I would like to know what the city of Paris was thinking when the decision was taken to put pedestrian crossings at practically every corner, as well as other places. The cost of white paint must have been tremendous and they are regularly maintained. But what is the point? Cars don't stop for pedestrians at them. The function you would expect them to serve does not explain the paint used, the labour employed.
I understand that a motorist stopping because there is a hopeful pedestrian at the kerb is technically classed as obstructing the highway. Hitting a pedestrian on a crossing is a serious thing, however. Parking actually on one will get you a higher fine than the €11 normally applied to parking offences in Paris. So perhaps that's it. It's just about extracting a higher parking fine. Unlike in the UK, you can legally park right up to the crossing, thereby making any pedestrian thinking of crossing the road invisible to motorists. I have also heard that cars only need miss the pedestrian brave enough to cross the road by a metre. Unnerving if used to those countries where a pedestrian actually has priority on the zebra stripes.
Beware also of crossings controlled by lights. At a junction in the UK the green light for a pedestrian means no car can get close without actually going through a red. In France the pedestrian lights are synchronised with the traffic lights. That means whenever there is a red light for a car, the pedestrian light is green. It also means any car turning has a green signal. The turning car is supposed to give way to the pedestrians - if he can see them squeezing between the parked cars!
Every time I cross the road I get nostalgic about Great Britain. It's not just the respect for pedestrians, it's actually a respect for all road users. The crossings are not on the corners because that is inherently dangerous. "Zebra" crossings are lit, parking is prohibited around them so cars can see the would-be road crossers. In consequence crossings are respected.
Funny, though. Road crossing hazards are not enough to make me want to leave France...
Sunday, 12 December 2010
Sunday, 7 November 2010
Gibraltar
Gibraltar was a disappointment. During our break in Malaga we had an excursion there and I did not find it inspiring. My expectations were high. I anticipated something quite slick and modern, yet maintaining the charm of its fascinating history. Instead I found a rather clichéd sample of British nostalgia, in a town that looked like a flashback to high streets of the past. Sure you can get cheap cigarettes if you smoke (I don't). The petrol is cheaper than Spain, too. The border is usually congested, so it would take rather a lot of time to go across to fill the tank if that was the only reason to go there.
I guess British expats in Southern Spain would be attracted to the Morrison's supermarket. If you are starved or Marmite or Wensleydale cheese, then a shopping trip to Gibraltar might be the answer. There is no doubt that if wanted a cup of coffee, I would rather find myself on the Spanish side of the border. You can get fish and chips, a breakfast fry up or several other tired staples which you might not pick as your first choice in the UK when dining out.
The place is so crowded. Every square inch is developed - part of the fascinating history is the engineering which went into hollowing out the Rock to expand the territory and in recent years land reclamation has been the only way of increasing the acreage. It is as densely populated as an urban area, but without any countryside within its borders to offset. For open spaces, Gibraltarians have to go out of their country to Spain.
My visit was brief. The good point was buying a UK newspaper for a reasonable price and hearing the commentary from the guide. I get the impression I missed something. Gibraltar is a tax haven for financial services and online gaming businesses. This I think is what brings the wealth to the territory. As it's in the EU, and can access the Single Market, this must be attractive. The shopping advantages are limited because it seems to be treated as a duty free zone by the Spanish who limit purchases of goods and cigarettes brought across from Gibraltar. Apparently there is no VAT, duty and income tax is very low. There is no longer any road tax on the cars there, either. In short, good for business, but I wouldn't want to live there.
I guess British expats in Southern Spain would be attracted to the Morrison's supermarket. If you are starved or Marmite or Wensleydale cheese, then a shopping trip to Gibraltar might be the answer. There is no doubt that if wanted a cup of coffee, I would rather find myself on the Spanish side of the border. You can get fish and chips, a breakfast fry up or several other tired staples which you might not pick as your first choice in the UK when dining out.
The place is so crowded. Every square inch is developed - part of the fascinating history is the engineering which went into hollowing out the Rock to expand the territory and in recent years land reclamation has been the only way of increasing the acreage. It is as densely populated as an urban area, but without any countryside within its borders to offset. For open spaces, Gibraltarians have to go out of their country to Spain.
My visit was brief. The good point was buying a UK newspaper for a reasonable price and hearing the commentary from the guide. I get the impression I missed something. Gibraltar is a tax haven for financial services and online gaming businesses. This I think is what brings the wealth to the territory. As it's in the EU, and can access the Single Market, this must be attractive. The shopping advantages are limited because it seems to be treated as a duty free zone by the Spanish who limit purchases of goods and cigarettes brought across from Gibraltar. Apparently there is no VAT, duty and income tax is very low. There is no longer any road tax on the cars there, either. In short, good for business, but I wouldn't want to live there.
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Malaga - and French pensions
My kids are on their half term break, so we decided to take advantage of a great deal we found and are staying in Mijas, near Malaga in Spain. While the weather is autumnal in France and the UK, here it is warm and sunny. If it's this warm at the tail end of October, I'm not sure I'd be happy here in the summer! The skies are clear blue, the temperatures in the mid twenties. It's true that this it won't be like the tropics, but I notice that there's no air conditioning in our apartment. It could get very hot in the summer without that. The resort warns us that electricity is expensive here - and is going to be an additional cost when we check out.
We drove here. This made the trip more interesting - because we could see France and Spain as we proceeded south. I arranged this a while ago before the industrial action hit France. Pension reform has caused considerable tension. The French had - and will still have - one of the best deals nationally certainly in Europe, and I suspect in the world. Pension rights start at the moment around age sixty. This is going to rise to 62 over the next few years. I think it'll finally kick in by 2018. By then I think UK state pension rights won't be available to people under 68. A UK state pension is a minimal income, whereas the French state pension is income related, indexed and based on contributing for 37.5 years (this will rise to 40, then a lot later to 42 years). Only people working in very senior positions add a private fund to the state provision because it is enough to live well on. The state system is unfunded, that means it's paid from the general tax revenue. As the French live longer, like everyone else, there are gradually more and more people drawing pensions and fewer and fewer contributing. Add to this medical benefits etc which retirees enjoy and it becomes clear that the system is unsustainable. In the UK the state provides a minimal pension and the best course (although optional) is to either join an employers scheme or a private scheme to build a fund. Only UK government employees have state funded schemes that provide a decent living in the UK. The government has made it clear they are not sustainable, and they only cover a percentage of the working population. The French scheme involves everyone. This means it costs more, but also changes will effect everyone. Hence the industrial action. The public reaction to pension reform in the UK has been: why should our taxes pay for their pensions? welcome to the real world, etc. If the public sector unions in the UK take action, the results will be mixed. The effect limited. France is a very different situation.
It's been curious to watch: demonstrations in the streets, involving school children as well as the unions, blockades at refineries and fuel depots. Filling stations have run out of product, especially around Paris. In the mean time, the laws extending the working life of everyone have made their way through Parliament. I'm not sure I would be happy about my children demonstrating like this. While the unions have emphasised the role of "students", minor children have had no school while their teachers were on strike and it's hard to believe they really understand or appreciate the issues. I wouldn't have done at fifteen. The government have deplored the exploitation of children and my instinct is to agree with that. Of course civil direct action has played a greater role in French politics than in the UK, so perhaps they need to start before they get to university.
Today (27th Oct) there is a crucial final vote in the French parliament. The reports I read from Spain indicate the steam has run out of the protests, because most people acknowledge that reform is essential, even if they don't like the route the government has chosen. A form of Nimbyism, perhaps.
I know pension reform has been a factor in Spain as well, since Spain has had to take drastic action to sort our public finances. There were protests, but they did not go on as long as in France.
Anyway, I'll get on with my holiday away from the stress and hope there'll be diesel in the service stations when I get to France! Maybe I'll write a little more about our travels when I get back, too!
We drove here. This made the trip more interesting - because we could see France and Spain as we proceeded south. I arranged this a while ago before the industrial action hit France. Pension reform has caused considerable tension. The French had - and will still have - one of the best deals nationally certainly in Europe, and I suspect in the world. Pension rights start at the moment around age sixty. This is going to rise to 62 over the next few years. I think it'll finally kick in by 2018. By then I think UK state pension rights won't be available to people under 68. A UK state pension is a minimal income, whereas the French state pension is income related, indexed and based on contributing for 37.5 years (this will rise to 40, then a lot later to 42 years). Only people working in very senior positions add a private fund to the state provision because it is enough to live well on. The state system is unfunded, that means it's paid from the general tax revenue. As the French live longer, like everyone else, there are gradually more and more people drawing pensions and fewer and fewer contributing. Add to this medical benefits etc which retirees enjoy and it becomes clear that the system is unsustainable. In the UK the state provides a minimal pension and the best course (although optional) is to either join an employers scheme or a private scheme to build a fund. Only UK government employees have state funded schemes that provide a decent living in the UK. The government has made it clear they are not sustainable, and they only cover a percentage of the working population. The French scheme involves everyone. This means it costs more, but also changes will effect everyone. Hence the industrial action. The public reaction to pension reform in the UK has been: why should our taxes pay for their pensions? welcome to the real world, etc. If the public sector unions in the UK take action, the results will be mixed. The effect limited. France is a very different situation.
It's been curious to watch: demonstrations in the streets, involving school children as well as the unions, blockades at refineries and fuel depots. Filling stations have run out of product, especially around Paris. In the mean time, the laws extending the working life of everyone have made their way through Parliament. I'm not sure I would be happy about my children demonstrating like this. While the unions have emphasised the role of "students", minor children have had no school while their teachers were on strike and it's hard to believe they really understand or appreciate the issues. I wouldn't have done at fifteen. The government have deplored the exploitation of children and my instinct is to agree with that. Of course civil direct action has played a greater role in French politics than in the UK, so perhaps they need to start before they get to university.
Today (27th Oct) there is a crucial final vote in the French parliament. The reports I read from Spain indicate the steam has run out of the protests, because most people acknowledge that reform is essential, even if they don't like the route the government has chosen. A form of Nimbyism, perhaps.
I know pension reform has been a factor in Spain as well, since Spain has had to take drastic action to sort our public finances. There were protests, but they did not go on as long as in France.
Anyway, I'll get on with my holiday away from the stress and hope there'll be diesel in the service stations when I get to France! Maybe I'll write a little more about our travels when I get back, too!
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
I did it!
I haven't posted for a couple of days because I was shocked on Monday to find I really had reached target. In fact I was just under target, which I considered better. I moved onto the next stage of the diet. Now I can start to add more elements, including the starchy foods which I effectively cut out during my weightloss period. The plan now is to go through a lengthy period where I won't be losing weight, but I'll be seeking to convince my metabolism that the slimmer me is the right one, that I'm not in need of fattening up.
Eating cheese and fruit again after so long is a real pleasure. It is also a little daunting. I have grown used to the skewed diet I've been living on, even though it was skewed, was for a purpose and limited in time. I am somewhat apprehensive about eating more because, of course I don't want to undo what I've achieved. Ironically over the two days since I started this new phase, my weight has dropped a little more. So I should accept that this plan appears to be working. I'll give it a week, because it is divided into weekly phases, then I'll know whether this is working or not and I'll reveal all.
I have an early start and a long trip tomorrow, so I'll stop now.
I don't think I have any readers yet. When I do, I'll be very pleased to get comments or feedback.
Eating cheese and fruit again after so long is a real pleasure. It is also a little daunting. I have grown used to the skewed diet I've been living on, even though it was skewed, was for a purpose and limited in time. I am somewhat apprehensive about eating more because, of course I don't want to undo what I've achieved. Ironically over the two days since I started this new phase, my weight has dropped a little more. So I should accept that this plan appears to be working. I'll give it a week, because it is divided into weekly phases, then I'll know whether this is working or not and I'll reveal all.
I have an early start and a long trip tomorrow, so I'll stop now.
I don't think I have any readers yet. When I do, I'll be very pleased to get comments or feedback.
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Penultimate day of my diet?
The title itself is a risk! This morning I weighed in at 77.5kg (12st 2 1/2lb). My target is 77.4kg (12st 2 1/4lb) and the digital readout on my scales flickered on 77.4kg, but I'm being honest and want to see it at 77.4 or lower. This is crazy, of course. If I put this in pounds, or stone, then who would worry about 100g - less than 4oz! I'm there. All I'm doing is risking a slight rise overnight - tomorrow is a workday and I'll be up early. That has caused my weight to rise before. The stress alone makes this an unhealthy 100g to worry about.
There is also a certain trepidation at ending the diet. It has taken over my life for two and a half months. Eating is, of course, an important business for us all. Changing the way you eat, thinking about food has been dominant for the past weeks. Moving onto the next phase of my plan is something which is both exciting but also a little scary. What I have been doing has worked. I realise that there are unhealthy aspects to my diet and that the only reason to follow this plan was to lose the weight. With the extra fat gone, I should start to get back to a fully balanced diet - which was my point in my last post. The next phase is just that: a way of bringing back the foods which have been missing all these weeks, but in a controlled way to ensure I don't just put all the weight back on.
My wife has posted all about this on Facebook. She has been so supportive, without which I couldn't have done this. She has taken my diet rules and turned them into a series of tasty meals. I haven't been hungry at any stage. We should probably share some recipes. That will come later. In our home my wife does most of the cooking at the moment because she likes that and because she doesn't go out to work. We have always enjoyed family meals together, so the idea of cooking something different for one person (me at the moment) goes against our family lifestyle. Nevertheless she has prepared different food for me. We still eat together and as far as possible she has tried to make family meals just that.
I'm eager to go back to eating properly as a family. The next stage of my plan will make that easier.
Let's see what the scales say in the morning. I just hope they show my target has been achieved, forcing me to take the next step.
There is also a certain trepidation at ending the diet. It has taken over my life for two and a half months. Eating is, of course, an important business for us all. Changing the way you eat, thinking about food has been dominant for the past weeks. Moving onto the next phase of my plan is something which is both exciting but also a little scary. What I have been doing has worked. I realise that there are unhealthy aspects to my diet and that the only reason to follow this plan was to lose the weight. With the extra fat gone, I should start to get back to a fully balanced diet - which was my point in my last post. The next phase is just that: a way of bringing back the foods which have been missing all these weeks, but in a controlled way to ensure I don't just put all the weight back on.
My wife has posted all about this on Facebook. She has been so supportive, without which I couldn't have done this. She has taken my diet rules and turned them into a series of tasty meals. I haven't been hungry at any stage. We should probably share some recipes. That will come later. In our home my wife does most of the cooking at the moment because she likes that and because she doesn't go out to work. We have always enjoyed family meals together, so the idea of cooking something different for one person (me at the moment) goes against our family lifestyle. Nevertheless she has prepared different food for me. We still eat together and as far as possible she has tried to make family meals just that.
I'm eager to go back to eating properly as a family. The next stage of my plan will make that easier.
Let's see what the scales say in the morning. I just hope they show my target has been achieved, forcing me to take the next step.
Saturday, 16 October 2010
This is something of an experiment. I have not posted a blog before but it is something I have thought about for some time. There are a few I follow. I would like to think that my thoughts - possibly my ramblings - will appeal to someone else.
I am not entirely clear where I will go with this, but if I do not start, then it won't go anywhere.
I've been losing weight for a couple of months. I thought about starting this when I started my diet, but I didn't want to simply post about dieting. It has been a dominant part of my life for a couple of months. I have kept a diary and will refer to that but I didn't want to find that was the only thing I had to write about. I also didn't want to start writing about losing weight only to fail and give up losing weight, potentially publicly.
The diet has gone well. I was a fat 95kg when I started (in case any non metric fellow Brits ever read this, that's very nearly 15st, in case any Americans decide to follow me, that's about 210lbs). I started on 3 August and today, 16 October, I'm 77.8kg (12st 3lb, 171lb). I have just 400g to go to get to my target which is less than a pound whatever side of the Atlantic you're on.
I hope to get there in a couple of days. If I do, I will write more about that.
There's no doubt that it was all too easy to get fat. I avoid talking about obesity because I think turning being overweight into some kind of condition is a way of avoiding responsibility. I didn't think of this, I read it somewhere and I wish I could remember where. Nevertheless it is true. I became overweight because I ate too much. If you take in more calories than your body uses then you will get fat. I hesitate to subscribe to ideas about "healthy" foods as well. All food is healthy; it is the balance in ones diet which is important. Any food contains nutrition, otherwise it would not be food. Eating too much of anything, or missing important elements from a balanced diet means one is eating an unhealthy diet, but suggesting a particular foodstuff is unhealthy is simplistic. So, I ate too much for my needs and put on weight steadily over several years. After a while this becomes a normal thing and it is easy to start to accept it. Making the decision to change things and to accept that this really means making changes in how you eat is a big step.
I could say this was harder than giving up smoking. I did that a long time ago - and it probably added to my weight gain for a while. There is no healthy level of smoking, whereas giving up eating all together will cause illness and even death.
Time to stop before this gets too long.
I am not entirely clear where I will go with this, but if I do not start, then it won't go anywhere.
I've been losing weight for a couple of months. I thought about starting this when I started my diet, but I didn't want to simply post about dieting. It has been a dominant part of my life for a couple of months. I have kept a diary and will refer to that but I didn't want to find that was the only thing I had to write about. I also didn't want to start writing about losing weight only to fail and give up losing weight, potentially publicly.
The diet has gone well. I was a fat 95kg when I started (in case any non metric fellow Brits ever read this, that's very nearly 15st, in case any Americans decide to follow me, that's about 210lbs). I started on 3 August and today, 16 October, I'm 77.8kg (12st 3lb, 171lb). I have just 400g to go to get to my target which is less than a pound whatever side of the Atlantic you're on.
I hope to get there in a couple of days. If I do, I will write more about that.
There's no doubt that it was all too easy to get fat. I avoid talking about obesity because I think turning being overweight into some kind of condition is a way of avoiding responsibility. I didn't think of this, I read it somewhere and I wish I could remember where. Nevertheless it is true. I became overweight because I ate too much. If you take in more calories than your body uses then you will get fat. I hesitate to subscribe to ideas about "healthy" foods as well. All food is healthy; it is the balance in ones diet which is important. Any food contains nutrition, otherwise it would not be food. Eating too much of anything, or missing important elements from a balanced diet means one is eating an unhealthy diet, but suggesting a particular foodstuff is unhealthy is simplistic. So, I ate too much for my needs and put on weight steadily over several years. After a while this becomes a normal thing and it is easy to start to accept it. Making the decision to change things and to accept that this really means making changes in how you eat is a big step.
I could say this was harder than giving up smoking. I did that a long time ago - and it probably added to my weight gain for a while. There is no healthy level of smoking, whereas giving up eating all together will cause illness and even death.
Time to stop before this gets too long.
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