The young farmer comes by on his tractor to talk to The Old Farmer. They spend half an hour discussing the price of barley. Bob observes the conversation, closely, from his stump seat.
The mayor shows up in his battered old Renault without hubcaps. He is wearing dungarees and his red plaid pork pie hat. '' M'Ongoose. I have something secret to discuss ". He sits at the kitchen table and shows me a letter threatening legal action against the Belgian lady. She and her neighbours at the horse farm are arguing again. It happens every year at this time. They are claiming she's chopped down a tree which is blocking access to their field. The mayor wonders if there is an amicable solution. Angus promises to let him know if he can think of one.
Over coffee at the cafe a chance to read the morning paper while the PONs watch the world from underneath the table and savour their croissant ends.
A local village has acquired a defibrillator at the cost of 2440 euros. It has been installed on the wall of the village hall. Local officials are being given sessions in how to use it. The village has a population of 1300.
A local farmer has been gored by a bull he was loading on to a truck to take to the abattoir. A picture of the offending bull is shown.
In the departmental capital there has been a naturalization ceremony for new citizens. 25 of those naturalized out of the 148 were British. Angus has nothing against people changing nationalities he just can't imagine becoming French. Scots of course have three concepts of identity 1) Scots 2) British and 3) European. The way things are going the resurgence of English nationalism means we shall retain 1) & 3) and lose 2).
This is a 'full on' rendition : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQGTFXQiaJU
16 comments:
Let's hope that between the Mayor and Angus, a solution to the felled tree crisis can be found.
On the subject of identity, my accent (even down to the way I pronounce Bertie when I call for him in the park) immediately marks me out as English, as does my support for the England and Scotland football teams, but mostly I feel British and European, and am embarrassed to by the St George's cross flag waving brand of English nationalism. Living for Oklahoma for two years certainly brought home to that European identity. With Brexit and potentially Scottish independence, where then?
Cheers, Gail.
Hari om
I too wish for detente on the farm fence. Perhaps it will show what can be achieved at grass roots level what can't at top levels. What a stramash it all is. YAM XX
Solution A (and I look forward to reading ideas from others who follow your blog) ... the mayor finds someone who needs firewood who is willing to cut up/remove the tree and then make a small donation for firewood (which gets split equally between the two neighbours in recognition of providing the tree and the inconvenience of having it temporarily blocking access to their field). Both neighbours gain something and it's cheaper than taking legal action.
The feud may continue unto the next generation!
These days of PC and Social media I feel I am out of step to say that I am English, English and English. When The Rugby is on I support England 1st, Ireland, France, Wales, Italy and The Old Enemy Scotland last. I may be alone in this!! Is there a TLA for Tongue In Cheek?
Gail says: my nations order is 1.England, 2. Scotland, 3. Ireland, 4. France and Italy, 5. Wales (last because they often beat England in the JPR Williams/Barry John era when I started watching rugby).
Good on the village getting a defibrillator. I hope you and the font will train to use it as well. It is easy to use and can save lives especially as an ambulance is probably some time in coming to your area. I have seen many patients whose lives have been saved by it.
Does the mayor know his secret is safe with the Internet? And it is, of course.
Personally, I am a citizen of the world. Even if I become a naturalized French citizen, I'll never be 100% French, and not for lack of trying. I'm not at home in my homeland anymore either; I barely recognize it and doubt I'll ever return.
It seems it Is Community Spirit Day! At 7:15 this morning six ladies gathered in the home of one of our long time neighbors. There were hugs, laughter, picture taking, and tears as we sent one of our own to her new home in Florida.
Good to know community spirit is alive in the US. Little of it to be found in a Brexit exhausted UK.
Let's hope we have an extra year to come to our senses and European elections on May 23rd !
I fear we are at a stage where both sides of the argument are beyond rational intermediation ! It should never be forgotten that this is a French village.
More likely Angus will go down with the village odd job man when everyone is at the Saturday morning market. Et voila the offending trees and branches have been cut up and carted away. Put it down to divine intervention.
The village that has bought one has a population of 1300 and is ten miles away. We have a population of 67 and are unlikely to benefit from the neighbouring defibrillator. Perhaps it will be in next years budget.
We're on the bull's side. Cannot get a mental image of the Belgian Lady cutting down a tree.
Ditto to both. I also cannot picture the Old Farmer cutting the tree for his lady, either.
I like the solution of finding who needs firewood and then that person making a small donation for the wood. The village benefits, and someone gets fuel for winter fires.
"Stramash" is such a good word, applies to the EU kerfuffles as well as village trees, methinks.
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