Panhandling

Ailbhe and I were sitting outside on the steps of the nearby church this afternoon, watching the trams come and go, and looking out for a man laden down with IKEA bags. Ailbhe had a little basket with her. "Maybe someone will come and put some money in my basket" she said to me. "Really?" I asked (as I do). "Yes, people do that you know, one time Grandad gave money to a man in Waterloo."

I know we are very dressed down by French standards, and particularly so today, since Ailbhe was wearing tights with nothing over them (we had a long battle about it but she was adamant) but at least no one mistook us for panhandlers.