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.

23 comments:

  1. 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)

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

    XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & bella

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  3. 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

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

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  5. 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

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

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  7. Oh there should always be pretzles!

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  8. 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 :)

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  9. 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?

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  10. 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!!!

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  11. 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...

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  12. 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.

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  13. 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.

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  14. 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

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  15. 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

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  16. 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

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  17. 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

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

    the booker man and asa's mama

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

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  20. 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?

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