We’ve never had it so good
I was looking for Christmas lights in the attic when I came across our copy of the Millennium Times – the one from 1st January 2000. It was also the last New Year before we left the UK.
I posted it here just in case this years New Year newspapers are less upbeat and you need cheering up. I imagine this year they will say ‘We’d never had it so good…and then we spent 10 years mucking it up’ but perhaps I’m wrong.
The second photo is just as interesting – it seems that exactly 10 years ago we entered 1999 with catastrophe in the air, only to be wrong…could the same happen again I wonder?
Ah well, hope springs eternal, unless you pay French social contributions…
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Having just returned to France from the best part of a year in the Land of Smiles (Thailand), I’m hoping their general philosophy of life will have rubbed off on me… for a while at least (until those sécu contributions start to bite). Over there it’s a ‘live for now, why worry about those things you cannot change’ culture.
I was incredibly impressed by the positive outlook on life of those with next to nothing, compared to the average Westerner. Two weeks back, and the stress levels and general dissatisfaction with one’s lot is already apparent, even in my area of rural France. The contrast couldn’t be greater.
Still I’m back here until June come what may with respect to depression/recession, plummeting value of sterling etc etc, so que sera sera and all that, and a Bonne Année 2009!