Ken

On the news this morning I heard that 95%of French people don't exercise. Down here it must be the other 5% who do!! Everyone here, so it seems, is either riding a bike in the mountains or running/ walking in them! What did interest me more was that even with this lack of exercise obesity or being fat wasn't mentioned. I know obesity is on the increase in France but I thought it refreshing that lack of exercise wasn't connected to it. Often, and incorrectly, lack of exercise is blamed for being fat. Being fat has little or no connection with exercise, other than making exercise more difficult!! But it's amazing how many people believe otherwise. Only one way to become fat and if people haven't 'twigged' it they must be truly dim! But back to the 95%! If that figure is anywhere near accurate then it is a ticking time bomb in terms of the nations future health. Almost certainly unfit people will tend to be overweight but that is because they eat too much not because they don't exercise. A combination of being overweight and unfit is a recipe for an early death, one that can be avoided or at least mitigated.

Personally I have never quite understood, or sympathised, with those who have come to live in France and subsequently found it too expensive. Now I may 'be a goody two shoes' but my wife and I factored in as many things that could go wrong as those that could be a success. Even down to such things as expenditure on magazines and other 'small' outlay. When we came, for example, the exchange rate was 1.56 to the pound but we understood that it could well change, and not for the better!! In other words we prepared for a bad scenario rather than with our heads in the clouds. Having thought of the worst possible things that could happen we then had a choice, could we afford it or not! I like to think we got it spot on. We did have capitol from a sale of a house, savings and a decent pension; that helped!!! Had we not then then it is likely we wouldn't have made the transition, and that was 22 years ago.

I do appreciate the Incredible effort it will take to accomplish the goal of Fusion energy, if indeed it can! Yes I know on a small scale, using more energy than it produced, it has been accomplished and it only took 30 years!! The Manhattan project, by comparison was easy! They only had to split the atom not control it. A nuclear explosion isn't too complicated actually. I am annoyed at the delays to new power stations but suspect it is as much political as technical. I don't believe in throwing good money away after bad! I see alternatives as the 'bad' money that is wasted. The cost of wind and solar is very high and doesn't deliver all the is required and isn't as green as the zealots make out. The cost of nuclear is all very high but does deliver; that's the real difference. The Moroccan article was, for me, just another example of 'pie in the sky' green wishful thinking and again not deliverable, if at all, for another eight years. We do, more or less agree on the subject but I simply cannot go down the road of 'alternative power supply'. Dithering over power stations that have proven to work, to do the job and we have schemes like running an electric cable from Africa to Britain, it sounds like a joke I'm afraid.

There are answers, depending on your point of view! I really am a simple person and don't deal in what may be! I live in today! Batteries, bio, windmills etc. they don't, and cannot deliver what we need. The Manhattan project! well we should know what that produced!!! Somewhat different to todays needs. Fusion maybe the answer but we live in today, not tomorrow! Nuclear , total and all consuming is the answer, in my view, everything else is fantasy! Give me evidence and factual substance and I can agree , but just. whimsical speculation I can't go along with.

Yes, I did read your post and excellent it was too but , isn't there always a but? Patently the power needed to run a country isn't going to come from batteries. I understand completely that, off peak electricity, batteries, windmills and crossed fingers all contribute to the grid and some people even appear to get a small rebate! The fact does remain that all of the alternatives only contribute a fraction of what is needed as a continuous and reliable supply. You mention cost but don't mention what to do with all these batteries at life end, please don't say recycle them! The cost of all of this 'green agenda' is beyond incredible! Each new and 'helpful' alternative is just adding to cost and unreliability. I'm afraid I'm a committed nuclear supporter and if their were enough stations so called green alternatives, with all of their cost and production problems simply wouldn't be needed. I do , also understand, despite 'being old' (not your words) that research and innovation should be carried out but not to the detriment of a constant and reliable source of energy i.e. nuclear and that is what is happening. Individuals are generating power and all power to their elbow but obviously it isn't viable on a grand scale. A country needs something a lot more than batteries and off peak electricity I'm afraid.

Croydon!!! Well that place has definitely changed if you can get a decent meal and a good wine!!!!!!!!

You have to think of it as an adventure! Just where else can you go for a wonderful terraced meal, excellent wine and view of the Eiffel Tower and get gassed? I wonder how many of those evacuating the smoke filled restaurants paid their bill by the way!!!!!

I wonder if I am almost alone in thinking that this car battery feeding into the national grid idea is beyond ridiculous. To my mind it is the thoughts of a child fantasising without any real thought as to how or even if it can be accomplished. It seems any idea, no matter how stupid, is jumped on by gullible people wanting a 'miracle'! There are countless ideas out there ranging through 'windmills, bio fuels, solar, tidal schemes and many others none of which go anywhere near solving the energy crisis. Grid supply from cars is the latest ridiculous idea and which, incidentally, no one has said where the electricity will come from in the first place to charge all the car batteries!!. France is being dragged back into nuclear because it is the only clean and reliable source of energy available. We don't see the 'bogyman,' propaganda anymore about how bad nuclear is because even politicians can now see that pandering to the 'eco-warriors' is going to bring disaster. Nuclear is the only way in my view and I strongly suspect Germany regrets going down the knee jerk route of shutting them down. European countries are returning to the fold i.e; Nuclear. The sooner it is done the better.

I also read the article and couldn't help but feel it is 'pie in there sky' nonsense. The crux of the matter is that there won't be enough electricity in the future (there barely is now!!) All the windmills and solar panels simply cannot supply enough, particularly at peak periods. The Government will, I feel sure, have to reign back on this 'green' agenda as it is getting more preposterous by the day. What next, cycle dynamo's contributing to the grid!! France is going back into nuclear, Finland has just completed a new nuclear plant and is building another and I wouldn't mind betting Germany returns to nuclear. For me nuclear is the only answer. I can just see some irate motorist wanting to go for a ride only to find out the grid has nicked his electricity!!

Ah! Those were the days! Don't forget the pipe former (can't remember its name!) for bending the pipework around corners and adjusting levels. Yep, use plastic, it's a doddle!

It is interesting that the polls show that in the first round of voting Le Pen would come second to Macron taking her through to the final round which she would lose. The same poll put Pecresse, if she were able to get to the final round, in a much closer fight than Le Pen, just 8 points behind Macron. On the day, if they were that close ; who knows who would win. Unfortunately, because of this two round nonsense it is most likely Le Pen will be in the second round. Another term for Jupiter I'm afraid!!

It would seem that Macron has, after talking to Biden, sold the Ukraine down the drain! The press report that it seems likely the Ukraine will be forced to adopt an agreement made in 2015 which, in effect, gives Putin all that he wants. That Macron has done this without consulting the rest of NATO is scandalous and stinks to high heaven. It may be true that he and Biden agreed on this, on the other hand maybe that isn't the case and therefore the stink gets worse! Britain isn't complicit and I doubt the other NATO nations are though German interests in a settlement are paramount. My guess is that France, Germany and the USA have thrown the Ukraine to the wolves. The USA, which essentially is NATO, has made Macron the stalking horse. He, of course, is looking for the plaudits and it suits the USA and particularly Germany to allow this egomaniac to claim he has accomplished peace. What a stinking world politics is!

He would look rather ridiculous should (when?) Russia invades the Ukraine. Putin has probably played Macron like a violin! Macron, so full of self importance , believes he has accomplished something but Putin is no ones poodle!

I still doubt the politicians will stick to their green credentials once the lights do start going out, even Swiss politicians! Switzerland is sticking to 'Green polices' at least for the moment. The country imports over half its electricity and is in the process of shutting its nuclear capacity. It is the reducing of that importation which may cause electricity cutouts. It seems extremely unlikely that Switzerland will be able to make up the shortfall by windmills and solar. Unless Germany and the others in the EU who supply Switzerland can carry on doing so, despite their own shortages, then almost certainly Switzerland will suffer. Once the lights go out......! Switzerland has been extremely lethargic regarding power; simply relying on others to a greater degree than most. Politicians will have to adjust just as Germany id doing with more coal fired power stations, Green policies obviously come second when the crunch comes.

I suppose my thoughts are coloured by Macron's behaviour towards the U.K. though I don't necessarily agree that Macron is the best hope for France. I agree completely about nuclear, I too believe it is the only way, not only for France but for all countries. I Doubt that once the lights start going out any politician will stick with the 'green' alternative. I would prefer Pecresse or even Zemmour to Macron in all honesty.

I agree completely. The only hope is that Zemmour and Le Pen take equal votes in the first round and allow Pecresse into the second. The voting system in France, I think is the problem, not so much the people.

Have just read that Macron believes he will be able to negotiate with Putin and stave off the invasion of the Ukraine. Either the man is incredibly dim or in the pocket of the Russians that he can think such a thing. Is he so arrogant as to be that stupid? He has really put it on the line this time. Will the French people see it, I doubt it. Politics and French public just doesn't seem to go together. They don't seem to live in the real world!! On verra bien!

There will certainly be those 'ex-pats' who die here; and be buried, cremated or whatever; I shall be one of them!! But ;generally I do believe the vast majority go back before that unfortunate time arrives!.

Fortunately there are relatively few Brits in this part of the world. I don't know of any. Hope it remains so!! As for failed dreams; not convinced that is true. My impression of so called ex-pats is that very few have decided they will live their lives to the end in France, they might pretend that's the case but many seem to go back when old age beckons and they don't feel secure, usually making the need for contact with grandchildren etc. the excuse! That's probably why you are wondering where they are buried; there aren't any buried in France; they have all gone back to die!!!

I would have to research if other countries are helping the French out in Africa but I know the British are with helicopters and supplies. Not that Macron would emphasise that of course! As for the Russian trying to discredit British diplomacy, A Russian for heavens sake!!! Britain has never had friends who would go the 100% for it. Unlike Britain which has gone all the way several times throughout history for Europe. Fortunately countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada have gone the whole way, and more to help us; even the USA is a better friend than Europe. Why Britain tolerates European politicians is beyond me.

As long as it remains in the present format I will do it. If it becomes something else then I won't! One word a day is fine by the way, otherwise you could sit in front of the computer for hours, not a good thing. We shall see!

'You are correct in that we do not know the physical health of the individual whose death the judge described as 'suicide'. But what does that matter ? ' I think the health of the person is of the utmost importance. If he was suffering from a serious illness for example then having a vaccination could possibly kill him. If he knew that and was heavily insured then a suicide verdict is, I believe, reasonable. The article was scant on facts of the case, nothing really just a 'sensational' piece of journalism, if true at all. Lots of emotive words! I don't agree we are 'more or less' being forced to be vaccinated and neither has the state 'more or less' mandated everyone takes an experimental drug. The choice is very much each persons own. No one is forcing anyone to do anything and I think it wrong to say, or at least intimate they are. There is so much misinformation surrounding vaccination and it doesn't help when people can be swayed by 'accusations' that the various governments are doing things they are not. I have had all three vaccinations and would have a fourth, fifth and so on if necessary. I believe in the right to refuse a vaccination; that's anyone's choice. I also strongly believe that those who refuse to be vaccinated respect my choice. The vast majority have been vaccinated and it must follow that any restrictions that may be put in place apply to those who are not vaccinated. The object of the whole program is to protect people from the effects of this virus. As for an experimental drug: All drugs for any disease had to start out this way. History has shown that some were a tragedy but the vast majority have been a tremendous success. Given the billions vaccinated against Covid the results, so far, have been hugely successful. There are side effects in any drug including Aspirin!!

I read the case of the Frenchman who the court say committed suicide. There is as much not said as said! The most important being what was his state of health before being vaccinated? That the insurance company refused to pay out could certainly be because of the clause about experimental drugs, insurance companies are notorious when it comes too 'clauses'. My view though is that this man probably had problems which weren't reported in the article and probably did commit suicide, we will never know; but It is quite a co-incidence that he was insured for millions then dies as a result of being vaccinated! There are people around the world who have died or are suffering from the effects of being vaccinated but the consensus very much is that without the vaccination program the death toll would have been incredibly higher. I too believe that people should have a choice to be vaccinated or not but I also believe I have a choice whether or not I mix with those I believe put me at risk. Fortunately governments see it that way too and so there are restrictions for those refusing to be vaccinated. Having a choice works both ways!!

It really is a difficult question. I have had three jabs so obviously I believe in it. I also believe that people should be able to say no! They're in lies the rub! I don't want to mix with people who, in my view, could be risking my health because of their views. It's an insoluable problem. Would anyone condemn members of their own family to the risk of dying because they refused the vaccination and were refused medical care ? It would take a very hard person to do so. Yesterday was holocaust day when certain sections of the community were remembered for what the Germans did to them by singling them out because of their beliefs. Should these people who refuse to be vaccinated because of their beliefs also be discarded and there are many of them ? I don't think so. Somewhat different I know, those who died in the camps were not threatening the rest of the people but anti-vaxers are. The principle though I feel is the same. Either we treat all people regardless of their beliefs the same or we descend one again into saying let certain people die! I don't know what the solution is but once you start down the road of people making decisions on a mass scale of who lives or dies it is difficult to control. I wonder if Doctor Hirsch, when he is treating a patient, is thinking about anything other than trying to save life? I hope not!!!

By the time you get up and top it up it must be stale!!! I'm sure he would prefer that you get up and feed him at 5.3O!!!!! Just what is the world coming to that cats and dogs don't come first?