One of those French village days in high summer when the sun beats down, the sunflowers droop, dogs doze in the shade and little else happens.
The Old Mayor and the Old Deputy Mayor hold their atelier on scarecrow design in the Salle de Fetes. This is an excuse for the two of them to open a bottle of wine and sit out on the petanque court under the shade of a plane tree. They read the local newspaper aloud to each other. The scarecrow design element of their day seems to have been forgotten. In the afternoon Monsieur Bay and his friends from the retired gendarmes association join them. More wine is consumed and more memories of their national service in Algeria during the ' late unpleasantness' resurface. An accordion appears and they venture into song. As the afternoon progresses the melodies slow to reflect a wistful mix of memories, old age and slightly more wine more than is prudent . Visits to the village hall WC are frequent. They disperse when wives/ daughters/ grand daughters arrive to tell them it's dinner time.
The New Mayor has set up a directory of ' Nouveaux acteurs economiques'. This is a list of all the village tradespeople and a description of what they can do. A useful tool for those who don't want to venture into the market town during the pandemic. The lady at the crossroads has set herself up as a 'Coiffure a domicile' while the man who empties septic tanks will also do floor and kitchen tiling during these ' conditions particulieres'. The New Mayor informs me that he's decided that there won't be an increase in property taxes this year. As the Chateau and The Rickety Old Farmhouse seem to bear the brunt of local taxes I'm delighted with this news.
Sophie and Angus take a walk down the hill to the waterfall first thing in the morning ... and last thing at night. By the time we get home from our evening walk it's getting dark. Autumn is almost knocking at the door.
We used to have a flat in Edinburgh next to the Castle. It's good to know the Festival is still going on - albeit virtually :
https://youtu.be/q9mfH3M1DLc?t=2196
6 comments:
It sounds like a lovely afternoon for the village gentlemen. And while the Old Mayor is enjoying that time, the New Mayor seems to be equally proactive in his own way, even if he does disturb Sophie's sleep on occasion. The directory of services sounds like a terrific idea for both customers and service providers. I have been thinking about Edinburgh recently. We have been there twice, both times in August. We didn't really know about the festivals the first time, although I had read about the Tattoo, so it was quite a surprise to see everything that was happening, and it's hard to imagine what it must be like this year.
While the old guard clearly know how to enjoy their retirement, the new broom in the mayor's office would seem to have some excellent ideas. I am wondering what skill's Angus can contribute? Once about a time you mentioned something about writing a history of the village - did that project ever make progress?
PS It occurs to me that perhaps your role is as supplier-in-chief of champagne and fine wines...
...and a suitable set of ladders!
Hari OM
...and I have been thoroughly enjoying the Book Festival Online...
Is there a sense of relief that no actual scarecrows, but a useful local list arose from the atelier? YAM xx
The index of local tradesmen sounds like a good idea. Love the sunflowers. -1°C here this morning.
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