Visitors!

May is a wonderfully disruptive month as far as work is concerned.  There was an average of one bank holiday per week, and one le pont*, too.  This is probably also why the French give the impression that they hardly work, what with their 35-hour workdays, minimum 5 weeks' paid vacation and bank holidays left, right and center.  Whilst it is true that the French are apt to take 4 weeks' vacation in summer, it is a misconception that they are lazy and hardly work.  The French I know work very long hours everyday, although weekends do tend to be sacrosanct.    


Anyways, back to the topic of visitors.  Last week was a hectic week for us with some very important visitors dropping by.  The chef decided on a steamboat to make things easier, and it was perfect.

Champagne and steamboat and great company

Happy Birthday, Ye Ye!

* le pont: literally, the bridge.  When a bank holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, some companies designate the preceding Monday or the following Friday to be "le pont" - a bridge to the weekend - so that employees have a long weekend.  

Only some employees are eligible for this pont, and I will need another post to explain who and why, so forget it.  Just take my word for it that some are eligible while others are not.