Not a piece of cake

... without posting.

Sorry, but I'm afraid not many bloggers are actually dying to read my articles. Anyway, I've been very busy at school. We had to mark our mock exams, to organise "Certifications" for our students in "Seconde". These are European assessments, elaborated by Cambridge University. But we have to do the job in our schools, without getting extra money of course ! That's why we had to negociate so that a few lessons were taken off our time-tables. Or else I wonder how I could have managed considering that I also had to arrange two parents' meetings and attend a meeting at the rectorat, all this over the last days of term ! But right now, I have lots of free time as I didn't have time to plan anything for my holidays and am simply staying at home. I love that sometimes.

I've been twice to the cinema : I saw a children's movie on Saturday, in which you see beautiful Scottish landscapes, but unfortunately many were shot in studios,

and an excellent Afghan movie on Monday : Buddha collapsed out of shame.

You mustn't miss the latter !!!!!

Today we are voting to elect new Lordmayors. There will be lots of suspense tonight.

A president rich enough to buy Rolex watches and unimaginably expensive rings to his future wife (that was before the wedding, no one has heard about of course...) has been given a Vuitton bag. I see that as an insult to the people whose purchasing power has been falling down dramatically over the past months. This man has no shame.

In addition...It's ugly !

I have recently bought a new television set. It's very classy, has a very big flat screen and contains a TNT (Digital Terrestrial Television) decoder. At first all these technical details didn't mean much to me. But now that I can choose among more than fifteen channels every day, I must admit I'm very pleased with my purchase. Contrary to any of my expectations my favourite channel is the "Chaîne Parlementaire". This channel is intelligent, varied, open-minded and teaches me a lot. I wonder whether there is such a channel in Britain. I suppose so, of course, but I'd be very happy if someone could tell me the name of this channel.

Two days ago I watched and was traumatized by a documentary film about the Karens, a discriminated and oppressed minority in Burma. The members of this community who are still in Burma are the current victims of a genocide, while those who have managed to flee are kept like prisoners in refugee camps in Thaïland. If you can watch this channel, don't miss that film. It's an absolute necessity to inform a majority of people on such an issue.

Yesterday morning I was attending the funeral of one of my parents' friends. This man, like all the other friends my parents had managed to keep throughout their life, had contributed in making me who I am today. Yesterday, with a smile in the middle of my tears, I thought of all the games we had played together, his jokes, the interesting comments he always had to pass. I thought of my parents too. They would have been so sad to see their friend go. And when I came back from work at six P.M. I heard Carlos had died too. He too was part of my childhood, even though I was never a real fan.

I've just had a slight disappointment. I received a letter telling me I would not be a member of the jury for the cinema festival that is taking place in Anonnay (Ardèche) next month. I had applied without really thinking I would be selected, but as time passed I started to hope. They tell me that they received loads of application letters, all from cinema fans, and that they had to make a difficult choice in order to have a balanced jury as far as ages, jobs, genders are concerned. I suppose I'm far from being the only teacher to apply, and this may be the reason for my non-selection. I'll try again next year ! I'm not the kind of person that you can put off a challenge easily.

If you are keen on cinema and live not far from Annonay, it sounds great ! Go and visit their site by clicking on the picture and you'll find about the programme.

Another five days before school starts again. With my pupils' good resolutions to make this new year a success. But with mine too ! From now on I will not procrastinate my marking. I will always smile at my pupils even when they've left their text-book at home. I will be patient with M. who keeps asking stupid questions, even though he understands. But that's a getting-attention-device... and it works ! I will never forget to take my canteen card to show the students I'm sensible and organised. I will not go to bed to late in order to be able to get up and be ready early for school. I will never be grumpy with my beloved companion. And I'm sure she'll appreciate. And I will try and post regularly so that you don't feel I do not care about my blog.

That's why today I'm wishing you a very enjoyable year, hoping you're all healthy and in a good mood !

But as a new year's present, maybe you could visit this blog regularly too, and leave a comment ?

These days in France these scarves have been absolutely fashionable.

I can't wear one though. They remind me too much of a puppet I used to see on TV when I was a child. Do you remember Ploom ?

I've been spoilt by Santa !

Lots of comics (I love them), a few DVDs, a solar lamp for my garden, new orange gloves (very classy !), a Russian thriller, exotic fruit. Personally, I love Christmas !

Every year the never-ending debate about Christmas starts again in France. Some find it boring, some argue that presents and meals are a waste of money, but in the end everybody enjoys the family or friends gathering and no one refuse to eat all the delicacies cooked on the occasion, or refuse to take the presents home...

Personally I enjoy the fun, the lights, the atmosphere and I first discovered the magic of Christmas when I stayed in England. Before it had always been a warm and joyful moment spent with my parents and close relatives, but from England on, it has been the delight to ornate my flat, then house, with lots of colours, symbols of Christmas.

On December 24th I'll be at home with my friend, and we'll exchange the surprise presents we have been buying secretly. I don't know yet what I'll cook, but I know there will be foie gras, as in spite of all the arguments on the subject, I can't help finding it delicious, and there will be "marrons glacés" at the end of the meal, as they are definitely my favourites.

I will go from blog to blog to try and know the way everybody is going to celebrate, and I might get new ideas to make our Christmas eve surprising.