Monday, February 3, 2014

The burden which is well bourne becomes light.





Bob joins me on an early morning trip to the market. Sophie stays behind in the warmth of the kitchen. One dog at the market a delight. Two dogs at the market a nightmare of tangled leads and inquisitive noses going where they shouldn't. 

The wine seller has Mouton Rothschild at a price that tells you one of three things. 1) It's an outstanding bargain. 2) It's fallen off the back of a lorry or 3) It's been grown and bottled in China. 

The lady at the bakers tries to interest me in a her 'medieval pilgrims cake '. Orange sponge coated in orange flavoured icing. She's made twenty of them. €8.50 each. Angus wonders how many medieval pilgrims had a craving for orange flavoured icing. There again why let historical accuracy stand in the way of a good story ?

Back in the village it's the handing out of the annual garden competition prizes. 18 entrants. 18 prizes.Each entrant makes a thank you speech. Garrulity a French national trait. Madame Bay makes a half curtsy as she receives her certificate from the mayor. Daughters Nadine and Sandrine, her husband and the grandchildren all thanked for helping make her victory possible. Good for nothing son-in-law Hugo is not mentioned.

After the award ceremony the wide screen television is brought out. England are playing France in the Six Nations Rugby. The national anthem sung with a vigour that causes the pigeons on the church belfry to take flight. The Old Farmer dispenses red wine from a tea urn into plastic beakers. Jack Russell's leap in and out of the windows. Toddlers clamber on tables. Mothers tell them to get down. Crates of beer are hauled in from the back of tractors. Village life is reawakening after the winter.


11 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

It must have been quite a moment when France scored that final try...

Julie said...

And then England lost ………. rats!

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

We think Sophie stayed behind to make sure the font didn't take off again.

XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

Anonymous said...

It might be worth risking the price of one bottle. You never know.
Those baguettes look glorious. Half of one of those, slightly warm, a little salty butter or a drop of honey and a chunk of Cantal. I am set!
Have a great day.
x

Kari said...

Scotsmad solved Sophie's stay-at-home!
Grown and bottled in China. We'll be
LOL about that one all day!

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

It sounds to me like your village had French version of a US super-bowl party!

VirginiaC said...

Village life awakening after the winter indeed.....and I'm wondering what winter??
Your descriptions made me laugh out loud today, especially regarding the Mouton Rothschild.

VirginiaC said...

Forgot to mention that I saw your girlfriend the Prancercise Lady in a pistachio ad yesterday while watching tv.

houndstooth said...

I wish I could have seen that speech! I also wish there were some signs of Spring returning here, but I don't know if it will happen...

Angus said...

Gwyneth Paltrow could have learnt a few lessons !

Whispering Walls said...

Don't mention le rugby