We're staying close to home today. The Security Police raided the yellow jacket encampment at the local motorway exit last night and found 30 Molotov Cocktails, 3 pipe bombs and 5 bottles of acid. Not a day for venturing out. There are 89,000 police on duty nationwide in case of violence. Pity the poor shopkeepers who instead of having one of the busiest weekends of the year are in batten down mode. The government doesn't seem to have realized that demonstrations without a leader and without a specific grievance are of the most dangerous kind. The heavy rain and cold winds are the best hope for things remaining calm.
The PONs are oblivious to human anger. For them it's another day for high adventure.
At first light we take the little car ( yellow vest positioned on the dashboard in the hope any protesters will think we're supporters and wave us through ) and drive to the bakers. As we pass the American style hamburger restaurant we note that they're serving a Jingle Bells burger. If that doesn't appeal then there's an Exotic Duck Burger.
The bakers offerings are a bit more seasonal this morning although the predominant colour remains an unfestive brown.
In the greengrocers large juicy pomegranates are a sure sign Christmas is getting close. A tiny splash of freshly squeezed Pomegranate juice adds a pleasant tartness to Champagne.
Christmas Song # 5 sung on the steps of a snow bound Finnish railway station. It's not really a Christmas song but there's a Christmas tree in it and lots of warmly dressed Finns and is beautifully sung: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4i6Stj8h0s
7 comments:
As your day begins, and as my Friday will be ending shortly, I'll hope for a quiet and safer weekend throughout France. Given our political news that came this evening, I'll hope for another kind of quiet here in the US. Do you think they will indite "Individual-1."
Almost certain that Jr and JK have the evidence stacked against them and will be receiving unwelcome notifications. As for Individual 1 - the appointment of Lyndsey Graham to replace Chuck Grassley makes it v v unlikely it would succeed. Much more intriguing and Machiavellian is why Ayers would move from the VP's office to replace Kelly as CoS at this time and at this stage in the electoral cycle. .
Better to start the day with Sibelius than a confrontation with the 'yellow vests'.
I suspect there are lots and lots of questions and answers hidden in those redacted lines. People are taking bets on which will be the first to flee the country.
Questions of treason aside, it's all so very tawdry. Nasty little people ruining lives for their own small ends.
The Christmas market is empty. The shopping center is empty. Even during the lull between protests. I didn't make my usual trip to the market this morning; my kid's sports team collectively decided to practice today in a village rather than in town to avoid trouble. However, I noted yesterday as I passed a line of cars in a bouchon in the opposite direction that very few had yellow vests on the dashboard. A few old drivers, some SUV drivers, but otherwise, it seems like the movement has overextended its stay. People are tired of the hassle. It's not as easy as tax the rich, because they are perfectly happy to spend $1 million to hide $2 million or more. And it would cost more than that to track it down and prosecute. The NYT had a great story about the dilemma: "How to Hide $400 Million" https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/30/magazine/how-to-hide-400-million.html
As you say you have to feel for the small business owners, who must be suffering due to the protests. We would be inclined go stay close to home too.
Our shops are full with kids and tourists and I am happy to avoid town too. Especially as everything will be discounted at the end of the month.
Have a beige cake for us!!!
Hari Om
Christmas news is full of gloom on the national level everywhere it seems... oh for the small matters of personal celebrations and the delight of pomegranates (hold the champagne), joyous singing and festive baking. The brown variety is still pretty tasty! YAM xx
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