Bonjour,
I hope that you simply and yours are properly.
You would possibly recall a few weeks in the past I advised you that I used to be going to a celebration being held for a parrot known as Gaston on account of the chicken reaching its thirty fifth birthday and likewise celebrating its friendship together with his unlucky-in-love human Gaspard – the 2 are inseparable. (In case you missed it you’ll be able to learn the e-newsletter right here).
A lot of individuals requested for photographs of the occasion however there are none, and there’s a good cause for that. Some years in the past once I first began writing about my little village in the midst of nowhere, rural northern France, and the individuals who stay right here, I used to ask if it was okay to take their picture – most individuals mentioned sure. However I used to be advised by a buddy that the truth is some individuals felt uncomfortable with me sharing the photographs on the web. I swore to myself there after which – I’d not put anybody in that place once more and from that day on, I’ve not shared any photographs of the villagers, nor have I ever revealed the title of my village as apparently some individuals right here really feel that my books might have a Peter Mayle-like impact and assume hordes of holiday makers might descend on a slightly wet little hamlet of 152 individuals and 1000 cows, (it’s after all way more probably that pigs will fly however I’ve honoured their want to preserve this place a secret).
Nonetheless, phrases can paint a thousand photos so think about if you’ll, a sparsely furnished candlelit room in a small cottage, the partitions coated in lime render the color of custard cream biscuits, an extended oak desk within the centre, with 16 rickety picket chairs round it. On one wall a roaring log fireplace, and on the mantel above, a pale picture in a silver body, a good-looking moustachio’d man in his 40’s with a parrot on his shoulder. In opposition to the wall reverse, an extended darkish wooden sideboard with ornately carved doorways of indeterminate age, and on one other wall a darkish wooden panelled door resulting in the road, a picket door to the kitchen on the dealing with wall.
At one finish of the desk the visitor of honour perched on the shoulders of a moustachio’d man now in his 70’s, preening his lime inexperienced wings, shouting obscenities and swear phrases with completely happy abandon (the parrot not the person) discovered from a former spouse (the person not the parrot).
Across the desk a gaggle of mates and neighbours gathered to have a good time the birthday boy, ignoring his screeches, squawks and insults, toasting an unlikely friendship between man and chicken, feasting on scrumptious dishes ready by Gaspard impressed by his love the gastronomy of his native French Ardennes – turkey cooked in beer and carcasses cul nu, a potato and vegetable stew (cul nu which suggests bare-bottom, apparently a reference to this being a meatless conventional dish of the poor), and on the finish of the meal, a neon-green parrot themed birthday cake that induced the chicken to shriek “Mon Dieu” because it was lower into items.
Bon weekend and bisous from a typically slightly odd little a part of France
Bisous,
Janine
Editor
ps Prime picture is Vannes the place I spent final week on a French immersion course (sure I did go to a number of creperies!). I’ve had so many messages asking me about it, and in case it’s of curiosity right here is the hyperlink to the corporate I did my course with: SLImmersion-france.com
Learn the entire e-newsletter right here
Janine Marsh is Writer of My Good Life in France: In Pursuit of the Rural Dream, My 4 Seasons in France: A Yr of the Good Life and Toujours la France: Residing the Dream in Rural France all out there as book, print & audio, on Amazon in every single place & all good bookshops on-line. Her newest ebook Learn how to be French – is a celebration of the French way of life and artwork de vivre.
Don’t miss the weekly e-newsletter which each week brings you inspiration from France
It’s straightforward to subscribe in case you don’t need to miss my weekly newsletters of musings from France and a round-up of fab options, plus unique random e-newsletter giveaways. Simply click on right here, kind in your electronic mail tackle and click on subscribe: Subscribe
Need extra France?
Uncover extra fabulous locations in France with our free journal The Good Life France
Love France? Have a hearken to our podcast – all the things you need to find out about France and extra!
All rights reserved. This text is probably not printed, broadcast, rewritten (together with translated) or redistributed with out written permission.
