Plant market

12-10-2010
Originally uploaded by cspatrick

Tuesday, October 12, 2010 Day 104
Today is the beginning of a general strike in France to protest the latest round of increases in the retirement age for the French. We were not sure the tram would be running, but we set out anyway to go to the plant market at the west end of the blue line. We caught a tram with no problem. After we boarded, a young man gave up his seat for me. Sigh. I didn’t think I looked that old or that tired, but I took the proffered seat. On the way out, there were signs in the tram stating that demonstrations were expected in the afternoon and that riders should expect “perturbations” of the tram schedule. About halfway out to the plant market, we saw a group of about 50 protesters carrying cardboard signs. They walked into a lane of traffic and sat down on the pavement with their signs, blocking traffic. I don’t know how long they stayed there – I suspect that they were headed for something larger and this was just a temporary stoppage. When the tram was within shouting distance of its terminus, it stopped for three to four minutes. We were unable to see why it stopped. When it finally approached the last station, there were four or five other trams already there (we had not seen this before), and the driver opened the door and deposited us a several feet from the platform so that we had to step down when exiting the train.

We got to the plant market with our rolling shopping bag in tow – we still hadn’t bought potting soil, so that was a part of the plan. I picked out two hanging baskets of petunias, a dragon wing begonia and two African violets. While we were there, we ran into Susan, who was at the garden club meeting yesterday. She said she was expecting to meet Peggy out here, and sure enough, a short time later, Peggy and Egan showed up. Roger took over Egan while we shopped. We got the potting soil into the cart and were able to carry the plants. Peggy kindly offered us a ride home. Our apartment is located on a very heavily traveled street which is always clogged because of construction. It should be two lanes, both traveling in the same direction, but is generally reduced to one. We always walk or take a bus to somewhere else for a driver to give us a ride, as picking us up would cost an extra 15-20 minutes. So Peggy got us most of the way home and we took our plants and hopped out, leaving the potting soil to be picked up another time.

Roger felt the call of the chessboards again this afternoon. He was gone until after 6:00, and came home triumphant. He said he had played several games and, although he lost all but one, he demonstrated his strengths as a chess player as he had superior positions in almost all of the games when his time ran out. He acknowledged that he has to learn better time clock management.
While Roger played chess, I went with Peggy to walk Egan along the Lez. Afterward we detoured to Botanic, which sells plants and pots. I got some window boxes which were not available at the plant market this morning. When she brought me back, I called Roger and he walked over to meet us to help me transport the potting soil and the pots back home. Now I have to get everything planted.