Familles Nombreuses - Why so many children?

As in all countries, day time TV is pants, but in France there is a programme I quite enjoy of an afternoon called Tellement Vrai (So True). It basically follows the lives of normal people. Sometimes it's about people striving for fame, or 40 year old men who still live with their mothers. It's not a Jeremy Kyle kind of thing, they are proper documentaries. One of the themes they do a lot of is on big families. People who have 8 + children. I want more children, there are five of us (me, my three sisters and my brother) and it's great, but then again we didn't all grow up together, my parents had two children each before they got together and had me. I would like 3 or 4 but I might stop once I've had another one. My partner, typical African stereotype would be happy for me to pop one out once a year until my eggs dry up!

But even after watching hundreds of these mini documentaries I still can't quite get on board with the idea of having so many children. You can't have the same kind of relationship with each child if you have 10 kids as if you had 3, there just aren't enough hours in the day. The kids complain of wearing hand me downs, the elders one have to help with the littler ones, making them grow up too fast and the little ones getting away with murder! And the parents complain about how much milk and pasta they have to buy every week! Is it case of these women being addicted to be being pregnant? Does it stem from them having a lonely childhood or did they love growing up with a dozen siblings? Is it the father putting the pressure on to have so many children?

In France this isn't the norm, and often the parents are accused of having so many children so they can live off the benefits, as the French beenfits are amongst the most generous in Europe. And when do you draw the line? When does it go from lovely big family to that was one too many? I am torn between being in awe of the women who manage to raise so many children and thinking when they complain, I want to slap them and introduce them to a packet of condoms! But as I am human and not perfect, I sterotypically find it harder to understand why white families would want all these children, but don't bat an eyelid if I see an African or Arab or even Chinese couple with football team size broods.

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!

Disney On Ice

Disney On Ice is back in Paris this December and I'm going! I've wanted to go for years and Tiana's finally old enough to sit through it and I'm dying to see her little face! Although I might actually bit a little more excited than her.

Plus it's at Christmas time so it's going to be even more magical, we all know Paris at Christmas is fabulous.

It Really is a Stunning Country

The internet is an amazing invention. Some days when I don't have anything particular to do or I just want some wind down time, I open Google images and search for whatever pops into my mind. Today I decided to search for the most beautiful villages in France and I was blown away by the results.

It really is a stunning country.

Beynac, Dordogne

Eguisheim, Alsace

La Roque-Gageac, Dordogne

Autoire, Dordogne

Colmar, Alsace

How to be Happy

I have found the key to happiness. 

And do you know what, it really bloody works!

I stumbled across this on Facebook a few months ago and I thought, it can't be that simple or can it? So I thought I'd give it a go, what's the harm in trying. Ever since every morning when I wake up, I say to myself "I'm in a good mood, today is going to be a good day". I say this to myself before I allow myself to think of the daily tasks, or whatever problem is at the fore front of my mind. Life is hard but we tend to be the reason why it's that bit harder than it should be, our own worst enemies.

I give myself this little pep talk and it makes me laugh, mainly because I think how much of a nutter I am muttering like a crazy person to myself first thing on a morning! Start the day with a laugh and a smile and believe me, it makes life so much easier. Go on, give it a go, I dare ya'

A Sad, Sad Day ... Are We at War?

I have just turned on the news and heard that the Frenchman Hervé Gourdel, kidnapped 2 days ago in Algerie by the Islamic State organisation was executed by decapitation yesterday afternoon.

My heart goes out to his family and friends.

I've had a niggling feeling for a while that things were going from bad to worse in the world. Putin's antics have had me very much on edge. In the year of the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War and the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings, I have been wondering what it was like at the beginning of the two world wars. A lot of people said that they were sure it wouldn't happen and even when war was declared it would be over in a matter of days. I can't help but have a feeling of déjà vu.

I am, however, very happy that the muslims in the west are speaking out loud and clearly against this organisation. An Imam has just been interviewed condamning the Islamic State stating "They are not muslims, they do not in any way represent the Islamic faith, I can only describe them as devils". Hopefully this time round the muslims living normally and who feel no affliation with the fundamentalists won't be subjected to the same bigotry and persecution as the Blair/Bush Reign of Terror inflicted on them.

Keep open minds people, just because your next door neighbour is called Mohammed does not mean he wants to blow up the local hospital! The Islamic State is run by powerfully rich men who pray on the vulnerable to brain wash them into really believing thay are doing Allah's calling in order to take over the world.

Stay safe everyone.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

This is one of the biggest culture clashes that I come across regularly, the French are pure and simply the biggest hypochondriacs in the world!

We have tummy bugs, sniffles and colds the French have gastroenteritis, the flu & the gastro flu!

Recently my daughter and I had a cough. Out came the cough medicine and Vicks and wrapping up as to sweat the virus out. My partner, as soon as the first cough came out of our mouths ordered us to go to the doctors. It does my head in! There's no need to go to the doctors for a cough! Obviously if it persists and starts to go into the chest I might start thinking about ringing for an appointment. I avoid taking paracetomal or giving it to my daughter unless absolutely necessary. A fever is the body's temperature rising because it's producing white blood cells to fight the disease, and especially a child needs to build up their own immunity. 

Now here's why the French run to the doctors ... In the uk you can get all different types of medicines over the counter in chemists, on the shelves in supermarkets or your corner shop and all very cheaply. In France medicines are sold only in chemists and can be quite pricey, and let's face it with the French health care system why bother paying for them when your doctor will prescribe an A4 page of sirops, vitamin C powders, paracetomal, nasal pumps and you take your little green health card "Carte Vitale" (literally the Vital Card!) to the chemist and it's all free! Whether you are unemployed, a skint student or the CEO of Fauchon! 

And of course let's not forget the arret maladie! The French sick note.

Even for the common cold the doctor will put you on the sick for a week, and 4 of those 7 days are fully paid. And you can do this as often as you like! It's very rare for the health service to ask any questions. I know people who at least once a month put themselves on a nice little arret maladie! Add that to the national 5 weeks holiday a year and you're laughing!

Vivre la France and their formidable socialism!