BlogElections and Food - Sunday, June 13, 2004

Early results are in from the European elections and it does not look good for ruling UMP party. It?s estimated that the mainstream left will receive about 42 % of the vote to 38% for the UMP and its right wing allies. The rest is split between the far left and far right. About the only good thing for the UMP is that the left received less in this election than in the regional elections of a few months ago, when the left received just over 50% of the vote. It?s hard to know how much this vote really reflects what the French think, as only about 45% of them voted.

One of the best things about marring into a rural family is that during the summer I get to pick fresh fruit and vegetables. Yesterday we picked strawberries, which my mother-in-law then made in to preserves. My wife advised against this, she wanted to make a cake. Strawberry preserves are very thin, almost like water. That?s what I wanted thinness; strawberry preserves make great pancake syrup, a taste of home if you will that I can?t find many other places. Today we picked cherries and only ate them. In August hopefully we?ll get to pick wild blueberries that my wife will then make into preserves. I love France!!

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