Mandatory.

Sophie waits, impatiently, while I finish off a pre-walk cup of coffee. The Manhattanite men in dark suits have been on the phone early. A sudden, and belated,  recognition that while the Upper East side may have been vaccinated most of the world hasn't. They have instituted a system whereby only those who have been fully vaccinated are allowed into the office and masks must be worn in public areas. Compliance is, as they say, mandatory. They work from home Mondays and Fridays.

We're out and about early enough to catch the two youngest moorhen chicks paddling unconcernedly on the village pond.

One chick heads quietly into the water lily leaves as we approach. The other is oblivious to our presence then panics and hurtles off in pursuit of its sibling. At this age their feathers are still black and their feet humorously and disproportionately large and orange.

The lime tree on the village green is covered in thousands of bees. It hums happily away.

After all that excitement the best thing for a girl to do is opt for a restorative nap on the doorstep before clambering into the car and heading off for some curly croissant ends.

 Dancing robots :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn3KWM1kuAw

Two bees on a teasel

A balmy Monday morning. Sophie and her companion sit on the concrete storm drain and put the world to rights. Lots to talk about this morning - Cuba, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia. Sophie sees the donkeys in their field and studies them intently. As all PONs instinctively know you can never be too sure with donkeys. We wave at the young garagiste heading off to work in his BMW and nod at two local farmers in their white Renault vans.' Going to be hot M'Ongoose !' one of them shouts out as he drives by.

It has been 19 months since we were last able to travel to the UK. Now, just as we were planning to head off for a quick trip to London, the British government has decided that any traveller from France must self isolate for ten days. You can be sure that the French will soon reciprocate. That adds up to a lot of self isolating for a trip to the dentist.

The water hole that Sophie drinks from is now nearly dry. She manages to find a muddy patch that she can slurp from. She seems more than satisfied with this.

This mornings croissant a 6.1/10.  The cafe nearly empty. Summer holiday time is here.

Angus stops the car to look at the new Land Rover. He also looks at the price and has sticker shock. When did everything become so expensive ?

On the grass verges outside The Rickety Old Farmhouse the bees are happily at work on the teasels. Can anything signal as clearly that all will be well with the world ? So starts a high summer Monday morning in deepest, deepest France profonde.

Things that amaze:https://blog.londolozi.com/2017/12/23/how-do-birds-manage-to-sleep-on-the-wing-and-not-crash/

Poetry

A summer Sunday morning and its already in the mid 20's.  We head off en famille while it's still cool(ish) for coffee and croissants.

Sophie was carefully groomed yesterday. This morning she looks like she's modelling her rescue dog - 'I've never been near a brush in my  life' - look.

The sunflowers suddenly coming into bloom. Give them another three days of warmth and sun and they'll be at their peak. 

Someone has been up overnight stapling small poetry snippets to the picnic table, the town hall door, the wooden pillars of the 16th century pottery furnace and the church porch. 

I shall have to ask the old mayor what this is all about. I can't believe that any of the villagers are responsible for the appearance of this Verlaine like wistfulness. All the snippets are on elongated octagonal slips of paper. Some thought and care has gone into their production. They weren't there on Sophie's nine pm walk last night so whoever has put them up is either a late worker or a very early riser.

 Well I never :https://www.rte.ie/news/newslens/2021/0707/1233669-indian-buffaloes/

It's that time of the year again :https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-watch-perseids-meteor-shower-180978198/

Intriguing:https://www.sciencenews.org/article/only-a-tiny-fraction-of-our-dna-is-uniquely-human

Humor of the day :https://twitter.com/DGlaucomflecken/status/1416496983372664832

Tempo.

Saturday morning in a quiet French village. It seems Sophie and her master are the only creatures up and about. This isn't entirely true. On the village pond one of the moorhen mothers hurriedly shepherds her chicks into the safety of the shrubbery. She clucks loudly as she does so.

A sign has appeared on the village weigh station informing us that repair works will take place in the autumn. This is gloriously imprecise. The metal railings that were put up to stop people parking on the scales wooden beams have gone.  The possibility of a delivery van parking there and disappearing into the void under the rotting timbers must be something that someone... surely ?  .... must have thought of.

Outside the chateau gate six wheel barrows all washed and carefully lined up. This fixation on order is perhaps why Angus will never be a billionaire.

The Old Farmer returns home. Today is a day for tending to the venerable Ford Transit motor home. ' I'm hoping we'll be able to get away in it for a week in August if I can fix the brakes'. Angus looks at the motor home and quietly thinks that 'hope' is the only thing that will get it down the lane to the crossroads. He keeps this thought to himself .

Our morning tour of the village takes forty five minutes. I could do it alone in less than ten. When you have a dog you can never be in a rush. Why hurry when there are scents on every tree and perfumes on every lamp post ? There are also goats and donkeys to be greeted. Today there's a friendly Boxer staying at the house by the crossroads. He's keen to play with Sophie. Sophie's less keen to play with him.  In a hectic world moving at a dogs  tempo is a great gift.

Might this be a good buy for The Old Farmer ? :https://timberleaftrailers.com/pika-small-camping-trailer/

The latest in Arctic cruising :https://world.expeditions.com/about/fleet/national-geographic-endurance

Surprises

Wet and windy has given way to overcast and chilly. This relative improvement in the weather calls for a trip down to the river bank to bark at ducks. The family diva  tries to ignore the amorous Yorkie that comes rushing over to greet her. The Yorkie soon divines that his approaches are 'unwelcome'.

A day for talking to serious folks in Silicon Valley. South Africa, Cuba and Tunisia all on the agenda. Countries where unemployment ( or underemployment ) among young males is above 35% tend to be powder kegs. Cubas economy contracted by 11% last year as tourism collapsed. This year is likely to be even worse .

 Dog psychology :https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/dogs-dont-return-favor-after-strangers-feed-them-180978170/

Soda drinkers :https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/with-average-daily-consumption-of-2-2-liters-of-coca-cola-chiapas-leads-the-world/

The proverb.

Bastille Day proves to be both wet and windy. The new mayor shows up at eight to borrow the ladder so he can put the flags out on the war memorial. By ten thirty the flags are already sodden and hanging at an angle. The new mayor tries to tell me an old French proverb along the lines of ' If it rains on Bastille Day it will .... '. Unfortunately, he's wearing a mask which coupled with his strong Occitaine accent, means the rest of the proverb remains incomprehensible. By the look of the sky I'd bet the proverb goes along the lines of ' If it rains on Bastille Day it will rain solidly for the next forty days'. 

The rain gets heavier as the day wears on. Sophie demonstrates her enthusiasm for long cross country walks - no matter what the weather. 

The line ' there aren't enough atoms in the universe to sustain this rate of growth '  caught my eye :https://www.cold-takes.com/roadmap-for-the-most-important-century-series/

Australian Master Chef :https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/pantha-bhat-masterchef-australia-culinary-hierarchy-7403310/

The plinth.

Downstairs at first light to discover that Sophie has been savaging 'Blue Parrot'. An arm ( wing ?) has gone, as has the squeaker. The peculiar shredded plastic that these things are filled with is piled on the floor.  I scoop the destuffed carcass up in the hope that 'The Font' may have the patience to undertake exhaustive  surgery on it. 

Angus informs the men in dark suits that we have received our EU vaccine passports by e-mail . I'm guessing that this means travel will soon be open for those who can prove they've had 2 doses. This should also mean the end of ' this won't hurt a bit'  testing. The Manhattanites discuss the meeting between the German Chancellor and the US President tomorrow. This is important  as it sets out the future relationship between Berlin and Kiev and Moscow and all sorts of other places. 

Can it really be Sophie had a major trim last week ?

This mornings croissant doesn't look the part and certainly doesn't taste like it. A meagre ( and generous) 5.8/10. Sophie likes the curly croissant ends but loves the mignardise that has been put on my saucer. She gets to walk  off the excess on an hour long trip to the valley and the small waterfall.

The Old Farmer returns from his Lady Friends house. The large concrete garden vase he knocked over a few days ago is still lying on its side. He's brought a length of rope with him. He attaches one end to the venerable Mercedes and the other end to the plinth the vase stood on. He then drives forward and pulls the plinth away. This enables the vase to settle down, level, on the ground. He then continues to drive forward so that the plinth is pulled onto the grass. This is where he leaves it. Our 90 year old neighbour really is the most indomitable of characters. 

Someone has smashed the side window on the venerable Mercedes when it was parked outside his Lady Friends house. Whatever the putative thief thought they might find that was worth stealing  is beyond comprehension. He has been to the garage and they will get a replacement window in ten days. The Old Farmer thinks this service is slow. Angus thinks that getting a replacement window for a 35 year old car in ten days is pretty good. You'd be lucky if Volvo France could match that on a current model. Angus keeps this thought to himself.

 After reading the article I still couldn't spot it :https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article252746893.html

And on Bastille Day we thought we might have made it here. Perhaps next year ? : https://www.lareserve-paris.com/en/

The best ever cinema version ? :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOeFhSzoTuc

Another Presidential chat.

The President has been speaking again. Now it seems you can only go to a cafe or restaurant if you have a vaccine passport. This is presumably the app we have on our phones showing we've had 2 doses. I'm ok with this but how many cafe owners will obey the rules and check is a different matter. Vaccinations for care workers is now mandatory. Already the radio has interviews with folks saying this contravenes their human rights. 

Our morning starts, as mornings usually start in PON households, with some drama. Sophie emerges into the garden to find not one but two C-A-T-S sunning themselves on the lawn. One C-A-T goes right, the other left. Sophie goes in a  straight line between them. Five minutes later she returns looking pleased with herself. What she think she's accomplished is a mystery. We can say with certainty that the C-A-T-S have not been unduly alarmed.

Dog and master head down to the valley. The hotter it gets the earlier we rise in order to enjoy the cool air. 

The village is not a busy place. School is over, the 'tikes' have been sent to their grandparents in St.Etienne, the farmers have been up since four bringing in the harvest and the eight am shift change at the old folks home is still more than an hour away . We have the place to ourselves.

Taco culture is sweeping France. A new Taco restaurant has appeared near the bakers. Can honey really be an option you'd want on your Taco ? The French do the strangest things with foreign food.

The flax field continues to frustrate. It should be out in full bloom by now but the cold wet weather has held it back. Perhaps by Wednesday ?

 No comment :https://twitter.com/COdendahl/status/1413079557263998986

Things to do this summer if you're in the UK :https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/stories/craft-exhibitions-to-see-in-the-uk-this-summer

Chaff.

Six am. We pass the German Billionaires Builder walking his two dogs. They ignore Sophie. Sophie, after emitting a high pitched squeak, ignores them. It's a hot start to the day but the weather forecast calls for rain to roll in by lunchtime. The sound of combines feverishly harvesting the grain echoes from every surrounding farm. Clouds of chaff rise into the sky.

On our way home for breakfast Sophie wanders over to explore The Old Farmers garden. Prolonged absences with his 'lady friend' have given the house an abandoned air. The concrete vase that was knocked over still sits at a jaunty angle on his driveway. Our neighbour has taken to leaving a bowl of milk out for the village C-A-T-S on his visits home. Sophie can hear their meowing but hasn't figured out that the C-A-T-S are enjoying themselves on his balcony.

The little market town deserted. We're too early for the cafe to open. Dog and master retire back to the car park without a coffee, bowl of water or curly croissant ends.

En route to the car a moment of excitement. A town C-A-T wanders along the pavement oblivious to the fact that there is a PONette coming in the other direction. Sophie makes her displeasure plain. Any residents hoping for a quiet Monday morning lie in will be disappointed. The C-A-T hurries to safety behind the grille of a newly opened shop selling cannabis oil.

More and more shops are closing. The pandemic putting the final nail in the coffin of town centre decline ( cannabis oil excepted ). Bucking the trend the row of shops near where we've parked has turned into a restauration rapide hub. I count no less than nine new fast food outlets. Takeaway has arrived in deepest, deepest France profonde. 

Stunning ! :https://twitter.com/Nature_Is_Lit/status/1413875685572100097

Any thought of going to the Olympics evaporated a year ago. The hotel continues to e-mail in the hope we might rebook. How would you enforce these latest dining rules ? ( Scroll down to the Please Note para )  :https://www.fourseasons.com/tokyo/dining/

Incidents.

Life in the village is like walking on eggshells. Half of the inhabitants are supporters of the Anger Management Man (AMM). Half are supporters of the German Billionaires Builder (GBB). The constant delays in scheduling court time during the pandemic have dragged the proceedings out over two years and have enabled resentments to 'simmer'.  We try to maintain a relaxed relationship with both the AMM and the GBB camps. This is not nearly as easy as it sounds although being foreign helps.  No one seems to have given any thought to what happens after the ruling is handed down. Will it be contested ? Will both parties settle down into a grudging neutrality ? Will there be a grand reconciliation ? Logic dictates that one or other should move but logic and village life don't always go together.

Today it's going to get into the mid-30's. Sophie's almost symmetrical trim has come at just the right time. 

A double croissant this morning . We're the first ones at the cafe so the croissants are still warm from the oven. Sophie snorts with delight. Nothing like an croissant straight from the oven to get the day off to a good start.

The Old Farmer has driven the venerable Mercedes into the concrete pedestal vase in his front garden. The vase has been knocked over and now lies forlornly on its side. He's smashed his front right hand headlight.  The old mayor and the old deputy mayor show up to investigate. They spend five minutes looking at the vase and five minutes looking at the broken glass. The vase is too heavy to lift. They will return with the old mayors nephews fork lift truck later in the week. I can't help but note that the Old Farmer seems to be having more and more of these 'incidents' recently.

90% of the world remains unvaccinated and yet regulators are slow to follow and approve new ideas  :https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01893-0

How hip is this ? :https://eu.fliteboard.com/

Today this will be attempted. It's possible Sophie will have her first taste of Marzipan.  :https://www.scandikitchen.co.uk/recipe-prinsesstarta-swedish-princess-cake/

The shock .

The village quiet when Sophie and her master do their start of day tour.  Half a dozen young blackbirds are busy hunting for worms on the village green. These are chased, enthusiastically, but ineptly. On our way back to The Rickety Old Farmhouse Sophie detours to investigate some rustling from the wheat field on the other side of the lane. The sound of a PONette in full hunting mode careering through the wheat soon causes the rustling to stop.

Time for Sophie to have a hair trim. The detour into the wheat field has turned wild and shaggy into disheveled and unkempt.

First things first. A croissant and a coffee for me and curly croissant ends and a bowl of water for my super shaggy companion.

Then it's time for some fur to come off. Angus is given the guilt inducing ' How could you treat such a poor maiden so ?' look as he wields the clippers. A trip to the kitchen for buttered toast goes some way to remedying the shock.

So starts another hot summer Saturday morning in deepest, deepest France profonde.