Shoe In!

Some elections are close run things. This one was quite different. Sandie insisted that we go to the Parents Teachers Association meeting this evening at Maxime's school. Sandie forewarned me that the committee of three was resigning and that under absolutely NO circumstances should I volunteer either myself, or worse still, her for any of the president, secretary or treasurer roles.

Imagine our shared concern when it transpired that apart from the three departing officials and head teacher, only 5 other parents turned up. The odds were already looking grim. The conversation basically went back and forth between the outgoing officials saying that the job was really fun and easy, and the nervous parents saying that they had no time and demanding jobs. As the nibbles and the chilled cider got finished, I felt like some Euro finance chief facing a weekend lock in to ensure a resolution before the markets opened again on Monday morning. I suppose the only difference was that Jean-Claude Juncker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Claude_Juncker) and Jose Manuel Barroso (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Manuel_Barroso) probably weren’t surrounded by cuddly toys, jigsaws and felt tip pens.

I personally was being extremely well behaved (for once), and regularly pleaded the fact that I was foreign and often working in a different country to keep myself out of trouble. Every time peoples’ gaze settled on me, I quickly shuffled off to give Maxime some more crisps to keep him quiet. Then after the president and treasurer posts had already gone, Sandie then made a fatal mistake by giving the only remaining couple a way out. They lurched for the exit and the die was cast. I made a final desperate attempt to salvage something and trade a few horses to get her the presidency (she is better at giving rather than taking orders), but alas, she is now going to be writing letters for Maxime’s primary school for the next 12 months at least…

Well, look on the bright side, we have lots of spare time at the minute with two full time jobs and three small kids so at least we don’t have to worry about what we’re going to do on those cold winter evenings that are fast approaching……humpf