Tuesday 29 May 2007

All Bank Holiday'ed Out

Oh my goodness. What a long month May has been this year. It seems to have dragged on forever. We started on 1st May with Labour Day. That was fine. As it was a Tuesday it broke the week up. The following Tuesday was Victoire 8 Mai 1945 day which again was fine. We then had a week of no bank holiday's at all. Then came the Pont d'Ascension on the 17th and 18th. Most of France took advantage of this and went away for the weekend to open up the maison secondaire, or visit friends and family. The traffic was awful and Brantome was heaving - a seething mass. Right, got over that weekend with Alex at home 4 days running and whinging about being bored. Then along came Pentecote. Funnily enough this has always been a bank holiday, just as it is in England too. A few years ago the Government took it upon themselves to say that we had enough time off in May as it is and they were going to "cancel" the Pentecote break. France went on strike! This year we assumed it was a bank holiday as Alex was off school. Driving back yesterday morning from staying with friends on Sunday night (A was at a sleepover), we noticed that some of the factories were open, but most of the shops were firmly shut. It seems that the French have decided, like me, that you can have too much of a good thing. The camera is in its last throes so I took these the other day before it died completely. And I may, just may, have a surprise for you tomorrow or Thursday. Nothing quilty, but a surprise nonetheless. Woo hoo - it's Geranium time! Can you see where the dratted slugs and snails have been munching the Hosta's?

6 comments:

Kate North said...

hostas - it's like inviting the slugs in, isn't it :) But I do love them, so I persevere... We had a bank holiday yesterday - two in May, and when Easter is late (not too bad this year) it does seem a bit much!

Vivi said...

Ooh a surprise!! Can't wait!

Tonya Ricucci said...

So that's why it was nice and quiet up here - everyone went your direction!

Unknown said...

Somebody (can't for the life of me remember who) gave me a tip the other day for stopping slugs and snails eating hostas in pots - put vaseline round the rim of the pot - apparently they slip off it - don't know if it works but might be worth a try :o)

atet said...

Lovely flowers -- and my, the holidays. We have one in May (other than Mother's day which involves no time off of work at all) -- Memorial Day. Then again, the US has so few days that are actually celebrated as holidays.

Lovely flowers -- and I can't wait for the surprise!

ForestJane said...

Love the word 'whinging' because it sounds SO much more whiney than our 'whining' lol

All I've heard for slugs is salt and beer... :)