Bring back the 'V' sign.

This is my new campaign.  Younger readers may need an explanation.  In the olden days we didn't have a one finger salute. This is an Americanised version of the ancient British ( originally English ) sign of defiance (remember Agincourt).  The time has come to bring back the 'V' sign.  Use it when ar*eholes cut you up in the car! When the ref makes an obviously wrong decision! Behind your boss' back when they're being unreasonable! Everytime you see Cameroon, Osborne, Gove etc on the TV! Come on, let's show 'em we're ready for 'em. 

The Flunch phenomenon

Flunch is a peculiarly French, fast food establishment. We came across it whilst on holiday in Nice.  Classy it ain't but if you want to fill up cheaply and have a seemingly French experience, then this is the place for you.

You collect your tray and cutlery then make your way along the counters.  The first being the salad and fruit salad bars with a selection of different sized plates (or bowls for the fruit salad) which determines how much you pay.  You then hit the cold meat and cheese selection.  This consists of various plates of hams, including Serrano-type, salamis, goat cheeses, bries and even smoked salmon.

Next comes the drinks area.  Sodas from a dispenser, cans of pop and beer, small bottles of wine and carafes of differing sizes to fill up with white, red or rose wine decanted from large plastic barrels.

Then it's onto the hot plate from where you buy your main meal.  There is always breaded fish, salmon fillets, a hot vegetarian option, gallettes with ham and cheese and a couple of dishes of the day.  This may be something like couscous with spicy meat and sausages or choucroute with sauerkraut.  Alternatively you can chose something grilled to order for which you pay at the till and for which you are issued a ticket which you take to the grill chef.  This is for things like burgers, faux fillets and even steaks which are cooked to your requirements.

There is a pudding section which offers flans, tartes, gateaux, mousses and so on.  There is also a separate ice cream place which does sundaes, waffles and crepes or just ice cream cornets.

On checking out you are offered coffee and if you say oui are given a token, two sachets of sugar and a little wrapped chocolate.  Unless you opt for the coffee gourmandise which is available at the pudding counter and which comes with two, three or four petit fours (macarons, eclairs, small cakes).  

The price is very good.  For example, the steak is around 8 Euro, breaded fish is 5.95 Euro.  Once you have paid you then go to the vegetable area.  Here you can have as much veg, potato, pasta and couscous as you like and can keep going back.  There are usually chips, mash and croquettes, creamed spinach, red and yellow carrots, green and yellow courgettes, penne pasta with tomato sauce, rice, plain couscous.  Condiments such as mayo, ketchup, mustards (Dijon and whole grain), balsamic and raspberry vinegars are all freely available.  There is ice and a water tap and a microwave as sometimes the veg isn't as hot as it ought to be.

Once replete you can finish your meal off with a coffee, hot chocolate or mocha using your pre purchased token and accompanied by your wrapped sweetie.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing is the clientele.  Whilst there are a few young families, the majority of the diners appear to be middle aged and older and middle income too, going by what they wear.  The surroundings are relatively pleasant and there has been a refurb in the last year.  Along with free wifi it seems to be a reasonable place to eat and remarkable value for money.  

I therefore have to come out of the closet and declare myself as an unashamed Flunch Fan.

French double parking

We spent a wonderful half hour sitting outside a cafe in a residential side street in Nice.  A workman had double parked, blocking in two cars.  The driver of the first car wanted to get out and blared the horn a number of times to attract the attention of the errant white van man.  After 5 minutes she came across to the cafe and started asking customers if they saw where the driver went.  One suggested the Pharmacy so the woman went down the street to check.  By this time the second blocked car driver had arrived and also wanted to get out.  More tooting, more questions, more shrugging, more foot tapping and extravagant hand gesturing.  We were now a good 15 minutes into the drama.

Eventually the white van man turned up.  No shame, no apology.  He just got in and drove the van a bit further down the road, parking it on a corner on top of a pedestrian crossing.  The drivers of the two now unblocked cars didn't remonstrate with him but just got in and drove off.  It seemed that this was a normal inconvenience for residents who accept double parking as an every day hazard.  Still it made for some good, free, street theatre for us.

My hot / cold thing

I love the hot / cold contrast.  My favourite puddings reflect this: hot sticky toffee pud with cold vanilla ice cream; ice cream with hot chocolate, caramel or fudge sauce (but preferably all three).

This hot / cold thing also manifests itself in my bathing preferences.  Whenever possible I avail myself of the opportunity to indulge my passion.  The Thermae Spa in Bath being one of the places I visit to get my fix - but only in winter.  There's nothing better than feeling cold on top then ducking under into hot, hot water.  Rotorua in New Zealand was also great for this.

I'm currently on holiday in a swanky hotel in France,  the swimming pool of which is wonderfully heated and half indoor, half outdoor.  This means that I can normally swim under the cover of the stars feeling both hot and cold.  It's divine.  Except on this visit, the pool is closed for its annual clean (by order of the French Health and Safety bods).  Malhereuseument!  However, I am not to be thwarted.  I am recreating the sensation by sitting in a hot bubbly bath with the bathroom window wide open listening to the Med crashing onto the shore across the road from the hotel.  Hot / cold heaven.  I must try it at home.

Seeing things through new eyes

On the bus going down to the city centre I noticed the two girls in front of me who were obviously foreign students new to the city.  They were looking at what I considered to be rather ordinary houses with interest, appreciation and delight.  A church that I have passed hundreds of times and have never really given a second glance was pointed at excitedly and necessitated a smart phone photo.  I thought about my visits to cities overseas and how much I enjoy just looking around.   So I decided to treat my usual trip to town as a visit.  It's amazing to see new things and notice details which I have previously overlooked in the rush to do my business.  I was seeing things as if through new eyes and it was quite uplifting.

Gite holidays

I have just returned from two weeks in France at two very different Gites but in the same area (La Manche, Normandy). The first was very beautiful, six bedrooms, three shower rooms, one bathroom and four toilets. It was well equipped, had free wi-fi and UK TV channels available via satellite on a big flat screen. Great for watching Wimbledon but perhaps not good for getting away from it all. It had a big, safe garden for a two (but almost three) year old, two patios and a lovely barbecue. However, it was set over three floors. The third reached via some really steep, narrow tread stairs which could be tricky to negotiate if you had big feet. It was quite remote but with a small town within 30 minutes walking distance; albeit along single track, windy lanes. The second place was much, much more basic and quite a shock in comparison to the first. No wi-fi, small portable TV with a few French channels but situated in a very small village. Lots of farm animals and a sense of country life going on around us. It was close to a fair sized seaside town and other facilities such as a wonderful indoor swimming pool which the two (but almost three) year old loved. We sat to eat at one of two enormous tables which easily accommodated nine of us and the simplicity of the place grew on some of us. However it did have problems. One of the rooms was mouldy and you had to walk through one of the bedrooms to get to another. The two shower rooms had enormous towel rails which encroached on the space. There was no towel rail at all in the downstairs toilet. Curiously, when we pointed this out to the Mayor who came to check things were okay (this Gite belonged to the village) she looked at us incredulously and said, "You take your own towel in with you.". Vive la differance. So the question is, if we went back, which Gite would we choose? The fancier but physically more isolated one but with outside contact abailable. Or the basic, getting away from it all with the possibility of immersing ourselves in French country life.

It's official - I'm a class warrior..

Pretty tired tonight as I've had a heavy week. Lots of Union activity (UCU.org.uk) as I was at the Annual Congress / Conference in Manchester all last weekend which was both hard work and fun. My University was well represented. Three of us went and we had three motions on the agenda. We lost one on the governance of our pension scheme but won the other two. The one that was really close to my heart and which I actually wrote was passed with a unanimous vote. Mainly due to the most fantastic speech given by one of my fellow delegates. It commits the union nationally to work towards having employee voice on remuneration committees (which decide on the pay of the big boys in an institution) in all Higher and Further Education establishments. The speech was well tweeted, picked up by the Times Higher Education and we even made The Morning Star; http://tinyurl.com/ccyejmu I was also elected as the representative of non-academic staff on the University's council. This is one of the main decision making bodies of the University so it's a pretty important committee. The encumbent has done a fantastic job of making sure that the interests of all staff were protected and furthered. A big job in the rarefied environs of a University. So a good couple of weeks in respect of collective issues but also rewarding in terms of individual casework. I've got a few cases on the go at the moment but I think a couple of them are drawing to a close and I've managed to get some compensation for the affected members. In reality it's not enough to adequately cover their pain and suffering but I guess it's better than nothing which they would probably have got without union support. On top of all the union work I've had my usual job to do which is why I'm pretty whacked but I guess even the the most tough and fit combatant feels it some days.