The romantic image of rural France is that it’s a haven of quiet peace and tranquility. For the most part it is, but it’s not a vacuum and of course it has its own characteristic sounds. Bizarrely, some people – incomers, obviously – have felt moved to complain that it’s actually too noisy in the…
Ever been heckled by sheep? Well, I have. Round here is mainly sheep country. It’s pretty much entirely agricultural and although there are arable crops and other livestock, there are more sheep than anything else. That means that the bleating of ovines is part of the soundtrack of daily life. Usually, I find this rather…
While we’re on the subject of la rentrée, it might be worth pointing out that it’s not just the government, schools and social clubs that are starting up again after the summer. The chasse is back in town (well, the countryside hopefully). In case you don’t know, the chasse is the hunt and it’s a…
It’s all over. And that’s official. Summer, that is. In France. At the beginning of September, the summer holidays are officially over. The schools go back, government ministers and civil servants return to their desks, even the social clubs start up again after their two-month hiatus. And there’s currently a heatwave. As I write, the…
Most people with even a passing acquaintance with France will know the French word for ‘hello’: ‘bonjour’ (literally ‘good day’). However, maybe not so many will be aware of how crucial an element of social intercourse that simple word really is. Fail to preface any and every interlocution with a friendly ‘bonjour’ and you will…
As chance would have it, I actually referred to my most challenging task yesterday. I refer, of course, to the weekly routine of changing the bed linen. The process can be broken down into four parts, the middle two of which – stripping off the old sheets and pillowcases and putting on the new ones…
I spent most of my working life as a financial analyst in the investment business. As my specialist subject was the European banking sector, I saw plenty of corporate restructurings being undertaken, with mixed success. The key question in such exercises, of course, is how to define success. When announcing restructurings, company managements must perforce…
Like the road to hell, I started out on this Bloganuary exercise (don’t call it a bloody ‘journey”: if you’re not physically moving from one place to another it is categorically NOT a journey) with good intentions. I managed the first three days fairly straightforwardly, but for some reason I never got the email prompt…
Bloganuary Day 30: OFFS! Describe yourself as a tree. What the hell is this? Have I stumbled into a Stanislavski drama workshop? Or maybe a primary school class where the supply teacher has no idea how to keep the little buggers darlings occupied until the bell goes? Oh alright then. if I was a tree:…
Bloganuary Day 19: Warning – today I am wearing my ‘grumpy old man’ head. Write about something mysterious. I’m grateful to today’s instalment of Bloganuary for providing this opportunity to have a rant, thereby further cementing my carefully cultivated image of general misanthropy. Most thing are at least something of a mystery to me, so…
the only deadhead in the hameau 