Wednesday, 20 April 2011

Maria, look!

Context: In the bus. Behind me, a woman is sitting with a boy and a girl, both around six or seven years old. The children are facing each other.

BOY: Maria, look! She's putting her finger in her nose!!!
MARIA (the woman): That's ok. She can do it. It doesn't matter.
BOY, sounding scandalized: How come I'm not allowed to do it?!
MARIA: Who told you you were not allowed to do it?
BOY: Look! She's doing it again!!! She's putting her finger in her nose!!
GIRL: I do it like this! (I assume the girl makes demonstration.)
BOY, scandalized and disgusted: Look!! She's putting her finger in her nose and eating the bogeys! She's eating the bogeys!!!

From then on, I don't hear the rest, for I can't stop laughing...

Friday, 15 April 2011

In pictures - Le Charlot des rues

There are times when images speak louder than words. Over the years I have been taking pictures of people I see and situations I witness that I find interesting or simply beautyful. I have decided that I will post some of them here from time to time. They are images that show things that, were I a bit better with words, I would probably have written a post on them. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed taking them.


I like to call this one the Street Tramp. I guess it's a bit redundant, but in French it sounds better: 'Le Charlot des rues'. I took it in Strasbourg in 2006.

Thursday, 14 April 2011

Polite conversation

In the bus. A woman comes in with two little girls. The youngest (around four years old) sits next to an old man.

LITTLE GIRL, addressing the old man: Moien!*
OLD MAN, smiles and answers: Moien!

The girls chatter during the journey. When they arrive at their stop, the little girl takes her mother's hand and stands up to leave.

LITTLE GIRL: Äddi!**

No answer. The old man hasn't noticed that she is talking to him.

LITTLE GIRL, turning around, not wanting to leave before she has her answer: Äddi!

Still no answer.

LITTLE GIRL: Äddi! ... Äddi!... Äddi!

People witnessing the scene start smiling.

OLD MAN, finally noticing: Äddi!

Little girl smiles and finally lets her mother take her away.

*Moien = Hello
** Äddi = Bye

Thursday, 24 March 2011

In the news - The drunk sheep

A drunken Bavarian who was bleating like a sheep has ended up in jail. The 49-year old man was at home, bleating for up to 20 minutes at a time, in the night from Saturday to Sunday. Called by neighbours, the police tried to reason with the man before arresting him.

Read in: L'Essentiel, Tuesday 5th October 2010, Luxembourg

Monday, 14 March 2011

On the net - Strange introduction

Alixonlune: Hello! We have the same age! What's your shoe size by any chance? 37?

Chamelo13 (thinking it's a funny joke): Hahaha! No, 40. If my shoe size was 37 I might fall when the wind is too strong.

Alixonlune: That means you're slim then? Do you like foot massages?

(Chamelo13 is not sure what to answer to that, so just waits to see what comes next.)

Alixonlune: Apart from that, I like girls with big feet! I know, it's strange... I like them big and slim! Slightly elongated, I think it's beautiful.

(Chamelo13 doesn't feel like answering anymore, even if she might be missing out on a great foot massage...)