Tuesday 29th April

I was finally given my, “planning” today – obviously an English-borrowed word that the French somehow take to mean your, “working hours” or “timetable,” but no contract. I am convinced they are going to sack me. My hours are for this week – thirty-nine hours, although France is supposed to be subject to a thirty-five hour week. Still, I really cannot complain about the hours because they work like this:

09:00 start, which means 09:10, or if Bernard is not there, 09:30. Lunch is 12:30 – 13:30, which means knocking off at 12:00 and wandering back at between 13:45 and 14:00. The days ends invariably at 17:30, although my, “planning” shows some days ending at 18:00. Variations come in the form of a 09:30 start, which in actuality means 09:45.

The workload follows a similar pattern. If no groups are booked then we sell individual tickets. The morning sees one tour at 10:30 and the afternoon, one tour at 14:30. The wages are poor but tips can supplement well.

I have noticed Bernard's manipulation of this. He makes some long-winded tale to tourists of how he has been run off his feet all day and that he cannot possibly do another tour. Then, “just to please you and not refuse your desire to see the chapels,” he takes a little group on a “mini-tour.” He then proceeds to occupy them for thirty minutes or more, without imposing a ticket on them. They are so grateful that they thank him heartily and give him a little, “pourboire,” which can add up to a hefty sum.

I find it amusing because he can take ten people on these, “tours” without charge but he pockets the tips. For the same work he could charge them, but, “cut” two tickets - or more - off the top for himself, thus giving himself the same pocket-money, while still putting something in the till. However, clearly that would be dishonest and outright theft, whereas what he is doing is from the goodness of his own heart!