Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Don't be shy.


Bob starts his day as he means to proceed. Enthusiastically.


Twenty minutes of Throw the Furry Fox is enough for the PONs owner but not enough to satisfy the PONs.


Sophie finally settles down for a rest. 


In the Enid Blyton world of the French village we head off on our morning walk stopping as we go to stare at the six donkeys, the bad tempered goat in the old lady's front garden and the two horses in the field by the crossroads. We hurry by the field with the bull in it.


Late afternoon. The bells in the church toll. There's a funeral of a 98 year old farmer who used to live in the village. He's been in a home for the last fourteen years so we've never met him. A dozen old combatants holding flags are standing outside the church door in blazers, berets and grey crimplene trousers. The uniform of the Algerian war veteran. A priest has come from the departmental capital to officiate. All the villagers are there. The mayor is wearing his red tartan pork pie hat and his blue, white and red sash. We stand at the back of the crowd but the mayors wife sees us and ushers us to the front. '' Don't be shy ".


In the shopping centre car park they have started to erect Father Christmas's Grotto.

Angus can remember the more traditional islanders extinguishing the old years fires on Halloween.


5 comments:

WFT Nobby said...

Enlarging the funeral photo I could make out the old veterans but, disappointingly, failed to spot the mayor and his pork pie hat.
Cheers! Gail.

Coppa's girl said...

Is there ever a day that Bob doesn't start enthusiastically? In the PONs world there must be very few days that don't measure up to a best day ever.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Oh my word; crimplene. There's a hark-back to less than fragrant memories. Yes, my grandfolks used to do the fire-out thing too, and my dad was dab-hand at the neep-heid lantern carving! YAM xx

Taste of France said...

You need one of those machines like for batting practice. But that would require a huge supply of furry foxes.

Unknown said...

Father Christmas wants to come a bit earlier each year it seems. I’m still adjusting to autumn.
I enjoyed learning about the Scottish traditions; had never imagined carving a jack-o-lantern from a turnip.
Lovely pictures of Bob and Sophie.