You are what you do today, not what you say you'll do tomorrow.

A trip to buy wine. Then onto the town hall to vote in the local elections. There's only one mayoral candidate so this is more a show of solidarity than of democracy. The mayor, the deputy mayoress and a lady with a clipboard are all seated in the lobby. The mayors wife is also there with an enormous pile of honey croissants. '' One for each voter " she says by way of explanation. She then repeats herself, slowly, to make sure I've understood.

While 'the font' votes the mayor makes small talk. '' Do you know pigeons and doves drink by sucking up water. All other birds use their tongues ". While I ponder what to say in reply his wife offers me a second honey croissant. This is politely refused. Not all croissants are created equal. Bob, who is sitting patiently on the doorstep with his sister, looks through the plate glass door as if to say ' Why would you turn that down ? '. 

Seven in the evening. The count takes place. Sixty seven villagers on the electoral roll. Sixty five vote. The Very Old Farmer and the Widow in the cottage at the crossroads don't . The mayor, the deputy mayoress, the Old Farmer, two new town councillors, the mayors wife and the man in the day-glo yellow jacket wander by to give us the news. They stay just long enough for two glasses of champagne. 

Democracy in action. France profonde style.