Le Petit Sauzay

We were relieved, after 3 nights' B&B, to stop for the next week. Le Petit Sauzay proved to be a lovely home - in fact, much larger than the photos made it appear. We were given a friendly welcome by the owners' friend, Sheila, who owns a cottage two villages away.

I quickly identified the suitability of the village for a running circuit - just under 1.2 miles - and at least I managed two runs during the week (one, on an obscenely hot evening, just one circuit; on the second occasion I managed two.)

We were also entertained by some scops owls, who seemed to have a very precise timetable that meant they sent out their plaintive cries every evening between 10 and 11 pm; by a tawny owl; and by two spectacular thunderstorms (we encountered several days of what the French call la grande chaleur during this week).

Here are some photographs of our home for the week...

France 2008: Le Petit Sauzay

Into the Champagne region

Now we travelled down to Clamanges, in the Champagne-Ardennes region. Here we found ourselves staying with the delightful Valerie & Didier Coulmier in their beautiful farmhouse; the room was without doubt one of the most comfortable and relaxing we've ever stayed in.

Our fellow guests shared the delicious evening meal with us, and we enjoyed the company of Mike & Joanna (who, it turns out, are hotelliers themselves in Manchester) and their three great kids. The conversations were an interesting mixture of French and English, accommodating the linguistic knowledge (or lack of it) around the table! Finally, our hearts were captured by the amazing Ramedame (we think we've spelt it correctly) - a Berger de Brie, a great soppy bear of a dog. The photo below links to a few photos taken on the morning we left.

France 2008: Au Pre du Moulin

Finally, on driving away from Au Pre du Moulin, we were treated to one of those beautiful moments. The French seem to be making a habit of planting fields to wild flowers - we saw many such during our holiday - but this was by far the most beautiful.

France 2008: wild flower field

Nobody on the Chunnel?

Yes, this really was the view that greeted us in the car park for the Channel Tunnel. The comparison with the chaos and crowds of last year was astonishing.

However, I suppose we need to point out that last year we were travelling on the August bank holiday weekend; and this year, it turned out that a major accident on the M20 (north of our B&B the previous evening) was preventing many travellers from getting there...

We arrived safely in Calais, and trotted off towards our first pre-booked gite, about half-an-hour from the port. After a bit of trouble finding the place, we arrived to discover a note on the door to tell us that our hostess had had to go away because of a family emergency; but she had booked us an alternative B&B at the wonderful La Motte Obin. (Oddly enough, this had been our next choice of accommodation when we were booking anyway...)

Mme Breton and her farmhouse were a real pleasure, as was the simple room, the delicious food (the best tarte au citron in the world, the rest of which was given to us to take away the following day!) and the calm surrounding countryside.

Owls (and other animals)

In Herefordshire for our usual post-Easter break. This sad geek has brought her beautiful new laptop with, which enables uploading of today's photographs... A wonderful day - freezing cold, but beautiful - in the lovely countryside between Kington, Leominster and Hereford, including a visit to one of the best "woleries" (our expression - don't worry about it) we've ever found.

The Small Breeds Farm Park & Owl Centre is an absolutely delightful place, majoring (of course) in owls, but also with red squirrels, goats, small fluffy creatures for petting... fabulous day.

Click on the image below for our album of the day - including the little gang of owls who sit obediently outside the tearoom, just waiting for a fuss from their adoring public.

The Owl Centre, Herefordshire

Freda & Barry

I was shocked when one of my girlfriends didn't recognise the line "beat me on the bottom with me Woman's Weekly"... Here is the YouTube showing of Victoria Wood, comedienne supreme, performing, one of the best comedy songs ever written.

If God interrupted

And while I'm at it...

this one fell out of the things-to-do-sometime pile as well. Once more, I'm not the only one who thinks it's worth sharing, so I can rest the typing fingers. I've copied and pasted it here from this blog - am reproducing it here as well just in case the original vanishes some day. Mind you, I guess it might just as well be me.

Our Father Who Art In Heaven.
Yes?
Don’t interrupt me. I’m praying.
But — you called ME!
Called you?
No, I didn’t call you. I’m praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven.
There — you did it again!
Did what?
Called ME.
You said,
“Our Father who art in Heaven”
Well, here I am. What’s on your mind?
But I didn’t mean any thing by it.
I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord’s Prayer.
It makes me feel good, kind of like fulfilling a duty.
Well, all right.
Go on.
Okay, Hallowed be thy name .
Hold it right there.
What do you mean by that?
By what?
By “Hallowed be thy name”?
It means, it means . . good grief, I don’t know what it means.
How in the world should I know? It’s just a part of the prayer.
By the way, what does it mean?
It means honored, holy, wonderful.
Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what ‘hallowed’ meant before.
Thanks.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Do you really mean that?
Sure, why not?
What are you doing about it?
Doing? Why, nothing, I guess.
I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control,
of everything down here like you have up there.
We’re kinda in a mess down here you know.
Yes, I know;
but, have I got control of you?
Well, I go to church.
That isn’t what I asked you.
What about your bad temper?
You’ve really got a problem there, you know.
And then there’s the way you spend your money –
all on yourself.
And what about the kind of books you read?
Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me!
I’m just as good as some of the rest of those people at church!
Excuse ME.
I thought you were praying for my will to be done.
If that is to happen, it will have to start with the ones
who are praying for it.
Like you — for example.
Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups.
Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
So could I.
I haven’t thought about it very much until now,
but I really would like to cut out some of those things.
I would like to, you know, be really free.
Good.
Now we’re getting somewhere.We’ll work together — You and ME.
I’m proud of You.
Look, Lord, if you don’t mind, I need to finish up here.
This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.
Give us this day, our daily bread.
You need to cut out the bread.
You’re overweight as it is.
Hey, wait a minute! What is this?
Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in
and remind me of all my hang-ups.
Praying is a dangerous thing.
You just might get what you ask for.
Remember, you called ME — and here I am.
It’s too late to stop now.
Keep praying. ( . . pause . )
Well, go on.
I’m scared to.
Scared? Of what?
I know what you’ll say.
Try ME.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
What about Ann?
See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up!
Why, Lord, she’s told lies about me, spread stories.
She never paid back the money she owes me.
I’ve sworn to get even with her!
But — your prayer –What about your prayer?
I didn’t — mean it.
Well, at least you’re honest.
But, it’s quite a load carrying around all that bitterness
and resentment isn’t it?
Yes, but I’ll feel better as soon as I get even with her.
Boy, have I got some plans for her. She’ll wish she had never been born.
No, you won’t feel any better. You’ll feel worse.
Revenge isn’t sweet.
You know how unhappy you are –
Well, I can change that.
You can? How?
Forgive Ann.
Then, I’ll forgive you;
And the hate and the sin, will be Ann’s problem — not yours.
You will have settled the problem as far as you are concerned.
Oh, you know, you’re right. You always are.
And more than I want revenge,
I want to be right with You . . (sigh).
All right all right . . I forgive her.
There now! Wonderful!
How do you feel?
Hmmmm. Well, not bad.
Not bad at all!
In fact, I feel pretty great!
You know, I don’t think I’ll go to bed uptight tonight.
I haven’t been getting much rest, you know.
Yeah, I know.
But, you’re not through with your prayer are you? Go on.
Oh, all right.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Good! Good! I’ll do that.
Just don’t put yourself in a place
where you can be tempted.
What do you mean by that?
You know what I mean.
Yeah I know.
Okay.
Go ahead. Finish your prayer.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen.
Do you know what would bring me glory –
What would really make me happy?
No, but I’d like to know. I want to please you now.
I’ve really made a mess of things.
I want to truly follow you.
I can see now how great that would be.
So , tell me . . . How do I make you happy?
YOU just did.

How to Build a Global Community

We found this poster in a church in County Galway, Republic of Ireland, during a holiday in 2005. I had taken photos of the poster, intending to type it up for sharing with friends, and have just come across it in a clear-out. Not surprisingly, I've found many people who have been impressed in the same way - and hence saved me the job of typing it! It's an important document. Enjoy.

• Think of no one as “them”
• Don’t confuse your comfort with your safety
• Talk to strangers
• Imagine other cultures through their poetry and novels
• Listen to music you don’t understand - and dance to it
• Act locally
• Notice the workings of power and privilege in your culture
• Question consumption
• Know how your lettuce and coffee are grown: wake up and smell the exploitation
• Look for fair trade and union labels
• Help build economies from the bottom up
• Acquire few needs
• Learn a second (or third) language
• Visit people, places, and cultures – not tourist attractions
• Learn people’s history
• Re-define progress
• Know physical and political geography
• Play games from other cultures
• Watch films with subtitles
• Know your heritage
• Honor everyone’s holidays
• Look at the moon and imagine someone else, somewhere else, looking at it, too
• Read the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Understand the global economy in terms of people, land and water
• Know where your bank banks
• Never believe you have a right to anyone else’s resources
• Refuse to wear corporate logos: defy corporate domination
• Question military/corporate connections
• Don’t confuse money with wealth, or time with money
• Have a pen/email pal
• Honor indigenous cultures
• Judge governance by how well it meets all people’s needs
• Be skeptical about what you read
• Eat adventurously
• Enjoy vegetables, beans and grains in your diet
• Choose curiosity over certainty
• Know where your water comes from and where your wastes go
• Pledge allegiance to the earth: question nationalism
• Think South, Central and North – there are many Americans
• Assume that many others share your dreams
• Know that no one is silent though many are not heard. Work to change this.
  

It was apparently published by www.syrculturalworkers.org, but this domain now seems to be for sale. Whoever they were, they've left a great legacy.