Bonjour
I hope that you simply and yours are nicely.
Right here within the far north of France, we’re calling it “the brand new south of France” as a result of we’ve got had one of many sunniest summers anybody can keep in mind. We’ve had a good bit of rain too so the Seven Valleys the place I stay are lush and inexperienced, and nature has had a ball – every little thing is ripening; apple, plum and pear timber are bursting with fruit, large juicy blackberries are dangling from hedges, and the fields are stuffed with bales of hay ready to be saved.
Quickly we’ll have a harvest thanksgiving get together within the village – known as a ducasse, a Flemish phrase as this area was as soon as a part of Flanders, and traditions are held expensive. The city corridor will throb to the sound of music – there’s certain to be a good quantity of the late nice Johnny Hallyday – AKA the “French Elvis,” alongside extra trendy music. Nice large cauldrons will steam with the mouth-watering aroma of mussels cooked in white wine and nice vats of French fries.
Posters inviting everybody are all around the village and surrounding villages. Neighborhood spirit is inspired, and folks will flock from throughout to affix within the festivities. The week after our ducasse, one other one will happen in one other village, adopted by one other the week after that, and so forth for a number of weeks. Life in rural France isn’t uninteresting.
However this get together is completely different from typical. Bread Man will likely be there, and he gained’t have to fret about leaving earlier than meals is served (if it’s earlier than 10 pm, we’re fortunate!) as a result of he has to stand up early to bake bread. He has retired.
And this, I’m unhappy to let you know, has led to him being changed by a merchandising machine – the twenty first century has arrived in the course of nowhere, rural northern France. It’s the top of an period for us. Bread Man arrived in all weathers – when snow lay thick, when the solar beat down, when rain ran like a river down our little hill, when it was blowing a gale or darkish with thunder. He purchased us jokes alongside truffles, friendship with our croissants, and gossip with our baguettes. I’m nearly in tears penning this.
I realized a brand new music for his retirement – in English we might sing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”, in French it’s “Il est un bon camarade” – identical tune and curiously the English model comes from a French music which comes from a fair older French music known as Malbrough s’en va-t-en guerre (Marlborough has left for Conflict), allegedly composed in 1709 after a battle between the French and the English Duke of Marlborough’s armies. It was a people music, however Queen Marie Antoinette is claimed to have heard her maid singing it and beloved the melody. After that, it turned in style and unfold to different international locations, the place it was tailored with their very own phrases.
I do know lots of you’ll miss me telling you about him, and we too will miss him dreadfully, however I’ll be staying pals with him, so it’s not the top, however a brand new starting for him as he embarks on a soothing retirement, which can contain educating me how you can bake! Watch this area…
Wherever you’re – I want you a really bon weekend.
Bisous,
Janine
Editor of The Good Life France Journal and web site
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Janine Marsh is Writer of My Good Life in France: In Pursuit of the Rural Dream, My 4 Seasons in France: A 12 months of the Good Life and Toujours la France: Dwelling the Dream in Rural France all accessible as e book, print & audio, on Amazon all over the place & all good bookshops on-line. Her newest guide be French – is a celebration of the French life-style and artwork de vivre.
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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 – every little thing you need to find out about France and extra!
All rights reserved. This text will not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten (together with translated) or redistributed with out written permission.
