Thursday, June 9, 2016

A time for high adventure.


Summer has arrived. The heat building as the day wears on. Bob and master are out of the front door at five thirty to water the garden while it's still cool.Bob takes the idea of watering the garden literally. He then clambers onto the wooden garden table where he can supervise what's going on.


The mayor arrives at seven to borrow a ladder. He's putting up the flags on the war memorial. Something to do with the Algerian War. He'll do the same again next week for the anniversary of General De Gaulles first wartime radio broadcast from London. The life of a French mayor is not a sedentary one.


In the afternoon I wander over to the church porch. Some measurements are better checked. The language used on the frescoes isn't French but Occitane. The old language of the region. The last Occitane speaking priest in the village retired in 1923. Some of the older villagers, the man with the Yorkie being a good example, still use it. Some , like Madame Bay, speak French but with an impenetrable Oc accent. 


The PONs are in fine form. We stay with them during the summer. It's too hot to put them in the kennels. PONs aren't great in the heat. Bitter cold they cope with just fine. This is a time for sheepdogs to lie on the front door stoop guarding their flocks and dreaming of high adventure.


17 comments:

Taste of France said...

I adore that accent, though it's hard to know what's being said, between the lavishly rolled Rs and the added "ahs" on the ends of words.

WFT Nobby said...

Are mayors in France issued with a special list of past wars to be commemorated? The memorial does seem to see a lot of activity.

Coppa's girl said...

Every day is a day of high adventure for Bob and Sophie - dreaming or awake ! Should the village have a whip-round and buy the mayor his own ladders?

Angus said...

There seem to be lot of commemorations this year. And yes, they are supplied with a list and a letter ( if the date is suitably grand ) from the President de la Republique, to read out in suitable stentorian tones.

Angus said...

Here we get the letter 'g'added to words. Pain ( bread ) becomes pang.

Angus said...

The mayor has plenty of ladders. He either forgets them or has decided it's easier to use one of ours.

Coppa's girl said...

Perhaps hoping that you'll offer some liquid refreshment (of an alcoholic nature, of course) at the same time !

Heda said...

Pics of the church are beautiful. Stunning is the word that comes to mind. The restoration project has clearly been a great success. Jolly well done to all involved and even more so because it was done by committee. Can totally understand the importance of finishing the porch to match the interior.

Beau and Mom said...

Love the fact that you went back to recheck the measurements taken yesterday.
(I would have done the same) Onward, to "the BEST Day ever!"

Unknown said...

Does Bob have a new toy? (I immediately key in to the really important issues.)

Emm said...

I'm struck in reading things like place names by how similar it still is to Mallorceen, which I've probably spelled wrong. Same language, I suppose, back when.

BaileyBobSouthernDog said...

Thank you for more pictures of the church. A true jewel!

Beau and Mom said...

Mr Beau and I like the way you think ! ! :)
Our 6 mo old lab pup has more toys than you can shake a stick at - and plays with them all.

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Probably time to open the pool!

Unknown said...

A puppy (and not just puppies) can never have too many toys. A 6-month old puppy sounds like pure joy.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

The church is really lovely, and a true treasure.

Goldens and Scotties aren't great in heat either -- For Todd, the worse the weather, the happier he seems to be.

Anonymous said...

The French we have learned and used while here has unwittingly developed a decidedly Oc twang.