Archive for September, 2006
Friday, September 8th, 2006
What’s in your carpet?
Fitted carpets seem to be a rare thing on the continent.
It appears that, apart from us Brits, everyone else has decided that having wall to wall rugs is not terribly hygienic.
And having made the switch from a carpeted to an uncarpeted environment - I’m inclined to agree. It only takes a couple of [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Thursday, September 7th, 2006
Allez les bleus!
Today the phrase “Go the blues!” [translated] can be heard echoing across France in light of their football team’s victory over Italy last night.
While I have nothing against this catchy little mantra, it does get a little tiring after the seven millionth time you’ve heard it. But the sad fact is that the French [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Wednesday, September 6th, 2006
Use your loaf
Today I was chastised for buying a baguette from the supermarket instead of the local bakery.
Just my luck: there is a gourmande du pain in the house!
But it cost 36 cents less ..?
So what?
… and it contains more ‘bread’ per se than the ones from the bakers?
So what!? It’s just not the same!
And to [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Tuesday, September 5th, 2006
I dream of IKEA
If there is such a thing as hell on earth then the Wembly branch of IKEA, on a Saturday afternoon, has to be it.
Sucking the souls of the damned to it like a black hole gobbling up intergalactic flotsam, the IKEA Brent Park should be regarded as nothing less than Lucifer’s weekend retreat.
Only the insane [...]
2 Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Monday, September 4th, 2006
Name that horse
If, like me, you occassionally take a punt on the horses, then you’ve probably at some time or another wondered about all the bizarre names they have?
Well one of the fringe benefits of expanding your vocabulary to include French is that you start to understand what some of them actually mean.
For example:
The winner of the [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Sunday, September 3rd, 2006
Wacken
Today we visited Strasbourg’s exhibition park at Wacken to sample the delights of the Foire Européenne (European Fair). A ten day event, in the shadow of the European Parliament building, filling all ten of the park’s halls with exhibitors from all over … well France mainly.
As much as the fair is billed as a [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Saturday, September 2nd, 2006
Bicycle etiquette
If you want to cycle in Strasbourg and look like one of the locals:
Ensure your bike makes a clanking noise of some description
Never wear a safety helmet
When cycling at night - ensure that your bike is NOT equipped with lights. (exception: dynamo systems that make a lot of noise but not a lot of [...]
