Sunday, October 2, 2011

Sunday morning .



6.57 am in the village hall . The place crammed to the gunnals with farmers , their sons and the ever present pose of Jack Russells . The Jack Russells are playing their game of climbing up onto the stage then jumping out of the low windows onto the village green . They then rush back inside to repeat the process . Over and over and over . Boundless energy . No one bothers stopping them . The process from beginning to end conducted in complete silence .

The mayor, the deputy mayoress ( the token female presence ) and the convener of the Village Fleuri Committee are all to be found , wine glass in hand , at the front door . '' Bonjour Ongoose. Ca va Wilfee ? " Much shaking of hands . The mayor looks approvingly at the two bottles of 2009 Pauillac that I'm carrying . France are through to the rugby finals so everyone in a good mood.

Conversation stops for the Fijian and then the Welsh anthems . Even the five year olds hold their peace . Old fashioned French style courtesy . The Fijian national anthem has a certain innocence to it . The mayor hums along , atonaly , to the Welsh anthem . It's " ze land of my father '' he informs me . I nod and offer to top up his glass . He smiles . At my feet Wilf has fallen asleep, head resting on his front paws . Before the morning is over he may get a sliver of croissant from the deputy mayoress or perhaps some undercooked cheeseburger.

14 comments:

  1. Yes, definitely best to focus on the Fiji-Wales game.
    Toodle pip!
    Bertie.

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  2. More and more, I think Wilf is seeing with his heart.

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  3. Wish you a peacefull Sunday Wilfee. Bisous my sweet.

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  4. The wine you were drinking at 7am sounds better than the wine I was drinking at 6pm to watch the same game!

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  5. Again - I love the image of the hopping and jumping Jacks - Wilf looks dashing - no wonder - all this love and care -
    have a great day in France profonde -
    Susanne, Daisy and Foxiie from Southern Italy

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  6. Our elderly and infirm Wilf, greeted by the mayor, welcomed into the fold. You really are home, aren't you.

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  7. I sit envisioning the quiet (?) Jack Russels jumping out of the windows and repeating their game; the camaraderie and the respect for other nations in the silence during anyone's anthem (I fear such is lost in the US) and Wilf being tended to by an entire village, celebrating with his friends through every breath and dream. Who won?

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  8. what wine at 6.57 am!! shocking behavior!!!...sounds like those Jacques R'ussels should be a circus act.....xx for wilfie

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  9. That's one early morning party! I wonder what it was like as the day unfolded. I love the idea that somewhere, someone is still silent for national anthems!

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  10. I saw the final score of the game and I'm guessing that perhaps the Jack Russell's were a bit more entertaining to watch?

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  11. Congrats on the Scotland win! Sounds like a great way to watch the rugby.....but wine THAT EARLY?

    XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella

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  12. Wilf is smawt
    That is a totally uncivilized houw to be up
    (unless thewe is cwoissant to be had of couwse)
    silly Jacks..Wilf has mowe wisdom
    congwatulations on the win
    smoochie kisses
    aSTA

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  13. Day is night and night is day when the rugby world cup is played half a world away. And it makes no difference at all to Wilf, as long as he can nap in peace with and sneak a treat from those who have come to love him, as we have.

    Jed & Abby

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