After a couple of truly miserable days, this morning we saw the sun! Not for too long - it was raining by 4:30pm, but this morning was definitely sunny. As it's Saturday, it is also the other market day, the one in Baugé. Last week was quiet, as the weather was awful, but I thought it would be a lot busier today, as it was fine. Although the car park was pretty full, the queues were actually quite short - I think 5 minutes was the longest wait.
Normally around now Baugé hosts a large and rather good Christmas Fayre in the big René d'Anjou centre, but that was cancelled back in September I think, as it became clear that Covid wasn't going anywhere soon. However today's market was augmented by two stalls selling wine, one selling macaroons, one selling books and a huge fire/steam powered cooker selling take away meals. It was very impressive (but I didn't buy any of the food).
While I was waiting in line for fruit and vegetables, a familiar figure walked down from the Mairie ringing a bell, and making jovial HoHoHo noises. He was dishing out sweeties too, but only to small children, so I didn't get one. A few I watched him offering the basket of sweets to, looked absolutely horrified! I think they might have been concerned he wasn't obviously wearing a mask (I bet it was hidden behind the beard!).
As well as the Christmas Fayre, there would normally be all sorts of fun for the children around now. There are decorations and Christmas trees and bits of red carpet all over the place but it's not the same. The various committees that organise festivities and events all year round have clubbed together and hired in a small merry-go-round for children to have free rides on. As I didn't have a child in tow, I had to be careful to photograph no faces and ideally no children!
When I got home, John had ClassicFM blaring out with a number of seasonal tunes, to help the festive season along - so much nicer to listen to than "right on" talk radio or depressing news stories.
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