Re: Great Migration a la Francais!
The tour de France came our way last year, you stand by the roadside for two maybe three hours, then all of a sudden there's a WHOOOOOOOSH of rubber on road,---- a smell of B.O., ----- a "mon Deiue" here and there, ------ a flash of trailing cars carrying everything but the kitchen sink , and then ????????????? NOTHING >>>>>>>>>> thats the Tour d' France if you are an actual spectator. I'd sooner watch paint dry.
Here in the rural part of France, life is truly superb, we live in a very small commune, ( if I could put photo's up I would), of thirty four houses, this is part of the larger village of Bernac, wich is about three/ miles from us, three main families live here ---
the NEGRY'S ---- they owned a lot of the land around here before selling it off to settle family disputes, they are rather a secretive lot, not mixing in with commune life.
After these comes the -----
MAZAN's, he is -- patron en charge de la chasse -- Leader of the local Hunting group, he's a big, thick set man sporting a large bushy moustache, very friendly and jolly.
Every year the "chasse" hold a twelve mile "country walk", it costs about 12 Euros to enter, ( apporox ten quid). You will start out in a local village walking, say for three kilometers, where you then come upon the fist "TABLE" ----- Now imagine if you will, you are sat in a restaurant, you are going to eat a five course meal, all served with wines that compliment the food you are about to eat --- to continue ----- the first table is the entree, normally a salad type dish, served with wine -----FROM GLASSES NOT PLASTIC CUPS ----- you can stay there as long as you like, but we move.
The route is marked with arrows, paint sprayed on the earth/ road, there is always a "short", or "longer" walk between each stop. You walk at a leisurely pace, 95% of those taking part are French, the English find this " getting together" rather off putting, plus the French speak a funny language they don't understand. As you ramble along you chat to anyone, they in turn are very understanding of your lack of fluency, but they applaud the effort you put in to try and integrate with them.
The next stop looms ahead, tables laid out in a field, willing volunteers to serve you, much kisssing of the cheek and shaking of the hand, you sit anywhere, and a---"déplacer vers le haut un peu" --- (shove up a bit) --- will get you a smile, a raising of the glass, and a smiling ---'Salut", then the wine arrives, an hour later its time to move on ----- somewhere behind you you can hear one or two voices singing in some kind of harmony, ( the wine is kicking in).
This goes on until you reach the end, where there a tables set out, "nibbles" to eat and wine and cognac to be drunk, we left quite early on ---- around 11p.m. --- and who said the French aren't social.
The dion's of the village are the FRANCIOS -------
Madame Francios being the matriarch of the family, aged 85, standing all of five feet tall, chubby visage and a look, when required that could cut you off below the knee's, she is the only one of that name still here in the village, but her realtions and descendants are dotted around. Being the "smoothie" I am I have "cultivated" her, firstly by respectfully chatting to, opening her car door, helping with the shopping from the car, that sort of thing. From then to a kiss on the cheek when meeting, ( thats the first sign youu have been accepted), up to now with me calling out in a voice the neighbours can hear ------ " Ahhhhhhhhhh bonjour ma petit chou chou" ( Hello my little cabbage) an endearment meant ONLY for those of a childs age.
The reply is an ---- 0000oooooooo --- and a giggle, she LOVES it, so much so, Sue , {my wife) and I have been instructed that on the next "Repas du Noel" we will sit next to her on the head table, reserved normally only for the Marie (mayor) and dignitaries, knowing her, she will just "pooh pooh" any suggestions not to, waive her walking stick in the air and expect it to be done.-------------------------- more to follow.