Thursday, June 18, 2015

Energy restoring champagne.


The funeral as charming as these affairs can be. Brilliant sunshine helps. The whole village in attendance, even the German billionaire. Madame Bay ( wearing her grandmothers black lace shawl over a blue and white polka dot dress matched with knee length maroon boots ) and the ladies of the Beautiful Bye Ways Committee lead the singing. Considering they've been busy in the kitchen and have had no chance to rehearse they do a splendid job. Each of them happily  and lustily following their own celestial conductor.

Before the service, after the sermon and during the burial the depressive physiotherapist plays 'Where have all the flowers gone ?' on his accordion. He has been told the lady farmer was a keen gardener. Towards the end, to everyones amazement, the Very Old Farmer appears in a wheel chair, pushed down the aisle by the district nurse. He may be shoe less and sock less but he's donned a rather fancy purple dressing gown for the occasion. 

The sum of the whole strangely delightful. The courtesy, kindness and eccentricity of village life.


Bob and Sophie have been left alone while we go to the church. They are rewarded with a carrot. At seven a stream of visitors arrive at the front gate. They are offered champagne. The mayors wife, who has been busy serving vols aux vents poulet to the mourners, downs three energy restoring glasses in quick succession. We raise a toast to absent friends. Madame Bay quietly dabs her eyes with a handkerchief.

The PONs are not impressed. They give these human visitors a stern mark of zero out of ten. Not a single sausage between them. Even worse, despite repeated hints, they seem oblivious to the need to partake in a a game of  'throw the furry fox'.





And so ends another day in deepest France profonde. Events too unimportant for a diary but too important to go completely unrecorded. 




18 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

A wonderful and moving description of the village funeral. Just how these things should be. Although perhaps the PON pair would disagree.

Coppa's girl said...

What a sense of community these small villages have, and how wonderful that the Very Old Farmer managed to attend the funeral too. Madame Bay, ever the fashion statement - we've missed hearing about her wildly outrageous outfits !
Seems the whole village knows where to come for that restorative glass of champagne - or three ! But no sausages, and no throw the furry fox...what is the world coming to !!

Julie said...

I think I would be in the queue for a restorative glass or three of champagne but don't worry Bob, I would be happy to play throw the furry fox and Sophie, I always have a bag of doggie treats handy!

Kittypup said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kittypup said...

Kitty is encouraging me to invite you to any event we may have in the future Julie ;-)

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

There really is something unique about funerals held in small towns/villages. I've found them to often be more personal and comforting during times of grief -- A refreshing glass of champagne and the company of a dog or two helps as well.

Anonymous said...

She must have been a very beloved member of the village. So wonderful the Very Old Farmer came to the funeral. It must have been of immense comfort to the Farmer and his family to see how many people attended,

BaileyBobSouthernDog said...

Bailey Bob and I send our condolences to you and your community. We know you and the Pons will miss seeing her on your walks.

Kari said...

We sort of expected mourners to be arriving at the ROF about seven. Champagne with Angus and the font. It's become a post funeral tradition, hasn't it.
Heart warming that the VOF was able to attend. Shoes or no, I'd welcome him anytime.

lyon de clarasvals said...

Lovely little corner of the world to have lived your life in. I'm glad you and the Font and Those Two get to share in it. .

Peter Kouwenhoven said...

Beautiful words... You made me feel part of this.

Angus said...

Visitors without sausages ?

Angus said...

An old fashionsed world that's gone from England and is rare in Scotland.

Angus said...

Throw the Furry Fox and Sausages would be the real cats whiskers.

Angus said...

Something about villages where everyone knows everyone else. A sense of extended family.

Angus said...

Yes, the farmer came round to thank everyone who was there.

VirginiaC said...

A beautiful spirit no longer with us....may she rest in peace.
I admire The Very Old Farmer so much, he made sure he attended the funeral come hell or high water....I love his enduring spirit.

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

I would take eccentricity over mundane any day of the week. No sausages?!?! Poor wee beasties....