Signs And Wonders

My French accent is dreadful, but most of the time I can work out the words if they are written down. I was able to watch The Big Bang Theory on the TV in the hotel bedroom, and understand the subtitles. But Parisian street signs occasionally caused me to wonder...

Chanter is to sing - so is it forbidden to sing in public? Or must you wear a hard hat whilst doing so, and stand still [don't walk along] I wondered about this one for ages. 

But chantier is a noun, not a verb. It means construction site, and the sign explains that the public may not enter it. 

Then there was this one 

Then there was this one

Sauf desserte locale SAUF

I wonder... Is it

"Save the local puddings" do you think? **

Well I'm all for that one 

- we enjoyed some splendid desserts this week. 

I had Iles Flottantes twice. 

The second of these was huge, the size of a small melon.

 Bob had a large millefeuille, stuffed with cream and red fruits 

- and I had an amazing 5-part pud, comprising three different pots of deliciousness, plus a slim gauffre [waffle] and a tiny cup of coffee. The three pots contained 

1. chocolate mousse with whipped cream, 
2. vanilla mascarpone with cream, apricots and almonds, 
3. a little serving of batons of fresh pineapple with strawberry garnish. 

**I was sort of sad to discover it actually means "no entry, save [excepting] local traffic, and excepting bicycles"! 

It will be strange to get back to Britain where the road signs usually make sense. 

Here's a favourite of mine, from Wiveton up on the Norfolk coast 

I wonder what a visiting Frenchman would make of this sign? 

Today's schedule...Breakfast at 7, Eurostar leaves at 10, back to Romford to collect car from Julian's. Then Norfolk in the evening.