tax departments

If you live in France and are bored, can I suggest a sortie to a tax department? What fun we had. The morning was in Couiza, with a calm and thoughtful (disdainful?)pen-pusher being attacked by Andree; 'mais c'est pas possible' was a constant refrain. The afternoon we had three pen-pushers in Limoux, one woman who made no attempt to understand the issues -alas, who does? - a man who looked like a very beautiful english actor whose name escapes me, who rather took the wind out of my sails (though not Andrees) and another who hit the computer and the phone and came up with a strategy, involving another day out - Couiza and Limoux again only on Tuesday. With enough paperwork to fell a forest.
He it was that came up with the ingenious line; 'there are three people in this marriage; you, him and you-and-him.' It seems that taxes can move around these three characters with impunity. And you wont know which of the three is being hit. Or who remains to be hit.
*******If you are considering marriage, just say no.

On the plus side, I bought La Depeche. It was unusually full of news; on this day in 1901 Picasso had his first exhibition: anyone born under the sign of cancer will have cramps: the mairee have permission to start work repairing the Butte de st Helene (see pic). Oh and questions have been asked about the view from La Cantou now the new cafe de la Gare is built in front of their windows.