Last night the Sapeurs-Pompiers, French firemen arrived at last to make their, delayed, Xmas visit. As you may know La Poste, the firemen and Gendarmes make the rounds with calenders for the coming year. We understand that there is a possibility that you can say “Non merci” but few do. The going rate is about 10 euros a throw to show your support and appreciation of their hard work. Each calender is heavily subsidised by local firms of all sorts and the calender itself has photos of your local people as well as the usual, very French, line up of top brass standing and looking very proud.
The Sapeurs-Pompiers version reminds me that the French version of the fire service is totally different from the UK version. In France they are the paramedics as well as firefighters and take to the air to fight the forest fires in their Canadair air craft. Our local station staff at Labastide Murat are photographed, a total of 22 including 6 ladies. I hope they will remember our 10 euros if we have to call on their services.
You may have seen my earlier post about our local music group. One of our group, Jerry, has composed music in the past and has played a recording at one of our meetings of a recorder piece that he had penned. He had phoned us in the morning to say that he would be calling in yesterday afternoon but would not be staying. He duly arrived, handed over a folder and left. You can imagine my surprise when I found that he had composed a short piano piece for me with the title of ‘Hope’. I always find it very difficult to say “Thank you” and to convey those thanks without sounding crass or insincere. You can be sure that I have already conveyed my thanks to Jerry but I say it here again.
You will be glad to hear that nearly all the snow has melted, however, this is causing problems for the local water courses and fields are now turning into lakes so we are staying put for the day. I am now reading the diaries of Alistair Campbell which show a promising start but do not make me inclined to have anything to do with politicians!
