Sunday, September 24, 2017

Avoiding the petanque courts.


Sunday morning with two lively PONs. Sophie wants to get the day started. Bob is just happy.


After last weeks rain the morning is bright and sunny. The Old Farmer is up and about early. He's wearing his fur trappers hat and a thick red and black check fur jacket. Sophie sniffs his zimmer frame while Bob climbs the stairs up to his terrace in search of c-a-t-s. The intrepid duo find molehills on the old mans lawn. This is a cause for great excitement. The molehills are excavated amidst much high pitched whimpering and manic digging. The moles have long gone. The PONs don't know this.


Off into town to check on the time of today's rugby match. A step up in the excitement stakes from yesterdays game between two sets of local farmers. It starts off at a sedate pace and slows from there. In a pause in proceedings ( while everyone catches their breath ) the Sapeur Pompier and the young gendarme from St.Etienne have time to wander over and chat to us. ' Bonjour M'Ongoose. Bonjour Bhub '. Bob, who has been asleep on the bleachers, observes them with a mixture of interest and caution.


The cafe on the site of the old castle has put out a sign for todays petanque tournament. Angus makes a mental note to avoid the area this afternoon. PONs are keen participants in petanque games - an enthusiasm that petanque players tend not to reciprocate.

We check the Pilgrims Menu at the cafe on the High Street.


Finally, we make it to the cafe for a coffee and a bowl of water and croissant crumbs. There is much tail wagging.


Now you don't even need to go shopping :

And never let it be said that topical American humour is dead : https://twitter.com/BillyBuckRoscoe/status/910867507204038656



19 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

It is most unfair that Bob and Sophie are not given the opportunity to take part in petanque.
Toodle pip!
Bertie.

Coppa's girl said...

My Lab. too, would consider it most unfair not to join in the petanque. Her philosophy of late has been "if it's round and moves along the ground" - chase it !
Much tail wagging - so another best day ever.

Heda said...

Very nice pilgrim menu. I big step up from the typical pilgrim menu in Spain.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
...I got stuck at the image of the on-field (non-agricultural) farmers and was thrown back fifty years to what used to be called the Melrose Sevens... sigh... YAM xx

Sheila said...

Have to wonder how kindly the family dog would take to someone "dropping in" to deliver groceries and opening the fridge while they're home alone.

Angus said...

Bob would not be impressed. Sophie might give a warmer welcome if she knew they were bringing food.

Angus said...

It was E19.50 which is a premium to the usual E13.50 variety.

Angus said...

Why would anyone be upset to have a dog 'liberate ' the petanque boules ?

Angus said...

It's what dogs are meant to do.

Angus said...

They're still going strong. Although Melrose can be a bit windy in April.

Swan said...

Is Pentaque like bocce ball?

Angus said...

Pretty much.

Swan said...

I learn so much on your Blog 😁

causer659 said...

Rocket Man, too funny. Isn't the world tired of scary, self interested, ambitious leaders starting wars?

Clicky Needles said...

Love that the rugby players need to have an extra break, only in France.

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Re the moles: The excitement is in the hunt....and digging.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

The moles have made an appearance in our yard too - And Todd knew before we did, of course.

Yamini MacLean said...

...yes that's true... but since Sevens became a watchable thing, majority of rugby world has forgotten or never knew! My farmer uncle played for Selkirk for many years (despite being a Gala lad), but his son Graeme Shiel, played for Scotland for three seasons - toured down under and landed a year's contract with the Manly team in Sydney! Yxx

Yamini MacLean said...

...you'd think I'd be able to spell my own cousin's name correctly, wouldn't you? But no. sigh.. Anyhoo, I recalled that Graham still had strong connections with rugby, but was sadly ignorant of this... Yxx