Rural Life

Day 48 of lockdown - another Vieil Bauge Sunday

And hopefully that has you humming a hit by the Monkees!  Except this isn't status symbol land.

Today is supposed to be the last yukky day for a while - I hope so as it really does get monotonous and as we are nearly at the end of week 7 of lockdown, it is just that bit harder.  The NCIS rolling repeats are ones I've seen for the last 4 Sundays I think, radio palls after a while and however often I look at seedlings, they haven't done anything miraculous, but I have got wet looking at them. 

There was a bit of a queue at the boulangerie this morning, so I took the opportunity to photograph the church from an angle I often see but rarely notice, if you see what I mean.  it is an historic monument, but at times when I look at it, I do wonder if it isn't about to fall down.  When we first moved here, the bells sounded the half hour, and twice on the hour, two minutes apart, with wild peels at 6:30 am and 7:30pm, and marking the hour all through the night.  Someone has complained, and now they only go on the half hour and on the hour (and once only) between 6:30am and 11pm.  I find this sad - the original was more authentic, but I guess some townies moved in and decided it wasn't good for the children or something.

This afternoon I went for a walk on my own to get a bit of exercise - the ounces are building up and we have roast pork for dinner.  There is a circuit I do, I could add perhaps another 500 metres to it, but haven't yet.  It takes about 45 minutes and takes me out into the country, before coming back along the repurposed railway line towards Baugé, and cutting back down to the village via the Pont de Godot (where you can wait...).  There is some uncertainty as to whether the Voie Verte is an authorised route, but when I was on it today, I was on my own apart from many small brown birds.

Truth be told, we are feeling rather flat - and I am pretty sure that is weather related.  If the sun is shining, we can sit in the garden and ignore the paperwork that needs to be done, the cleaning that needs to be done and all the other household chores.  But with a rain shower every 20 minutes or so, you feel like you have to attack business accounts or, worse than that, the French tax return.  Poirot is good at reflecting our mood.

 

Day 46 of lockdown - a strange bank holiday

Yes, it's May 1st - celebrating workers.  Normally in France on May 1st, it is difficult to avoid people selling sprigs of lily of the valley, and if you are in a big city, the unions, the Communists and the Front Nationale (or Rassemblement Nationale as they now like to be called) are all out demonstrating at the wonder of the common man and the evilness of all governments of whatever complexion.  But this year it is all different.  I was strangely moved to receive a sprig of lily of the valley from the boulangerie to thank me for my fidelity through the current crisis - of course I would be faithful to them, they are the cornerstone of my morning!

The unions decided that standing on your balcony banging a cooking pan was a good way to demonstrate this year (and sod any health workers who live nearby who might be trying to sleep, or indeed any babies and their frazzled parents).  The Communists were more into sending electronic bunches of lilies of the valley to sympathisers - I've received a few today!  Marine le Pen gave her usual press conference rant to the massed media this morning and for once I kind of smiled.  She was wearing a mask so you couldn't read her lips, and her voice was very muffled behind the high quality mask she was wearing so it was hard to understand what she was saying (a bonus on any day).  One reporter asked her why she was against all the government strategy, and if she had been in power, surely she would have closed things down as well?  As far as I could tell her response was yes, they closed things down, which she would have done too, but a) they did it a month too late and b) they aren't her.  The wonders of hindsight...

The Day of the Workers is the day that NOTHING at all happens in France, no papers, nothing.  So apart from odd farming noises as animals still need to be fed, it is extraordinarily quiet out there, more than a normal lockdown day.  And quite cold.  Clearly birds are starving as I put 4 fat balls out in the feeder this morning and by mid afternoon half the volume had gone.  I went out just now to release the chickens and there was perhaps half a fat ball left.  Those sparrows are greedy so and sos sometimes!

Finally, a photo from earlier in the week of my favourite irises that come up at the edge of the wildflower meadow.  I keep thinking I really must lift a corm or 3 once they have flowered to bring home - I'm sure they are getting too congested where they are!

Day 44 of lockdown - a bit of a rant

Well after a day yesterday that felt like it had been stolen back from the gods of bad weather, today we have had what my French chums would describe as a truly British day.  I was lucky in that I got out to go to the market early (for me at the moment), so there was only a very short queue to get into the market place and my usual stalls didn't have many waiting either.  My only limit was that I had little cash, so had to do my bulk purchases where they would take card payments (cheese, fruit and veg).  I was out of the square by 10:25am, which was quite good as the rain radar had indicated that the rain would start in la Flèche at 10:30am.  Impressively for the forecasters, I felt the first spots at 10:27am.  By the time I got home it was properly raining.

It then rained solidly until about half an hour ago, so I've been truly confined to quarters.  As my big project is now put to rest for a while, all I have had to do is some bits of electronic tidying up, soI've had time to think.

When I got home from the market this morning, John had the internet radio tuned to Classic FM.  We were both fed up with Radio 2 and the false cheery, "we're all in it together", worthy projects and jollification, or fake sincere and practiced choke to the voice, hushed tones and doleful stories of death or loss.  Commercial pop and rock radio stations had inane adverts for things we didn't need and couldn't buy anyway, traffic reports for roads we don't use and government exhortations to good behaviour.  I had suggested trying Classic FM, and within seconds of tuning in, John was apparently happily conducting an imaginary orchestra through a rousing piece of music.

I'd also seen yesterday on Facebook a rant about orthodoxy in revering the NHS (no problem with that) and saying politicians in the UK were doing their best (don't get me started).  I had noticed an increase in people doing things to raise money, and all for the NHS.  People - you pay for the NHS every day of your working life - it's called National Insurance contributions and taxation.  It is the politicians who decide if what you pay actually goes to the NHS, but unless you are a tax and NI dodger, if you are a normal person, you pay every day for the NHS.  If you can't walk up stairs 35 times a day without getting sponsored, find a proper charity.

And here is where I really start to rant.  Many of the charities, and organisations you may not think of as charities, that make our "normal" lives so much better or safer are struggling with no revenue, having to pay furloughed staff, little if any government support and are facing huge challenges in keeping going.  If you want to benefit from any of the following post-Covid-19, think about donating a few pennies to them, to make sure they are there afterwards:

Wildlife Trusts; RSPB; YMCA; NSPCC; RSPCA; Lifeboat Association; Friends Of your local park, cinema club, library; shelters for the homeless, abused men, women and children; PDSA; festivals; small music venues; groups who look after local heritage including buildings, arboretums, prehistoric sites, meadows, forests; local fauna and flora groups.  I could go on, but you get the picture. 

The NHS and ALL their staff do a fabulous job, and we owe them gratitude for what they are doing for us now, not least in ensuring that once the pandemic is forgotten, their working terms and conditions are improved significantly (surely the best legacy we can give them).  But the world afterwards also needs beauty, kindness, art and culture, and you could do no worse than donate to them too, so they are there for you.

You may also wish to offer a sacrifice of something to the weather gods so that it doesn't rain all day tomorrow, otherwise you risk more of this!

Day 43 of lockdown - no politics here

This afternoon at 3pm (French time) the lovely Prime Minister stood up to give a speech in the House of Deputies about the plan for getting out of lockdown.  I gather it went on for at least 1 hour and 6 minutes.  I've not listened to it and I'm not going to talk about it here (or at any rate not today).

The other thing I'm not going to write about today is face masks - I'd planned to have a nice cathartic rant about stupidity and face masks, as I thought the weather was going to be pants.  It wasn't so I won't.  Perhaps tomorrow or Thursday.

Instead, more of the usual - cats, plants, vegetables - you can zone out here if you like.  I won't know so I won't be offended.

This morning we discovered a rat burrow - actually not so difficult to discover, as there was a vast pile of freshly dug soil and rubble outside the chicken run - like a giant mole hill.  John has borrowed our next door neighbour's old but effective rat trap and placed it in the burrow entrance - of course if we catch any, we will have to deal with them as it is a live trap, but we really didn't want to use poison as it is too indiscriminate.  If a mouse eats some and is then caught and eaten by a cat, the cat gets very ill (how I lost one of mine I think).  The contents of the trap could be tomorrow's excitement!  Our neighbour is very excited anyway.

This afternoon was cat in the country feeding time.  Fergus was cross with me as he swatted Spooky who wanted a cuddle, so I told him off. He went and had a really high quality sulk at me at a distance.

Once I had dealt with three of the boys, I went to check out the wildflower meadow - all was looking very lovely, although the pesky bee orchids are still being very shy.  In a couple of weeks I expect I won't be able to move for the wretched things, but currently they are hiding.  I did meet this very fine furry caterpillar though - eating its way through what seemed to be clover, it was about an inch and a half long.  I wonder what it will be when it grows up?

Donald decided to help me take photos in the meadow, including my favourite irises (for tomorrow), and other bits and bobs.  I suspect this is not how to take selfies!

Finally, I picked a few broad beans - they are still very tiny, so ideal for pretentious chefs, but I'd got to that stage where I could wait no longer!

Day 41 of lockdown - haute couture

Well the sunken cake didn't kill us - yet.  It tasted much better than it looked, but I must work out what went wrong.

This morning I had to go out to feed the boys in the country.  They were all present, correct and in need of cuddles, so it took quite a long time.  It was extraordinary, sitting with them and all I could hear was purring, birds singing, insects buzzing and the odd cuckoo a bit of a way off.  I recorded it for the blog, but haven't yet worked out how to get that off my phone and onto the computer.  As the forecast for the week is wet and stormy, that is a project for another day, not a Sunday.

Once the cats were cuddled out and I had finished my chores at the site, I went to check on the meadow and the orchids.  The bee and lizard orchids are still not showing themselves, but the two lady or early spotted orchids (whichever they are - my identifying flowers books are not brilliant on orchids, but a new one is not an essential purchase at the moment) were looking good.  Here is the one in the centre of the meadow (subtle it ain't).

Once I had taken this photo, I started back to the car, but noticed a flurry of yellow further down the meadow.  I followed it and watched it and it turned out to be two swallowtail butterflies playing (or something else) over the top of the flowers.  I charged after them, phone at the ready to get that one shot that will make me famous, but they separated and led me a right dance.  In this photo, you can see a yellow blob, and that is as close as I got to a swallowtail to photograph it!

This afternoon we've been taking it slowly as no one really needs to be out and about on a Sunday afternoon.  As all the talk is about wearing masks and whether it will be compulsory when leaving the house, I thought I would take a look at the free pattern supplied by the local paper and make our own.  I'll not go into our thoughts on face masks today, but if it is what is needed, so be it.  An old duvet cover, for a size of duvet we no longer have, provided the fetching material for these works of art, while I had just enough elastic to make two (how lucky is that?).  Here is yours truly modelling our post-confinement face ornaments.  Alternatively they will come in useful when I go into robbing banks.

If I don't look comfortable, it is because I wasn't - they really are as unpleasant to wear as the health care staff say, and I am full of admiration for them for doing an amazing job, while wearing this sort of thing and not complaining about it.

 

Day 29 of lockdown - but spring is still springing!

Last night the President addressed the nation and told us lockdown was extended to 11th May, and even then, things would not be back to normal straight away.  Restaurants and bars - such a key part of French life - will not be reopening then, although some schools might.  The borders remain closed.  So there are at least 27 more days of this - not sure how that makes me feel.  We've been doing OK so far, not least as we are still able to work, either remotely (when I do my UK work) or in isolation (when doing work in France in isolated gardens), and we are able to access nice food and drink.  But I am beginning to miss family - last year I seemed to spend every other day in Chinon until my brother arrived, at which point it was a day every week.  Not that I miss the A85 having said that!!  We also miss friends and the Friday night at the pub sessions will not be happening for a lot longer than four weeks it seems.

So human life is in limbo in many ways, and the days could start to resemble each other, until you pay attention to nature and how spring is carrying on regardless.  I had to feed the country cats today, so was able to admire the antics of a ginger cat in the sun with a nice, earth-filled hole.

Then there was the lovely surprise of a lilac bush I'd not seen before, flanked by a cherry tree and a hawthorn, both in full flower.

And then there was the chance to look closely at what we believe to be a lady orchid (still could be corrected on that one) as it gets towards peak perfection.

So really, in the scale of things, it is not all bad at all!

 

Day 28 of lockdown - apparently it's a bank holiday

Today it really is quiet.  Normally on Easter Monday we would be able to hear the funfair in Baugé Place de l'Europe, and would discuss whether we were going to go in to see the crowds and the market, and most years deciding that we won't.  But this year there is no choice.  So quiet, that even though it is a day to feed the cats in the country, we haven't dared to go out to do that!

This morning I did go out on an abortive attempt to buy croissants and baguette, not realising that our bakers are now closed on a Monday.  Still it did mean I got out for a short walk this morning.  It was grey and dull but not cold and I never really tire of this particular view.

There should be a photo of the road leading down to the pub and the lake but it doesn't seem to want to load today!  O wait, I've got it sorted!

We did useful things in the garden in the morning and then in the afternoon I finished sewing all the pieces together of the new cover for the pergola.  Now I have to think about how it is going to be attached to the frame and where I can get any necessary supplies from!

And I want to put in a picture of the full donut of the cover - so far it hasn't worked...  sixth time lucky!

The quince is now in full bloom which looks rather lovely.

And I am now fed up with fighting technology.  Enjoy the rest of your bank holiday!

 

Day 27 of lockdown - there's thunder in the air

Happy Easter to all - I hope the Easter Bunny was able to find a local elf to ensure you had some chocolate today!  Thanks for the messages about this blog too by the way - it really does help to know people are reading it, if only to keep me on my toes about fact checking and the like.

Although there are now storms rumbling around, this morning was lovely with not a cloud in the sky.  I have been surprised at how quickly the ounces are piling on (and after 27 days, ounces mount up) - I guess I didn't really realise how much good the long Sunday walk, the (in my dreams) weekly trip to swim at la Flèche and the Monday evening yoga sessions all did me.  Anyway, this morning I left John doing bad things to the artichokes that have taken over the potager, and went for my permitted up to 1 hour of solitary exercise no more than 1km from my front door.  Actually at the furthest point I fear I was actually 1.05km from my front door, but no one stopped me!

The following six photos are from my walk.  I want over the Couasnon twice and hoped to see kingfishers, but sadly no.  I did see swallows however - they arrived during the week and are now being delightful as only swallows can be.  I did see a couple of big trout in the stream, but no chance of getting a photo with my phone.  Coming back into the village, I noticed that the laburnum is now out, so shouldn't be surprised that my hay fever symptoms are starting to ramp up.  I do need to ration the antihistamines though as it will be a while before I can get more.

Anyway, enjoy the stroll in the quiet of the countryside!

 

Day 24 of lockdown - a funny thing happened on the way to work

I got stopped and my papers checked by the police today.  I was driving down a tiny back road and they were coming in the opposite direction, and probably assumed I was without the relevant attestations.  We both needed to pull over anyway, as the road was only 1.5 cars wide. 

Windows down - "Madam do you have your attestations?" 

"Yes, officer, several actually!"  So I started with the standard one, where I had ticked the work box -

"You are British Madam?" 

"Um well yes, I am." 

"And what is this work you are going to do?" 

"Well, at a second home, where there is gardening work to be done and cats to be fed, and I've got my employee attestation and a note from the owner and everything." <Gulp!> 

"A second home and cats to be fed?" 

"Yes <gabbling now a bit> and then I've got to go to another second home and mow the lawns there, and I've got the attestations for that too!"

"Ah, Madam, you are going about your professional work, that's fine, have a nice day!"

And off they went.  While I was waving all the other attestations around, they didn't want to see any of them.  Actually the younger cop was nodding happily when I said I was going to feed cats, but I think I've met that one before...  So anyway, I now have confirmation that what I do is right and legal, so that's all good.

So once the cats were fed, I beat the bounds at that property and found three nice spears of asparagus for dinner and the first of the wild orchids to show its flower spike this year.  I photographed it for you, but in a week or so it will be much more dramatic.

Then I went on to the other property and mowed.  There is a lake there, and today I noticed a rather unpleasant and worrying phenomenon on the surface of the lake - look at all that pollen!  I think it is a mix of rape and birch, but the grass won't be too far behind.

A friend shared a photo of her tree peony with me on Facebook, so I am pleased that I did finally remember today to photograph mine, which is now out in front of the house.  It might look a bit weedy, but it has been growing in a pot for about 7 years - I probably ought to repot it once the flowers are over.

And as for that watched orchid that should surely be open by now?  Well this is where we are at today!

 

Day 23 of lockdown - bits and bobs to delight and fright

A couple of days ago I mentioned my orchid that was torturing me with how slowly the flower buds develop and when would the blasted thing open.  Still not open today of course, but getting jolly close - see!

So there I was this morning, standing at a safe distance from the person in front of me and the person behind me in the queue to get into the market at la Flèche.  As I looked around, I noticed a lovely display of flowers - most likely hyacinths that have been around for a few years - on the roof of an outbuilding.  It is probably an old outside loo - my Mum has one very similar in Chinon.  It was so pretty to look at this morning though.

The apply blossom is starting to come out - this spray of flowers is from the Granny Smith tree, which is ahead of the Reine de Reinette.  There are unlikely to be any flowers at all on the Belle de Boskoop.

And finally, I present to you a bowl of eggs.  The big white one is a goose egg - geese are big.  The other three are from our chickens.  That one top left is scary.  Just think about laying that one, boys and girls.