Author Archive
Friday, November 21st, 2008
How many peas have you got?
There are many words in the French vocabulary that sound a bit like another. Hence the French are rather fond of the odd pun, as a double-hearing (or double entendre if you prefer), can lead to much mirth.
But in day-to-day communication it can make things quite infurating, if you’re not quite used to the double-hearing [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
So what is Guy Fawkes night all about?
So went the question punted my way by a Frenchman standing in front of a bonfire last Saturday night.
How to answer? At school we’re taught the ‘official’ version of the origins of the celebration, which recounts how a group of bad men plotted to blow up the houses of parliament but failed. However, even [...]
2 Comments » - Posted in Life in England by Bart
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
Ouch! - update
My naivety knows no bounds. The very same day as I was hopping on a train to London, another social security bill dropped through the door* asking for an amount that made my knees buckle under me, and collapse, sobbing, to the floor.
Taking into account the bill from my accountant, health insurance, social security, income [...]
No Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg, tax by Bart
Monday, November 3rd, 2008
Is this really ‘news’ … ?
Every time I take a trip over to the UK I usually take the opportunity to bring myself up to speed with current affairs. After all, what we hear in France of Britain is usually little more than politics or a little bit of European social commentary.
It says a lot about Britain then, when [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Life in England by Bart
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
Feeling naked?
It’s almost November. The weather has turned. The central heating is on. The clocks have gone back. You go to work in the dark, and return home likewise. The winter wardrobe is getting an airing. It almost feels like winter … yet you still feel there’s something missing … right?
No, it’s not Asbo’s letting off [...]
1 Comment » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg by Bart
Monday, October 20th, 2008
Ouch!
A few weeks ago I was gloating shamelessly over the size of my tax bill. After all, paying out just 5.26% of your income to the state comes as a welcome surprise at the end of the Summer.
What I failed to realise however, was that once your tax return is in the system - all [...]
2 Comments » - Posted in Life in Strasbourg, tax by Bart
Friday, October 17th, 2008
Sunday Trading
When we first moved to France, one of the hardest things to get used to was the seemingly random opening hours of shops and restaurants.
For instance, our local ‘convenience’ store is usually open from 8am til 12pm then 3pm til 6pm, but that may change if they get a late delivery, or if the store [...]
