Friday, February 18, 2011

Arm waving gusto.





Strange. When you have to work inside the house the sun shines. When you want to go out in the garden and plant rose bushes it rains.

Aude, the decaratrice, continues to work away on the paint scheme in the hallway. All that's left now is the application of a second coat to the walls and the 'distressing' of the woodwork. Surprisingly, the last minute insertion of a new colour between the dado rail and the skirting board works well. At this rate everything may be finished by Wednesday of next week. Wilf will miss lying in the middle of the hall listening to Aude chat away to herself. He remains entirely convinced that she's talking to him. For some reason Aude will not paint the window frames.

'The font' speaks French with great precision. Yours truly speaks it with arm waving gusto. After a year in which we've had to cope with the eccentricities of the rickety old farmhouse, an errant sewage system, the unexpected discovery of neolithic remains, canine oncology and obdurate bee swarms; it has been decided that our language skills need to go up a notch. This afternoon 'the font' heads off to Paris to attend the first 'residential' weekend of a university language course. For Wilf and his chauffeur there will be steak tonight and chicken casserole tomorrow. Wilf is also hoping there will be pretzels.

Posted by at
Labels:

23 comments:

  1. WFT NobbyFebruary 18, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    One wonders what standard of French speaking Wilf has reached?
    Un croissant s'il vous plait, peut etre?
    Cheers, Gail (O level French 1975 Grade 3)

    ReplyDelete
  2. rottroverFebruary 18, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    A boys weekend! Have fun :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bella Roxy & MacduiFebruary 18, 2011 at 9:37 AM

    Sounds like some more bonding going on. But shouldn't you be the one improving your French?

    XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & bella

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Black and Tans.February 18, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    Wilf doesn't need to speak French. His gorgeous eyes speak volumes and we are sure all requests are answered!!

    Happy weekend and enjoy your steak and casserole.

    Molly, Taffy and Monty

    ReplyDelete
  5. ~Kim at Golden Pines~February 18, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    What's that saying, 'when the font's away the boys will play?' Enjoy!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek RamblingsFebruary 18, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    And coconut ice cream??

    ReplyDelete
  7. Maggie Mae and MaxFebruary 18, 2011 at 1:04 PM

    Enjoy your weekend my friends! Your work on and in the house is ending, ours is beginning next week. Maggie Mae will need instruction from WIlf on how to handle the disruption to her day. :)

    Blessings and Love,
    Janelle and Maggie Mae

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownFebruary 18, 2011 at 1:06 PM

    Ohhhh and perhaps a pastel box of macaroons from Laduree or Pierre Hermes?

    ReplyDelete
  9. JacksDadFebruary 18, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    Oh there should always be pretzles!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Whispering WallsFebruary 18, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    Bonne chance

    ReplyDelete
  11. KBFebruary 18, 2011 at 2:10 PM

    Pretzels are definitely called for. Plus a visit to that patisserie so Wilf can pick out a delicacy.

    It sounds to me like a great "guy weekend".

    Aude sounds too crazy (and not precise enough) to do window frames :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. houndstoothFebruary 18, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    I hope that Wilf gets the pretzels, too!

    Those windows and doors are beautiful! Can it be true that someone will actually finish their work and leave?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jake of FloridaFebruary 18, 2011 at 3:36 PM

    Since I seem to remember that folks in southern France also use a lot of arm-waving gusto to communicate, perhaps your style fits in just fine. Have you ever seen the Pagnol trilogy, Marius, Cesar, and Fanny?

    Enjoy your boys night out!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sunny,Scooter, (sometimes Jamie)February 18, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    Pretzels, chips and dip, popcorn.....all the junkfood you can muster I would say. The boyz-you and Wilfee should eat (and drink) whatever you like!
    I too am a bit confused as to why the "font" is attending the language classes....to become your tutor? (wife, teacher, husband student. What could possibly go wrong? I see alot of arm waving on your part coming Angus! Sure was when my daughter was "tutoring" me in Chemistry and I needed it brought down a notch since all Chemistry was difficult for me....Finally I got another tutor! Just sayin... ;)
    Hope the higher protein food is helping the dear boy.
    Please give "our" Wilfee many bellyrubs, ear scritches, and hugs if he will allow. Soldier on Wilfee, we are with you and your Angus and Your "font" every step.
    From all 3 of the Texas Sundogs, and Jamie too
    ps Yes Angus, you were very nice in referring to Wayne as an "oddity" I had different desciptives for him :) Busy day today making calls to gather the forces and call representatives...

    ReplyDelete
  15. KariFebruary 18, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    Looks like the roses have arrived! Wonderful! If the weather holds, you and Wilf will be able to spend some time together setting the plants out in the sheltered areas and watching the garden design start to take shape.
    Wilf gets more adorable by the day. So hard to believe he is not well. In our hearts and prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  16. DocFebruary 18, 2011 at 5:42 PM

    I'm thinking a nice single malt scotch and a hunk of dark chocolate would finish that steak off nicely, Wilf better stick with pretzels.

    ReplyDelete
  17. MrsDuncanMahoganyFebruary 18, 2011 at 7:11 PM

    There should always be pretzels! And coconut ice cream as a side. Our three dogs nodded in agreeance with this decision....

    Enjoy your weekend Wilf and keep going!

    Love your Canadian pals from (yet again) the deep freeze....
    Dianna along with Tor, Willow and Tucker

    ReplyDelete
  18. Piappies WorldFebruary 18, 2011 at 7:43 PM

    Hi Wilf,
    We hope you get pretzels! They're really yummy. We love how the improvements are doing there in your home.

    Have a wonderful weekend to all of you!

    Love,
    Piappies Fudgie, Princess, Frappie, Mocha, Sugar, Wai-Pai, Wai-Max & Forgie

    ReplyDelete
  19. Jake of FloridaFebruary 19, 2011 at 12:30 AM

    Dear Wilf,

    We know you and your two-legged companion are having a boys night out, but we thought you might like to attend a very special party with some of your virtual four-legged pals in honor of Scotsdog, young Bertie's 1st birthday. It's being held at the Camelot Castle-- and to join in the fun, all you have to do us paw a post to Ms Asta, the hostess, at http://astasworld.blogspot.com/2011/02/blog-post.html.

    We haven't seen any coconut ice cream, but apparently there is wild boar and lots of other delectable medieval fare.

    The fun will be going on non-stop all weekend -- unless the wee drams being shared are not that wee after all.

    We hope you'll come!!!

    Jake and Just Harry

    ReplyDelete
  20. Jed and Abby in MerryLandFebruary 19, 2011 at 3:50 AM

    The first of how many residential weekend courses? Do any of these courses coincide with something interesting, like fashion week? Even in English, about 70% of communication is nonverbal. We figure for French, it's about 90%. So gesture away, Angus. Hope you and Wilf have a wonderful, just right weekend.

    Jed & Abby

    ReplyDelete
  21. the booker manFebruary 19, 2011 at 3:53 AM

    don't forget the beer to go along with those pretzels! :)

    the booker man and asa's mama

    ReplyDelete
  22. the many BsFebruary 19, 2011 at 6:33 AM

    it's a 'guys' weekend. enjoy your yummmy means. we're betting that you will get those pretzels, Wilf.

    ReplyDelete
  23. sprinklesFebruary 20, 2011 at 8:32 AM

    I always enjoy a day with the girls, it'll be nice to have some time for the "guys" now!

    I do hope you'll give us a tour of the farmhouse once it's finished. I bet you never thought it'd be almost done, huh?

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)