Saturday, April 11, 2015

More strikes.


Downstairs to find Bob sleeping . Late last night the cat that pees in the woodpile had the brazen audacity to make an appearance outside the front door. The PONs gave chase. The cat rocketed up into an acacia tree. The angelic duo patrolled the garden for more than twenty minutes before being coaxed indoors. They were completely oblivious to the fact the cat was up a tree.


To the barbers. He cuts my hair with a cut throat razor while maintaining a lively conversation with the three ancient farmers perched on the old leather sofa. Angus sits very still. Bob snores contentedly away from his spot under the sickly aspidistra by the cash register.


In the market square a mass of pilgrims. You can tell they're pilgrims. They eat sandwiches, drink soup from thermos flasks and murmur piously. There is a noise that only pilgrims en masse make. The sound of tempered contentment.


Bob and Sophie are in fine form. They spend their day digging, barking, guarding and chasing. Blackbirds, squirrels and cats require constant vigilance. A PONs work is never done.


The French air traffic controllers are planning more two day strikes. The next strike scheduled for the day we're off to the States. One of those times when we have to get away. Last week no British Airways flights made it to Toulouse on Thursday and only one late at night on Wednesday. Should we drive back to London and pick up our flight there ? To make matters worse another strike is scheduled to start on the day we return .


15 comments:

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Blackbirds, squirrels and cats will reign supreme when the PONs are away.....

Craig said...

TGV to Lille and then Eurostar onto St Pancras? I've done it and it works pretty well. Those azure skies are wonderful.

Julie said...

The strike is causing havoc and frantic rebooking of flights at work. It would be worth your while checking out alternatives and their unfortunately more inflated cost Angus

MLou said...

Except for the strike woes, it looks like a perfect day. There is still 3 feet of snow on the ground here and I am envious of the rolling green hills.

Duke and Petite-Chose at 2G said...

How contented and happy Bob and Sophie look, obviously no idea that a visit to kennels is on the horizon....... Though Bob might have had a clue when you went for the "holiday" haircut, Angus...

Emm said...

Uh-oh. I've been planning a jaunt across the Pond starting late April. Maybe flying into Bordeaux isn't such a good idea after all. Is there a source for those dates you mention?

Angus said...

The dates for the next two strikes are in this BBC report _

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32203876

Angus said...

No idea that a week in the kennels awaits !

Angus said...

South Carolina weather here. Snow , thankfully, a brief and distant memory.

Angus said...

BA have been very good, For some reason they alone amongst the airlines still have a willingness to help.

Angus said...

Good idea until I checked the train schedule from Toulouse. Driving would be quicker.

Angus said...

But when they return ........

Coppa's girl said...

After the cats, squirrels and blackbirds have caused mayhem for a week, unchallenged, what fun the happy duo will have when they return from kennels to stake their claim in the garden ! Sophie's squeals of delight and Bob's barks of indignation will be heard across deepest France profonde.

Emm said...

Thank you. I suspect my best laid plans are about to gang agley.

Whispering Walls said...

Bonne chance!