A beautiful quiet day. It is really hot here and they need rain. I accompany Michel to the boulangerie and the newsagent for our fresh bread, a daily task in France. Bread is so essential to all meals. We visit the oldest Church but cannot go inside. Even on the Sunday it is locked against thieves. There is a diligence about locking up and pulling down the shutters at home too because Michel and Monique have been burgled in the past. It reminds me how lucky I am to have the security I have at home.
I really am eating well here and am grateful not to have a large tea as well or I won’t fit my meagre wardrobe by the end of the week. Monique is a fantastic cook.
The neighbours cat is wandering restlessly around us, sitting on me then hopping off. As soon as she hears her owner’s car drive up she takes off. It is as if she knew they were coming today.
We are having a lazy day reading and waiting for the football tonight at 5.00 pm. It is a great game and I get excited too when France finally scores the first goal.
When France wins, the car horns start blaring so I am really glad not to be in Bordeaux. There would be no sleep there tonight going on the racket they made when France won its place in the finals! Here it is more subdued. The TV showed extraordinary crowds on the Champs Élysées and at Fan stadiums. Football of any code seems to unite people.
It is so nice to just stop for a bit after my weeks of travel.
Tomorrow Emma arrives. She is Michel and Monique’s grand-daughter.
fleetfootkath 