Archive for January, 2007
Monday, January 29th, 2007
Escalator etiquette
“Stand on the right” is the mantra for users of the London Underground. It’s a simple rule which helps to alleviate the maul that ensues as passengers make their way from the depths of the earth up into the polluted daylight (or vice versa).
The sheer capacity of people in London means that standing, even [...]
3 Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Thursday, January 25th, 2007
Snow Problem
Back in the UK, the falling of white stuff from the sky is usually greeted with general displeasure. It’s not that we don’t enjoy making snow-men and chucking snowballs about, on the contrary with think it’s the bee’s knees; however it’s arrival, without exception, can be guaranteed to cause travel chaos.
In Alsace though, [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Monday, January 22nd, 2007
Tax & Spend
Speaking as someone with socialist leanings, I have rarely had a problem with taxation in the name of furthering the greater good.
In Strasbourg I have seen many things that fall into this bracket - municipal fairs, street decorations/landscaping, clean streets, recycling services, affordable public transport … all good causes. However, this week I saw [...]
2 Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Sunday, January 21st, 2007
Brits Abroad
“To liken them to your auld-warld squad, I must needs say comparisons are odd.” (Robert Burns)
There are two things you can be sure of when you find a British ex-pat community somewhere in the world.
they will usually all congragate in the same pub (normally an Irish one), watch sport and drink dark [...]
2 Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Thursday, January 18th, 2007
Reasons to move to France
If you’re planning to have kids* - move to France. Here’s why.
* and I don’t mean baby-goats! (although France is probably better for them too)
No Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Thursday, January 18th, 2007
Private Eye
When I moved to France I thought one neat way to stay in touch with my roots - would be to retain my subscription to the satircal twice-monthly magazine “Private Eye“.
While I still chuckle at it’s gags and cartoons, it’s true investigative reporting makes grim reading - political bungling, fat-cats, fraudsters, education up the spout, [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Wednesday, January 17th, 2007
Still sceptical?
Tomorrow and Friday are expected to bring more unseasonable weather to Strasbourg, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 14 degrees C and plummet as low as er, 12 degrees C.
Average January temperatures should be around the zero mark, so something’s very wrong with the world this year, despite what certain idiots in the [...]
