4th September 2016

Humour, mayhem, madness. Should've, could've, would've...
1st, kitchen floor.  Since first fitted, I've struggled to seal the white, natural stone tiles - rather like trying to polish the pavement! Should've insisted the fitter do this in first place. List of products that failed:  linseed oil, beeswax, various floor polishes. Lightbulb moment from Him indoors:  try my car polish. Not perfect, but best of all of them. Second, la Poste. Gaillac has only one - crazy for a town this size - and last Monday, the interior was being renovated. Could've found out before. When I asked how I could weigh/send a small birthday parcel for daughter in US, a gallic shrug!! Third, a house viewing. Olga's rules: stuff all family detritus in available, non-integrated cupboards and keep smart 'staging' materials like cushions, expensive soaps, rugs in a handy place ready to whip out at a moment's notice. Didn't help that Him indoors, attached to dogs, having had specific instructions to keep out of the way, approached the car on arrival!! If I'd known, would've tied all 3 to a tree far away. Did we sell? Jury's out.  Oh, and a very happy birthday to Julie today!

5th June 2016

Well, we've voted in the UK referendum, but not without problems.  Our old UK Council was as incompetent as ever because, despite my completing both our registrations with the Electoral Commission in time, only one of us received the papers - and it wasn't me.  Just like at the last election, I complained three times via email to our original local Council, who are responsible for sending out postal voting papers, but no reply.  Eventually I got through on the phone only to get a temporary worker, who had to transmit all my exasperated queries to someone else. At last, my papers arrived and I followed the instructions.....date of birth, signature, check both numbers match....I thought voting was supposed to be anonymous!  Even the posting of it was contentious here.  Some branches of France's La Poste do not recognise the 'Ne pas Refranchir' on the airmail return envelope. There are reports of French post offices throwing the precious envelopes in the bin through lack of postage!!  So, after all that, will our votes arrive? Who knows.