The bakers wife in a bleak mood this morning. The local grocery store, which used to be run by a elderly lady who opened at nine and closed at five, has been taken over by a big supermarket chain. The ( now much improved ) store has started to open at six and close at ten. They've also started selling croissants and baguettes at prices the bakers can't match. End result , in the month the new store has been open, the 'traditional' bakers sales have fallen by 35%.
France managed to keep these small family concerns going long after they'd disappeared in the US and the UK. Sadly, the march of history is now catching up with them. The bakers wife sighs and gives Bob and Sophie some small pieces of crust. These are gratefully received. We return home with six croissants, two baguettes, two chocolate tarts and a pain au cereale. Sophie, who has put back on one of the kilos she recently lost, shows great interest in the croissants.
