Today is the anniversary of

deGaulle's famous speech broadcast from London calling the French to resist. Few people heard it, but it marked an important step and it is being commemorated this weekend.

Tomorrow there's a big open day at the air base in Mérignac and we hope to go, partly because there'll be an A380 there. We saw the first wing sail down the Dee back in Easter or 2004, was it. We've seen parts sail up the Garonne. It'll be amazing to see the bird on the tarmac.

Bit of language. French has various ways of commemorating something :

Fêter : when something is so joyful you have a party. (Eng. would probably be celebrate)
Célébrer : when you remember something, but not necessarily with a party. (again, celebrate)
Commémorer : We're getting quite solemn, now. (commemorate in Eng.)

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