Tuesday, June 2, 2015

The end of illicit half croissants.




No sign of the beer and absinthe crowd at the cafe under the arcades. We take a seat at 'our' table on the edge of the pavement. Bob and Sophie settle down beside me. A Vietnamese man in his late forties and wearing a grey sweat shirt and beige cargo shorts approaches. Tails wag. This is the time of the morning when the waitress usually appears with an illicit half croissant.  '' No dogs here " he says stiffly. ' Excuse me ? ' I reply. '' No dogs here. Not wanted " he says. The upward modulation in his voice indicating that his mood is next-of-kin to fury.


Seems the cafe has been sold. The waitress and the barman laid off. The beer and absinthe crowd told, along with any dog patrons, that they're no longer wanted. All very sudden. I shall have to get the details of what has happened from Madame Bay. 


Spurned at the cafe we go instead to the bakers. Bob and Sophie get given some flaky pastry crumbs. Not quite the same as a shared half croissant but close. Tails wag.


Bob saunters up to the builders. On his face a look that says " In times of change thank heavens for 'Furry Fox ". 

38 comments:

Louise said...

Oh no. That makes me sad. The end of an era. Maybe the waitress, and the lady wearing pom pom slippers and friends will find another cafe.

WFT Nobby said...

This is terrible! What a shock. Can you organise a boycott?

Anonymous said...

Sadness here, on the Westcoast of Canada. A morning ritual has come to an abrupt and very rude end, it seems. Not quite sure if one feels saddest for the Angelic Duo, or for Angus himself. Rituals are important in a daily life. They set a pace and a plan for the day. How to explain this to Bob and Sophie………..surely a problem and dilemma. Whatever information Madame Bay may shed on what happened - it certainly will not
change the situation. Unless a new cafe opens on the square, and familiar faces appear once again. Let's hope. Fingers crossed.

Coppa's girl said...

Oh, this is terrible - what is France profonde coming to?
Hopefully there will be another café nearby where you will be able to continue to enjoy your coffee, the PONs partake of their illicit half croissant, and you can watch the antics of the beer and absinthe crowd. Your start to the day just won't be the same without them ! Thank heavens for furry fox indeed.......

Fat Dormouse said...

QUELLES HORREURS! With all your readers we hope you can soon find another café that will serve all your needs - coffee and half-croissants, as well as beer-and-absinthe for those who need it! I would have thought new owners would have wanted to woo old customers, not get rid of them! I wonder what high-class plans the new owners have that needed to spurn the "old faithfuls".

Anonymous said...

All the usuals shooed away hey. Their loss.
How sad. The end of an era indeed.
I hope you find somewhere great and also hope the barman and waitress are able to find work elsewhere.
x

Petite-Chose all alone at 2G said...

The new Vietnamese owner won't last long if he doesn't encourage the "old faithfuls", and where does he think he will get regular customers to replace them? Unless he's hoping for a huge influx of new faces and all the Pilgrims that pass by. Somehow, looking at the state of the building, it's difficult to image what high class plans the new owners might have - shabby chic and bad cooking?

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

That's appalling. We wonder how long he'll be in business with that attitude!

Kerrie Roberts said...

With an attitude like that it's obvious he will have a short life as a cafe owner. Does this mean you must find another town for your morning ritual ?

Angus said...

We shall find out where the lady in the blue dressing gown and red pom-piom slippers goes and follow her.

Angus said...

He'll join a long list of rude French cafe owners.

Angus said...

Perhaps he's got plans to paint it ?

Angus said...

End of the rugby season and now this. With all this free time on my haneds maybe it's time to take up the violin ?

Angus said...

It's as much of shock as a horror. Why the sudden change in ownership ?

Angus said...

Or, from the PON viewpoint, thank heavens for the bakers flaky pastry.

Angus said...

Yes, fingers crossed.

Angus said...

Boycott ? No one would come.

Angus said...

Five years of PON croissants suddenly at an end !

VirginiaC said...

Oh dear, this is very disturbing news....the end of the illicit half croissant....I never thought it would happen.
The new owner seems not very pleasant...wonder how much business he will get with that nasty manner.
I wonder what will become of the beer and absinthe crowd...oh dear I'm sad.
Pity some other businessman doesn't open another "nice" cafe where everyone will congregate and give that awful man a run for his money.
Give Bob and Sophie a hug for me....they can't be very happy at the news.

Anonymous said...

Not happy news to wake up to. I guess we all enjoy some constants in our lives. (Especially our furry friends)
Mister Yogi would be most unhappy if the 11 year morning tradition of peanut butter in his Kong came to a sudden halt.
We hope you find the crowd and all move to greener pastures; and I think the violin is a dandy Idea!!
Yogi's Family

Jean said...

The new owner won't last long as he obviously doesn't understand the customs of French café society and how to keep his customers happy.

MLou said...

I am sad to read about this sudden change in the daily croissant ritual. I can almost see the tails stop mid-wag in shock and disbelief. Dogs not wanted? What a crazy idea. I am anxious to hear Madame Bay's news and to find out where the red pom-pom slippers have gone.

ScrapsofMe said...

How very Un-European! No dogs allowed! Silly me, I thought dogs were allowed most everywhere in France. Maybe it is time to visit the barber for a trim. I've found most village gossip gets to barber and beauty shops first. What an odd business model, snub the locals in a small town where your expected base patronage is limited. Maybe instead of taking up the violin, put your time to investing locally in a coffee shop that is pooch and pilgrim friendly. You could purchase some baked goods from the local baker along with some of that lovely cheese from the market. Hire back the help and stay open through lunch. A rising tide lifts all boats.


10NISNE1 said...

He is failing as a business owner as well as a human being!

tammy j said...

he comes from a culture that used to eat dogs. or maybe they still do. so perhaps he sees them as only as that? how very sad.
i ditto every comment made. everyone said it so well.
but on to the next adventure! finding a new place that knows the IMPORTANCE of dogs and loyal regular customers!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Time to return to God's country, no?

Julie said...

I'm in shock. No illicit croissants? Doesn't bear thinking about

Jake of Florida said...

Or learn Mandarin????

Jake of Florida said...

Like everyone else, I'm saddened and shocked at the loss of this mainstay of so many people in your village. And as you say, how does the new owner expect to attract customers if he is so rude to those who patronized the place before? What a shock to the beer and absinthe crowd! Follow the pom pom lady is your only recourse!.

Kittypup said...

Buy the cafe Angus - make two PONs very happy!

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

Oh no. This is terrible. What a shame. I like kitty puppy's suggestion. Buy the cafe!

Anonymous said...

If they only knew how many lives this simple act affected. :(

Yogi

rottrover said...

Awaiting the intel from Madam Bay...

Peter Kouwenhoven said...

That's a serious loss, however Vietnamese food is awesome!

Heda said...

I shall miss the cafe under the arches and I feel for the beer and absinthe crowd. May they find somewhere equally as accepting.

Kari said...

Well, there is one spot that should never see you €£$.
The nerve!

Anonymous said...

I am sitting here at the vet's office catching up on your news -- How did we ever survive without our Smart phones? -- I am sorry and a bit sad to read about the cafe & change in a place that so often seems immune to it. (Kim/life at golden pines)

Jean said...

That's an interesting thought. I believe they still do - or at least the last time I looked at a newspaper there was a truly harrowing photo accompanying an advert for a campaign against it.