　おいしい！

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

It's freezing up here! I slept through the night shivering while a storm brewed outdoors! Too lazy and too alone to get up in the dark, I just froze curled up like a prawn, never thinking of getting the sleeping bag as an extra protection. Alas! The result = full blown flu with a blocked nose and a nasty head. 12 degree celsius in NJ shorts and a t-shirt. I am incredible.

That aside, there was sad news with regards the the state of the world, albeit a smaller world in west france. A welsh couple whom I know at my French course had a sad story to relate. On the Sunday that had just passed, the couple saw flames at their neighbour's house. The door was barred and Jean-Louis, the neighbour, was inside the house, clutching frantically to his rifle. He was in a highly emotional state and it was a horrifying sight. Since the Welsh couple couldn't speak much French, they rushed to their neighbours' for help. The neighbour came out, armed with a rifle as well. Jean-Louis at this point came out of the house and threatened people not to go close. He was then shot in his stomach by the neighbour. The firemen came and while waiting for instructions from their superiors, did nothing but watched the houses burn down before they took further action. The Welsh couple called the ambulance. It came, one hour later. Luckily the Welsh man knew first aid and did all he could to sustain the life of Jean-Louis. The gendarmes came and looked around for the gun man, while Jean-Louis was writhing in pain with his gunshot wound clutching tightly to the fingers of the Welsh man. He is now recuperating in intensive care.

Apparently, Jean-Louis tried to burn down his own house with himself in it. His wife was taken ill to a state that she could no longer stay with him and needs to be warded. Out of depression, he withdrew all his money from the bank and it was said that he burned them together with the house and himself. The rifle was to deter anyone from coming to his aid. Sadly, he was shot by a French neighbour which the Welsh couple went to ask for help. No neighbours came out to see the commotion. No one cared. It was the Welsh couple alone who stepped out to help and it was highly traumatising for them. Although they have seen a lot of thing in their lives since they are now in their retirement years, it was still nauseating and they felt a little sick. It was a sad weekend and it was really tragic. The state of the world, the state of affairs and the state of depression of the guy.

People do things with various intentions and with the state of the world and people undergoing depression, it is no wonder more psychologists are needed to counsel and lead people to see the light.I realised how safe Singapore is and how right it is to ban guns and such armoury. We use arms for self defence and not to attack. If you have a weapon which you use it to injure others in the name of self defence, where can we actually draw the line. Jean-Louis in this case, would not possibly pull the trigger as he just wanted to be left alone to die. The neighbour, regardless of anything, just fired the shot in the name of salvaging the situation. Who's wrong and who's right, I will leave you to judge for yourself.

However, the most important thing to live in France is to stay healthy. Granted, some doctors are really nice and are specialists in their area of study, but if it takes one hour for an ambulance to arrive, well, we better don't count on it too much. Likewise for everyone, health is the most important thing. Without it, how are we going to enjoy the world?

Labels: cold and tragic weekend

12:11 pm　うまい！Y