Friday, February 7, 2020

More relaxed.


Getting lighter in the mornings. Sophie is full of the joys of Spring. In fact she's brimming over with the joys of spring and keen to get her day started. Donkeys and goats to be greeted , viennoiserie to be tasted and the garden to be checked for C-A-T-S. There may be ear scrunches. A girls life is so exciting.


The post lady arrives with a letter from the town hall. The mayor has written to me with the news that due to Brexit I can no longer vote in the local elections. This is a letter that manages to be both sad and bureaucratic at one and the same time.


Another twinge distracting book finished. This time the story of a First World War siege that marked the beginning of the end of the Austro-Hungarian empire. The Emperor on hearing that 180,000 soldiers had been trapped inside a fortress and taken prisoner reportedly cried for 48 hours. Bad news and autocracies rarely work well together. Angus has been to Przemysl once more than forty years ago. In those days it was on the border with the USSR and was a place of watchtowers, guard dogs and search lights. Today it's on the frontier with Ukraine and is altogether more relaxed. For those that wonder the name Przemysl is  pronounced Shemi-shul.


A national style of architecture ? : https://archinect.com/news/article/150182232/new-executive-order-could-make-classical-architecture-the-preferred-and-default-style-for-america-s-public-buildings

11 comments:

Lisa in France said...

Oh, good heavens, the last thing America needs is a preferred and default architectural style! Perhaps he's been inspired by Prince Charles? On the other hand, your first photo today perfectly captures Sophie's early morning enthusiasm. It's getting a little Springy here in Tokyo as well, with the plum trees just starting to bloom.

WFT Nobby said...

We all could do with a dose of Sophie's early morning enthusiasm at times.
I'm trying to imagine Prince Charles' reaction to the suggestion that his ideas on architecture inspired Donald Trump...
Cheers, Gail.

Poppy Q said...

Your flowers look sweet. Our flowers are drying here in late summer.

Susan said...

I've had my letter telling me I can't vote too. I emailed the mairie and various councillors straight back and said they'd omitted to mention that it isn't just dual French-British citizens who can retain their voting rights, but anyone with any other EU citizenship will be able to do so. I know several newly minted Germans and Irish in my area of France.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari
I join the 'oh dear really' camp on the architectural tendency... and love that Sophie is finding her verve. YAM xx

Anonymous said...

Preferred architecture style has tinges of "Soviet monolithic". Socialist buildings rather than socialist medicine?? ;)

Coppa's girl said...

With Spring in the air we're glad to hear that Sophie has a spring in her step!
Sad that you won't be able to vote in your local election. I suppose we shall be banned, here, too.
I'm never sure why it's necessary to recreate buildings from a bygone era when there are so many modern architects brimming with inspiration.

potty said...

What a shame about not being able to vote 'local' anymore. It is the same as in the UK that only British (and Commonwealth) citizens are given these rights. Perhaps every country should allow their residents/tax payers their say in local elections?

Taste of France said...

There's worse than classical style. Take 725 Fifth Ave., though the interiors are far tackier than the exterior.

Re pronunciation of Przemysl, Lodz is similar, sounding like Woods and not at all what you'd expect from the spelling.

Coppa's girl said...

Sadly not even British citizens are allowed to vote in their own home elections. Anyone who had been out of the country for more than fifteen years, and owned no property in the UK, lost the right to vote. This was the biggest bone of contention with expats in the Brexit vote. If all UK citizens living abroad had been able to vote, the result would have been different.

Bailey Bob Southern Dog said...

Angus, I am very sorry you are experiencing twinges. And to add insult to injury, it is so sad you have been told you can no longer vote in local elections.