Mama’s been telling me a lot of nice things about Barbara and Dan who are coming to visit. I can’t wait.
Well, so mama and papa are supposed to go to Barcelona (their soccer team was WHACKED BY THE ROMA LAST NIGHT–just had to mention that again, heh, heh) to meet Barbara and Dan, the Music Man, and guess what? The train workers are on STRIKE because the president of France wants to adjust their salaries (more than many other workers), age of retirement (50!), and perks and boy are they ticked off.
HOWEVER, their special treatment dates from when trains were run on COAL and yes, it was dirty, difficult, and the laborers certainly had much more work to do than some others if they wanted to have the trains run on time all over the country, but hey, folks, the trains are run now electronically. No more shovelling coal, but the dissention is still there.
Trains kissing as they hook up to run together. Well, mama thinks they’re kissing…
Personally, I do not take trains although I think I might like to. Even if my ears stop up in tunnels, which happens to mama. But mama says a train is one of the wonders of travel–sliding along with someone else driving, beautiful scenery going by like a movie, and a nice picnic lunch to have right at your seat (hmmm, do they serve kibble?). On the train to Paris, mama says, a person comes by and takes an order for lunch and then brings it to your seat, with wine or beer or whatever you like!
I think I would order a milkshake.
You think the train people will let me lick THEIR spoons? I’m staying home!
Poor LouLou…I can promise you that if I was to meet you on a train, and I would have a spoon handy, I would surely let you lick it!
OH, a true friend.
We don’t think people travel by trains enough. Around here there’s a train that goes from here to Chicago. And the mom has taken the train that goes from Windsor to Toronto (Canada is right across the river from us).
Oh, to take a train right into Canada just as we take the train to Spain. Hey, poet and don’t know it!
Oh Lou Lou you would just love taking the train from London to Paris to Provence, especially going under the English Channel
Well, Loulou, I’ve never ridden on a train either! But sure like the idea of ordering my meal!! Oh, I did ride on one in Italy, but it was just a short ride. And they made me wear a muzzle so I wouldn’t bite anybody. HUH!? Well, maybe in my case it was to keep me from eating the neighbor’s food. And yep the strikes are set to go into June – but I think the tide will turn and the strikers will lose support. The train is fairly expensive – and who gets to retire at 50 when they have a pretty easy job (unlike in days of yore) – !!?? Just my opinion.
Well, I do not need a train to be happy. I’m at HOME with my foodd and that god awful meditation music they put on for me to haha relax.
Ah, Loulou, I think you are aware by now of how much I dislike M. Macron (self-designated Jupiter). Yet, I am all in favour of making of few changes in the prerogatives of SNCF. My view is that truck drivers or farmers would have far more reasons to complain than these born strikers.
So Loulou, I guess you’re going to have the house all to yourself while your Mama and Papa are off to Barcelona. MAKE THE MOST OF IT!
Oh, I already have. But would you rather Sarkozy or Hollande…….?
Oh no!
Neither Sarko nor Flanby.
But Jupiter is the worst.
To be honest, I fear we have no one at the moment capable of taking the reins. Critical situation.
But Loulou, since you and I are not going anywhere today or even tomorrow, let us not worry about the “still” trains and enjoy this beautiful day.
Oh, such sage advice, Ralphe. I did just that and put all politics OUT of my pea brain.
Is retirement at age 50 what the workers want, or what they have ? Do they have to retire at age 50 ? Lots of us who retired relatively young worked another job – not always by choice !
I will look into that. I think they can certainly work after 50 but perhaps not at the railways.