IT'S ENGLISH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

Sometimes I think it's a good job I learned English before I realised how difficult it was! 

I think I could use this for a good, if somewhat hilarious, discussion with advanced students of English.  Thanks to my friend S who emailed this.

You think English is easy??


1) The bandage was wound around the wound.

2) The farm was used to produce produce.

3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

4) We must polish the Polish furniture.

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.

6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.

9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.

10) I did not object to the object.

11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

13) They were too close to the door to close it.

14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.

15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewerline.

16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.

17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear..

19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

PICTURES OF MARDI GRAS

French folk really enjoy celebrating, so any excuse will do.  Lots of places have a Mardi Gras parade and all the local children dress up and we all go out to watch.  Even though

 it's in February everyone has a great time.

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In areas which were most affected by the 2 World Wars there are events to commemorate the Armistice, especially in the Pas de Calais and Normandy areas.  The flags come out, anthems are sung, prayers said.  The Pas de Calais even has a Scots pipe band, complete with tartan kilts and sporrans.
http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/DF_holidays.shtml 

Getting to know the neighbours

We try hard to get to know our French neighbours, though since we are only there 3 or 4 times a year it can be difficult.  Sometimes if we are on a very short visit we may not see them at all.  They all work and have very busy lives but there are occasions for successful get-togethers.

One was our ruby wedding party 3 years ago.  We had lots of family staying and we invited the neighbours so we had quite a houseful.  Alas, our idea of spending the evening in the garden watching the sun go down whilst  sipping Pimms was short-lived because of rain but nevertheless we filled the living room and kitchen and got down to serious eating and drinking.  We sadly fell into national camps since most of the family doesn't speak French but the Pimms was certainly a hit.  What a pity we can't take bottles of it when we travel by plane.

Last year we were there in June, on a date when people are encouraged to oranised neighbourhood parties, a get-to-know-you idea, rather like the Big Lunches Eric Pickles keeps going on about.

It started in the early evening with several folk playing boules whilst clutching glasses and cans.  Later more folk arrived and we transferred to one of the gardens.  More people arrived, some with barbeques and fuel.  More alcohol and plenty of nibbles.  We were introduced all round; some folk we already knew others were new friends.  It transpired that the garden we were using was chosen because it was possible to seat 20 people round tables in the garage!  An excellent use of a garage I  must say.

By now it was 9pm and the menfolk decided it was time to light up the barbeques.  I was starving by this time and not a little woozy; still the wine and beer and pastis continued to flow and conversation became ever more lively.  People commiserated about the difficulties of gardening long-distance and, much booze later, 2 of the men offered to cut the grass when we were away for long periods.We remembered the first summer when we arrived to find the grass 4 feet tall  and weeds above the grandchildren's heads.  Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth we immediately thanked them and promised bottles of Scotch as suitable rewards. If they later regretted their rash offer it would be too late.

Eventually we were all seated and the real eating began.  By 10.30pm I was flagging.  The barbeque was great, accompanied by good French bread and loads of salads.  Then came the puddings.  Everyone seemed to have brought cherry clafoutis; cherries were very abundant that year, athough I had chickened out and bought a meringuey toffeey dessert.  Delicious!

During the meal there was much singing, ever more raucous and I think it got rather rude (mercifully my French isn't that coloquial so I can't say for sure).  By 11pm I was too tired to think so I snuck off home and got ready for bed.  My husband came home much, much later, having had an excellent time and cemented new friendships.  One of our neighbours was worried about me because I had left early but I find speaking in a foreign language and having to concentrate so I can carry on a conversation is really rather exhausting.