You get used to waiting, especially at the chemist and on the hard chairs in the packed salle d'attente at the opthalmologist's but when we went to book our holiday at the train station we caused a long and unpopular tailback.

It was a mistake to hope that during the lunchbreak was a good time. There were already five people in front of us and only one position open - manned by a young girl who was learning the ropes.

A more senior lady was esconced at the next desk with the 'postion fermé' light on. At the desk for 'departs immediats' another lady came and went but wasn't going to open up.

Eventually our turn came and I warned the young girl that we might be a long time as we wanted to book a holiday with hotels as well.

She asked if anyone in the queue was getting a train in the next hour. There were no takers so she turned to us with a slightly uneasy smile.

I passed over my list of dates, places and times and mentally crossed my fingers. At the first hotel she hit a problem as she couldn't tell me whether the price she quoted was for one or two nights or one or two people.

The supervisor leaned over and made a few suggestions. The poor girl tried to carry on but soon got into difficulties again. Bear started asking me what was going on but before I could explain the senior lady smiled and answered him in English.

At last, she came and stood behind the computer and joined in properly. By this time the growing queue was getting restless so she went to the door and called the other girl to come and open her position.

I dared to turn round to face the hostile stares from the impatient would-be travellers and was surprised to find that the queue now did two U turns round the booking hall. No wonder I had felt unpleasant vibes aimed at my back.

The girl at the other desk was more efficient and so things started to move but there were still mutterings and complaints. The supervisor, Stephanie (we had learnt her name by now) was adept at answering queries from  this other girl, teaching her 'student', explaining to us in English and fielding complaints and insults all at the same time without losing her cool - or her smile.

"The Carolomaciens (inhabitants of Charleville) don't like waiting", she said to us in English, "and they love insulting 'fonctionaires'".

An hour later we thanked Stephanie and her assistant for their help and patience and left the booking hall clutching a thick wad of tickets and vouchers and trying to avoid the daggers coming our way from the eyes of our fellow(?) travellers.

On the way home we stopped at the chemists for two prescriptions. That 'only' took forty minutes - and there was quite a queue waiting by the time we left.