麻豆社

Alan Johnston presents insight, wit and analysis from 麻豆社 correspondents around the world. In this edition: Jonathan Head in Egypt and Chris Bockman in France.

Making Egypt work - for its workers

When they swept their president from power, the people of Egypt seemed united. But the crowds of protesters in the streets were made up of individual citizens. And each one of them had their own hopes for what the revolution, and a new Egypt, might bring.

But how many of those dreams will will be fulfilled - and how quickly? Inevitably, perhaps, as Jonathan Head has been finding out, some are already deeply frustrated by the slow pace of change.

The beret - from farm to catwalk

Look at footage from any European sporting event from 50 or 60 years ago, and you'll notice that almost every man there seems to be wearing a hat. They were great for flinging in the air when someone scored. But that "look" - the mass wearing of hats by men - is now in the past. There's just far less headwear around than there used to be. And the same is true in France.

As Chris Bockman explains, along with changes in fashion have come fierce new international competitors; so things haven't been easy for manufacturers making that classically French accessory, the beret, in France itself.