[Malcolm Armsteen]

Don't forget the legendary status of Sapeurs-Pompiers in France; it's wrong to translate them as firefighters, they are the first responders in all emergencies. They are much respected by the people. Some years back I watched the Bastille Day parade in Paris, and the pompiers got by far the biggest cheer in the défile.

The police, not so much.

[Boiler]

Jeez... it's got bad when the Sappers and Pumpers are having a scrap with the fuzz.

My mate wants to know if he's booking us twelve days in Paris in May. Will anything be open?

[Andy McDandy]

Do the riot police still have the old "salad basket" reputation for thuggery or are they more civilised these days?

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Do the riot police still have the old "salad basket" reputation for thuggery or are they more civilised these days?

Ha haha ha ha!

[Boiler]

They're not (still) known as the Car Rempli de Singes ('cartload of monkeys') for nothing.

My mate and I did have a civilised conversation with them last year though: there was a guy from Normandy (IIRC) on detachment to Paris on account of a demo by a pro-Palestinian group who were a bit narked about a square being renamed Jerusalem Square in the 17th. He spoke English, we spoke French.

[Kreuzberger]

Jeez... it's got bad when the Sappers and Pumpers are having a scrap with the fuzz.

My mate wants to know if he's booking us twelve days in Paris in May. Will anything be open?

Paris is Paris. May is May. The ritual exchange of objéts is virtually guaranteed, I would have thought.

Alternatively, come to Kreuzberg. We no longer have run ins with the cops, stand around drinking over priced bier and wondering when it is all going to kick off. It doesn't.

"No shipwrecks, nobody drooned. In, fact, nothing to laff at, at all".

We're going down to Ober Bayern to the out-laws and then up into the hills behind Salzburg for the long weekend. The beer's cheaper and the scenery is fabulous.

[Boiler]

My mate is an avowed Francophile, hence the annual trip to the 15e.

I had planned to give the Paris trip a miss this year but my mate assumed I'd be up for it and now we're where we are. But next year I will give it a miss - and I haven't been to Germany since 1999.

Hmmm.

[The Red Arrow]

Haven't been for more than a while, but I love hanging out in Bayeux. Friendly. *Checks (burgundy) passport and ferries to Cherbourg*

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Come to Normandy. Nothing ever happens. Apart from piles of burning tyres. Where do they get all the fuckin' tyres from?

[Cyclist]

You don't think all those tyre and exhaust centres pay for correct disposal of old tyres do you?

They pile 'em up ' til they've got a lorry load then flog 'em to the French

[Bones McCoy]

Come to Normandy. Nothing ever happens. Apart from piles of burning tyres. Where do they get all the fuckin' tyres from?

Swap em with Arlene's lads for palettes.

[MisterMuncher]

Can't do that.

If they move the (stolen) pallets, the council will see the (illegal) tyres in the middle. That's why they try to cover both with effigies, flags and election posters.

[The Red Arrow]

Wow! It finally got 16 seconds on the Beeb.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

One for Ian:

https://actu.fr/societe/elle-offre-une- ... 1580327779

[Tubby Isaacs]

Not a very big sample, but one for Matthew Goodwin.