Friday, November 13, 2015

Musical chairs.


Another misty morning.  Bob clambers onto his stump seat and stares at two cats who saunter, unconcernedly, down the lane.

On breakfast radio a phone-in with the British Ambassador to France. He speaks French with accent less ease. The first question he's asked is what have the British ever done for Europe . This is batted back with reference to 1914 and 1939. After this the questions become less friendly. Angus decides that being an ambassador to France requires superhuman tact. It would seem that all problems - from the common cold to the refugee crisis - are the fault of perfidious albion.


Later in the morning Bob and Angus head off to the barbers. Bob moves to his spot under the sickly aspidistra and falls asleep. The talkative barber has won no less than nine holidays on radio quizzes. His next trip, with wife and daughter, is to the south of India in March. He adds, for good measure, that his wife doesn't like Indian food. '' Do you think they'll have French restaurants ? ". Angus is sure the hotel will have a coffee shop. This seems to satisfy him.


We stop off at the bakers. This year they are selling advent calendars. '' Do you make them yourself ? " I ask the bakers wife. ' Oh yes. My husbands always coming to bed with new ideas '. Unsure how to reply we buy one.



While 'The Font' engages in a webinar with the Pasadena astrophysicists Sophie plays stalk my brother . This involves Bob lying under the library table while his sister races round it at high speed. Every so often Sophie stops racing and pounces, cat like, on her brother. Rather like a cross between a canine version of musical chairs and a rugby match. Both PONs demonstrate their enjoyment by singing.


So passes another day in deepest, deepest France profonde with two happy dogs.



20 comments:

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Sounds a bit Monty Python-ish, "what have the Romans ever done for us"...

WFT Nobby said...

Oh gosh, a webinar with the Pasadena astrophysicists, how very exciting! I can't imagine why Bob and Sophie opted instead for a game of chase round the library table.
Toodle pip!
Bertie.

Sheila said...

Stopped by earlier. "Perfidious albion" has been drifting through my brain ever since.

Coppa's girl said...

Why do we think that Sophie is the one who always gets savaged? She must have learned a trick or two from that oaf of a brother !
Bertie's right - no contest - Pasadena astrophysicists would be much more fun than canine musical chairs in the library !

BaileyBobSouthernDog said...

Oh, I love advent calendars! Haven't thought of them in years. Must search for one for this Christmas!

rottrover said...

Singing dogs enhance any webinar experience!!

rottrover said...

BOL!! I just heard this bit the other day on the radio as John Clease was being interviewed - brilliant! And an apt analogy :-)

Kari said...

Two wretched jobs: janitor in a slaughter house and British Ambassador to France.

Kari said...

Angus, we've just hears of the attacks. You and The Font are safely at home, we hope,

Ellen said...

M'Ongoose: I have been a lurker on your site(s) for many years. Followed, loved, and mourned Digby and Wilf. Rejoiced with the dynamic duo. You have brought me so much joy, morning by morning, combining as you do some of my most dear interests: la France profonde, dogs, and French food! I have just heard of the attacks in Paris, and send you my condolences and heartfelt prayers for the safety of you and your family, and La France. Thank you for keeping going in these difficult times. P.S. I so miss Mme. Bay.

BaileyBobSouthernDog said...

I'm watching the news now, & am sickened as I watch what is happening in Paris. Please know we are holding France in our thoughts and prayers.

Fi from Four Paws and Whiskers said...

Came by to check on your safety - hopefully far away from the action but still too close for comfort as far as we are all concerned. I thought the earthquakes were scary but I prefer them to people with bombs and guns... stay safe and all the best

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I think that being an ambassador to any country requires superhuman tact.

Gigi K. said...

Praying for Paris, praying for France. Praying for souls of the departed. What a horrible, sad day. Hugging my loved ones and my dogs close tonight.

Angus said...

A sad day indeed.

Angus said...

Perhaps some diplomatic relationships require supercharged tact?

Angus said...

Thank you. Our little commune of 67 souls continues untroubled. I fear for those who live in a town where houses don't have back garden, where apartments are tiny and where children have to play in public parks.

Angus said...

A shock.

Angus said...

Thank you. Yes, we're safe. The first sign that something was wrong was when the French President was suddenly whisked away from the Franco-German football match. Those firecrackers we heard - weren't firecrackers.

Angus said...

Yes, thank you. There are benefits to a quiet weekend at home.