genuinely fascinated as to why people leave their homeland and extremely interested in why they return. I have recently been thinking that I would like to interview people about this subject because the movement of people has occurred since the beginning of man's time in the world. Of course circumstances for each person is different and it is dreadful when poor health or other unfortunate circumstances arrive at one's doorstep.
I am lucky at the moment and fortunate to have a small pension, and I am still looking to buy a house of my own. House prices may be lower but there will be a loss on the sterling- euro exchange. One cannot win all ways!
Yet I do get confused at times when my need to see my grown up children and only granddaughter 19 months old beckon me to UK but when I get there I feel so stressed, more stressed than here, and am thankful that I have the opportunity to look on the bright side of life and witness the changing flower displays giving colour in the wintry rain.
My garden has beautiful apricot roses in flower in November. It must be the donkey doodahs we put on them recently! Life can be a bowl of cherries but .. not always!
The French Paper this month seems to be full of gloom and doom.... just like UK!
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