Friday, August 25, 2017

What have we done ?


Another night of thunderstorms and the banshee rattle of hail against the shutters. The sodden ground doesn't seem to bother the workmen who are hard at work cutting the grass verges as the sun comes up. A horrible job in this stifling humidity. They work for half an hour then park their tractor in the field outside The Rickety Old Farmhouse and head off for breakfast. Bob  maintains a running commentary on everything that's happening from his observation spot on the stump seat.


Sophie is not enjoying the heat. She is encouraged into the cool of the kitchen.


Bob settles on the wooden garden table in the shade. He turns on his back and snores.


The Old Farmer wanders over for a chat. He doesn't like the physiotherapist who he thinks is too 'violent'. He's got an appointment at the teaching hospital in Toulouse. They have a department for muscular reeducation. Being an old soldier he moves to the top of the list and can start a course of therapy sessions next week. He's brought us a small gift - a bottle of cognac . The bottle doubles as a bust of Napoleon. The ungentlemanly might observe that prior to delivery the bottle has been opened and a small tumbler full poured.


On my walk round the village with Bob the man with anger management issues stops us. '' I know what you're doing " he says by way of greeting.  Angus wonders if we've done something dreadful. '' I want you to know we're grateful " he adds. With that he holds out four tomatoes and two courgettes. '' They're from my garden ". Angus accepts them effusively. When in France the best thing to do is layer thanks or praise on with a trowel. Angus claims that courgettes are his favourite food - an outright lie as he viscerally hates them - but allowable, I think, in the circumstances. Neither Bob ( who observes this interaction with his head tilted ) nor Angus are any the wiser as to what it is we've done to deserve such a gift.

Two presents on the same day. Perhaps after nearly nine years here we've become honorary villagers ? Trust is gained slowly; loyalty finally returned.


In the cool of the downstairs kitchen 'The Font' , watched closely by Sophie, sets about making a fresh tuna, tomato and courgette flan. Sophie likes courgette. She also likes tuna. Pastry is a favourite. She doesn't like tomato.

So passes another August day in deepest, deepest France profonde.





12 comments:

Wishfully Thinking said...

I only hope the man with the anger management issues hasn't found your blog and reads English...

Love to the PONs.

Taste of France said...

This comment made me laugh so hard I almost choked on my coffee. Probably best that all the villagers remain in the dark about Bob and Sophie's diary.

MOPL said...

That is until it becomes a best selling book. Vignettes from..........

WFT Nobby said...

I think it was very thoughtful of the Old Farmer to try out the cognac and make sure it was up to scratch for his esteemed friend. I am wondering if his physiotherapist is related to the 'torture lady' who attempts to treat my mother from time to time. Cheers, Gail.

WFT Nobby said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Coppa's girl said...

My thoughts were the same as Bertie's and Gail's - how thoughtful to taste test before passing on such an interesting gift....
For once surely Sophie can forget her dislike of tomatoes, because that flan sounds delicious.
Have you found out "what you were doing" yet?

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
The flan does sound yum (to this vego gal)... and I am thinking the rewards are rolling for having galvanised action on behalf of Loic and maman. YAM xx

Beau and Mom said...

I'm sure it was only "quality testing" before the gift was given. (sometimes, it just has to be done!)

Emm said...

I, too, thought it was most sensible of the Old Farmer to check the quality of the cognac. Once can't be too careful these days.
Maybe the courgette-bearer was thanking you for the nice things you've done recently, for Loic and others.

Unknown said...

I am sure it is about Loic and his mother requiring care in his absence. Or we could add all the other wonderful and kind things you have done over the years. As for the taking of a small nip before gift giving it seems all the more special. I love your part of the world, just a little off kilter but much more relaxed. Cheers were British Columbia is still burning and we have set records for the biggest fires ever on record. Our son who is a reservist in the army leasves today to go assist with the fires. Scary times.

Unknown said...

Thankfully the taste testing doesn’t apply when sharing tomatoes and courgettes.

liparifam said...

LOL! Reminds me of a good friend whose eccentric and stingy in-laws gave her and their son Christmas gifts of two used bottles of fingernail polish and a half-empty bottle of liqueur...