Thursday, March 26, 2015

The merest trace of a sigh.


7.30 am. The oil delivery man arrives in the courtyard. 'I was passing and wondered if you needed a top up ?' We take 1000 litres on the principle you should never look a gift horse in the mouth.

7.35 am. The builders show up. They’ve come to demolish what’s left of the barn wall after Loic, the heavily bi-focaled gardener,  drove the lawn tractor into it. "The whole thing could come crashing down at any time " says the foreman . 

8.03 am. Caroline , the bad tempered cleaning lady, drives through the gates. She's working twice this week before heading off to see her family in Cannes for Easter. “ My sister has a lovely Mercedes “ she informs me by way of greeting before adding, bizarrely, ‘ I’ll be washing the chair legs in the dining room today‘.

Caroline is in Women's Cooperative summer wear. Cargo shorts, black tee shirt, black Timberland boots. She’s had a fresh buzz cut.  One of the builders shouts out ‘ Ca va ma jolie ? ‘. This is not well received.

The sound of the argument between Caroline and the builder carries into the downstairs kitchen. ‘’ I wonder how many people have such a an exciting start to their day ? “asks ‘The Font’ with only the merest trace of a sigh.


Bob and Sophie observe the comings and goings with great interest.


Everyone, red trousered kitchen designer included, promises to be here tomorrow. Having so many people - electricians. plumbers, fitters, builders - in such a small space should be either interesting or challenging. The PONs will of course wish to be intimately involved in everything.


10 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

Never in my life having washed a chair leg, or even thought to do so, now I am worried that I fall short in the domestic goddess department…
Cheers, Gail.

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Perhaps Caroline thought the 'jolie' was sarcastic......

Julie said...

Well I hope they all remember to bring biscuits with them

Duke and Petite-Chose at 2G said...

Washing chair legs - is it a peculiarly French thing? If Caroline is bad tempered, then she probably sees insults in even the simplest remarks.
So, with luck, tomorrow the ROF will be plunged into chaos, Bob will stand firmly on guard, Sophie will seek out the Emmenthal crisps and you have a bottle of Pomerol close by at all times.

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

Caroline's comment reminds me of Mrs. Bucket (pronounced Bouquet) from Keeping up Appearances. Mentioning random things at odd times....

Whispering Walls said...

Love it!

Coppa's girl said...

By the serious look on both their lovely faces, nothing is going to get past the delightful duo...and certainly not emmenthal flavoured crisps or biscuits of any description.....

Emm said...

I'm glad all those people are showing up to perform services at the ROF, but do they come bearing crisps?

Washing the chair legs -- the mind boggles.

Kari said...

Humans. The perfect PON entertainment.

VirginiaC said...

"Washing the chair legs in the dining room today" seems rather a sarcastic remark as to how the PON's love rubbing against the chair legs....but heck it's their house!!