it's Tuesday today......

Good afternoon Dear reader.
I has been a quiet few days in St Hilaire. I has also been a few days since I wrote anything in this blog, so it's time to remedy the situation - or at least to have another ramble on about something. After all you are here on "Ian's Ramblings!"

I have just written on paper 7 things to whittle on about. I couldn't believe it. Maybe there's something in writing a plan instead of just spewing forth words as the come out of me. There's some jazz on in the background and things are OK.

Well, hat is new. I'm still on sick leave. The foot is getting better and I'm just biding my time until it gets 100% better. I just hope the firm I was working for will take me back. Technically they're not allowed to fire me BUT, they are not obliged to continue the the mission. Which would be a bugger. I'm not saying I'm the best assembler they've ever had, but I was getting into it and would have been able to be useful! I hope they'll keep me on anyway. More news about that later I suppose.

This is part of the upcoming concert with A Clair Voix (my Wednesday night choir). We're singing in a church and for the first time since the choir was created I decided it was time to sing some Christmas music! Apparently the choir is secular and thinks church music is only for church choirs! I always thought choirs were about singing music....

Anyway, for this concert I thought bugger, we're going to have some Christmas music, and the illustration on the left is the layout for the sheet you give to the audience for "audience participation!" They all know these songs and it should be fun.

Another thing I'm bringing in for the first time is carolling. We were even in the regional paper. The headline is, "A Clair Voix will sing outside in December."

I couldn't believe it when the journalist phoned me up... She wanted to know why were we giving concerts in the middle of nowhere. I put her straight of course explaining that it was nothing more than begging with a bit more style. The main idea being to get money for charity.

It seems to be an idea completely foreign to people around here - singing carols outside of church not charity. We have been fortunate to meet some lovely people here who are wonderful examples of Christian charity. And that photo has reminded me that the beard suits me better!

Accident du Travail!

Good Evening Dear Reader,
Can you remember me talking about my rather poohy Monday at work? Well Tuesday started out much better. I had taken resolve and a cup of tea for breakfast, and was ready for the assault. Well, ready for work anyway... I was becoming self sufficient, and actually knowing what I was doing, and how to do it. Things were falling into place. However other things fell too.

Yes, other things fell, and fell onto my foot! Now, let's put things into context here. It'll save alot of explaining later. I put farm machinery together - see previous post. The machines: you put in a bail of hay at one end, and out the hay comes the other end but no longer in a bail and ready for the animals to eat, or lay on. This used to be done by one bloke with a pitch fork. Apparently all farms have them which is good news for us, because it keeps us in work. Anyway! I was putting the part that attaches it to the tractor. I wanted to check that I had put everything correctly, so I went to check on the work mate's efforts. I actioned the lever and saw the bar fall. I thought oh bugger! Then I shouted in pain and said a naughty word. Thankfully there were no ladies present.

The guy who was next to me said, are you alright, and of course yes I was, it just hurt a bit (like it hurt when a 20kg metal bar falls on your foot), and that I'll be fine. he said he'd just go off and get me some ointment for my foot. I saw him go and thought I light as well go and catch him up so off I limped feeling quite stupid. We caught up with the official first aider who lead me the way to the Infirmary. It's here that it starts getting fun.

My head started turning and I thought I would sit down. I sat down and everything was fine. No more pain. Except what had really happened was that I had fallen and fainted and the guy was shouting at me in French saying I was slurring my words which if course ridiculous, I was just talking in English, and yes I understood him, and yes I was fine, and OK I'd go into the infirmary and sit down, and yes I knew exactly what had happened! I had just sat down because I was feeling a bit woozy. And are you sure I fainted, and yes I had fainted. As if from nowhere five first aiders appeared and were bent on pushing me into that chair. And oh Dear there I go again. I must have gone out about four times. No I wasn't diabetic, and yes I was talking correctly and yes of course I understood them, and ad I really fainted and yes my foot hurt, and yes, it was just my foot hurting. They lay me down on a stretcher from 1930, and that hadn't been used since 1932.

I thought the thing would never support my weight and that it was only me and they didn't have to put paper on it first, and that maybe the little guy ought to let someone else help me down. Yes Dear Reader, I am a big lad. They even called the fire brigade the French Paramedics, and by the time they arrived I was feeling great. OK, my foot still hurt, but my head was firmly on my shoulders and had stopped turning.

The firemen tool me to casualty, and I was put in the Traumatology room. I was checked to see if I was still breathing and that my heart was still beating, and to see what my blood pressure was like. Everything was normal. I had time to say a couple of Rosaries, and I'm sure that thanks to that Our Lady took some of the pain away. I felt really at peace. It was wonderful. I was X-rayed to see if my foot was broken. It was fractured, but nothing serious and it wasn't worth plastering my leg.

The company sent me a guy to pick me up. We drove back to work via the house - I wanted to pick up Virginie so she could drive. Got back to the factory and reassured them that I was not dead but that I would be off work for eight days. The rest of the afternoon was spent getting all the various bits of admin sorted out, and most importantly PAINKILLERS!!!!!

When they say that these painkillers may be addictive, they are so right! It was great! NO pain - no gain? Nah, no pain - no pain! I also had to get used to crutches, but soon found my sofa which was to become my bed. Virginie was concerned about kicking me in bed during the night. So for the next three days I was not as high as a kite, but definitely off ground level. Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

Sad isn't it. Ah well, after four days of lying around and being completely useless, and swearing whilst navigating the stairs on my bum, I have been out. I am now able to limp with just one crutch and was able to drive. In the terms of my Arrêt du travail I am allowed to go out between 15h and 18h. It was great to be out again.

To conclude, the actual pain wasn't the worst of the suffering. It was being completely useless and not being able to do anything. At least today I could do a bit of tidying, and even cooked. The beast is not back, but it won't be long.

Goodnight Dear Reader,

Ian

Good Evening Dear Reader

Good Evening Dear Reader,
It's Monday evening and it feels like a Monday Evening. Which is already better than a Monday Morning, but with the tiredness added on! Yes, I feel in need of rest after a particularly poohy day. I didn't sleep well last night, and followed my alarm clock from 2.40am right through to 6.30am. Which was a shame because I would have quite liked to have at least a snooze... I don't know about you Dear Reader, but one of my favourite pastimes in my bed is sleeping. There are other things too, like reading a book... Needless to say I'm in a foul mood, and have a burning desire to hit somebody, or at least shout at them!

The weekend officially started at 13h on Friday afternoon. Got home and played a bit on the computer. Virginie had to go out and I seized the opportunity for a siesta. I woke up with a really warm feeling in between my legs., which was strange really because it wasn't wet, so I hadn't peed myself (which is always good news) - it was in fact four kittens asleep on me. It was wonderful. Good things always come to an end. The end was Virginie and Killian coming through the door and shouting and making a lot of fuss, and just disturbing my BLOODY silence!!! OH NO, they couldn't come in quietly and not make any noise and leave me alone. Sometimes I envy (I know it's not good to envy) single people.

Anyway, they finally calmed down. I had to go out and finish the shopping. Highlight of the day, that was. Virginie had impressed on me the necessity of being back by 19h otherwise she was going to do something rather nasty with my testicles...So I went and got some overalls for work, and of course HAD to have a beer with the guy in the shop. He's a mate and sings in the St Hilaire choir. Then the local supermarket in Montaigu. Again, a laugh a minute. The excitement of the evening is killing you isn't it. Back to this wonderful evening... I of course got home at 19h25, but rest assured, my testicles are still in the place that God intended. The reason I had to be back by 19h was that there was a lady (neighbour) coming round for the apréo and to take Molly, the little black kitten. It of course ended in tears. Killian's mostly, but not because I had severely beaten him, but because he was sad to see the kitten leaving us. He somehow has come to the conclusion the all the kittens belong to him.

It's a right riveting read isn't it today... I went out for my rehearsal, and as I drove past the school of music I kept going, and drive past it again but heading for home. I don't know what it is with the Harmonie de Montaigu, but it's really starting to piss me off. For the first time since I joined the band five years ago, I went to the Annual General Meeting last month. Since then I have not been to a single rehearsal. I don't know whether it's because I find the conductor has a lot going for him except as a conductor? Or whether it's because it's always the same old thing etc., but I am gradually getting sick of it all.

However I thought I might as well go out for the beer after the rehearsal just to chat to the lads. As I was passing the café I continued. I guess I wanted a change... The change was a bar called the "Clan." The change was also a pint of Guinness in a bar called the "Clan." I even read the paper in a bar called the "Clan", and guess what, I was in the paper! Yes me! They had reported the concert from last Sunday. However, this bar called the "Clan" was empty. As empty as my wallet and bank account at the end of each month. As empty as a blonde's brain. (Did you get the name of the bar there???)

I then went to another bar called the "Noctambule", and not the "Clan". It was packed! As packed as a male ballet dancer's tights, as packed as your mail box by junk mail. Ambiance rock music and a nice pint of Beamish. The people were mostly the long hair dreadlocks brigade, and the soirée was ruined by a joke I heard... I'm only going to give it in French so as to spare my Anglophone readers this trauma...

Le St Valentin, caresses moi la main, et à la Ste Marguerite caresses moi .....

I know. It's dreadful. I'm sorry. Sue me!

Saturday morning was very calm. It lasted until 11am. At 11am I got out of bed. I don't know why but I had this idea to paint the bathroom ceiling. So I got into my work gear and did it. Virginie couldn't believe it and even said thank you. That evening we were invited to the Felly's for a meal. A fun night was had by all.

Sunday morning saw Killian and I going off to Mass at the College Internationale de Chavagnes for mass. It's the mass as was just after Vatican II. You still get all the mystery of the mass, and all the ceremony. I like it anyway, and find it easier than the Tridentine Mass. At least I feel connected to the church.

The Sunday afternoon was calm, and at 16h, Daniel Felly, a friend came round to take me to a concert of Baroque Music. The programme was four Bach Cantatas. It was played on period instruments and was a joy to listen to.

Back to this morning then. Work could have been easier, but I’m not going to say anything more about that. It’ll be better tomorrow! Well I hope so anyway.

Until my next post, take care Dear Reader,

Ian

All Quiet on the Western Front

Good Morning Dear Reader,
At first I thought I was going to be able to write a little word each day, and I did actually have the intention to do that. Well since Friday I haven't managed it. Please forgive me.

So what is new? I'm still at the factory making farm machinery and finally have worked out what I am actually doing doing, and as of today I should be a useful member of the team instead of that annoying git who's just taking notes all the time. However, I have been lead to believe that these "notes" might actually be used to form a User's guide and assembly instructions. You remember me telling you about playing at big boy meccano all day? Well one of the differences between big boy and normal maecanno is that big boy mecanno doesn't have any instructions. The guy who hired me was interested in the fact that I knew about page layouts etc... Whatever happens, I'm enjoying myself immensely and I have a certain feeling of satisfaction.

So what else is new? On Sunday one of my choirs (A Clair Voix) was in concert. All of Saturday and Sunday morning was overshadowed by the dread of this concert. Kick off was at 14h and the two teams lined up for the show off. The conductor and 55 choristers. I think the final score was a draw, but it was a long match. That last bit was crap. Let's have a think. Parts of the concert were great. I mean really great. They were singing just like I wanted them to. In others however, it was far from great, it was even far from bad, but close to abysmal. Strange how you get so much variety in a concert! The most important thing is that the choir was, on the whole, happy, and had recognised it's mistakes, and that the association that we were singing for was pleased with us. So I guess that is the most important thing. The next concert is on the 17th of December. Unless you count on the period of carolling which is every Friday in December until the 22nd.

So is there anything else new? I had an E-mail from a friend on Friday. Yes Dear reader I DO have friends... a friend. Well I hope a friend... Now this I'm going to have to put into perspective otherwise you're not going to understand anything. I was adopted when I was three weeks old. My parents always told me that I was adopted and for me it had become so natural. When I was 19 I met my birth mother, and after the initial euphoria of finding my mum, I realised that this lady, however nice she may be, was not my mum. The final nail went into the coffin when Killian had just been born, and I told her that "I was going to look after my baby." As soon as I had said it I regretted it at once, but the cat, dog, horse, etc were out of the bag. I'm not into Psychology, I generally think they are full manure. But one theory that they have is that an adopted child will want to in it's turn reject it's birth mother. Maybe this isn't one of those manurey theories they are famous for.

Anyway! I met somebody this year in the same position as my birth mother, except that the person was a little older than 16. I was allowed to see the situation from the other side. I now understand the pain and suffering the person went through, and how hard it was to give the child up for adoption. If the person who this happened to reads this, she'll know what I'm talking about. I wish I was able to help more and be more present to offer what ever I could. She is in my thoughts and in my prayers.

Time to got to work. Take care Dear Reader,
Ian

New job

Dear Reader,
The temp agency phoned me on Tuesday asking if I was interested in working, and I of course said yes. I went in and saw them and started on Thursday morning. I am now assembling agricultural machinery. When I as a boy I was never good with my hands. In wood work, and metal work I was made to understand that I was useless. It wasn't that the teachers were direct about it but they gave me an aversion to everything manual...

Games like meccano didn't interest me. Strange really, because now I play at Meccano for big boys 8 hours a day. Strange how life turns out. When I was at school everything seemed so so planned. I was going to study languages at university. I was going to find a job in Austria in business or in law. I hated France and thought why would somebody want to work in a factory?

Well, no I'm beginning to understand why people might enjoy working in a factory on the shop floor. To be or not to be a factory worker, having suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, I meant office work. The satisfaction of actually building something is great! You see the individual parts coming together when at first all you can see is a mass of metal sheets, nuts, and bolts. And it is really like playing with meccano for big boys.

When I was a secretary I spent all day producing paper with bits of writing on them and then having to tidy them away in various folders with different colour for different types of paper. I also got shouted at by clients because the things on the pieces of paper hadn't arrived or could they change something, then having to phone the factory to find out if I could change my original piece of paper and then print out another piece of paper to replace the first piece of paper. Then of course I had to type some more information on another piece of paper to show that I had changed the first piece of paper. This piece of paper of course had to tidied away with all the other bits of paper. Sometimes I have this funny feeling that the guy who invented modern office communication had invested heavily in the paper industry... Or maybe I'm just being sceptical again?

But even working in an office gets you out of the house and meeting new people. Well, not always new people. Sometimes you even get to the point that you can no longer bear certain people and of course these people are either working just in front of you or happen to be your boss.

There will be more later, but for the moment you will have to do with just this Dear Reader.

Take care, and talk soon,
Ian