Saturday, February 5, 2011

Spectacular





The plane back from London delayed by two and a half hours due to strong winds . Take off into the gale a decidedly sporty, engines at full throttle, affair. As we lurch, drunkenly, skywards a nervous American woman on the other side of the aisle suddenly shouts out loudly " This is the one ! ", then crosses herself three times. Everyone else looks, embarassedly, at their feet.

'The font' has resolved the recurring 'blockage' issue . Another huge truck arrives. After much digging of lateral trenches by Monsieur Risotto and his team the evacuation pipe from the ancient ' fosse septique ' is uncovered. The resulting release of pressure, in ' the fonts ' words is , ' spectacular '. That is all one really wants to know. The bottom part of the garden with its exciting odours is now out of bounds to Wilf.

Friday evening, the peak of the weekend rush hour. The large SUV decides to develop a fractured fuel pipe right in front of the airport arrivals hall. Amid gushing petrol, Wilf quickly lifted to safety. The offending vehicle then speedily driven to the remotest spot in the car park. Within seconds the efficient fire fighting team arrive to douse the leak in sand.

Wilf, wearing his best 'wot's going on 'ere then ' look saunters over to supervise . He soon finds himself to be the absolute centre of attention. No less than six firemen relaxedly chatting to him. Another reminder that France is different. Do all French fire engines carry a stash of biscuits ?

26 comments:

  1. Thanks for the great laugh in this post. I love the part about the woman on the plane the best!! But they were all equally hilarious.

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  2. After a two and a half hour delay was it the passengers who were lurching drunkenly or the plane?

    Sending woofs to Wilf,
    Riley

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  3. Biscuits should be a required item in all emergency vehicles.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella

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  4. That's some excitement!!! Of course Wilf was the center of attention.

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  5. Truth IS stranger than fiction. One couldn't make this stuff up!

    Wilf had certainly seen a lot of excitement lately. What will you do to keep him entertained when it all dies down. Or will it...

    The font deserves to be celebrated for resolving such a nasty problem. Job well done there.

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  6. Wow - firefighters carry biscuits? We are stopping the next truck we see.

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  7. We think excitement follows Wilf around purely for his benefit. Wilf seems to be the sort of dog who is always the center of attention,he is good a creating memories for everyone! Hugs to the little fellow.

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  8. Leave it to Wilf to charm firefighters out of their biscuits! Ha ha ha!

    I'm glad to hear that things with the septic system have been resolved. Now for the yard repair saga!

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  9. Love those firemen!! Nothing like the French though for appreciating a good dog!

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  10. Wilf may petition the fire department to replace the dalmation as their official mascot! Agh, glad to hear another American is cementing the notion in the minds of our European friends that we are all a wee bit bonkers! Does the rickety old farmhouse now have it's own moat thanks to the trench-diggers?

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  11. We have a fire house very nearby. We're going there today to look for biscuits.

    Of course everyone gathered around Wilf. That's what I would do!

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  12. That story about the firemen reminds me of the day I arrived at my dentist's surgery to find my appointment cancelled because the surgery was on fire.
    A rather fetching fireman offered to look at my teeth instead. I declined as I rather fancied spending the time off work having a good lunch !!

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  13. Everyone carries biscuits for Wilf !!!

    Zach

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  14. Wilfie, I have to confess - I have fallen in love with you.
    Another "fine hair day" for him - love the stories from France profonde and beyond!!
    Love from all of us - Susanne Daisy Foxiie

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  15. Knowing the way the French like to smoke, it's a good thing the fuel leak didn't happen near the septic systems grand finale. Now that would have been, "spectacular".

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  16. Wilf must be getting to be very good in French by now!

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  17. I think that if the Wait, Wait team were to visit your France profonde, they would have enough material for several shows!

    http://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/

    xxx Joan

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  18. What an excitement!! Thank goodness for biscuits..

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  19. I've never had a fire at my house (knock on wood!) and hope I never do but if I ever do, I'll have to check on the biscuits thing. Personally, I think they knew they were going to be visiting a very special dog so they made a point of bringing them along!

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  20. The handsome, engaging Wilf will always have a crowd surrounding him, I suspect. I'd always be in the front row.

    My Stella is a naturally mannered dog. Loads of people here carry dog biscuits, but on a walk one day, the Fed Ex guy went out of his way to come and give her a little biscuit. She took it, then watched him as he went off on his delivery, and when he got out of her sight, she dropped it on the ground! Then turned round and ontinued our walk. Didn't taste right? Prefers UPS? Who can say?

    Cheers,
    Stella's Mom

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  21. Spectacular a deux ! much love from the semi-bilingual Susan, Dee & les Gang

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  22. Wilf
    You again saved the day
    What could have been a depwessing and awful set of ciwcumstances was tuwned into joy fow many because of you
    smoochie kisses
    ASTA

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  23. Wilf is Spectacular! Our day would not be complete without stopping by to check in with all of you! Happy that you are home safe and sound. :)

    Blessings and Love,
    Janelle and Maggie Mae

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  24. Wilf always charms everyone, everywhere he goes.

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  25. An exciting departure, an even more exciting arrival home, and a purged septic system! You didn't crash, you didn't burn and at least the system can now handle any lingering symptoms of your exciting day.

    OF COURSE Wilf was the center of attention, as is his due.

    Jed & Abby

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