I hope that each one is effectively with you and yours.
Welcome to the primary publication of 2023.
It’s been a gusty outdated begin to the yr right here in my nook of France, and soggy too. A river of rain has been operating down the hill exterior my home just about each day. Ronnie and Reggie the Labrador puppies are fascinated by it. They’re just about fascinated by all the things, the leaves that twirl and whirl within the wind, Madame Jupiler’s chickens which wander in regards to the village as in the event that they personal the place and are inspecting it, Madame Bernadette’s pet goose which squawks loudly once we stroll previous on our each day walks, the deer and wild pigs that streak throughout the fields, clearly seen now that the bushes are stripped of their coverings.
“Your doggies are getting massive and they’re loopy” stated Bread Man as they chased one another round his little van (solely the canine, not Bread Man as effectively), when he stopped to ship my baguette and to have a chat. He’s not flawed. We’ve needed to re-fence the canine pen twice now as they’re escape artists (and are a fan of chewing fences) and we want eyes at the back of our heads as, at 8 months outdated, they eat absolutely anything – or no less than attempt to, together with backyard lanterns and cushions (a specific favorite of Ronnie’s).
“Do you assume you’re a leetle loopy too?” stated Bread Man trying on the array of cats sat on the window sills of the home, Tigger and Loulou eyeing one another with dislike on one facet of the entrance door, Shadow on the bed room window, Mimi the Marmalade Moggy and FatCat, who’re inseparable besties, at one other window, Winston the most important cat within the village meowing from the pigsty window sill – he likes to be alone. All of the cats need to be in the home in entrance of the fireplace (that’s Fats Cat within the photograph, in his favorite place!).
“Presumably” I stated, “however then alternatively, they admire all the things that I do and say and by no means disagree with me.”
Simply at that time, Bette Davis got here hurtling around the facet of the home adopted carefully by a screeching Joan Collins and George Clooney, strutting and tutting and failing miserably to get their consideration.
As soon as Bread Man had stopped laughing, he helped me chase them again to the hen pen. In the meantime Madame Bernadette from down the hill arrived – she needed her baguette and had seen Bread Man’s van exterior my home. Then Jean-Claude arrived to ask for his boulot (a spherical loaf) adopted a few minutes later by his spouse, additionally known as Bernadette.
I seem to have become Madame “bread level of assortment” within the village. Ah effectively there are worse issues. I’m generally called Madame Merde (from when my septic tank blew up) or Madame who retains pigs in the home (from after I advised Bread Man I work within the pigsty – a misunderstanding I guarantee you). Madame boulangerie (bakery) doesn’t appear so dangerous!
Wishing you a really pleased new yr – we are saying it each day all through January in France (as you’ll uncover should you tune into my newest podcast The best way to be French!).
Bisous from a blustery little little bit of France,
Janine
Editor
ps Discover me on Instagram, Fb and Twitter each day…
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 out there as e-book, print & audio, on Amazon all over the place & all good bookshops on-line.
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