Why do the French think the English are mad?

[chessfou]

Because they see reports (France 3 & TF1 - at least - this lunch-time) like this one about about Warrington Station.

It's "vairon de Varrington" (for those of you who recall "vodka from Varrington"), vairon being a minnow (i.e. a petit poisson) and we're still more than a month away from the full size fish (poisson d'avril = April fool):

Here it is in English:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/no-kissing-allowed-at-warrington-station-ndash-it-blocks-the-platform-1623806.html

Both French news programmes (you should be able to find them on the respective web sites**) showed not only the "prohibited" sign in the Independent report but also the sign for a separate "kissing zone."

Is this another case of the "Madness of the Elves"? (Elves = plural of Elf - cf "Elf & Safety").

** e.g. here:

http://www.tf1.fr/

[chessfou]

Here's the direct link:

http://tf1.lci.fr/infos/jt-tf1/

Not sure what time they add today's lunch-time news but it should be up there soon.

If you're reading this in a few days' time, note the little box (near top right of page) that allows you to select either lunch-time or evening news for the past two weeks).

[Ron Avery]

Behind every media nonsense there is a real story. 

This "ban on kissing" was brought about because the taxi drivers and others dropping people off outside the station entrance could not get into the station because people were taking ages with their goodbyes and unloading etc causing traffic jams and blocking the lane set aside for kiss and ride, so they opened another area further on where people could take more time with their goodbyes.

[Frederick]

Have you never been on a train waiting to pull off while a couple of teenagers with the train door held open are snogging on the platform taking forever to say goodbye... Station staff shouting blowing whistles and being ignored .......every station should have a platform ban on kissing

[splishsplash]

I'll never watch Brief Encounter again!