The French are big on commemorations, 8 May and 11 November are public holidays, but one Sunday going to the boulangerie for the Sunday croissants and an éclair I saw the church porch full of ex-service organisations' standards, but not 8 May or 11 Nov, nor any other day that struck a chord, so in boulangerie asked qu'est que c'est les drapaux. The woman behind the counter managed to scowl and look down her nose at me as she almost spat the word "Algerie". I quickly completed my modest purchase and retreated.