Lazy French?

There has been ever such a big kerfuffle in the news lately over the 'lazy, overpaid' French workers who "talk too much".   According to American tyre tycoon Maurice Taylor, France has "beautiful women and fantastic wine, but no idea how to run a business", and thus saying he turned down the French government's request to bail out the ailing Goodyear tyre factory in Amiens. 

Apparently the "so-called workers" at the factory spent the majority of their day lunching (!!!), talking and taking breaks.  The French Minister for Industry claimed Mr. Taylor does not understand "the French way". 

Hmmmmmm.

We've been here nearly a year now, and I have to say we are having Mr. Taylor type struggles with "the French way".  No.1 culprit - LUNCH.

Apparently, one gets accustomed to Lunch and actually starts to get into the swing of it.  

I think it might be too late.  

Having spent almost my entire working life accepting lunch as dunking a cracker into a tin of tuna whilst sitting at my desk  (okay, there were some notable exceptions during the rock 'n' roll years), the swing hasn't kicked in yet.  

It drives me / us crazy.  Everything closes for Lunch.  Work starts at let's say nine-ish, goes on for maybe three hours, then it's time to close up shop entirely - bring in the stands outside the shop, roll down the shutters, lock the doors to the bank and the post office, switch off the lights, turn on the answerphone and ignore the world for possibly FOUR AND A HALF HOURS while you Lunch i.e. eat three or four courses, have some wine, a digestif, a coffee followed up by a nap. Yup. Return to work let's say around four-ish, maybe five, and close up again at seven. 

What's the point? Why even bother working?  Obviously the most important part of the day is Lunch because its clearly advertised on the horaires d'overtures.  And, by the way, all opening hours are different, rarely are the advertised hours adhered to and there is usually a weekday of closure thrown into the bargain, often Mondays to tag onto Sunday when absolutely EVERYTHING is closed - all supermarkets, shops, DIY outlets, garden centres, even petrol stations. Oh, and  did I forget to mention that the supermarkets, DIY centres etc. also close for Lunch? Yes, true. Imagine Coles or Waitrose closing for two hours everyday so the staff can down a three-courser!?!!  Need some paint or liquid nails? Sorry mate, Bunnings is closed, Lunch Time you know. 

Eventually this becomes charming, or so we are told.  Right now the feeling of panic as the clock ticks towards noon and the cold realisation that nothing more can be realistically achieved this day is anything but charming. Perhaps, though, everyone is working super hard during the three hour morning?  

Not here at the Mairie they aren't.  We are clearly disturbing their personal phone calls and ipad photo sessions when we turn up with the idea they might be able to make an appointment for us to talk to someone about starting a business.  The Police close for Lunch as well.  Maybe there's no crime during Lunch - it's entirely possible.

On the positive side, the locals have been very encouraging when we have mentioned our business idea.  They think it could be a bit of a goer and best of all - as it's rather seasonal - it would mean we would only have to work half the year and have the rest of the time off!  How very French.  Actually, now you mention it that sounds quite appealing. Maybe we're getting into the swing of things after all.........