It’s Agincourt all over again
The strained relations between the English and French are in the spotlight again on the eve of Paris being awarded the 2012 Olympic Games the 2012 Olympic hosts decision in Singapore. Commentators say it could climax in a punch-up between Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac at the G8 Summit in Scotland, especially if the French Prime Minister makes derogatory remarks about the lunch.
Chirac is in a bad mood because no one in France likes him anymore. In an effort to garner the support of the French voters he’s turned his attention to the old enemy. This has also been triggered by the London bid team pointing out that the Stade de France has already been built, which means it will be ‘passé’ by 2012. Whereas the London stadium doesn’t exist yet so will be right good. Hm…
Of course, many English, while claiming to hate the French, can’t wait to jump on a ferry at Calais to buy a ten bedroom villa in Ville de un Cheval for the price of their two bedroom terraced back in Hounslow. The reason many English like rural France is because it is stuck in the past, which is ok as long as you don’t want to earn your living there. Good old fashioned values prevail - community spirit, affordable housing, owning killer dogs, the lack of running water, Mayors who take back-handers, overt racism.
In turn the French think we can’t cook, but as none of them have eaten here since Sainsbury began stocking sun-dried tomatoes that’s not based on a lot of contemporary evidence. In fact, although Chirac says that our food is the worst in Europe after Finland (what have they done wrong?), Blighty can reveal that he always stops off at Harry Ramsdens when in the UK, for a bag of Fish and Chips. Wi’ bits apparently.
As for tomorrow, Blighty hopes that, as at Agincourt, the French turn up in the wrong footwear and therefore blow a seemingly odds-on victory again. It will be especially galling to lose the Olympics to a city with similarly poor weather. And think of all those vegetarian athletes trying to get a decent meal in France!
Posted: July 5th, 2005 under Commentary.
Comments: 11
Comments
Comment from EuroYank
Time: July 5, 2005, 4:28 pm
Love your whit, and you are right on the money with what you said here. Now all I have to learn is to write a bit like you. Nice going chum.
Comment from Homo Insapiens
Time: July 5, 2005, 6:09 pm
Could we not arrange a tournament between these two champions of their respective realms? Perhaps at a neutral place such as mid-Channel.
Regards
Comment from Marlowe
Time: July 5, 2005, 7:55 pm
Hi EuroYank, thanks for your comments! I’m very grateful.
You’re not suggesting drowning our great leader are you HI?! I think he looks quite dashing in his armour.
Comment from hibiscus anne
Time: July 5, 2005, 8:39 pm
French cuisine is overrated in my opinion.
Love fish and chips!
Comment from Marlowe
Time: July 5, 2005, 8:53 pm
You could be right. I prefer Italian myself, but I don’t eat meat. Fish and chips are ok, but they leave a coat of grease on your mouth.
Comment from herge smith
Time: July 6, 2005, 12:21 am
I have a French bakery at the top of my road.
It’s not entirely relevant to this topic, i just like the bread from there.
I love the bit about Paris getting the Olympics… superb.
Comment from Marlowe
Time: July 6, 2005, 10:17 am
I wish I had a French bakery at the top of my road. Send us a baguette!
My experience of France is that the restaurants that are affordable, taking into account we ate out 15 nights last time we went as well as the lunches, were certainly no better than are available in the UK. And less interesting if you don’t eat meat. However, the food available in shops is far better. The Boulangerie-Pâtisseries etc. Not to mention the much cheaper veg in le supermarche.
Comment from the english guy
Time: July 6, 2005, 10:54 pm
Man, those frenchies just can’t admit that we’re better can they? 
Comment from hibiscus anne
Time: July 6, 2005, 11:37 pm
Congratulations on getting the 2012 Olympics!
We’re happy for you!
:)
Comment from hibiscus anne
Time: July 7, 2005, 6:32 pm
Hope you and yours are okay, Marlowe—
I offer my condolences for the families and loved ones of the innocents murdered today in London. (and those injured )
*Hugs* to Britain from across the Big Pond.
We stand with you now, as always.
In sympathy,
Anne
Comment from Marlowe
Time: July 7, 2005, 7:44 pm
Hi Anne, thanks for your message. The news on the Olympics was great, and today’s events don’t change that. The thing is to carry on as usual!
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