groanmoan

This must be the worst French "bienvenue" I have ever attended.. it WAS wine... mixed with pamplemousse or something sweet and sickly!  Why can't we have a decent boxed wine!?  Other people manage it and it isn't so expensive! 
Yes please some apple juice as not everyone drinks orange juice. At one event there was cidre and I couldn't find the wine. So home I went!
If the village is so strapped for cash why don't they put the NEW YEAR event at a time when families with children may attend ... not just us old codgers ... and why did it appear that there were few complete "étrangers" there...apart from les Parisiens. etc. At least I learned a few things when I'd also taken my friend, a new owner of a maison secondaire!
As I pointed out at one meeting it is difficult to find out from anyone what is happening in the village.
Why don't they ask us to bring food "à partager" - then sit for an evening meal once the formalities have been endured.   Why do we have to stand???
The Office du Tourisme -'la même' although at least they provided paperwork to support their performance over the year at their AGM... but likewise no decent wine  and the most appalling canapés. Am I such a snob with my French roots?   NO!   What happened to French standards!!!!!!????    I just think we should all give and take ... not just take! 
Admittedly people were friendly... more friendly at the OT event.
WE need to support our village to stop it crumbling under the weight of the financial needs of the crumbling chateau and the weight of more than 15,000 visitors in the summer which transform this village from a morgue into a place of delight... (ah the restaurants - let's not mention those!!!) and the weight of the part time residents who possibly as in Southwold UK are not paying their share of local taxes... I do not know... and draining the resources... although with Southwold it is like Little London!!!!!!and the Londoners and Northerners pile in in droves... It is a family home of mine!!!!!
Why can't we aim to be like a Little Paris... we have the roots of lingerie embroidery here!!!!!!!!!! and of course the English invaded many a year ago... it's my village as much as theirs!

I will try to mention about chateau funding in another post if I find the energy.

Resting after Entertaining

The photos were taken with my camera by an unknown person but I forgot to show her how to use  zoom.  Digital cropping reveals a flavour of the Vagabond.  It was dusk on a clear night. The first stop after the Chevalier where there was no music was at Le Lecteur.  A prostrate figurine reading a book. I must try to read like that again!  Thomas with his Stroh-violin.

 ...here they come towards me...

...where I play "Coeur Vagabond" to the Green Man.  In France called le Bon Homme...this one with his head in the clouds or wind...

The group moved to the wall of faces.. look closely for, I think, 127 in total.

At 'le facteur', a wire bicycle is mounted on a circular roofed postbox. Thomas read and posted a postcard.

 He played again at 'L'Abri' -

I'd moved on to 'Les Arches' to play "Gypsy Mood" - a concerto type piece with slow, fast, majestic and light sections.

Being in the back street with little light, surrounded by dark stones of the church wall, opposite the Tree with White Leaves Reflected in a Mirror (my title),  I wasn't happy with my rendition of "Autumn Leaves".  I was  cold and tired. Thomas was supportive, encouraging with his accompaniment, or maybe I was accompanying him.  It was strange to play with the Bass Stroh.  He is an excellent professional musician and theatrical artiste.  I am hoping he will give me another opportunity to play but in warmer conditions where I can sit down!  Earlier, I had chosen to stand where I could have sat down...I had not realised how arduous it is doing street theatre!

 Moving on... 'A la Derive'... being adrift...the scarf was nice but a nuisance!

At the last artistic creation, returning to the place where we'd started, we did an unscheduled replaying of  'La Derive'.
Normally, I do not like to publish photos of me but at the age of 66,  recognising that I have played the accordion on and off since I was aged 7, I realise that this accordion has been 56 years in my ownership and is definitely a few years older than that!
I am publishing because this is the second time this year I have been invited to perform in public. The accordion is heavy. It takes a toll on my back and since the bicycle accident and biceps tendonitis my wrists. These wrists were beginning to give out last night but I managed to pull the beast of bellows in and out, pushing buttons, fingering keys.
I am publishing because I am celebrating my talent which has given immense enjoyment to me and to others.  Poor things who do not like to hear it, including the cat who needs to escape the room!
I am grateful to my mother for sacrificing her time and earnings to give me lessons with the renowned accordionist Martin Lukins in the late 1950s / early 1960s.... that was before I stopped to learn the piano with Mary Ash, my school music teacher.
Last night, someone asked if I had french 'prix' for my playing.  No, I have no qualifications!

WITH THANKS TO THOMAS and the Folies Bastringue Festival....Many people work hard to bring artistic experiences to the villages of France.  It has been a pleasure for me!

A beautiful rose

window at Le Petit Pressigny:

Stuck to Unstuck

Autumn.
Yesterday, there was a quiet, calm, atmosphere to the day as people passed to and from the brocante.  One could drop a pin and hear it! I couldn't raise energy/motivation to set out a stall in the courtyard, let alone get the stuff to 'le champ de foire' although camaraderie and activity would have been found there.
Willingness to do anything seemed at a low ebb.  However, it's quite interesting to mull over matters, whilst watching people walk past the gap which is my open gates onto the roadway.  Some people stop and look. A child stopped and pointed. There is nothing to point at!  Ah... maybe the little bird up on high; someone else showed their child the little bird by making a pointed shape with their hands to represent the lucarne.  Yes, it is a theme that I wish for more of!  My little bird.
Later. After a siesta, feeling less tired, I walked to the brocante and spoke to a Scottish CCC couple which was nice, and the brocante man who will sell at Ford in UK near to where my son lives, and I spoke to a female resident because I made comments on her attire... always so French and always so chic! it gave me pleasure!
Then the storm and rain began whilst I spoke to two friends... and yes, I know I am challenging... does that mean demanding?  Big Feet is demanding in that grouchy 13 year old cat way!...
The woodburner is alight and I love the warmth it has given to my living area!
I feel like Phoenix arisen from an almost death yet know I am alive!
That's a bit dramatic! 
The moon cycles and negativity wanes.  I feel stronger!
Maybe it was all that cycling, driving and moving lots of logs as well as draining family issues!

Outside my gate

Temporarily parked

Excitement to see something in the world even if it stopped outside, when hobbly, when one can't get out of the house let alone the gate.

Angles sur L'Anglin

This village has unmeasurable secrets.
One can walk through lanes that separate houses and gardens, chateau walls and water, to discover different fascinations.
One can walk through lanes at different hours, in varying seasons,  to see no one or someone.
Tonight, stone walls pump heat into the summer air and trap it, so that it is a wonderful warmth on bare arms and legs.  One can hear many voices in secreted gardens and courtyards, laughter, children and the chink of a glass.  In the winter, the stone walls suck up coldness and damp so that one's breath can be seen before one. I often meet no one between stone walls...................
Bathed in sunlight tonight but on 4th August at 10pm, the pyromelodique will light the chateau in a different way. 

English Tea Shop in Angles sur L'Anglin

On the second day of opening Number 15, a Salon de Thé, I sampled green grapefruit tea with an English scone.  Although I make my own there is something very civilised eating one with cream and strawberry jam after a drizzly, morning walk.
With English wallpaper and decor,  a welcoming greeting and a wonderful ambience, the new owners, Nick and Nadia, who, as they say, are on a steep learning curve, provide a little piece of HOME for an expat! or a little English culture for a French resident!
The room is beautifully presented in muted creams and greens with roses in vases on the tables.
The Nina Campbell birdcage wallpaper is a delight as is the pink crockery with tea cups and saucers featuring birdcages.
I wish them every success for the season and hope they may be sometimes open in the Winter!
Postscript:
Cross the bridge to the Low Town and it is on the left! In fact, it has been open for about a month but I have been slow to post!  They serve lunches and beers.
Today I sampled another cream scone AND a chocolate cupcake breaking all my rules as I had been cycling but not far! The sun was shiningly hot. I sat and meditated on how life can be bliss if one does not worry!!!!!!!
I would be delighted to accompany anyone especially if a sturdy walk before or afterwards could be incorporated.  

I spy through a gap

in my street, a house and barn hidden from public view.

Interesting, for I can see that my property must once have looked in a similar state.

 

Deserted Village at 6pm

Sunday hope 8pm

 Today deserted 6pm

Businesses are suffering as a result of the weather.

Wonderful Female Choir

Thirteen voices and piano led by the conductor sang songs from 19th and 20th centuries. Grieg, Verdi, Schubert, Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Lilli Boulanger and some lesser renowned composers.

An unusual theme was 'Faces of Women'; each song representing fiancée, mother, queen, Virgin Mary, Sorceress, Ophelia, Titania, Mermaids, Andalucian dancers, Bohemian women. Extremely interesting and beautifully executed.  The "Ensemble Vocal Fa Majeur" herald from Normandy. It was such a shame that winter weather with endless rain kept people from attending.   It was surprisingly warm in the church both in temperature and ambience.  My cushion and pink blankety rug (it had been lost and found) kept me extra comfy.  I felt my age!!! Thanks to all who organised this event which was free. One made a contribution as we departed.

Take 5 one street

A new bakery

Je monte et je descend les rues, the lanes, of my village to discover the news. Birds sing their evening songs.. still light at gone past seven, and the aroma of wallflowers, winter jasmine, blossom on trees and shrubs whose names I forget, fragrant the air..... Ah, it is the Spring. I note the warmer weather. I clip-clop in my heeled boots as an experiment for my feet, which have had problems. Locals are in good humour.  I observe a building shelved up with wood pushing against it and braced against the building about 2 metres opposite to stop it falling further!!  Quel horreur !!  I've been watching that building for some while, always pleased that I didn't buy the house next to it.

We have a new boulangerie. A very nice woman who has come from the Vicq bakery which I know has been proclaimed. I was brave and went in although I had no money with me. I explained how pleased I was to see the bakery open and also explained that I often bake my own bread because I like 100% wholemeal bread. She showed me that she has complét too. Good oh because sometimes I like to buy bread if it is GOOD bread, therefore GOOD for my system! And of course fresh croissants, a greater range of bread, little cakes and tarts. It was her first day open! They are locataire, meaning that they rent the premises.

Gagner son Pain - To earn a living

This is to follow a thread on postings from a fellow blogger about their own village bakery.

In my own village there are already two commercial changes this year.

1. La Presse avec L'Epicerie has moved to a new site .

The building of the new shop is owned by the commune and the owners of the business rent the interior space. For me it is sad that the grocery selling newspapers, magazines, being a bar plus post office have moved from the old premises with its crotchety bell-ringing door and from the marvellous ambient exterior terrace tucked at the rear of the building and where my friend and I, like other people were mesmerised by the unique French experience.  It is also where I played the accordion last summer so it holds special memories.   It was a place where hours could be whiled away drinking hot choc in front of a winter fire, listening to the old boys with their 1e glass of house red or whiled away drinking in the shade of the outdoor rear terrace listening to music with a glass of beer in hand.

2. Le boulanger et la boulangere se retirent (partent en retraite) cette semaine, donc, la boulangerie sera fermée. Je n'achetais pas souvent leurs baguettes parce que je préfère manger le pain complet et faire ainsi mon propre avec des grains différents. Le pain sera fourni par l'Épicerie nouvellement placée.  I used to like to go and treat myself to a French patisserie on a hot afternoon and carry it home in reverence to divide in small portions and savour over a day or two. I shall miss the special chestnut bread and the chocolate mendiants.

3. It is also known that the proprietor of La Place bar/restuarant wishes to retire and sell but no buyer has yet come forward. 

Changements. Rien ne s'arrête. Rien n'est pour toujours, Il y a toujours le changement.

A Tale of Two Duvets

Today is the day when duvets will be cleaned at the launderette as a treat because although they are not dirty as such they have not been cleaned for more years than I would like to confess.  This has been for a number of reasons,  too lengthy to mention.  However, with a second comfortable bed with its own duvet in another room and with warm weather forecast for the next few days, it’s time for transporting two bulky luxury king size feather duvets.

I had already discovered that at the launderette in the larger town, 30km journey, the cleaning of one duvet would cost me 32e, Nearer , 7km journey, it would cost about 26e. Without procrastination, I head to the launderette at a nearby market town, 8km, because in the past I received courteous and helpful service. Being petrol conscious, the drive could incorporate a visit to the market to purchase vegetables, fruit and fish because I am TRYING to keep to a diet.

On arrival, I enquire cheerfully about the price and am told 40 euros per duvet.  Oh dear! With an um and ah I decide to go ahead, even though, perhaps, I could buy a new one, appreciatively lesser quality, for a little more than 80 euros!  He is going to wash the duvet rather than chemically clean it and is telling me that the feathers will bulk together. I understand!  I ask him why he is not going to chemically clean it ... but I do not fully understand, yet he says it would still be wet. Then having filled in his form and taken my name I ask when they will be ready.  I have not yet paid!  He announced September 15^th, which is in 20 days!!!!!!!  I exclaim that this is far too long as I am expecting visitors and the weather might change but NO… the monsieur is not for turning!  I decide this is an unacceptable period for an unacceptable amount and tell him nicely that it is not possible and go to gather up my duvets.  As I do this, he surprises me. He BANGS his hands down on the counter and screws up his form, throwing it across the room behind him!  I quietly say “Ooh la la monsieur, Ooh la la”. As I exit the door I call breezily “Bon journée.”  
What amazed me is that:

Le monsieur was working at his crossword page when I arrived and clearly was not pressed at Le Pressing!  

What is it about a very teeny, tiny proportion of French people who appear to not wish to accommodate a service for their business!!!!!!!!

This happened with a local restaurant recently. We arrived at 20h30 and were refused service because although they were only three people, they had been working since 8am, were tired, plus the proprietress said they had run out of food as it is almost the end of the season and close at 21h!   It is still hottest August!!!!  However, at least they sold a take away pizza as this seems to be about all my 4 year old grand daughter who rarely sleeps wanted to eat!!!!!!!! 

At that restaurant I expressed surprise, saying that I thought custom is important for the survival of a business!  We would have spent at least 60 euros but it was their loss and ours too!
I made an omelette! 
LESSON OF THE DAY
In our region of France decide to eat earlier in the evening and book a table!  I know that but it was difficult to impress my family with this idea. Now they know!