Sunday, February 26, 2017

Unaccompanied.


The Belgian lady stops her car at the gate. She's off to see the Old Farmer in the Nursing Home. He's proving to be a difficult patient. The food is bad, he doesn't want unknown women giving him baths and the doctor's too young and a complete idiot. His daughter has suggested he recuperate in her flat in Toulouse. He refuses with the words '' You're working all the time. I might as well be in my own home ". Current plans call for him to be released on March 6th. The Belgian lady will be at hand to nurse him to recovery.


Bob and 'The Font' head off for a power walk round the lake. Sophie has an amble with me to the crossroads. It's not far in distance terms but there and back takes us an hour. Every clump of grass is sniffed, every vista enjoyed, every animal greeted. Our progress is conducted at a glacial pace. We detour, as we do morning and evening, to check on The Old Farmers house and chase the cats from his car collection. 


Yesterday afternoon there was great excitement in the village. A bus load of pilgrims from Pamplona arrives. The bus driver knows that all French village halls have free facilities. The sixty or so pilgrims are soon forming a disorderly queue outside the WC. I notice, but thankfully can't hear, the village odd job man standing by the swaying Jesus. A group of eager Spaniards surrounds him. Angus prays that he's not selling them bottles of Holy Water from the Holy Well. One mans miracle is another mans business opportunity.


Bob, Sophie and Angus head off to the macaroon store. Some flavours seem to sell out more quickly than others.


A large wild boar, followed by three piglets and an agitated mother charge along the lane at sunset. They run in a perfect line astern formation, the tiny legged little ones keeping up with their parents. Something must have startled them into activity. This is why I keep the PONs on a lead.

Scotland beat Wales in the rugby tournament. The teams excellent field craft is a source of much delight to Angus . Is there any other anthem in which the second verse is sung unaccompanied ?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RraEqSD6-g8

A record of those little things ( with the exception of the rugby ) too unimportant for a diary but too important to go completely unrecorded.



24 comments:

Heda said...

Sounds like positive news about the Old Farmer. No doubt he'll be pleased to be home.

MOPL said...

Sounds like a great morning and we await more news on the Old Farmer. By the way Go Scotland. I just wait for the day when you beat England.This household is of Irish and Scottish Heritage in Australia. So it goes without saying who we support in the Rugby.

Coppa's girl said...

Not surprised that the Old Farmer, who takes off on epic travels across the continent, would ever take kindly to being confined - or to the indignity of being bathed by unknown women !
No slivers of croissant for the happy pair, this morning?

WFT Nobby said...

Watched the rugby yesterday in my mother's care home. The owner of the home is former England rugby international Simon Hodgkinson, who now directs his considerable energy and drive for excellence into ensuring that the place is well run and all the residents valued as individuals.

Taste of France said...

The French are pretty good with visiting nurses to drop in and care for patients convalescing at home. I think aging's worst affront, for my mother, was having assisted living staff see her undressed. My dad, on the other hand, quite enjoyed being pampered by young nurses.

Wishfully Thinking said...

I hope all goes well for TOF.

we were at Murrayfield. Not that often we get to leave with leaping hearts, but that's three in a row (I'm not counting Georgia, because they played it in Kilmarnock). Every OES we've ever had has had to get used to voices roaring at the telly when the games are away. My beloved always refers to the English, when speaking to the (serial) dogs, as "your boys"

Kari said...

Good news about TOF! The spunky patients usually do well. The passive, well behaved ones are the ones that cause worry.
Hurrah for Scotland!

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I think that The Old Farmer is right, there's no place like home to recover - I continue to wish him well!

Someday I hope to try a good macaroon!

Enjoy your Sunday - We are here in Tennessee and for the dogs, especially Todd, who is feeling like Bob and Sophie, that "this is the best day ever!"

Unknown said...

Were the new kennels worth the viewing? Excellent news about the old farmer.

Angus said...

Yes. They seemed friendly, clean and efficient. Each pen has a fenced in 80m2 play area. The owner has asked for Bob and Sophie to come down this week and spend an afternoon with them so that they get to know the place and get it into their minds that they'll be picked up again. Never had a kennel owners uggest that before.

Unknown said...

So very many noteworthy items in today’s post but . . . you have a store just for macaroons? (Said with a hint of envy.)

Angus said...

We have 3.

Angus said...

Guess the French have good macaroons all sewn up .

Angus said...

You're right. The difficult ones have a zest for life.

Angus said...

After a twenty year absence from the game it looks as though this Scots team will once again make trips to Murrayfield worthwhile.

Angus said...

Confinement is not in his nature.

Angus said...

We remember the 'HOME' stage well. It's so reassuring to know that those close are being looked after well. We were fortunate in finding Sunrise homes.

Angus said...

I have a feeling the Old Farmer would love to be 'pampered'by young nurses. Bed bathed less so.

Angus said...

You're right. There's nowhere like home when you're 85 and in hospital.

Angus said...

Half of the local team are from Oz or New Zealand. What must they think of deepest, deepest France profonde ?

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Sounds like the Old Farmer is mending well.

Most Australians don't even know the second verse of the Anthem....actually, many don't know the first either.

Emm said...

That's a very good suggestion, from the kennel owner. My day-boarding place does that, and evaluates the dogs to be sure they can all play well together. Sounds as if you've found a winner.

Unknown said...

This revelation may be more than my mind can take in.

BaileyBobSouthernDog said...

I'm happy you found a new kennel! Now, let's hope Bob and Sophie are happy.