As Stuffed as a Goose, Going on a Meat Strike!

The thing about living with an African is that meat is a must for every meal. Since we moved in together I have eaten more beef and sauces than I had in my whole life! And even though I buy fresh and good healthy ingredients, the latherings of sauce, the mounds of rice and the chunks of meat have stuffed me to my limit, and I wonder why I can't lose any weight!

Bad doesn't understand what the problem is. I mean look at him

He is naturally svelt and look at the helping on his plate, and yes he will go back for seconds! Plus meat costs a fortune, it's my biggest monthly expense second from my rent!

So as he is only coming home on weekends since starting his training, I'm going to make the most of his absence and go on a meat strike.

With a beautiful market on my doorstep twice and week selling gorgeous fruit and vegetables, I'm swapping meat for good fresh from the fields veg, fish & seafood. There are two fishmongers in the town centre, something that was sorely lacking where I used to live.

Yep, I'm saying goodbye to meat and I'm going to buy myself some new clothes with the money I won't be spending on meat and hopefully they will be a couple of dress sizes smaller!

70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Soissons

The weekend of the 30th August was the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Soissons from the Germans in the Second World War. The town was transported back in time for the occasion. The park in the town centre made way for an exposition of tanks, trucks, arms complete with a dinner & dancing tent.

On the Sunday morning there was a parade all through the town. The French are very good at this sort of thing. It was all so authentic and as hundreds of people were dressed in 1940s clothing, the wine was flowing and Edith Piaf was booming on the loud speakers, you could almost feel the same euphoria they must have felt in 1944.

An example of the attention to detail that I thought was excellent was the people prentending to be the Americans were throwing chewing gum, sweets and candy cigarettes from the trucks, just as they did way back when.

The weather was glorious so after the parade we decided to have a pcinic in the park, in the middle of all the tanks and soldiers.

Tiana thought it was all marvelous and even Bad decided to get up and have a go!