Life moves on.
We left “village life vol 1” 8 years ago in the Society and Sheila singing, with the tagline:- “I would suggest that if you told Sheila 10 years ago, that she would be stood up and singing to a room full of French people she would have said “pigs might fly”. It is evident that we are accepted and indeed part of village life.
We have really enjoyed life over the last few years, for lots of reasons, yes we are part of the village. Starting with our dear friend Ginette (Gigi) and over the years we have developed a closer relationship with Franck, Veronique, Delphine and Ruddy and other members of Gigi’s family. We now speak English with Edmeé one day a week (following on from her brother Benjamin). They are now our famille française and they refer to us as their Famille anglaise.
These feelings were fully endorsed when they bestowed on me the great honour (in the absence of Ben’s real godfather) to be Honoary Godfather at Ben’s first communion It is something I will treasure. I was very proud – and a little emotional!
In 2017 Mireille and Sheila reached 70 at least that is what their birth certificate records! We promised our famille française that the first “do” we would hold in the troglodyte village monkvalley would be a joint celebration for these momentous dates.
It was held one gorgeous summer evening in June 2917. It was a perfect Saturday evening in every way. About 40 people, famille française and friends came along and helped to make it a birthday to remember. A local traiteur provided the buffet, and everybody “ mucked in “ as they say in Derbyshire and brought salads and deserts. Franck provided a cask of beer and music, including a local singer with guitar.
Beer and Wine flowed throughout the evening, and maybe the odd glass of whiskey appeared later! And that’s another story! It finally finished at 2:00am.……and then about 20 turned up next day to help clear up and finish off the remaining food. A great Sunday lunch! A great Weekend!
As a surprise gift for Sheila and Mireille everybody clubbed contributed towards a balloon flight along the Loire. Unfortunately despite booking the flight on four occasions it had to cancelled due to inclement weather conditions. So maybe in June or July 2018!
That evening was to be the first of many happy days spent with our .famille française
In 2015 we met Cathy and Nigel Henton an English couple who own Le Tasting Room, they organise tours of wine producers and wine tasting in this area.
We originally met when Cathy, who was on the local council, wanted to meet us to talk about Sheila reading “For the Fallen” at the local 11th November act of remembrance.
We had past their house many times walking to le thoureil. We had heard that English people lived there, but never thought if knocking on their door. Interestingly they often passed by Monvalley and thought exactly the same.
Over the years we have become good friends. We were always going to hit it off sharing as we do a love of food and drink. Lots of gourmet meals have followed…. lots of google moments on strange topics and lots and lots of laughter.
The village remembrance is not a church affair as in the UK, just a simple homage, when the names of the men from the village are read out. The mayor says a few words. Sheila reads the Poem: “For the fallen” And a rousing rendition of the the Marseillaise follows, and normally the 4 of us usually manage a verse of God save the Queen.
Afterward drinks are served in the Society. You walk in and the drinks are arranged down the centre of the table in a zigzag pattern, white, rosé, white rosé. Served always with sweet biscuits much to the bewilderment of the English
Xavier Chouteau (Veronique’s brother who us the owner of the Cave at St Maure always holds a Christmas Market at the cave. It on such a day that Ginette introduced us to André and Pascal.
Over the next year we met up with them regularly usually over dinner, either at Ginette’s or Frederick and Emmanuel’s, slowly but surely became friends. In 2016 they held a party to celebrate the Queens 90th birthday. Everybody was suitably decked out in red white and blue and lots of union jacks were on display.
A splendid afternoon. Friendship again enhanced by a love of good food and wine.
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