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Mark you they say he doesn't like being interviewed about his father much

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Mark you, they say he doesn't like being interviewed about his father much..."So it was a slightly apprehensive pair, presenter and producer, who alighted at Troyes in dark December to pick up a hire car and drive to Colombey. It was nearly lunchtime when we arrived at Colombey, which is signposted from miles away by the huge Croix de Lorraine on the hill above the town No sign of Monsieur Paul No sign of anyone at the house, which was all locked up. No sign of much activity in Colombey, where the only shops open were Gaullist souvenir shops – get your De Gaulle keyrings, your ashtrays, your croix de Lorraine! – and where, outside the church, we were challenged by a young gendarme to explain what we were doing.Well, I suppose we did look an odd pair, walking round de Gaulle's grave in the churchyard, talking covertly into a microphone and reading out inscriptions on the latest wreaths. There was, oddly, a sign saying "Silence" over the churchyard entrance, and I suppose he could have arrested us for illegally making sounds in a public graveyard, but the truth was that he was just bored and inquisitive He listened to our story. He seemed to think we were legal, He promised he would listen to our Radio 4 broadcast, and left us alone.Things got better after that The local hotel made us excellent sandwiches.

We found Monsieur Paul, who, far from being crotchety, was kindness itself, and reopened the house and grounds for us, even letting me sit at the General's writing desk, where he could look out over the green fields towards Paris. "Not a house to be seen," said M Paul proudly, "not a sign of human habitation could the General see as he worked." Yes, they always said that de Gaulle loved France better than the French...The morning train had been bright and punctual, but our return was terribly delayed by almost an hour. We staggered into the Gare de l'Est tired and fed up, only slightly cheered by the fact that a woman was handing out compensation forms. Apparently you get compensation for any delay over 30 minutes on a trip more than 100 kilometres. Fat chance, of course, that an English traveller returning to Britain the next day would qualify, but hope springs eternal, so I sent the claim off with my ticket in the free envelope and forgot all about it.Until yesterday Yesterday I got a letter from M Jo?Lefebvre. M Lefebvre is the SNCF "Responsable du Centre R?larit? in Arras, and he says, "Monsieur, Vous avez adress?otre billet..." (you sent your ticket to us blah blah to claim compensation...) "Je tiens d'abord ?ous pr?nter les plus vives excuses de la SNCF..." (may I first of all offer our most sincere apologies for the difficulties you experienced blah blah blah...) "J'ai le plaisir de vous adresser 9,60 euros... Cette compensation, ?le ?n tiers du prix du billet..."Yes! It may only be a third of the ticket price, but I have now got an SNCF voucher for €9.60 which can be spent on rail travel in France any time in the next year.

I also have the manly apologies of M Jo?Lefebvre, and an apology from a Frenchman is worth treasuring, I think. It is also the first time anyone has ever paid me by euro, so I am not ashamed to admit that I wiped away a small tear of gratitude, and surprise, and pleasure, and even Europhilia. A lot of emotions for one little tear to symbolise.Well, I told you I had a happy railway story to tell you I didn't tell you it wasn't about British railways But you can't have everything More from Miles Kington. Gerard Butler and his new first-choice jockey, Eddie Ahern, were hit hard by the stewards at Lingfield yesterday. Before the pair teamed up for a win with the well-backed Compton Dynamo in the sprint handicap they were severely punished under the "non-triers" rule.

The horse was banned from racing for 40 days (23 February to 3 April). The race went to the well-backed 11-10 favourite Frazzled, who scored comfortably by three and a half lengths.Butler was found guilty under Rule 155 (ii), for "failing to give adequate instructions to his rider to ensure the best possible placing" for the filly.Because it was Butler's second such offence within the last 12 months the stewards had the option of fining him between £2,000 and £3,000.Ahern was punished under Rule 158, for "failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure the best possible placing" for the filly. The Rule states that a jockey can be suspended for between 7 and 14 days. His ban covers dates between 2 March and 23 March when Flat racing is scheduled to take place within this country.Ahern was left fuming at the news that the suspension rules him out of riding at the Dubai World Cup meeting at Nad Al Sheba on 23 March.Butler announced earlier this week that fellow Irishman Ahern will be riding the majority of the stable's runners this season and is expected to have at least two runners at the prestigious meeting.Streamstown was cut to 9-2 favourite, from 6-1, by the Tote yesterday for the De Vere Gold Cup at Haydock on Saturday. The move followed confirmation by Ferdy Murphy, the eight-year-old's trainer, that the stable jockey Adrian Maguire has decided to go to Haydock on Saturday rather than Kempton the same day.The Murphy yard also plans to saddle Occold in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton. Occold is joint market leader with the Tote on 13-2, with Paperising and Red Striker.* With the Cheltenham Festival only 18 days away, the clerk of the course, Simon Claisse, yesterday described the going as "Soft, Good to Soft in places". Heavy rain fell in the area early yesterday but had largely missed the track, he said..

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