The PONs are out at six for their pre-breakfast comfort break. Sophie hurtles through the door like a thing possessed with a howl of delight. She has absolutely no fear of the dark. Bob stays closer to me. When it's time to come in Bob is right by my side. Sophie takes longer to follow. She's sitting on her own staring towards the barn and the owls that nest there. Brother and sister but such different characters. This mornings it's colder. Much colder. The thermometer says it's a bracing 2 degrees. Our first three layer day. PON weather.
The streets lights come on at six thirty. So do the star and the white lights around the Old Farmers gutters. The multi coloured Christmas lights remain off. They must be on a different circuit.
In the little market town another shop has closed. A 1930's Coco Chanel type ladies outfitters. A touch of Parisian chic in the outer reaches of France profonde. There was something about the way double height 1930's windows with stone mullions were inserted into an 18th century building that spoke of self confidence and style.
The wonderful little cheese store is going strong. We stop off for some Chevres for The Font. Bob and Sophie get a little Port Salut from the young lady behind the counter.
We're late in getting to the cafe . The outside tables empty. The locals move to the tales indoors after the start of October. This morning the only outside occupant a foreigner who chats to two tail waving shaggy dogs as he feeds them the ends of his croissant.
Absinthe in the supermarket. It used to be banned in Britain. Something to do with it making you go blind. Its presence on the shelves tells me that we are far from Scotland.
This is the Hungarian National Anthem. The Music written by Ferenc. The words impenetrable in Hungarian and equally so in translation. It is beautiful but could it also be the saddest sounding national anthem ? : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1de8yb2cgkk
8 comments:
What a relief to see that the cheese shop is still open. That really would be a loss.
Its hard to watch the video of the Hungarian anthem and not feel sad - not just because of the music but because of the actions of their government and the whole deeply unpleasant aspect of Nationalist sentiments these days, in Europe and beyond.
I think I would tempted to buy some Absinthe just to see what it was like. 2 degrees sounds chilly - I don't think we got below 4 deg our whole winter.
That cold?!?! We now have a biting wind that howls all day and night but the lows are still around 10 and slated to climb again. It is surprising to see the differences in climate from just the other side of Toulouse.
The Hungarians are famously morose. Very high suicide rates. Like Bertie, I find their current government reason to feel depressed.
Dare I wonder what the proprietors of the cheese shop would think of the Costco Warehouse "Individually wrapped 96 slices of American Cheese product" that I have in my fridge? I love good cheese and always think it's a bit shameful to buy, but it's perfect for wrapping their medication in, and not much else.
That shy little girl who hid behind her brother at the breeder's when you first met is long gone.
I don't think one can buy absinthe in the US either because of it's reputation for causing blindness when consumed to excess. Nice label.
Oh, yes indeed, you can! I just bought a new bottle. Being from Louisiana, I love a good Sazerac :)
I am reading a book that uses a cordial glass of absinthe in the making of bouillabaisse.
We have a bottle of it here in British Columbia, Peter purchased it about 10 years ago for about $56.00 No idea what it would cost today. It is half gone, Not a very pleasant drink. I too remember Sophie hiding under Bob, she is now a diva!
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