I was talking on the phone to my cousin, Bonnie, yesterday and also, Maureen, in The Sylvia, yesterday. Talk got on to the "good old days" and the simpler life we all had growing up. Maureen and I also talked about the dark side of those seemingly ideal times...racism, sexism, intolerance and lack of understanding of anyone who was different.
This morning greeted me with this from TGLF and it seemed very fitting.
| The village of spies newsletter from France... |
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I don't do politics here at TGLF – I reckon you all have to put up with enough already of others putting their opinions on Twitter and Facebook and anywhere else they can. So, I shan't say any more on this subject except that there is a new President of France and it is the subject of much debate in the cafés and bars of France including my own teeny tiny local bar.
When Sarkozy was in, they talked about his style, his hauteur, his love of bling and his glamorous wife. If you had heard the chitchat, you would have been fairly certain that many from the village moonlighted as spies and may even have been part of Sarkozy's inner circle of advisers spending all week listening in on top secret conversations. When Hollande got in, or Monsieur Flanby as some prefer to call him - a nod to the blancmange dessert of that name that's sold in supermarkets here – the same thing. Everyone here seemed to know everything about his day, though debates were rather more tame. It remains to be seen how new President Macron does but it certainly bought everyone out for a get together and to give advice on what should and shouldn't be done.
My local bar looks like someone's front room. There's a small gas fire set into a brown tiled fire place with a ‘50s vibe and the room is lit by a few lamps on shelves. A TV set on a stand high up on the wall plays constantly showing horse races or the lottery draw mostly. It's rather dark in there and the walls are a dull brown colour, the wooden tables and chairs have seen better days. Madame behind the bar is short with a blonde beehive hairdo, perhaps she has had it since she was young in the ‘60s. Her little white dog which is trapped behind a half door, yaps and tries to get out and lick customers and nibble their shoes. She does a brisk business when she's open, which seems to be when she feels like it and fairly random. Apart from being a bar it's also where you can buy lottery tickets, tobacco products, fishing tackle and various random objects. What makes it special is Madame and her husband and the locals, many of whom have been going here for years. When you walk in everyone says hello, many shake your hand and when you leave they say goodbye. It might not be that glamorous but it's cosy and makes you feel like you belong. It's also where you find out what's going on in the world – well at least according to some people!
With best wishes, Bon Weekend and Bisous from France
Janine
Editor
ps I held a give away of my book “My Good Life in France” and the winner was Lesley Ring. You can get it from Amazon UK and book stores, plus Amazon everywhere else on Kindle until it comes out a bit later this year.
ps from me: I just ordered the Kindle edition for $9.95 CDN. I am interested to read it and it's nice to support Janine Marsh.
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