Bonne Année 2019!

I have recently discovered (through Brit Abroad’s latest blog post on Christmas traditions in France) that wishing a fellow citoyen a hearty “Bonne Année!” before January 1st is considered bad luck. Enquiring of my husband (who has spent over two-thirds of his life in France) whether this new and crucial information was indeed true, I was met with a nonchalant shrug and a ‘Yep’. I have been writing Christmas cards containing those ill-fated words to his meilleurs amis in Paris (which he dutifully signs each year, obviously without reading) and unwittingly cursing innocent victims in Carrefour, the doctor’s surgery and beyond for years, without him ever mentioning to me the impropriety of my actions. Clearly this explains our long-running spate of bad luck, which must inevitably now run into 2019, since, starting in late-ish December, I have once again uttered those dreaded words to anyone unlucky enough to cross my path.

So, whilst I prepare to steel myself for whatever calamity 2019 has in store and to look forward with hope and optimism to 2020, at least I may now safely wish you all “Bonne Année!” and a marvellous start to 2019!

Here are my resolutions:

1. Never again to wish anyone a happy new year in France before January 1st;
2. To survive 2019;
3. To maintain/work on my 2018 resolutions, particularly in terms of completing more of my 2017 DIY list (essentially just copied and pasted on to new lists from year to year); reducing plastic consumption and wasting less generally; and finding the time to read and write more for pleasure;
4. To go on more ‘dates’ with my fellow lodger/husband;
5. To persuade my son that he would much rather feed himself, at the grand old age of three, than stick to our current arrangement of “Oo feed me, Mama”. It is a wonderful feeling to be so needed but a little more independence would do neither of us any harm.

 

 

Mots du jour:

Bonne Année – Happy New Year citoyen – citizen meilleurs amis – best friends