It's still dark outside but the PONs are ready to get their day started. Sophie's paws show she's already been engaged in a little pre-breakfast mole hill digging.
It's half term in Scotland. The Polish cleaning lady and her husband the Polish odd job man are taking their children back to Krakow. 'The Font' has arranged for things to be delivered from Sweden. '' Do not be worrying ! '' says the Polish cleaning lady breezily. '' My mother will be visiting in Scotland and she can open up the house. My father is old but he can help ". We agree that the parents will be there at noon to open up. Late morning a mysterious text arrives from the mother.
''Do not come to your house today. I can speak English well ''.
Underneath in blue : '' I am writing through telephon interpreter ".
The Polish mothers phone, like the front door of the wee house, remains unanswered. Which is, perhaps, just as well. 'The Font' and the carpet shipping agent in Malmo spend much of the afternoon rearranging deliveries.
A local pizza maker is going to Paris to enter the Pizza of the year award. His tajine style creamed carrot, seasonal vegetables and deboned rack of lamb topping has got the local papers restaurant critic enthused. Angus silently wonders how much the Italians must loathe the French.
The local special needs school is having a lunchtime disco. Madame Bay, wearing a red knitted string hat, arrives to open up the Salle des Fetes. She 'pops in' for a cup of coffee. The young staff that look after the special needs kids are gentle and kind and patient. Madame Bay says they're the sort of people who'd " held you through a stormy night and guarantee the dawn ". The English translation doesn't do her words justice.
This Italian song from Puglia is beautiful : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3H2aBkFVuU
6 comments:
Hari Om
OMD Sophie-cher... I suspect that is how I look after a night of winter O's (the curling is still running as I thump the keys)... I can barely manage to string two English words together. Where's the kettle ................................. YAM xx
I feel the Italians would be justified in being indignant about the travesty of one of their national dishes.
Had to smile when I read about the phone conversation with the Polish cleaners.
The dog I have now came from a breeder near Malaga, and my husband conducted the entire proceedings by phone, using Google translate in Spanish. It transpired that the owner spoke no English, and was also using Google translate! Much information was lost in the process, and the dog we were to have - a retired, five year old (unsuccessful) breeding bitch, was constantly referred to as "he". Much relief when she finally arrived, and was indeed female !
Are moles Sophie's favourite pre-breakfast snack?
Madame Bay is a love.
She is! The heart of a poet - AND a fashionista!
Love those translations to English....when you aren't waiting for work to be done.
Post a Comment