"Ian Hoare" wrote .....
>
> err... that WAS about 14 years ago, you know. And I might point out that
> French Polynesia isn't exactly YOUR back yard, even though Australia's
> fury
> might have led one to think so. When in fact it was all a storm in a tea
> cup, designed to whip up anti-French sentiment and sell Oz wine. Not
> dumb -
> which is most certainly what Chirac was, when he fell into Mitterand's
> trap.


Now hold on a minute Mr. Hoare (says this self proclaimed peer in righteous
indignation!)

The distance from NZ to Mururoa is about 2,600miles (alright you
Euro/decimalicentric Franco/Anglo/Hungarophile! - 4,100km) - and I know -
I sailed every nautical mile of that journey!

So I DO claim that this is virtually in my back yard - and not because of
the distance involved - oh no - but because the French government, in a
barbaric act of state sponsored terrorism, authorised the bombing of the
Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior in Auckland harbour - that is New
ealand - and that, my friend, IS my back yard.

Furthermore (with tongue firmly in cheek) - the last nuclear test at Mururoa
was on February 22, 1996, a mere TWELVE years ago.

So as long as France can celebrate Bastille day and England the failed
bombing of parliament centuries ago, we antipodeans reserve the right to
remind France of her indiscretions at each and every opportunity.

Of course, this will not stop myself and my fair Lady St.Helier venturing
forth this coming September, to continue this discussion, in France.

Stock up that cellar !!!!!!!!!

Cheers from a gorgeous 30C summers evening in paradise.

--

His Lordship