Les Bons Vivants in Corsica (Part 1)

It's a long time since I've posted one of these videos of the Bons Vivants doing what they do best; eating, drinking, and having fun.

Here they are in Corsica, waving guns around like a bunch of junior Mafioso (firearms etiquette is not their forté), and enjoying the best that the island can offer. 

Their accents are very strong; very similar to where I live, so not easy for everyone to understand. However, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it.

These boys don't hold back, they search out the very best of each region of France. The cheeses, the charcuterie, the wines, the alcohols. And at the same time they have a lot of fun with their palls.

It's why we love France (and Corsica) so much. 

They're basically a pair of Foodie-Hooligans.

 

Should we 'Ban the Burka' ?

No, not Brighton beach, but probably somewhere in 'Arabia'.

Many burka-wearing women say that they like to be totally covered, but one wonders what their husbands would say/do if they said otherwise. How can this poor woman in the photo not be desperate to join her family in the water?

Humans are humans wherever they live, and women want the same freedoms and opportunities as their sisters elsewhere. To be educated, to find a nice husband, to make her own decisions, to be her own person. These are basic desires, and rights.

I do have sympathy with these oppressed women, but if it's what they REALLY want, then OK. However, I don't believe a word of it. I mean; just look at this poor woman; obeying the wishes of her husband (I presume the photo is genuine). I can just see her thinking how nice it would be to wear a bikini, let her skin feel the sunshine, and throw herself into the cooling water.

Is there a woman in the world who really wants to be covered from head to toe in a black shroud for the whole of their lives..... and for what?

Several major EU countries are now banning the wearing of such clothes. With 'facial recognition' cameras being installed everywhere, they NEED to be outlawed. 

On a personal note, I must say that I do find them quite amusing. I suppose I shouldn't laugh at them, but they do look quite comical.

Could there possibly be a sillier form of dress ???

This should do the job.

 

Mouches et Moustiques.

One of the most noticeable differences between the UK and France, are the Flying Insects.

We are sleeping in our 'Tower'; an outside room with a very comfortable bed. But somehow the Flies and Mozzies have already discovered that we're there.

I've given it a good spraying, I've installed a plug-in-insect-scarer, and I'm even wearing a yellow plastic anti-Mozzie bracelet, but still they come. 

I remember many years ago talking to our local Chatelaine about the problem, and she very indignantly asked me "So, you don't have Flies in England?".

"Of course we do", I replied, "but as soon as one is spotted inside a house, everyone rolls-up a newspaper, and we hunt him down". A very different attitude to here in France.

Like most people, I really hate hearing a Mozzie at night. It can completely spoil one's pattern of sleep.

If anyone knows of a foolproof system to keep the wretched things away, please let me (and the rest of the world) know.

A new member of staff.

 

Yes, we have a new member of staff here at the 'homestead'. He is amusingly known as 'Creepy Crawley', and is mostly found either beside, or in, the pool.

He's a hard-worker, and his demands are few. He works for just a few hours every other day; and does a grand job. 

Seeing as my poor old back hardly functions any more, we decided that we needed extra help with certain outdoor cleaning jobs. Then Kimbo found 'Creepy', who was desperately looking for work.

He takes life quite leisurely, mooching about and climbing up walls and steps. He does a bit of sweeping, then when he's tired he simply goes to sleep and I rescue him from the depths.

It's a bit like having a tame Turtle in the pool.

The Death Sentence.

I don't wish to upset anyone, but we've had a crime recently in the UK that is possibly the worst I've ever encountered. Please be warned.

I'm not at all a 'hang 'em high' person, in fact I'm 99% anti-capital-punishment, but just occasionally we come across cases that are so horrendous that, frankly, no other punishment fits the crime. Such criminals should be prepared to sacrifice their own lives.

This case is so awful, that I won't even suggest that you look too much into it; it's too harrowing. However if you do wish to know what I'm talking about just look-up 'Preston Davey' on the net; but BE PREPARED.

The treatment that this poor 13 month old baby boy received at the hands of his newly adopted parents is beyond belief.

In many ways, I wish I'd never heard about this crime, as it REALLY upsets me. I simply cannot believe that fellow humans could be so vile. 

Frankly, I think just hanging them would be too kind. 

The only solace I have, is knowing that they will have an extremely rough time in prison. I'm sure you know what I mean. Such people are not very popular; they'll be very lucky to get out alive !

All this little boy wanted was to be loved and cared-for; what he got was a bloody MONSTER who abused and eventually killed him. I literally SHUDDER when I think of what the poor child endured.

I just keep thinking of all those people who would have loved to adopt little Preston; including Lady M and myself. Instead he was given to these two scumbags.

If there's a better reason to re-introduce the death sentence; I'd love to know it!

Merci.

 

What a really lovely circle of 'friends' we have, here on the net.

I write a load of inconsequential nonscience, day after day, and when I have a few problems, I am offered sympathy and support by the bucket load.

When one becomes partially immobile, and lives in constant pain, one becomes crotchety and unsociable. It's not something I enjoy, but it comes with the situation.

So I wish to say THANK YOU to everyone. Your kind thoughts have meant a lot to me. Cro xx

RIP David Hockney.

 

I wouldn't call David a 'friend' because we only met on a couple of occasions. Had I lived in London rather than in France, I'm sure our friendship would have continued; but it was not to be.

We first met whilst I was at college. He was a 'visitor' to the Painting Dep't, and we seemed to get on very well (he liked the work I was doing). Later he invited me to his home in Powis Terrace, for tea. The tea itself was served by his friend Peter, wearing only a plastic apron (I had to look away). I imagine that tea was one of David's obsessions, as I remember being offered an extremely wide variety. 

Whilst there he showed me the job he was working on; a picture of two people sitting on a bench in the Luxembourg Gardens; viewed from behind. A rather strange symmetrical subject for a painting.

He'd bought a first floor flat in a terrace of Victorian houses, and when the first floor flat next door came up for sale he bought it and knocked the two into one, making a huge space.

I always liked his work, up until he began to use technology rather than paint. I owned a couple of his engravings of the poet Cavafy, which I sold at Sotheby's when I was in need of some cash.

He was England's 'most famous painter' from the mid-1960's to his recent death on the 11th June 2026, and his name became 'household'. Mention 'David Hockney' to almost anyone, and they will know who he was. Unusual for an artist.

So, RIP David. I'm glad we met each other. You looked just like your picture above when I visited your Notting Hill flat, and I remember our conversation fondly. Cro.

Day 1.

 

I came here to relax, but I still haven't been able to.

OK, I've had a few swims, but the outdoor temperature is very hot, and we've been dealing with our few minor disasters that needed to be fixed. We have mended the pool pump bit, but the car is a very different matter. It has to go to a garage; and after Kimbo flies back to Blighty, we shall be left 'High-n-Dry' without a vehicle (until it's fixed). The mechanic will pick it up, and deliver when fixed, so at least that's something! It's something to do with a 'Drive Chain' inside the engine.

On a more personal front, everything seemed to be going much better, but having to rush around, and with all the stress, I am experiencing pain once again; even though I can now actually walk.

Regardless of all our woes, we are wining, dining, and enjoying life. The BBQ has been host to some wonderful steaks. The landscape is delightful, and the constant silence is simply delicious. The area where we have lived for the past 50+ years has so much to offer that even our little problems hardly matter. 

As you can see (above), my favourite pastime is not being hampered, and at 22 C, the water is both cooling and pleasant.

It's not how we envisaged our departure and arrival, but what the hell!!!

Wish you were here!

At last we really are here. It's been a bit of a nightmare with cancelled sailings and flights all over the place, but all is now well.

This is another version of the photo I posted a week ago. It will be 33 C for the next week or so, and the pool is ready for use; the pump has been running permanently for over a week (unattended), and the water level was a bit low! I am really looking forward to my first swim (tomorrow). The water is 23 C.

No horrors. Everything electrical, plumborial, and gaseous, is working. The satellite internet connection is still operating, and the Champagne in the fridge was at the perfect temperature. The only thing that's a bit dodgy is the pool's 'pump' itself; it hesitates before coming on. Something will have to be replaced.

After an overnight Channel crossing (with cabin and ensuite), we drove almost non-stop, and arrived at home in the early afternoon. No hiccups, just a small rattling noise from the engine; which I'll have seen to next week. And Rory (our mower) won't start; he needs a new battery. 

We arrived in perfect sunshine, and, as Kimbo had left the Fridge running, cold drinks were waiting for us

Of course such journeys for an old codger are very tiring, and this was no exception. Both Lady M and I were exhausted, but in a good way!

It'll take a while for my health problems to settle, but all seems to be heading in the right direction. My extreme pains have gone, and I'm hopeful.

Actually, there is one other problem (with a friend/neighbour) but I'll report about that later.

Thank you everyone for all your recent comments. I hope you understand that in my predicament, I was unable to reply.

 

CATASTROPHE.... DISASTER.....

 

We are still in Brighton. My mobility problem became far worse and I literally couldn't walk. After a couple of sleepless nights, I was in a lot of pain and moving around was almost impossible. It was obvious that driving down through France was out of the question.

The car was packed, the tickets and hotel all booked, Billy's papers were all in order, and we were really looking forward to our trip. Then on the morning of our departure, I was struck down. Sod's Law.

Doctors were consulted, and serious pain killers requested.

Strangely, the doc' thought it was my Sciatica rather than an arthritic Hip, and some high strength Codeine tabs were prescribed. They didn't do much good.

For the  moment I am literally shuffling about, six inches at a time, and in so much pain that I can't sleep. I have an ambulance coming to collect me for a hospital appointment, so I may get some even stronger pain killers, then we can hopefully head south before the weekend. I shall NOT be driving.

Beam me Southwards Scotty

I shall be away from my laptop for a few days, en route to my other home.

So, the next time I write something on this page, it will be from here! (picture courtesy of my grandson 'Ollie', and his drone)

I'm not looking forward to the journey down, nor is Lady M, and nor (I'm sure) is Billy; it's tiresome. But arriving will be wonderful; I love my little cottage. 

Can you spot any difference between SW France and central Brighton?

This year will be the first since my mobility problems have become 'serious'; so it may well be my final visit. If I can't get around, I'll have to stay in the UK.

Kimbo has also just sent me another tempting photo; it was mid-Cherry season when he was there recently. I only have one Cherry tree (a yellow one), but there are usually plenty elsewhere. It's one of the true pleasures of the countryside in late May and early June. However, I fear we may be just too late!

 

p.s. Please excuse me if I don't reply to comments. My laptop is now packed away until about Wed/Thurs.

Enjoy yourself.

Anyone who has been lucky enough to attend a Jools Holland show will know that he always finishes his set with this song; and everyone joins in.

I first saw Prince Buster at The Metropole Hotel, here in Brighton. It must have been 1966-ish, and he was heading the bill, along with The Move; featuring Roy Wood. A very strange mix.

Anyway, here is The Prince himself, singing with Jools's band. 

Buster often claimed to have written 'Enjoy Yourself' himself, but I don't think he did. I'm sure it dates from earlier. Doris Day sang a version in 1950, when the song was attributed to Herb Magidson and Carl Sigman. Perhaps he just changed some of the lyrics, or the tune.

Eagle-eyed viewers might spot the late Rico Rodriguez shaking his maracas in the background 

 

Modern duels.

No, this didn't take place in the sugar cane plantations of the USA's deep South, but in the UK's county of Essex.

I won't say what 'cultural group' these people come from, but I will warn you to be very careful when encountering young men wearing either black or pale grey track suits, masks, and hoodies. And to keep away from most UK inner cities.

It has now become VERY common for such folk to carry Machetes hidden down their trousers. They not only attack 'their own', but will randomly attack 'locals' too.

I was reading in The Guardian about a 'Machete Duel' in Battersea, between a couple of these lads, and decided to look on YouTube for a video. I was amazed to discover that there were loads on offer. It seems that certain young men often fight these duels; no doubt over their drug businesses.

Fights take place in daylight, in open ground, at popular meeting places (such as Southend above). Onlookers are terrified, but can do nothing. It's not unlike 'Pistols at Dawn' from earlier times.

It seems that such behaviour has now become part of everyday UK life. It's not surprising that native Londoners are leaving their city for good! Who could blame them!

                                              

I was recently listening to David Lammy our 'Justice Minister' (on the radio). He was describing all the current problems these people are causing. Drugs, phone thefts, smash-n-grabs, people smuggling, antisemitism attacks, and general crimes and misbehaviour; his answer was the standard 'We need more Bobbies on the beat'. 

Well, with far too few policemen in the UK, I think we'll have to call in The Army to help-out. 

Everything's getting out of hand.

 

Haddock's evolution

When I first bought Haddock's, it was covered in Brambles and hadn't been cultivated for decades. I was told that it been the original veg' garden for our cottage.

I decided to have the area 'rotovated', then, after clearing away all the bits of Bramble roots etc, I split the whole plot into three sections (below). Rotovating was probably the wrong thing to do, all the Brambles became 'minced', and every tiny piece of minced root wanted to re-grow. 

The ground eventually became workable, but required a lot of cleaning & clearing. I soon also discovered that my crops were being eaten by wildlife, so the area had to be fenced.

I changed the layout, planted fruit trees, and built a Chicken run at the top end. I also fenced all around. It became animal proof, and the Hens provided eggs. It was a huge improvement.

Then much later I decided to establish a four section rotation system, which was much easier to work, and provided even more crops than before. I even kept a yearly record of what had been grown where.

Suddenly I had too much of everything, so I began to preserve the excess. My cupboards filled rapidly. I loved both the process of growing, and the process of preserving.

I also planted Vines around the exterior fencing; adding yet another crop. I had embraced 'efficiency'.

Then about 8 years ago, crops suddenly started to die. This coincided with my neighbour using his adjoining land as a 'land-fill-site'; inviting all his friends to bring their detritus to help build-up the level to about a metre above that of Haddock's; held back by an old stone wall.

Things got worse. I could see strange liquids seeping towards Haddock's, and an Oak Tree on his land suddenly died. I was worried.

A year later I admitted defeat, and quit. Something was seriously wrong, and my crops were all dying.

His dogs also killed my four remaining Chickens. I was seriously depressed. Haddock's had been my raison d'etre, and it had been destroyed.

Now, about 8 years later, I simply mow there just to keep it looking tidy, and this year I intend to plant some Peach and Cherry trees. We shall see what happens!

I miss those good times, but these days, as I am 'incapacitated', I wouldn't be able to cultivate the land anyway.

 

Red Ed Miliband

Ed Miliband, our wonderful Energy Secretary, has allegedly 'signed-up' to some make-believe world, where we are slapped around the face, and told what we can, and can't, do! We're being told how to travel, how to warm ourselves in Winter, and even how to eat properly. He has signed-up to some 'legally binding' targets, that must be met by 2040. It's like being at some Politburo run Junior School.

This is the man himself (below) caught eating a suspiciously non-Kosher Bacon sandwich. I enjoy Bacon sandwiches myself, but at least for atheists they are not prohibited. 

Miliband intends to make us all replace our perfectly good Gas boilers with very expensive 'Heat Pumps'. We have plenty of Oil/Gas in the North Sea, but he refuses to extract it. Instead, we buy our gas from the more sensible Norway; and we will be buying Oil from Russia again very soon.

He also wants us all to drive those wretched Electric Cars. No thank you.

He is insisting that we all eat 25% less meat (including, I presume, Bacon sandwiches). I'm certainly NOT going to be told by someone like Miliband what I can or cannot eat. If I wish to throw a few Steaks or Chops on the BBQ; I will.

And he also wants us to consume 25% less dairy products; Milk, Yoghurt, Cheese, Cream, etc. Is he kidding? Why do they hate our Farmers so much!

'Nanny State' politics may be fine in the Labour Party Junior Common Room, but we live in the real world, and not in some student-friendly Vegan Café.

The only respite we have against all these nonsensical Socialist policies, is that Labour will soon be booted-out, and all their silly policies reversed. 

Let's Make England Work again, Manufacture again, Invest again, Drill again, and even Eat again.

I'm thinking of having MEWMIDE hats made as I write.

 

Celebration; French style.

Some may remember that there was a Football game in Budapest recently between the English team Arsenal, and the French team Paris St-Germain. PSG won, and in traditional fashion their fans set light to cars and rioted.

They don't only do this to celebrate Football games, they also set light to cars to welcome the New Year. On the 1st Jan people actually listen to The News, to hear that year's tally. I think they like it to be greater than that of the previous year.

It's a strange way to celebrate, but in France we're used to it. Different cultures have different traditions; I think this one seems to be practiced mostly by N Africans. If you search for PSG players, you will understand what I mean.

During the 'celebrations', one person died, and about 460 were arrested. 71 Towns and Cities were affected.

Meanwhile, a few Arsenal fans were arrested in London, after their usual drunken behaviour to mourn their defeat. 

A good time was had by all.

p.s. Why is it that Rugby Union, Rowing, and Cricket fans don't do such stupid things. I suppose it's simply that they're better behaved.

 

When Popularity becomes a Pain.

The Cotswolds is one of England's most beautiful, and desirable, areas to live. People often compare its architecture to that of Périgord, in France.

The area has recently been made even more popular by droves of 'Celebs' quitting Sadiq Khan's Socialist, Hamas-loving, London, for a safer, less crime-ridden, and friendlier, place to live.

However, as nice a place as it is, with its beautiful old stone-built homes, it does come with ONE HUGE disadvantage;.... droves of bloody, camera-toting tourists. It's become a 'theme park'.

Many decades ago, when my people had a cottage on the North Welsh border, we would always stop en route to buy Pork Pies, etc, at a particularly good butcher's shop in the village of Broadway.

Broadway was, and probably still is, the most iconic Cotswold village. Yes, I suppose we were also 'tourists' of a sort, but we didn't go around peering into people's windows, or eating sandwiches whilst sitting on the pavement. We stopped, did our shopping, and continued on our way. They would hardly have noticed us come and go, other than a small amount of money we contributed to their economy.

These days, coachloads of foreign tourists are ushered around in large groups, treating the area as if it is some sort of huge plastic Disneyland theme park.

If I owned, and lived in, one of the cottages above, I would be absolutely bloody furious.

Squirming...

 

Poor old Nicola, her hubby, Peter Burrell, has been arrested! 

I first mentioned the dubious goings-on in the Sturgeon household back on 21st February 2023, in my piece entitled 'Thank goodness'.

The fragrant Ms Sturgeon was on Laura Kuenssburg's Sunday morning BBC show yesterday, in which she stated that she had absolutely no idea that her hubby had been stealing Hundreds of £Thousands from the SNP's funds. Well, she wouldn't would she!

His biggest purchase was this huge Camper Van (seen from space), which cost over £120.000. It was parked at his parent's home (above), where Nicola claims not to have noticed it. On visiting her in-laws, she says she never saw it. Well, it is only the size of a London Bus.

Amongst other things he bought for himself were a Pencil Sharpener for £110, a set of Salt and Pepper grinders for £2,600, a Model Helicopter for £550, a Beatles souvenir Fountain Pen for £1,500, and another Skywalker Pen for £4,200, and a Telescope for £1,200. It's a very long list.

Ms Sturgeon claims not to have known anything about where all this spending money came from, even though he had a history of being 'light-fingered'. I believe he allowed about £1,500 to accidently fall into his pockets whilst working for Alex Salmond in the 1990's.

The two questions that all sensible people are now asking are 1, How on earth did he think he'd get away with it?, and 2, How did Sturgeon not notice that £400,000 worth of goodies suddenly appeared at their marital home?

What I do know, is that if Lady M came home with a £120,000 Camper Van, I'd feel inclined to ask where she got the money. Wouldn't you?

Some wag has suggested that he bought the Camper Van to stash all his 'swag'. They could be right.

Ms Sturgeon has now moved down from Scotland to London. Sensible wee gal. Scottish Independence no longer appeals!