Stamp it out!

Although it is probably not his fault it’s a real shame that I share my birthday (yesterday) with the French president.

He isn’t my favourite politician but I wouldn’t go as far as to say he’s a manipulative, conniving right-wing fascist; he’s just misguided.

There is a point in most conversations with the French when they ask me “Why did you move to France?”

I always reply, “Because I wanted to live in a Socialist country.”

It’s a difficult line to deliver, requiring a mixture of innocence and impishness and I have found that it will either make me a new friend or end the conversation dead.

On good a day it will provoke a strong guffaw and a Gallic “ Eh, alors ?!”

At which point I announce, “So I’m moving to Cuba”.

Which usually gets a second laugh.

Anyway, I’m not a person to hold a grudge –well not longer than about 26 years anyway - I hope the President had a happy birthday ‘cos I had a brilliant one!

I received e-mail “Joyeaux Anniversaire Chris” greetings from the French TV channel AND a local Travel Agency, “Happy Birthday Tops xx” from Charlotte – who is also French but clearly knows me better and – wait for it – an entire set of the new British Stamps depicting iconic album sleeve covers!!!!

How cool is that?!!

Obviously this person really knows me REALLY well!

OK, I did ring them a week or so ago to ask if they would send me some for the event but that in no way detracts from the fact that they considered me worthy.

Why should I let the French President have a monopoly on manipulation?

I noticed, by the way, that he was in the news recently, though to be fair, he's in the news most of the time around here (France).

And to be further fair, my use of the word "recently" here is a little manipulated if not antiquated.

The French President used to keep a fairly low profile but this one is branded like a box of soap powder and unfortunately the French, astute some of the time, will buy soap if you tell them enough times that they need to.

In fact, unfortunately, most people will -advertising seems to work.

I try to start from the other perspective - if someone has to advertise something then I obviously don't need it - I think it's healthier so.

Anyway it turns out that the French Constitutional Council ruled that the President’s latest attempt to steam roller a carbon tax into place was not.

Not constitutional.

It seems that someone noticed that the legislation would have allowed 93% of industrial emissions to escape unhindered and that 1000 of the nation's biggest polluters would have been exempt.

But the common people would have paid.

And the constitutional council said that that was not fair.

Hmm .......... sounds a little socialist to me.

The French government is also scrapping a method, long used, of testing oysters on mice (to check for toxicity).

But that’s another story.