The French regional elections went much as predicted, the ruling UMP and its allies retaining control of only one of the 22 regions, and only 36% of the vote, against 54% for the left wing alliance. The Front National clawed back the votes Sarko pilfered when he stole some of their clothes in the presidential election and Monsieur le Président is left to lick his wounds and sack a couple of ministers as scapegoats for the debacle. Meanwhile the opposition crows and declares the result a resounding rejection of his politics. Then again, perhaps the big winner was apathy. The turnout barely crept about 50%.
Elsewhere it was a quiet weekend, though we did hear the first thunder of the year in Lyon. The sunshine is back today after a rather grey couple of days, and the mild weather encouraged us into the only real activity of the weekend, a trip to a garden centre. Geranium stocks however were low, so we ended up with more indoor greenery, a couple of lavender plants and a bag of earth.
Such was the excitement of the weekend. Apart of course from the football, where I had to make do with a dodgy internet stream to follow the chosen XI because their game clashed with the egg-chasing internationals, which the pubs and bars bizarrely chose to show in preference. Infidels. Fortunately, a blind ref and only ten men didn't prove too big a handicap.
Quiet week ahead too, with la bienheureuse away in a German amusement park for her first business trip of the new year. The rides, alas, are all still closed for the winter, so it's all work and no play...
