The PON's in fine form. Sophie's nose a miracle of glistening wetness. Bob sniffs the hellebore leaves.
The Very Old Farmer has had a bad 'turn' but after breakfast he can be seen shuffling zimmer frame slowly across to his wife's grave in the churchyard. He sits there for an hour talking away. A shared, methodical recital of his weeks activities. Conversation over he shuffles home.
Bob comes with me to the rugby match. Sophie heads off for a power walk round the lake. The power walk turns out to be a bit of a disaster. Sophie is intent on chasing the ducks. The fact that the ducks are on the water doesn't stop her from chasing them.
A strange reflective atmosphere here. It's not so much the terrorism as the fact that the killing of journalists and the massacre in the Jewish supermarket have awakened folk memories of a dark place that has been visited before. A fear of something precious being lost, of history repeating itself.
At the rugby stadium there is communal singing. There is never communal singing - or not of the sort that one would write about. Bob is a little surprised, as is his owner, at this turn of events. A man with an accordion leads the crowd in a rendition of this : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWrITUnUElI. Each repetition of the line ' dans le midi de la France ' shouted out in a peculiarly combative way. Not a dry (French) eye in the stadium - emotional reticence in abeyance. An unusual choice of song that may speak volumes about the way the French - or at the least the rugby playing variety in deepest France profonde - see themselves.
13 comments:
We think the last photo shows the reason for Sophie's glistening nose.
Spoiler Alert from the Westcoast of Canada: http://dogcare.dailypuppy.com/hellebores-poisonous-dogs-4827.html - on the toxicity of dogs nibbling on the Hellebores. And this one as well: http://www.pawsdogdaycare.com/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/christmas-rose-poisonous-pets Not only highly toxic, if nibbled or eaten - but the inherent toxins can affect the heart as well. Take care with the Birthday Boy! From a well-meaning admirer.
So is the song a sort of French equivalent of 'Jerusalem'?
Blessings to the Very Old Farmer.
Yes. In this variant you get little white sheep, a sheepdog and tall snow covered mountains. The sentiment is however, the same. The things one discovers when living abroad.
Glad to hear that the Very Old Farmer is still hanging on and still able to shuffle over to his wife's grave to say hello....the picture brings a tear to my eye...what love and devotion in a such a tough spirited gentleman.
Wet dogs' noses are a sign of good health.
The French have an indomitable spirit which I have always admired and all the world stands with them united. Vive La France!!
"Jerusalem" was our school song and I have included it in my funeral hymns...yes I have....may seem a bid morbid, but I am practical and I don't want my daughter to be second guessing what I would have wanted at my funeral.
Wishing you, the Font, Duck Chasing Sophie, and Gardener Bob a wonderful Sunday!
I can certainly understand why the hymn/song would rouse everyone. It's powerful in both words and meaning.
I hope all is quiet and well today in deepest France profonde.
Our news this morning is reporting on the "Unity Rally" in Paris. What an inspirational show of support.
Powerful in words and meaning as these sentimental ballads are but perhaps not quite as innocent or impartial a choice as it might at first appear to be.
I quoted a little of this post on my own blog (http://fatdormouse.blogspot.fr/2015/01/wise-words-from-voltaire.html) with a link to Bob & Sophie. I hope you don't mind, but it seemed pertinant to what I was writing. Let me know if you'd prefer me to take it out.
i listened to robert sing the song.
tears in my eyes.
i think the french are past masters at rousing a sense of unity through music.
and this one . . . though a shepherd's christmas ballad . . . seems beautiful for that.
maybe my tears were as much for the grand old farmer visiting his wife. with no fear in joining her.
♥
So glad the VOF is still with us.
A news story showed Hollande and Merkel arm in arm at today's rally. That, as much as anything else, was moving and a tribute to the possibilities of the EU, I think.
I am visualizing the person attached to Sophie's leash as she chased the ducks into the water ;)
A moving song at the rugby match...
These events change things at least in the short term. The recent siege in Martin Place in Sydney has changed my city and my country. It will do the same for yours. Even in the deepest most beautiful countryside. These people steal our sense of security. But hey a few years on or maybe a decade or so and our world is a different place. Can't let the bastards get us down. I'm so impressed by the rallies in France. Brilliant.
And there's a Pon who will keep you safe. And another who will make you smile.
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