Monday, August 2, 2010

On the day that God gets bored.





Some days just make you smile. Yesterday was one of those days.

By the time Wilf and I ventured out at six thirty the village was already a hive of activity. The first of the pottery stalls were being put up on the village green while over by the petanque court Madame Bay and the ladies of the catering committee were overseeing the laying out of the lunch tables. Their long suffering beret sporting spouses waved at us as we headed off along the lane. A little further on the mayor and his deputy were erecting a rather official looking 'road closed' sign to divert the traffic. While we chatted Wilf took the opportunity to let any visiting dogs know that this was his freshly christened territory.

At ten thirty the village bells peeled out for the first time in decades summoning villagers and visitors to the church for a special potters mass. The little old village church hasn't had a priest for more than fifty years but for this special occasion the 87 year old retired Abbe from the next village was called upon to officiate. He cut quite a figure in his green and white vestments. Mass over, the bells peeled out again and the ageing Abbe was helped ( half pushed , half pulled ) into the farmers rather splendid 1913 Chenil-Walcker to be driven the fifty metres from the church door to the kiln. 'It belonged to my great-grandfather' the farmer told me, stroking the front wing with pride. The first car to be registered in the village and still in working order today. These country folk don't waste much.

Here in this part of France the locals speak Occitane - an ancient mix of Spanish, French and Catalan. To our surprise the mass and the blessing of the kiln were conducted in this impenetrable sing-song language, full of glottal stops and clashing syballants. The old Abbe ended the blessing of the kiln with the words : ' On the day that God gets bored the moon will shine all day, ewes will leave their lambs and fired pots return to clay'. God certainly wasn't bored yesterday. The sun shone out in cloudless sky, the kiln spewed out smoke and cinders, the Abbe had a restorative glass (large) of armagnac, the villagers enthusiastically joined him and Wilf slept happy and content on the front door step. I'm glad this little place with its characters is part of our journey through life.

18 comments:

  1. I love that top photo of Wilf!

    That car looks similar to one I saw at a classic car show yesterday. No one was driving it around though. Funny, it was the same color and everything!

    How many languages do you speak?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh Bravo! What a lovely post today which I so very much enjoyed with my first cup of coffee.

    And how many languages does Wilf speak?

    Yankee Gal

    ReplyDelete
  3. what an adventure this journey has taken you on.....
    thankfully god isn't bored!
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  4. That header picture is a classic. Are you in it?

    Sounds like a wonderful idyllic day. You are fortunate to be in this place at this time in your life journey. I feel the same way about where I am right now - and it feels fantastic!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a wonderful day! That car is what my grandmother would have called "a real dreamboat!" Did you sample any of Mme. Bay's commerative pizzas, baked no doubt in the kiln on this special occasion. Very interesting about Occitane--I've always wondered about the name of that shop selling perfumed lotions and potions and assumed it had some thing to do with Provence, as so many of the products have lavender scents. Always learn something new on Wilf's blog. And those are the church bells you restored with the concert, right? How satisfying it must be to hear them ring!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a charming day you had! I can just imagine how fun it must have been! I love those pictures of Wilf.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Those photos of Wilf truly convey the beautiful time you all enjoyed. So pleased to hear it all went off without incident (or extinguishers), and that motorcar is the "cat's pajamas".

    ReplyDelete
  8. The first photo of Wilf is a classic! He's full of charm and mischief. Wonderful!

    I love your story of the village's happy and successful day. It's amazing to think that you haven't lived there for very long since you seem to have become part of a tight knit community. I, too, wonder how many languages you speak. It must be many.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sabots? Is that one gentleman wearing sabots?

    What a great day! God will never be bored in your little spot in the universe!!

    xx Joan

    ReplyDelete
  10. The first photo of Wilf is a classic! He's full of charm and mischief. Wonderful!

    I love your story of the village's happy and successful day. It's amazing to think that you haven't lived there for very long since you seem to have become part of a tight knit community. I, too, wonder how many languages you speak. It must be many.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your village just sounds so sweet and and unique!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Like a chapter out of Wind in the WIllows.
    Such delightful characters. You are indeed fortunate to be plopped down in their midst. Wilf, too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. i'm so glad wilf's adventures have become part of my day!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I agree with rottrover. I'm glad that I get to enjoy Wilf's adventures too!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Just love those days. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella

    ReplyDelete
  16. But we want to know if he got to drove that great car?? hee hee Love A+A

    ReplyDelete
  17. a beautiful, old world place you live in, angus! thanks for sharing your memorable day with us. i also completely adore the first picture of wilf. :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. What fun Mongoose!...
    You made me smile too! I was wondering if Madame Bay was somewhere in that communal picture??? Could she be the one in white perhaps? :)
    MAXMOM IN SA

    ReplyDelete