Hair raising Bollinger champagne moment

The champagne moment came soon after Doug Bollinger (for that is his name) the Australian fast bowler and the only cricketer I have ever come across who wears a hairpiece, a syrup (of figs), a wig in Cockney rhyming slang, baldly came to the crease, the last man to bat for Australia.  It was a hair-raising event, bristling with emotion, a close shave…..OK that’s enough hair jokes. So England are one up with three to play, boy is life good if you are an England cricket fan.

I heard today that France has bid to print the next batch of UK bank notes. That seems to me to be a bit wry to me, given that it is only a matter of time before the Euro collapses under the weight of debt incurred by Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy.  Perhaps the idea is to print themselves a few real sterling bank notes to tide them over until the Euro is reborn as a Franco/German currency?  At least the Euro is up to around 1.18 to the pound, although Barclays think the real value should be around 1.30 – 1.35.

So now I am going to re-enter the real daylight world that has passed me by since I got back from Australia. Now that the second Ashes Test in Adelaide has finished I will attune once again to French time, at least until 16th December when the Third Ashes Test starts in Perth in Western Australia, when it is back to the midnight vigil.

My picture today is of a pork pie on legs sitting in a woman’s handbag. This “dog”, which I spotted in a bag in La Kavanou wine bar in Valbonne recently, makes even Banjo, the licentious loathsome liability of a dog who stalks this household looking for something to steal or somewhere unpleasant to defecate look decent in comparison.   Actually, thinking about it I think I may prefer a boil in the bag. Why would one  want to have something that resembles a rat live in your handbag? I suppose you might call it a doggy bag? For me it is more akin to puss in a packet.

Doggy bag fresh from the table. I couldn't eat a whole one

It seems like all the ski resorts locally have opened. Isola 2000 would normally try to be open by the week before Christmas, but is open now, much earlier than normal, as is Greoliere, which at 1400-1800 metres is seldom open in December, let alone this weekend. This will cause that nice lady decorator to want to buy new ski gear again.  For her it a bit like a drug, something like Buyagra in fact. This is  a stimulant, that increases the ability of the patient to be able to spend money on expensive ski fashions that will be relevant for just a few hours before losing their appeal as they will be out of date by next year.

Tomorrow I must journey to Nice to continue my almost messianic activities of converting people to use Currencies Direct when making foreign transfers rather than using their banks. I will take confession; “bless me father for I have sinned”. What is your sin my son?” “I have been stupid enough to use my bank for foreign exchange”. “I absolve you of your sin my son, just say 4 hail Currencies Direct and don’t do it again or risk eternal damnation in this column”.

Chris France

Buying a house in France, moving money?www.currenciesdirect.net/chrisf

Latest local news? http://www.fr2day.com/

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Best French Riviera Property Agent?

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Rent my house in summer? http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p412514

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Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/

Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/

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Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com

Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/

John Otway’s New  Book? www.johnotway.com

Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html

Living France, Le Blog   http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com

Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com

Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com

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Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com

Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com

Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com

Best local artist? www.helenhumphrey.com