On Tuesday Nicolas Sarkozy decided to air his thoughts (ahem) about International Women's Day which celebrated its centenary yesterday. It's a shame, that yet again, he didn't opt for the more sensible option of keeping his bouche tightly shut.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
International Women's Day? *gallic shrug* What an idea!
Ah, so International Women's Day, eh? Sounds cute! What's it all about? Some kind of 'us women think we're so special that we need a day to celebrate this'? Bless.
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Le Word of the Day: Godasse
Godasse (noun feminin): Shoe (derived from the word 'Godillot')
Travelling back in time to the mid 1800's, a chap called Alexis Godillot was living it up as a prosperous Army Supplier. He supplied many things including tents and saddles, but is most well known for manufacturing the ankle boot called the 'Godillot'.
Travelling back in time to the mid 1800's, a chap called Alexis Godillot was living it up as a prosperous Army Supplier. He supplied many things including tents and saddles, but is most well known for manufacturing the ankle boot called the 'Godillot'.
Friday, 25 February 2011
Flat offer falls flat...if only we did it like the French
Our flat is on the market. On Monday a chap put in an offer, then decided the next day to come back for another (3rd) viewing with his mother. This rang alarm bells - why would you come back the day after making an offer? Was he really serious? Despite assuring the estate agent that he was, I remained uncertain. Bringing you mother to view a flat which you have already viewed twice, and that both you and your girlfriend 'really liked' is a little odd. We all know how parents can be: interfering and opinionated (and...always right!), and how influenced children can be by said relatives.
So, on hearing the news of another viewing avec maman, we reined in our excitement about the prospect of potentially moving to the country sooner than we'd hoped... And we were right to do so, two days later we get a call from the estate agent - apparently the chap retracted his offer because despite that fact that he and his girlfriend still liked it, mummy thought the bedroom wasn't quite big enough, and that the flat itself is too close to the Emirates Stadium. We are on a road which stays surprisingly quiet when it's match day (plus, I don't mind the proximity and I HATE football... and my boyfriend is a Man United fan).
Monday, 21 February 2011
Le Word of the Day: Internaute
The internaute (noun): French for someone who uses the internet.
As far as I am aware, the English language does not entertain a word which describes those who use the internet. We should have one. Not because anything the French can do we can do better, but simply because English is missing a very handy little word.
In French someone who watches la télévision is know as a téléspectateur.
Someone who uses the l'internet is a internaute.
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Les Faits: Saucisson Sec
Ah, saucisson sec... one of the many delicious foods that are associated with France. This sausage is truly one of France's greats, up there with the good 'ole crusty baguette, a ripe brie and a sumptuous Bordeaux.
This is really a versatile sausage: it keeps for ages (it can also be frozen), can be easily transported (great for those long walks) and comes in so many different flavours. On any self-respecting French market you'll find a spectacular array of 'saucisson sec avec...' almost any ingredient under the sun.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Padlocks d'amour
Love padlocks - or cadenas d'amour as they are known in French - are a rapidly growing Valentine's Day phenomenon. The idea is that couples in love take a padlock then scratch or scrawl their initials or names, or a message (a very short one, or written so small you can barely read it), on to the surface. The lovers then attach it to some railings (they're not fussy, but it's more often than not on a bridge), then throw away the key. This act of vandalism is said to symbolise their love for each other. How nauseating. (However, it does also act as a touching reminder when the relationship comes to an abrupt, unpleasant end: you feel sad, empty and alone every time you walk to work over that 'special' bridge and see your 'love-lock'. A great start to the day. Every day. Bet you wish you hadn't thrown away the key now, eh?)
Monday, 14 February 2011
Marrying a stranger? Le Saint Valentin is the perfect day for finding one.
The old superstition which states that the first man an unmarried woman sees on St. Valentine's day should be her future husband has, in my humble opinion, many flaws.
Let's pretend we were still pandering to this kind of superstitious nonsense in contemporary society. If this was how things worked, then I'm assuming that a vast number of women would outright refuse to leave their homes (which would make life quite challenging considering the great number of women who work), living in fear that they may end up having to marry 'the guy next door' (literally).
Unless of course they have already woken up with their partner and that he or she is the person they would wish to marry. If not they would have had to throw them out the night before, or, failing that, keep their eyes closed whilst getting ready for work in the morning so they don't lay eyes on them...(this in turn would make the other person feel a tad unloved I suspect).
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