Category: 5 for the week

Five for the week – July 20th 2020

July 20, 2020

5 for the week, French life

I think that Steve Jobs would have liked this – “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – da Vinci

Letters reveal Buckingham Palaces’ role in the sacking of an Australian Prime Minister in 1975. “Better for Her Majesty not to know”. My God – if I were Australian, I would be screaming for republicanism.

Voltaire famously said “Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.” Mr. Boris Johnson – consider yourself judged. The only question remaining is whether you are a conscious or an unconscious liar.

Arson suspected at Nantes cathedral. Why? It’s wanton destruction of a beautiful historic monument. The blaze destroyed stained glass windows and the grand organ at the Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul cathedral, which dates from the 15th Century. I am not religious but still don’t get it. It’s a beautiful building which we will end up having to pay for restoring out of our taxes.

My music for this week – Haydn Trios. Elegant and simple
Five for the Week – July 13th 2020

July 13, 2020

5 for the week, French life, music, Random Thoughts, rant

Let’s start off with a rant. I’m absolutely livid. In the UK, teachers are generally hard working dedicated professionals. I know this from personal experience. So today, a parliamentarian subcommittee passed comment that they do not want teacher assessments instead of examinations following the schools disruption caused by the Corona virus. Why? Because they claim that teachers are downgrading disadvantaged students. Again, I call on my extensive experience to state that this is not true. Teacher assessments are a fair reflection of the effort and ability level of a student. In the past I have been pressured to overestimate an estimated grade (which I always resisted) but these grades are evidence based. How dare this group of uninformed amateurs pass comment like this.

Which leads me to this quote from Brian Greene. He is wrong. The usurpers here are not musicians and actors who have a greater or lesser degree of talent. My gripe is with the so called ‘reality stars’ who are so admired and looked up to. Famous and admired for what?

Music for this week – Hot Tuna Live at Ridgefield Playhouse. Jorma Kaukonen is a brilliant guitarist but I love his old blues stuff in particular.

The United States has reported over 70,000 new coronavirus cases over past 24 hours, the highest of any country since the pandemic began. But it’s OK because the president (deliberate lower case p) will reduce the number of tests carried out in order to distort the figures. I despair.

Because of my grumbling this week, I have decided to finish off with a quote by Voltaire that one of my French neighbours uses regularly. Roughly translated, it means – I have chosen to be happy because it’s good for my health.
Five for the Week – July 6 2020

July 6, 2020

5 for the week, French life, garden, Random Thoughts

So it has happened. The Brexit deadline has passed making the no deal option almost certain. Jesus. At least my worries are spread. I fear for the future of the UK and I fear for our individual status as ex-pats here in France, particularly regarding our health care.

Just discovered sriracha sauce. It is superbly spicy and at the moment is going into everything I cook. Thankfully, my wife uses it less so we do get the odd spice free meal.

Listening to Spem in alium by Thomas Tallis. Such a beautiful piece of music.

Having just installed 16Gb of RAM and a 1Tb SSD into my Mac mini in order to extend its life, I have started thinking about using my iPhone as a desktop replacement. Technically, there is no reason that it can’t be done using a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and mirroring the screen to a monitor. Oddly enough, the only disadvantage that I can see is that you lack mobility in that you are tethered to your desk. Strange! Somebody, somewhere must be using this daily. However, I still prefer a laptop in my old comfy armachair.

And finally, chaos reigns here at ‘Tarrant Towers’. Because we live in the sticks, the trade off for abysmal internet connectivity is the peace and quiet. Not at the moment though. The local commune has obviously decided to spend up on its road budget and our road which goes from nowhere to nowhere is being resurfaced. The house is shaking as the tarmac is pounded into place and I can’t even get to my orchard garden 20 meters away across the aforesaid road. We’ve gone from seeing perhaps 2 tractors and maybe a herd of cows each day to having an army of workmen camped outside our gate. Help!
Five for the Week – June 30 2020

June 30, 2020

5 for the week, French life, garden, people, Random Thoughts

The weather. June has been grim. After some glorious weather in March and May, Mother Nature has extracted her revenge and this month has largely been wet and windy. At least the weeds and the slugs have been happy.

OK. It’s time to cheer up and who better to do it with than that master of wit – Oscar Wilde.

“With freedom, books, flowers and the moon, who could not be happy?” So true.
Oscar Wilde

Joseph Wright of Derby. (Or our view of England across the Channel)

What is happening in the UK? Boris is indecisive and populist and the virus rages on. Amid plans to lift the lockdown, we hear that one city, Leicester, is to continue to be isolated. Late to the Corona virus party, unable to decide whether he wants to drink wine or beer so gets totally legless drinking both, backing his friends who break all the rules but condemning everyone else, Boris Johnson aka BoJo the clown is an unmitigated disaster. Eton prepares you for a soft life of privileges not a leadership role where incisive accurate decisions are required to protect large numbers of other people. Why oh why are these self centered, silver spooned idiots voted into power? Of course, I insulted Scotland by including them in this rant. Stronger leadership has led to 3 days in a row with no reported cases. It will be strange times north of Carlisle when Scotland is protecting its citizens with continued lockdown but England with a world record of contamination across an open border has no protective measures in place.

Are you planning your veg garden for next year? Try this for inspiration. You’re welcome 😊.

And my fifth for the week is this iPad writing rig. Nice and simple.

So that’s my selection for this week in Plourac’h. Stay safe.