The PON duo disappear out of the front door. Bob heads off to the orchard in pursuit of blackbirds. Sophie disappears into the clump of wild irises by the gate. When she reappears it's clear from the mud on her nose and paws that she's been 'improving' the garden.
Every French shop has one. A retired employee who comes in to 'help' out. At the lawn tractor dealership we meet Gilbert. He asks if I need any help. I tell him I'm just looking. This is a mistake. The next ten minutes are filled with his potted life history. The bottom line is that the youngsters ( he points to a man in overalls who must be at least sixty five ) don't know anything about lawn tractors. Gilbert then fills me in on the finer points of mechanised grass cutting. Discerning that I'm foreign he repeats his sales patter. Where possible he uses visual aids to make sure I've understood.
Gilbert finally stops talking to Angus and starts talking to Bob and Sophie. He does this without any hint of embarrassment. They sit and look at him hoping their may be sausage. Life, when you're a one year old PON, is full of unexpected wonders.
