Saturday 23 November 2013

Time Lords

No, I'm not talking Dr Who here, despite the fact that this weekend marks that programmes 50th Anniversary! I'm reflecting on one of the advantages of living where we do: in rural France.

Time takes on another dimension (sorry, Whovians!). Of course we still trot out the old chestnut: "I don't know how I found time to go to work!", but now it's a matter of choice for us. We DO have more time than when we were working full time. If we fill every minute, that is our choice.

The reality is that we have time to admire the little things around us...

the quirky...

the delicacy of nature's designs...

to stand and gaze over the garden fence

to look to the sky

to laugh at ourselves

and to laugh with others...

We live in a village described by the locals as "tranquille et calme". We often remark that it is what England was like fifty years ago. And anyone who has been here will agree. We like it that way! We don't mind if the highlight of the week is going to buy a new pair of wellies because the old ones leak.

Listening to an item on BBC radio the other day brought home to me the difference in our lives from what it was back in the UK. The discussion centred on a request on behalf of the elderly and less mobile sector of the population for an additional 3 seconds to be added to the time allowed to cross a pelican crossing. A representative from the AA said that this would (and I quote):

"have a huge economic impact across the UK"

Why?? What is wrong with these people?? We're talking 3 seconds, for goodness sake!!

Yes; we like it here!


7 comments:

Susan said...

This is typical of the AA. They are convinced that the country will grind to a halt if anyone interferes with motorists behaving however they please.

Nice post.

Tim said...

Lovely post....
Simon reckons every day is a Sunday now...
doesn't he Susan?
And I'm surprised that the RAC isn't trying to lobby for the crossing time to be shortened.

And it is not just the elderly... it is the infirm, the handicapped, the blind, the person with a pulled muscle from over reaching at their place of work....
because SOME "timeandmoshun£" guy with a clipboard reckons that clipping a microsecond off, here and there, across the works will save a whole days wages per year!!

GaynorB said...

A great testimony that there is a life to be lived to the full... after paid work has finished

Jean said...

Well said.
As the whole of the UK and his relatives swamp the streets to do their Christmas shopping, I can't help thinking how nice it would be to step back fifty years, when all I got for Christmas was a new jigsaw and a couple of oranges!

GaynorB said...

Do I mean testimony or testament?

Colin and Elizabeth said...

Gaynor, either word would be appropriate in this context. You now have 3 seconds to decide, or the matter will be referred to the AA for comment!

Colin and Elizabeth said...

Jean, I remember the christmases with a jigsaw and an orange! On one occasion, my present was to have my doll, whose hair was just sculpted plastic (or whatever material the doll was made of), sent to the doll hospital to have "hair" added. She looked as if she was wearing a doormat! I was traumatised! They brought us up hard in those days! X