Normally I find that things quieten down in the first couple of weeks of August, before exploding into action again after Assumption (15th August) as we go into Comice season and preparations for the Rentrée. This hasn't been the case this year, with Convivial'été having its last hurrah of the season on the 1st August in Vieil Baugé. The Comité des Fêtes was on war footing, despite a number of key players being away on holiday. We were supported by the Baugé en Anjou technical services and tourism teams, but everything food and drink was down to us. By 7pm we were girded and ready for the off.
And that was about the last moment of peace until 10pm! I was taking dinner orders, not payments, just orders. The first was at 7:30pm and the queue didn't stop until we had sold out of sausages and chips and andouillettes (rather unpleasant to my mind tripe sausages) and chips at about 10pm. I stopped the queue at one stage for 30 seconds to put a sweatshirt on as the evening was cool, but that was it! A chum took a picture of the clouds and caught the queue.
There were two bands. I totally missed the exotic Bulgarian folk music, complete with strange machine - this is an official photo.
The second band, Pet't J Bus, were a lot of fun. A punk ska combo who delighted in taking French classics and turning them into ska anthems, with the occasional own creation thrown in (although that might just have been the sound test), which seemed a bit more "basic", if you see what I mean, and less suitable for a family audience. I did do a couple of videos but there is no chance of loading them on YouTube today, so here is a photo for ambiance.
We weren't the only ones having fun and frolics. Chinon had its mediaeval market weekend, with lots of people dressed up in fun costumes, lashings of food and drink and music. I imagine it was impossible to park too! Anyway, another robbed photo, this time of our favourite brewer, Simon, without his glasses, but looking suitably of the period!
And if that wasn't enough fun, the Comice season kicked off early this year, with Beauvau (tiny village, but gave it's name to Place Beauvau in Paris, which is rather important) trying to rekindle the Comice spirit in its area. We remember fondly an amazing Comice there perhaps 12 or 14 years ago with 4x4 demonstrations, a chainsaw wood carver, a competition for the biggest pumpkin among other delights, and close to the centre of the village. This year was all about tractors and ploughing. We had a lovely ice-cream each from a local farm and admired the range of tractors, but only stayed 20 minutes.
All the preparation work John did on the kitchen garden beds, with rotovating and adding loads of quality compost is paying off. We are now up to about 150 courgettes harvested, and for the past couple of weeks have also been picking large quantities of small yellow pear-shaped tomatoes which are wonderfully sweet. Today's haul also included two cayenne chilli peppers, and a green pepper, as well as some yellow carrots and an onion. We will eat well and healthily tonight I think!
Earlier in the week I was able to pick the first Coeur de Boeuf tomatoes. While not the largest on the plant, this one demonstrates the heart shaped form of the tomato and deep colour that gives it its name. It was also delicious with a good dressing as an accompaniment to whatever we had for dinner that night. There are many more of these to come, and they make a very good tomato sauce.
We've also been picking loads of blackberries - I will be making bramble jelly tomorrow for the first time in ages (I hope I can remember how!) as a real treat for the winter. Today John was attacked by, or possibly flirted with, by a huge bumble bee. Once removed from his shirt and placed on a plant, I was able to get a good look - what a marvellous specimen, and well over a centimetre long.
Next week the heatwave returns, but that might also ripen up more plums and tomatoes, so it could be a very red and purple post next week! Have a good week!