Guess what?

I am currently in Paris and had the pleasure of seeing the military parade and flyover on the Champs Elysées this morning. The parade is impressive but the flyover by fighter jets, bombers, helicopters etc etc. is very exciting. I was standing right opposite Louis Vuiton so had a good view of the parade and the snipers on the roof of the Louis Vuiton shop.

I also saw Monsieur Hollande le Président who was standing in an open car on his journey from the Arc to the Place de Concorde – hence the snipers on the roof I suppose.

As a francophone and francophile I see the Revolution in everything in France from the attitude to authority to the way people walk with a certain pride and confidence (I don’t say arrogance because I don’t find the French arrogant) because to me they seem certain of who they are and what they stand for. This is something I think Australians are looking for as our country is so new and, unlike the French, we did not fight for our country or our culture, we imposed it on the indigenous population. This history is something we are trying to come to terms with now. I see the French also trying to come to terms with their colonial history and finding it difficult, so i know it’s not just us.

Change, especially political change is not easy!

Hope all is well with you

Amitiés