In some parts of France parents have been keeping children off school for other reasons. It seems that French schools have introduced "gender" as a curriculum subject and Education Minister, Vincent Peillon, has had to defend his decision as he is accused of wanting to teach pupils to be homosexual! His intention was to encourage gender equality by including it in the curriculum. Some parents have been boycotting schools in protest, encouraged to do so by a writer called Farida Beighoul. This writer has form in this respect. When homosexual marriage was legalised in Fence she started an organisation called "Manif pour Tous" (“Demo for Everyone”) in protest. A woman with views but maybe she could do with a bit of education herself!
People who work for the Co-operative Society in the UK, especially those who produce the signs that go up in their shops, could also do with a bit of education. In our local co-op, attached to a box of quite attractive looking French bread there was a sign telling shoppers that these were “Parisean baguettes”. You never know though; maybe the Parisians have trademarked the word and so it had to be spelt that way.
Out and about yesterday, I went on the tram into Manchester, the first time I have done so since they changed the route and sent it through the centre of town. Previously I had to get off the bus about half a mile from the old train station where there was a temporary tram stop. The tram then used the old railway lines for their run into Manchester. Now I can get off the bus at the new tram stop on the edge of the town centre and hop straight onto a tram. The helpful sign telling you how many minutes you have to wait for a tram warned us yesterday that there might be some delays as there had been a problem with a car blocking the tram tracks. I’m not surprised; the introduction of the tram system has made significant changes to access to the streets in the town centre. No doubt some driver was on automatic pilot and turned onto the route he has driven for years, only to find himself stuck in the tramlines.
It could have been more serious. I’ve just read this morning about a van destroyed by a train on a level crossing on the Vigo-Irun railway line. I’ve always thought that level crossings were dangerous, especially those that don’t have gates. In this case one the rear wheels of the van slipped off the crossing onto the track and got stuck. The driver managed to get out but, despite phone calls to the Guardia Civil, they were unable to stop the train and his van was destroyed. And the passengers had to continue their journey to Vigo by bus while the track was cleared. The van driver is accused of driving without a license, suspended a few years ago, and possibly under the influence of alcohol. Locals, however, maintain that the level crossing in question is known to be fat too narrow. The newspaper prints this photo of a local chap on his scooter on the crossing as proof. I love it! 
Here’s a final bit of travel nonsense. In the Stalybridge Station buffet bar, by now familiar to my readers, I came across this sign. That’s a fine piece of nostalgia. Those were the days! You had to pay a penny, an old penny at that, to go onto the platform if you wanted to meet someone or see someone off or, presumably, to go train spotting. Along with going to the loo, it was one of the few things you could get for a penny. Nowadays, you can go onto the platforms at Piccadilly Station in Manchester for free. However, if you need the loo, it will cost you twenty new pence!
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