Re: Great Migration a la Francais!
Today is Friday third of August, on Tuesday Sue goes into Soyeaux hospital for the removal of a cancerous cyst, which means, she will have to "wear" a clostomy bag for a few months until the cyst removal has been haas had time to heal.
We love going for a --- Plat du Jour ------ our absolute favourite resaurant is the --- le Auberge Saint-Jean ----- we have been going there for years, the 'patron", a lovely lady that flaps when under pressure is a truly lovely lady as are all the staff.
It is a relatively small establishment --- doubled only in size with the coming of the warmer weather, which means we can eat outside, but the ambience, inside or out is fantastic and the food is to die for.
We were unable to book a table, well thats not quite true, I booked a table on two ocassions but was misunderstood as to when and what date we wanted , we thought we had, but on arrival ----------
"TRES DESOLETE ------- I did not understand you" --
So no bloody table, the look of abject sorrow that she had misunderstood me was obvious.
OK , lets cut to the chase, I phoned the Patron last Tuesday and resrved a table for today, we had a laugh and a giggle as to last two attempts, but no rancour from me,
We arrive at the prescribed time.
" Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Ms Richard -- bienvenue-- avec moi sil vous plait"
A kiss on BOTH cheeks stipulated our importance in her mind, ( mind you, she does that to all regular customers) but she did it, we were escorted to our RESERVED table, with a sign saying --- Reservered for Ms Richard. ----
Apperitifs as far most Brits are concerned are not part of the meal, so they don't have one, but here we are , ushered to our table by the --- PATRON --- no less, and her "top hand " Alex, An absolutely gorgeous French girl aged around mid- late twenties.
"S'il vous plaît wil vous disposez d'un apéritif" --- ( you will have an aperitif)
"Ceci est pour votre patience et se trouve sur la maison" ( this is for your patience and on the house) ( rough translation)
Of course we accepted graciously, the meal then arrived --- a crab and prawn type pate with accompnying dressings etc ---------- followed by pork ( covered in a delicious onion type sauce) followed by a raspberry sorbet icecream and rapberry flan ------ with either a cheese board or coffe, we opted for the coffee, which was just as well for with my coffee came the largest doule cognac you could ever imagine.
Nous avons remarqué votre femme a été conduite de façon vous avez un cognac, si vous avait poussé, il aurait été de champagne pour votre femme, ( roughly,---- we noticed your wife was driving otherwise it would have been Champagne for her)
The day was sunny and warm, we were in our favourite restaurant , we were at peace with the world, what more could you want ---- God I love it here.