From: Les
Combrands To: Les Combrands
Mile: 16530 Daily: 0000
Meteo: Overcast and fresh.
Today after a fairly relaxed stay around the farmhouse we
took a drive into Coulon.
Things in the village were
pretty quiet. Andy took us to a ‘Brocante’ or antiques shop. Here he was in his
element with all sorts of boxes and shelves to rummage through and numerous goodies
for purchase. We others, promising to collect him later went across the road to
the boulangerie and bought bread and cakes, into another shop to check out the
local ‘Donkey Head’ wines and beers, into the dress shop next to that and then
returning to the Brocante, Andy seemingly hadn’t moved. Lal deciding she needed
to drag him out of the shop, disappeared inside also. Mike and Jackie walked to
a nearby seat and sat. Eventually the Steers arrived. Andy had a large brown
paper bag clutched tightly to his chest. Who remembers Spencer Tracey’s film
about Rogers Rangers? Anyway, no amount of cajoling would entreat Andy to show
and tell the contents of his bag.”Wait till we get home”, was all he would say.
If you look carefully at the painting below, this is Andy walking into the Brocante in 1925. Not twenty-five minutes past seven but the year. Compare this to the photo I took of the street today and Andy is just visible exiting the shop in 2017.
Tell me I'm not imagining that. Or did it just seem like we were waiting an eternity.
As we stood to leave a
couple of older guys approached and one started chatting away in French. Lal,
in her best French, apologised and said we don’t speak French. Mike persisted
and asked Monsieur to repeat but slowly. He was a character who spoke no
English. His companion spoke some and would interpret when needed. We think he
was slightly embarrassed when the subject of Macron and Trump was raised. At
the mention of Macrons name the first old guy, who could speak no English, would squat and screw his face. We could only assume he
did not vote for Macron. Mention Le Pen's name and you had a totally different
reaction. Again, this would cause his companion to wince at the embarrassment of his gesticulations. I wouldn't have thought he could move his hips that fast or well! This brought howls of
laughter from us less sophisticated Brits much to the old boys delight.
Back to the farm for some late lunch and a siesta. For some! Not Mike I hasten to add. This was merely shot for effect.
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Bet you can't guess what's for dinner this evening |
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Have you guessed what it is yet? |
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Just 'kiding' |
