Day 3315 (Monday) 6th July 2026

These clouds appeared yesterday afternoon and Huw found these photos online – pretty spectacular.

He also found these photos taken on Sunday; this is the brass band playing on the boat.

This is the vicar leading the parade down to the sea.

After a lovely weekend we had to face French admin and go and collect our new Cartes de Sejour, which is the card that gives us residency for 10 years. Huw has spent weeks doing the legwork and they were ready to be picked up.  The admin office is down by the airport and when Huw checked the route online he saw that there had been a number of crashes in the area and decided we should go by train and tram. The doors were to open at 1pm so we got there early at around 12.15 and joined the queue. It was very hot and no seats so we had to stand in line and wait.

 

As we got closer a plastic chair appeared and I was very happy to sit down. Once we got inside there was yet another queue but at least we had air con. We finally picked up the cards, it had taken less than two hours. As we were leaving we saw just how long the queue was – it was miles. We’re so happy we got there early. Our journey home was pretty calm and we were glad to be home.

I found this article online yesterday…

A man was arrested in Paris after he climbed the Eiffel Tower on July 4 and hung a US flag on the 250th US Independence anniversary. 

A man scaled the iconic Paris monument of the Eiffel Tower on Saturday (Jul 4) and draped the US flag on the landmark on the 250th anniversary of American independence. He was spotted climbing the 324-metre (1,063-foot) tall tower during the afternoon and hung the Stars and Stripes between the second and third floors. According to authorities, the forecourt, as well as the second and third floors, were evacuated following the incident. He was arrested, and the flag was taken down.

According to the police, he gave no explanation for his motives. The incident came on the day the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary of independence, July 4.

Often called the “Iron Lady”, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited tourist spots in Paris. The landmark sees about seven million tourists each year. Built in 1889 for the World Fair in Paris, it was once controversial and even criticised by some at the time. Today, it stands as one of the most recognisable symbols of France and a key part of the Paris skyline.

I found these expressions about food, enjoy.

1. Avoir un cœur d’artichaut
   Literal Translation: To have an artichoke heart
   Meaning: To be overly sentimental or quick to fall in love
   Explanation: Artichoke leaves peel away easily, revealing a tender heart underneath. Describing someone’s “artichoke heart” suggests a soft, romantic core that’s easy to access.

2. Être haut comme trois pommes
   Literal Translation: To be as tall as three apples
   Meaning: To be very short in stature
   Explanation: This cute phrase is often applied to children, conjuring an image of a small stack of apples—perfect for someone who’s just a little munchkin.

3. Faire le poireau
   Literal Translation: To do the leek
   Meaning: To wait for a long time, typically standing in one spot
   Explanation: A leek stands tall and motionless in a garden bed. If you’ve ever felt like you’re rooted to one spot while waiting, this phrase might be your go-to.

4. Occupe-toi de tes oignons
   Literal Translation: Take care of your onions
   Meaning: Mind your own business
   Explanation: Onions can bring tears when you meddle with them too much, so this idiom essentially tells others to focus on their own affairs if they want to avoid tears.

5. Être mi-figue, mi-raisin
   Literal Translation: To be half-fig, half-grape
   Meaning: To be ambivalent or indecisive
   Explanation: Figs are sweet, while grapes can vary from tart to sweet. Being “half one, half the other” suggests a mixture of sweet and sour feelings—perfect for describing indecision.

6. Boire comme un trou
   Literal Translation: To drink like a hole
   Meaning: To drink excessively
   Explanation: A hole can seemingly absorb limitless amounts of liquid. This expression humorously notes someone’s ability to drink a lot.

7. Être tout sucre tout miel
   Literal Translation: To be all sugar and honey
   Meaning: To be overly sweet or insincere
   Explanation: Too much sweetness can sometimes be a cover for hidden intentions. If someone is “sucre et miel,” they might not be as genuine as they appear.

8. En faire tout un fromage
   Literal Translation: To make a whole cheese out of it
   Meaning: To make a mountain out of a molehill
   Explanation: Cheese-making is a process that takes time and effort. By “making a cheese” out of something small, you’re exaggerating a minor issue.

9. Avoir le melon
   Literal Translation: To have the melon
   Meaning: To be full of oneself or big-headed
   Explanation: Melons are large and round, and this phrase implies someone’s ego is equally inflated.

10. Avoir la banane
    Literal Translation: To have the banana
    Meaning: To have a big smile
    Explanation: Picture the curve of a banana resembling a wide grin. When you “have the banana,” you’re sporting a huge smile or feeling cheerful.

This was Badger yesterday trying to keep cool, poor little stretchy boy.