FRANCE 2015 Chapter 7

The time has come, I think, for me to make a huge confession. To come clean; come out of the cupboard or whatever. I have to admit that I am an out-and-out, reckless and heedless addict! Like all addicts, I always say that I can stop any time I want to, but it is just not true. When faced with the object of my addiction, there is no holding me back – I have to have it, and I have to finish it. I just can’t stop. Just what is it that I am addicted to? It is to puzzles. Crossword puzzles, quizzes and jigsaw puzzles are the top of my list, and I am driven to finish each puzzle as fast as I can. And why am I saying all this? Because before our hosts left for a week away, they made sure that we were well supplied with wet-weather entertainment – books, DVD’s and a JIGSAW PUZZLE! It has to be one of the more difficult puzzles we have ever attempted, but Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday passed in a flash and we hardly noticed the rain pouring down.

Thursday was the highlight of the week as the friends who look after our car when we are not here, took a few days off from their busy retirement (!) and came to explore the Aveyron. Naturally they came to see us and inspect our new quarters, and agreed that though very small, our two rooms are very cosy and have a splendid view. We took them out to lunch at Sauveterre, which is one of the small towns we have enjoyed most in our, until now, limited sight-seeing. Happily they also seemed to enjoy it and we spent a pleasant day there, with the sun making a good effort, but (as teachers were so fond of writing into my report cards)it could have done better.One of Sauveterre's claims to fame is the fact that they manufacture pocket knives there. Most people will have heard of the Opinel as the quintessential French pocket knife, but Sauveterre make a slightly different version called the Laguiole. Next door to the restaurant where we had lunch was a knife makers shop and we went in for a look. While  in there Neels found a 'fire stick' which he proceeded to demonstrate. This is a long straight stick, hollowed out down the middle and with a small twig left attached near the top end. It is used as one would use bellows to blow on a fire and the twig is for hanging it up on a nail. It is a very traditional piece of equipment and we were surprised to see them for sale in the shop. The nasty breeze was still simply freezing but with scarves and fleeces we made it through the day.

Friday was very little better but we went for a drive anyway. After passing through Rieupeyroux, we travelled further east to the next town of any size – Baraqueville. A strange little place, it seems as if there was a big move to restore and modernise, and then everyone lost interest, or perhaps ran out of money. Standing rather forlornly on the side of the road in the centre of town was an amazing metal sculpture. We almost missed it but went back to look at it properly. It turned out to be  made of everyone’s scrap iron and is superb work. It must have taken months to weld all the small locks, keys, spanners, bolts, chains and motor spare parts together and to create something that is lifesized and recognisable, but there isn’t even a plaque next to it crediting to the work to it’s creator.

Saturday and Sunday were again jigsaw days, although the sun did come out for quite a while on Sunday, but the freezing wind kept blowing. I’m not sure if we are enjoying this!!

As there is nothing of real interest this week, I thought I would share some trivia that has made us smile. Such as……..the farmer on whose land this house is built, is a dairy farmer with fields all around, all dotted with big, fat, black and  white Friesland cows who munch away on the lush green grass all day and who seem very contented. The farmer and his wife make cheese which they sell at the local market on Thursdays and at neighbouring  villages on their respective market days. Lots of cows means plenty of ‘top dressing’ for the fields (which is why they are so green and lush). Whenever the farmer carts a load away to put onto a field he uses a special trailer for his tractor and we were highly amused to notice that the manufacturer of the trailer, written in large letters on the back of it, is PONGE. I couldn’t have said it better myself!