|
Post by bjd on Aug 25, 2019 8:26:30 GMT
Well, it's the weekend of the G7 in Biarritz. What a mess. We had to go to Bayonne on Friday and already all the banks were boarded over so I couldn't even get cash out of an ATM. Police everywhere. We left on Friday afternoon but by Saturday, the city of Bayonne was empty. My son-in-law needed to buy some electrical supplies and the shop was closed. All the streets in the city centre were deserted. Even a shopping centre in Anglet (the 3 cities make up the BAB: Bayonne/Anglet/Biarritz) was evacuated and people told to go home on Saturday afternoon.
All this so a bunch of politicians can have a view of the ocean while they chat over lavish meals and talk about inequality and the climate. I went to have my hair cut on the Friday morning and the hairdresser told me that apartments in the "red zone" of Biarritz were being sublet for the 3 days at astronomical prices. And someone else said that Trump would want to play golf for an hour so the local golf courses were supposed to be closed to the public so he could decide where he would play. Of course, there is certainly a mixture of fact and fiction but it is still ludicrous.
There is an alternative summit being held in Hendaye (on the Spanish border) with environmentalists, Basque separatists, feminists, and of course, there are also the black blocs that plan to riot. I saw on the local news that in Bayonne there have been fights between the riot police and demonstrators.
I think these G7 and other meetings are useless. The could use skype and forget the huge expenses and pollution. Not to mention that all the various presidents and prime ministers arrived at Biarritz airport (closed to the public, as are local train stations for 3 days) but Trump's plane had to land in Bordeaux where the runway was big enough. It was also said he would not be sleeping in the same hotel as the others but on an offshore aircraft carrier, but that is to be confirmed. If so, I hope he gets seasick.
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 27, 2019 7:37:56 GMT
Sharing a house with two other adults. Only one bathroom. Do other folk do the I'm in here clearing of the throat if you hear another family member striding purposefully towards the bathroom? ....or is it just us?
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Aug 27, 2019 9:38:41 GMT
You can rent the saw for horror movies.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Aug 27, 2019 14:39:56 GMT
I hope you also bought ear and eye protectors, Whatagain! What do you do with the pieces of the tank?
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Aug 27, 2019 15:04:00 GMT
He is smart enough to get extra money from the local scrap metal buyer.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Aug 27, 2019 18:36:12 GMT
I know that you are a fine person and will invite your closest internet friends to dinner with the proceeds from the sale.
|
|
|
Post by Kimby on Aug 27, 2019 19:21:02 GMT
I hope you also bought ear and eye protectors, Whatagain! I guess you’re far enough along that a warning not to strike a spark whilst sawing apart the fume-filled tank won’t be necessary.
|
|
|
Post by questa on Aug 28, 2019 6:35:11 GMT
It held diesel fuel, would take a real fire to ignite it. Not like petrol vapours.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Aug 28, 2019 17:43:30 GMT
Questa knows her fuels!
|
|
|
Post by questa on Aug 29, 2019 2:22:23 GMT
My son is Metropolitan Commander with the Met. Fire Service and also leader in the voluntary Country Fire Service. Firies do more than "put the wet stuff on the hot stuff". By the time they have been in action for a couple of years they are studying to get a B.Science (Fire fighting).
I learned a lot from him.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Aug 30, 2019 10:11:35 GMT
My daughter’s best friend has just had her first baby.
At the age of 45...
|
|
|
Post by questa on Aug 30, 2019 11:00:11 GMT
I congratulate her and hope she realizes that babies tend to not follow schedules like work places do, nor do they do as the boss expects. However she has started a whole new life and good luck to her.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Aug 30, 2019 11:16:23 GMT
She'll need all the luck she can get. At 45 you just don't recover from sleepless nights and demand for attention like you do when younger.
|
|
|
Post by mickthecactus on Aug 30, 2019 12:56:26 GMT
Her mother has already been roped in for the first month.
|
|
|
Post by questa on Aug 30, 2019 14:13:08 GMT
She has probably watched her friends with kids and knows enough of life experience not to panic at a nappy rash. She had better get used to people assuming she is a grandmother when out for a stroll with her little one.
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Aug 30, 2019 14:34:45 GMT
From what I have read, older mothers (as long as the birth was without incident) do not panic about things like young mothers do. They have enough life experience, even if it wasn't with babies.
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Aug 30, 2019 15:25:12 GMT
From my limited experience, it's the contrary. Young parents are much more careless and easy going. It's older parents who know all that can go wrong and are much more careful.
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Aug 30, 2019 16:03:04 GMT
It's not only about age & whether or not you have other children, but also how big a family you come from. Older kids from large families are often more prepared when they have have their own first children.
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Aug 30, 2019 18:26:21 GMT
I think you are right Bixa. My wife was one of 5 and made very little fuss, even though we went through some very trying times with medical problems with the eldest two. She had serious medical problems of her own, but I just used to clear off to work and let her get on with it!
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Aug 30, 2019 19:18:38 GMT
Older kids from large families are often more prepared when they have have their own first children. My three sisters are amazing moms but I would agree that my oldest sister is a lot like how your wife was Mossie. She has 4 children and 5 grandchildren and she never seems rattled or indecisive, is loving supportive and organized.
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 31, 2019 8:51:01 GMT
There are 17 years between my eldest and youngest siblings. Mum was pretty uptight all the while although she had six children so it's hardly surprising. My parents only wanted sons but ended up with 5 daughters and one son...in the event it was us girls who did all the caring and ferrying about of our parents. We visited frequently too. My brother did very little.
Changing the subject...Jeff and I are off on our holibobs today...leaving the lovebirds to play house (son's GF is over from Finland atm). Hoping that we have decent WiFi although we are out in the sticks...ttfn xxx
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Aug 31, 2019 11:10:26 GMT
Have fun!
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Aug 31, 2019 15:14:52 GMT
Have a great trip, Cheery & Jeff! I know you will, because it's you two!
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 31, 2019 19:13:47 GMT
OH. MY . GOODNESS....five hour drive but so worth it. luxurious cottage...beams...skylights...big old oak furniture..well equipped kitchen..WiFi.... off the beaten track this place would make Bixa scream with delight Had to drive along a single track road that was scarcely more than a footpath...woods, streams...banks covered in ferns. The main house is lovely and just far enough away from this little converted barn. The owner has two dogs who hate Django and Django hates them right back...but aside from that this place is delightful. I'm too knackered to post any pics yet...
|
|
|
Post by bixaorellana on Aug 31, 2019 19:19:32 GMT
Oh boy ~ Django got to go too! It sounds dreeeeamy ~ you two can channel some of that Rupert and Ursula Women in Love passion in the bracken energy.
|
|
|
Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 31, 2019 19:42:31 GMT
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Aug 31, 2019 19:52:23 GMT
I would have been hoping for beans more than beams.
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Sept 1, 2019 2:23:33 GMT
this place would make Bixa scream with delight Sounds like it would make me do as well! Hope to see pictures!
|
|
|
Post by kerouac2 on Sept 6, 2019 17:39:13 GMT
Congratulations to them!
|
|
|
Post by questa on Sept 7, 2019 4:43:00 GMT
Well done to them, and to you for coaching and encouraging them.
|
|