Today we had arranged to have lunch in town with Yvette (our friend whose husband has multiple sclerosis). Bear and I had appointments with the chiropodist before lunch and Jay had one at 1.30. Yvette had to go to the hospital at 11a.m. and so we had agreed to meet at La Fontaine just after 12.

However, the phone went at nine and it was Yvette to say that the ambulance was not coming to collect her husband (who normally goes to a care centre on Mondays and Thursdays to give her a break) because of the WEATHER. What weather? Had they been watching the British forecast by mistake? It had snowed very lightly here early this morning but by eight o'clock it had turned to rain. She was helpless but angry. This was the second time she had had to cancel her appointment at the hospital and she had been looking forward to having lunch with us.

She said this was so typically French: any excuse not to work - even some teachers were on strike today. The chiropodist also expressed his views while we were there. According to him the French start demonstrating just before presidential elections for fear of losing their rights. If the socialist, Segolene Royale gets in they should be safe, but he reckons that the majority of French lean more towards the right and so people are getting worried.

As we left town we noticed groups gathering in front of the town hall with banners. They were quiet and orderly but there was a police presence so maybe they expected it to escalate into a noisy protest.

We'll see if it makes the local paper tomorrow.

Update: It did make the front page but the headline suggested there was a poor turnout - about 500 people demonstrated against school closures, minimun salary and loss of public workers' rights.