When I was a boy, my father had an “allotment”.

For the duration of World War 2, the United Kingdom became separated from her normal trading resources, which mostly came by sea. This being the case, the administration of the day motivated individuals to “Dig for Victory”… i.e., turn their flower gardens into vegetable gardens, and so grow to be more self-sufficient.

I received this text from a long time friend.  I unashamedly reproduce it here.

The British Soldier

The average British soldier is 19 years old…..he is a short haired, well built lad who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy.  Not yet dry behind the ears and just old enough to buy a round of drinks but old enough to die for his country – and for you.  He’s not particularly keen on hard work but he’d rather be grafting in Afghanistan than unemployed in the UK .

He recently left comprehensive school where he was probably an average student, played some form of sport, drove a ten year old rust bucket, and knew a girl that either broke up with him when he left, or swore to be waiting when he returns home.  He moves easily to rock and roll or hip-hop or to the rattle of a 7.62mm machine gun.

He is about a stone lighter than when he left home because he is working or fighting from dawn to dusk and well beyond.  He has trouble spelling, so letter writing is a pain for him, but he can strip a rifle in 25 seconds and reassemble it in the dark.  He can recite every detail of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either effectively if he has to.

He digs trenches and latrines without the aid of machines and can apply first aid like a professional paramedic.  He can march until he is told to stop, or stay dead still until he is told to move.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation but he is not without a rebellious spirit or a sense of personal dignity.  He is confidently self-sufficient.  He has two sets of uniform with him: he washes one and wears the other.  He keeps his water bottle full and his feet dry.  He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never forgets to clean his rifle.  He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes and fix his own hurts.  If you are thirsty, he’ll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food is your food.  He’ll even share his life-saving ammunition with you in the heat of a firefight if you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and regards his weapon as an extension of his own hands.  He can save your life or he can take it, because that is his job – it’s what a soldier does.  He often works twice as long and hard as a civilian, draw half the pay and have nowhere to spend it, and can still find black ironic humour in it all.  There’s an old saying in the British Army: ‘If you can’t take a joke, you shouldn’t have joined!’

He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and he is unashamed to show it or admit it. He feels every bugle note of the ‘Last Post’ or ‘Sunset’ vibrate through his body while standing rigidly to attention.

He’s not afraid to ‘Bollock’ anyone who shows disrespect when the Regimental Colours are on display or the National Anthem is played; yet in an odd twist, he would defend anyone’s right to be an individual.  Just as with generations of young people before him, he is paying the price for our freedom.

Clean shaven and baby faced he may be, but be prepared to defend yourself if you treat him like a kid.

He is the latest in a long thin line of British Fighting Men that have kept this country free for hundreds of years.  He asks for nothing from us except our respect, friendship and understanding.

We may not like what he does, but sometimes he doesn’t like it either – he just has it to do.

Remember him always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.

And now we even have brave young women putting themselves in harm’s way, doing their part in this tradition of going to war when our nation’s politicians call on us to do so.

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As far back as October 1992, the French Penal system has been castigated by the European Commission for Human Rights for the serious overcrowding. In 2005, during a 16-day visit to France, the then Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles said of a section of Paris’s La Santé prison, “In my whole life, apart from perhaps Moldova, I have never seen a center worse than that one.” But the overcrowding has worsened since former Interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy ascended to the president’s office in May 2007, and brought his tough, law-and-order approach with him.

A report given by france24 in August this year stated that the French Prison system is broken after 80 prisoners had committed suicide in 2009 (to date).  Dr Louis Albrand is leading a group of experts to look into the matter. Their report was expected in October.

Meanwhile, back in Britain, a report from the BBC (5 December 2007) quoted the Justice Secretary Jack Straw as stating that “Three “super-prisons” each housing about 2,500 offenders are to be built”

These recently issued photographs show details of just one of these “super prisons” recently completed.

In Prison all expenses are paid by the tax payer and no work is required.  At work you get to pay all your expenses to go to work and they deduct tax from your salary to pay for the prison and the inmates.

Your family and friends are allowed to visit you when in prison.  Whilst at work, you should not be talking to your family and friends.

If you behave well in prison, you may get time off.  If you behave well at work, you may get more work.

Prisoners get three meals a day, for which they do not pay.  If you can get a break for a meal at work, you have to pay for it yourself.

You spend the majority of your time in prison in a 10×10 cell.  The majority of people at work are lucky if the get a 6×6 cubicle or office in which to spend time.

The prison guard will lock and un-lock all the doors for you.  Many work places require that you carry a security card and you have to open the doors for yourself.

You may watch TV and play games whilst in prison.  Playing games or watching TV whilst at work could get you fired.

In this prison you get your own toilet.  At work you get to share a toilet with others, some of whom may pee on the seat.

Prison means that you get to spend time behind bars, whereas in work you can’t wait to get out and find a bar in which to spend time.

On the down side, in prison you may have to deal with sadistic wardens… at work they’re called Managers.

And people wonder why so many Refugees fleeing to Western Europe spend so much time and energy, taking so many risks, in an effort to get across the Channel to Britain.

BRITONS looking for some “joie de vivre” should move to France to feel happier and healthier, according to a new survey of expatriates.

The findings suggest that people living across the “La Manche” are also likely to find their French neighbours sexier and better dressed, but possibly not as witty or good company.

Jonny Wilkinson, no more than an occasional rugby player these days but still the player with the most caps from England’s World Cup winning team, has ended his 12-year stay at Newcastle in favour of a two-season deal with Toulon, France… the French club financed by wealthy businessman Mourad Boudjellal.

Wilkinson, still recovering from a knee dislocation from last September, will earn around £750,000 a year playing alongside nine fellow recruits from Premiership and Celtic League sides.

Sébastien Bruno and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe of Sale, prop Tim Ryan of Munster, Bristol flanker Joe El-Abd, Cardiff centre Jamie Robinson and Kris Chesney with Saracens have already signed up.

Foreign civil partners living in France will have their relationships officially recognised for the first time, thanks to a measure passed by the French National Assembly yesterday (29 April).

The move means that British ex-pats who have had civil partnerships in Britain will now have their union recognised in France as PACS, which is a form of civil union in France. While similar to a British civil partnership, PACS can be entered into by both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy now has 15 days to “promulgate” the measure into law, after the National Assembly endorsed the Senate’s position, which passed it last month.

Currently, same-sex couples who live in France but have legal partnerships or marriages registered in other countries are not legally recognised as a couple.

This means that an ex-pat who has entered into a civil partnership in Britain is subject to a higher rate of inheritance tax if their partner died, than somebody with PACS – especially if property was owned.

The measure has been welcomed by both the European Union and the European Parliament, who had been putting pressure on the French Government to recognise the legal status of same-sex couples that had registered their partnerships in another country.

“We have been calling for this for some time,” said the president of the European Parliament’s all-party Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights.

“I am looking forward to similar moves in other countries and eventually hope that same sex partnerships will be recognised throughout all 27 Member States of the EU.”

The non-recognition of foreign same-sex couples in France has been particularly frustrating, as PACS are recognised by EU countries that have same-sex partnerships laws.

Not only the credit crunch but the all time low exchange rate has made living in France a great deal more expensive and most of us are looking at our diminishing dollars and pounds and wondering how to make them go further.

Disneyland Resort Paris was built to give a creative joy and entertaining experience for children and family. It should bring happiness and excitement with sensual pleasure and opportunities to explore. A magical place that is filled with amusement, magic and personal memories. From the smallest child to the biggest kids of all ages, Disneyland Resort Paris has been turning dreams into reality for the last fifteen years.

The Paris resort is the biggest of the four theme parks in Florida, Tokyo and California. There are a number of original additions and features that make Disney Paris a must visit amusement park of all times. It has been designed a little like the California Park where the little paths and corners are concerned but some of the shows and features are completely new. The rides are more exciting, the most popular being the “Pirates of the Caribbean”.

We have all heard it said that “money is the root of all evil” and probably thought that was a bit of an exaggeration. But when we understand how money is created in the modern world we can then understand the main cause of many major problems: ever increasing taxation; pensions disappearing; inequitable distribution of wealth; inflation; national debt; currency crises and devaluations; recessions; depressions; and even the failure of government in a democracy to govern in the interest of its electors.

Money was invented to be a tool for facilitating trade, but has now become a tool used by the rich to govern the world. If you have any doubt about that, please read on.

Many banks in France have regional English language websites with English speaking staff.  Banking services and facilities in English may also be found at some branches.  Doy you need a French Bank Account? Read French Bank Account

Opening an Account

A foreigner may open a bank account if they are (or are going to be) resident in France for at least three months.

The following documents are required to open an account:

• EU citizens: Proof of identification (a valid passport or ID card)
• Non-EU citizens: Proof of residence (Carte de séjour)
• Proof of a French address: a utility bill (Electricity, Telephone etc.), rental agreement or property deeds
• Proof of earnings or status: Contract of employment or proof of earnings or proof of status (e.g a student card)
• Reference from another bank where accounts are held (this is usually only required when applying for loans and overdrafts)
• In some instances, a birth certificate.

Opening an account can be done in a day and means of making payments (cash cards and cheque book) will normally arrive within a week, or so, of the account being opened.