Camping

We've been used to seeing migrant camps in France for decades. They pitch their tents anywhere where there's a bit of grass. Roundabouts on the Paris Peripherique have always been a popular choice.

However, when we returned from France last September, we were quite surprised to see several tents pitched in 'The Rest Garden' where we walk with Billy every day. They are still there. There are five in the park itself and another two nearby. These are NOT migrants, just 'campers'.

Camping in 'The Rest Garden', as you might imagine, is strictly forbidden, but no-one seems to care. 

Personally I have no gripe with them, as long as they don't leave litter everywhere. Other dog-walkers are not so happy, and complain about the combined smell of urine, faeces, and marijuana that emanates from that corner of the park.

One of the campers has a dog that Billy is friendly with; I think Billy sympathises with the conditions in which the poor thing is forced to live.

Every day I'm surprised to see them still there. One would have thought that they would have been 'moved-on' by now. At present there are just seven tents in all, and I wonder how many it would take to make someone do something about them.

I have often thought that the council should buy a few acres of woodland, somewhere out of town, and let these people live there; and even build their own eco-shacks. As long as they didn't leave litter everywhere, they would do no harm.

For the moment the council's attitude is difficult to understand. However, I have just seen some eviction notices attached to each tent. Will they take any notice? It remains to be seen!

Take a Seat.

I am used to finding Ironing Boards, Office Chairs, and bits of Furniture, placed by our bins, but this was the first time I'd come across a bog!

Normally a plumber would take such things away having replaced them, so I must presume that this was left by an 'amateur plumber'. A DIY person. Although it's not a job I would recommend that one undertakes lightly.

On a related subject, we have now all received a small plastic container, with a couple of rolls of rubbish bags, for our new collection of Green Waste, that will become either Compost, or Pigswill. The new veg' bin is on the right in above photo. The small plastic container and bags are shown below.

I cannot imagine how much all this is costing.  The big bins (not yet in use) are now on every street corner, and every household has received a dinky little indoor bin. The amount of PLASTIC involved is horrendous.

I haven't looked, but what's the betting that both the large and small bins were 'Made in China'.

So, it's all go in Rubbish-Land. One used Bog 'going-begging', and the prospect of ridding ourselves of Cabbage leaves and Orange peel comes ever closer.

Life doesn't get much more exciting than this.

My little Companion

I have only ONE THING that has been with me since the day I was born; and that is ALPHONSE.

I can't claim that he has been 'cuddly', or even a particularly pleasant childhood sleeping companion, but he has always been there. He has been that 'thing' in the corner of the room, that became a very important part of my life. He may not be a beautiful Steiff Teddy Bear, but he's MINE.

These days he lives in my dressing room (the spare bedroom), and I say 'Good Morning' to him every day. I don't greet him like I do Billy, but I do recognise his presence.

Now that I'm 'old and grey, and full of sleep', I worry more about Alphonse's future than any other of my possessions. Who will look after hm, who will recall his history, who will remember to whom he once belonged?

One can make provisions for such eventualities, but one can never ensure that ones wishes will be adhered to.

Of course it really shouldn't matter what happens to inanimate objects when one is no longer here, but in Alphonse's case I cannot help but be concerned. To me he is a family member, and I care about him.

I hope that he will stay within the family for many years to come, and be treasured.

 

Our schools.

 

The Ministry of Dismal Education has just published some disturbing figures, and they don't make for easy reading.

It seems that 11,000 pupils in 'Reception Class' (4 to 5 year olds) have been suspended from school over the past year.

4,500 resulting from attacks on teachers, 2,500 because of attacks on fellow pupils, and the rest from disruption of class, making general threats, possessing a weapon, racism, etc. One has to feel sorry for all those children who behave themselves, and are being deprived of a stable education.

It doesn't paint a pretty picture does it!

Much of the blame for this bad, or even dangerous, behaviour must be placed at the altar of Mobile Phones. Children no longer learn ordinary 'social graces' at their mother's knee; they play violent games on their phones instead. Why they are even given phones at such a tender age is a mystery!

No figures are offered for expulsions from private schools. but no doubt they do exist. Confusing the words there, their, and they're, is a common reason for expulsion, as is calling a scone a 'scowne', or even holding a knife like a pencil. All worthy of instant expulsion. The government is (not-surprisingly) trying to do-away with such schools. (N.B. In case you were born without any sense of humour, this para was intended to be 'amusing').

Amongst other complaints from 'Reception Class' teachers, are of children coming to school 'STILL IN NAPPIES'. Unbelievable.

Illegal entry

I hear that the UK's Daily Express newspaper is holding a petition to enforce an Obama-style deportation programme, to rid the country of its illegal immigrants. It already has a huge amount of signatures. In fact it needs 10,000 signatures in order to force a Government Response, and 100,000 signatures to force a debate in parliament. I have a feeling that they might succeed.

As one might expect, it is difficult to put an exact figure on the amount of illegals there are in the UK, but it is certainly over 1 Million. 

We probably do need a serious Obama-style crack-down on such people; as POTUS, he managed to rid the USA of 5.3 Million illegals/criminals. I'm sure that if we applied the same techniques as Obama, we could probably get close to half a Million; it just needs government determination and will-power. The US, Canada, and Australia turn them away at the point of entry; in the UK we send Water Taxis to bring them in.

This invasion HAS to stop. It has become overwhelming.

Grasp the Nettle Someone!

 

In the eye of the beholder.

                       David Shrigley (artist). Pile of old Rope.

                                 Joe Bloggs (nearby road worker). Pile of old Rope.

One is 'valued' at £1 Million. The other probably has no value at all; a few quid maybe. 

Can you guess which is which?

French Foxes

Since we've been back in Brighton (after last Summer) we have had numerous covert visitors to our French house.

Mostly they are night visitors, but some have come in full daylight. 

We have had Foxes (sometimes two together), Badgers, and Roe Deer. But we have yet to see a Wild Boar, a Polecat, or a Pine Marten; all of which are common in the area.  

I am very pleased to see the Foxes; we don't normally see any. I shall put some food out for them in the Summer to see if they'll still come whilst we're in residence. I hope they do.

Our wildlife in France is not as plentiful as one might expect. The whole area around us is heavily wooded, and is prefect for all sorts of birds and animals; but hunting is also popular. They do try to keep animal numbers 'manageable', at the same time as taking a few for the table. We all want to preserve our wildlife, but not to let them become TOO MUCH of a pest. I would say that our hunters have got it about right.

The only thing I would suggest to them is that they ban the hunting of both Red Deer and Pheasants for at least five years, to allow the population to re-stock.

In the meantime, Bienvenu M Renard; hopefully we'll see you in Summer.