A Visitor is Expected

Zeltus is on his way over to the Back of Beyond from La Belle France for a flying visit as he has an interview locally on Wednesday, I will be working so won't be able to do much in the way of hospitality other than to provide bed and board but at least the house is now almost finished in terms of decoration so at least he won't be in a complete mess.

He is coming over by bike, and ferry, around about 600 miles in total but at least it is an overnight ferry.. I am hoping he will manage to get me some of the cheese that I like, the walnut coated variety which is a special of the Perigoux region; I am ashamed to admit that the last one I tried to take home ended up being confiscated at Limoges airport... if only I had put it in my main suitcase it would have survived but that's life.

This weekend saw a friend and colleague come over and help me take down the stuff which was stored on high in the shed, out came various items including - two plastic dogbeds, half a dozen demijohns, winemaking equipment, a deep fat fryer, pressure cookers (2), jam jars, bead seats, telescopic tripods for cameras, cool boxes (2) and assorted dust and spiders cobwebs.. thankfully now that is done the rest of the shed will be easier to manage.

I also managed to finish painting the study/3rd bedroom which was the last of my big painting tasks, now it is just the little fiddly bits and gloss work to be touched up... and hopefully then I can relax a bit more.

Musings from Back of Beyond

During one of my (many) tidying up sessions, I re-found a book sent over by my brother about Oradour Sur Glane... The village has been left to stand testament to the suffering inflicted on the villages during the war and it set me thinking. Though some of the buildings now are being protected by metal bands to stop them falling down.

It seemed to be an act of almost petty spite, foiled at finding the real Resistance which had attacked the German garrisons at Tulle and Guéret as well as the kidnapping of Sturmbannführer Helmut Kämpfe, Adolf Diekmann, Commander of the Der Führer regiment of Das Reich ordered the systematic killing of the inhabitants of Oradour Sur Glane on 10th June 1944.

Some 642 villagers, including children attending the schools from outlying hamlets were shot by machine gun, set fire on in the church and in barns and some of the bodies pushed down a well.

It is a moving place to visit, but I wonder, if in the heat of the moment whether any of the soldiers under the command of Diekmann felt that this act was so wrong but were afraid of the consequences if they were to refuse the commands.

Zeltus and I took a brief tour of the village when I was on my way back to the UK, and it struck me then that sometimes we push our consciences aside in the heat of the moment even when we know something is so inherently wrong, but appears to be a lesser risk to personal safety.

We had a conversation, yes siblings even talk to each other sometimes, when is the right time to let the grass grow over the old ruins? to heal the rifts of time and anger.. It is on the same lines as Auschwitz and Bergen Belsen, when do we recognise that it is time to let go of the anger for fear of just perpetuating the hatred?

What do you guys think?

Decluttering

I have been busy since my return of decluttering, old pieces of furniture that I inherited from my parents that I have never liked are about to bite the dust and be offered to some willing (victim) recipient on freecycle or face the sledgehammer. They take up space and are not what I need, the contents were just left and a lot of it has gone in the bin.

I managed to get a butchers block from a high street retailer for half-price, so one of the benefits of the recession, and that will replace the wobbly breakfast bar and sideboard in the kitchen. I will be saving up for something else or working on something else to replace the breakfast bar but it may well just be a folding table I have already.

The collection of whisky minatures has gone from the display cabinets in the front room and you can actually now see the other items more clearly. Zeltus is going to be the recipient of at least one of the bottles as it is Pusser's Rum and I have kept a couple of minatures to remind me of Dad - the rest will be put up for sale and used for something else.

The house currently looks like a tip, and probably will do for a while yet, but eventually order will be restored and then it will look half-way decent. The Ratz new cage (an Abode) has been put together but I still need to persuade them they wish to leave their current cage and go to the new one (preferably without getting bitten). The new one is bigger, but also on wheels so they can have a change of scenery without me having to manhandle a large and rather heavy cage around to do it.

Sometimes it is nice to be working to achieve something I really want, and thanks to a holiday in France and time to think about it, I know what I want and am working towards it.. hopefully in the future all will become clearer.

I had a great time in France

Landed on Saturday afternoon, and by the time I got home I was absolutely shattered. Sunday was spent catching up on tasks such as washing etc and after a busy week already I opted for a leisurely bath, watched the Northern Ireland drama and fell asleep.

Feet haven't touched the ground at work, hence the blog not being updated, but now I think there is light at the end of the tunnel and if I find it is someone else bringing more work they might swing from the rafters.

Stopped at Oradour Sur Glane on the way back to the airport, it was a very moving experience, not just because of the feelings of the place but knowing some of the history. Such a tragic story, but not alone in paying the price of war I am afraid. I am glad it is left as a testament to man's inhumanity to man, it helps to remind us of our rights and responsibilities. We have the right to a peaceful life, and a responsibility to protect those rights.

I was glad to get back to the airport, and it was worth paying excess fare on the luggage which contains all sorts of goodies that I brought back and the cheese and walnut bread made a good snack at the airport. I even brought coals to newcastle in the form of a chocolate easter egg that Zeltus, his wife, me and a friend won as part of a quiz team on the Thursday night we won 4 eggs and therefore each had one. Needless to say I also brought back some french chocolate including some very nice cocoa dusted walnuts which are a regional speciality.

The ratz survived the week without me, and I think even missed me though the person that took care of them said she read them a goodnight story on one of her visits, and even said they were quite cute. I think most people's view of ratz are the big brown scary variety.

It is good to be home again, but I did enjoy my visit to Zeltus not to mention polishing the acres of oak panelling with beeswax on the Friday :-)

Perigord Region

Zeltus's wife took me to Perigoux yesterday as I was on the hunt for some local perigourdine delicacies to take home, such as foie gras, confit de canard, cocoa dusted walnuts etc.. I hadn't visited Perigoux before, so we went there and the small streets and narrow walkways reminded me very much of York with the ginels and snickets.

After a cup of coffee, and the obligatory pastry we set off to explore the town. It is always fascinating to look into the shops and see the different objects for sale, so different to english towns and so much the same.

I managed to get some petite tins of foie gras in different styles, and in a small chocolate shop found the elusive cocoa dusted walnuts - these I brought when I first visited 4 years ago and they are lovely and not too sweet - my quest was completed with a visit to carrefour where I managed to pick up some sweets for friends etc.

Then last night, we went out to a quiz night with another ex-pat Rob, the grand prize being chocolate Easter Eggs - Cadbury's. Given the first 12 questions were on wimbledon winners I wondered if we had a hope, but after than general knowledge saw us sharpen our wits.. one question we got right, by luck more than judgement, was on which river would you find the cat and mouse castles... anyone know why this is? The answer is the Rhine if that helps, I have had a look but haven't found out why or how. We not only scooped the first prize, but managed to get the closest to the bonus question to get a fourth egg so we came home laden and happy last night.

I fly home tomorrow, it will be good to get home, to unpack and hopefully cut the grass in the garden not to mention catch up on the post and other work that will need doing, also have to prep for work next week.

On the way to the airport at Limoges we are going to call in at Oradour-Sur-Glane as I have always wanted to see it, we will only have time for a short visit but needs must.

Fish Day

I was talking to Zeltus's wife about the French customs for April Fools Day, and apparently over here it is known as Fish or Poisson Day. They still play jokes on each other, as do the English and other nations but over here in France they sell chocolate fish to give to each other as presents.

From what I know of the traditions behind April Fools Day or All Fools day is that in pre-Christian cultures May Day or May 1 was celebrated as the first day of summer, and signalled the start of the spring planting season; an April Fool was someone who did this prematurely.

Chaucer references April Fools' Day in the Canterbury Tales written c 1400 in the Nun's Priest's tale, a tale of two fools: Chanticleer and the fox, which took place on March 32nd as as we all know only 31 days in March so this would have been April 1st.

Our mother told me the story of the spaghetti tree harvest, reported on by the BBC in 1957, and tried to convince me it was true but I was having none of it. Good job too as this was a hoax, but had many people fooled at the time.

To France

A friend brought me across to Stansted airport, where I duly checked my bag in using the automatic check-in systems and then stood in line at the baggage drop. It was difficult at first to work out where I should be going but then like a light switch being turned on I saw the light.

I sent some final texts to friends and then headed to air-side. Security was more rigorous than when I last flew, but I did manage to get a smile out of two of the security staff when I asked if I should remove my hoodie he said yes, and I asked if he wanted any more.. his reply was are you offering with a big smile... sometimes it pays to have humour. Then passing through the detector I triggered it and got stopped for a frisk, of course women have to do women, but I did ask if next time I could have her charming looking male companion.. she smiled broadly and said she would try and arrange it. I thanked them all nicely, bundled up all my belongings and passed through to departures.

I did some browsing in Dixons and purchased a new set of headphones for the mp3 player, as mine are now showing their age. Then a quick visit to WHSmith got me a sunday paper and I headed for the gate as it was now showing up on the boards. Once there I tried a last call to a friend and then sent some texts before switching off the phone before I boarded.

Prices for drinks on board the plane were overly high so I resisted purchasing anything, and just read my book, the landing was bumpy, haven't had such a rough landing since I last flew to Glasgow with Easyjet and the pilot tried to convince us it was testing the automatic landing device.. right!

Through security once more, and collecting baggage out to the arrivals where Zeltus was waiting. 35 mins later and I am drinking kir while we wait for the roast lamb to finish cooking, though the clocks finally caught up with me and by 9.30pm french time I was quel fatigue and retired for the night.

Tomorrow is another day as they say.

The world of Wise Herb

Today Spring is arriving surprisingly warm despite the wind, the magnolia tree (almost a month behind schedule) is starting to show cream blossoms and will probably be over by the time I get back from my visit to Zeltus. Though I will admit to not liking this windy weather we are suffering, though I believe that is normal for March. In like a lamb and out like a lion is the old saying.

Zeltus has given me a shopping list to take, including galaxy chocolates, white/onion sauce and beef suet for his christmas puddings amongst them but also some other things which I will pick up at the delights of Milton Keynes on Sat. Yes I will face the hordes of shoppers at the Mall, by getting there at the crack of dawn, and leaving before they arrive in their hundreds. Despite the wide aisles in the centre, they all appear to want to block the way by walking three/four abreast or suddenly stopping in front of you when they see that 'oh so essential item'.. meaning you cannon into the back of them and then have to apologise. Perhaps you see now why I don't go very often to this amphitheatre of gloom.

I have to also get some euros to take with me, as my keep but also to repay them for their kindness and because it saves me hiring a car in France. On the eating side, I am now down another 3lbs as of yesterday making an official total of 11lbs in total, so I don't think I will be consuming huge quantities of foie gras even if we do go to the restaurant that we usually visit when I am over.

It will be good to have a break, away from here and then I can start to turn the old me into the new me and with new paths to tread along with the old. Great things start with small steps and I am no exception.

How things have changed

Many years ago, when Zeltus and I were nippers, Mum and Dad were away for the day and left us with Mr and Mrs Appleby who lived next door to us (or so it seems these many years later) who had what seemed like 5 or 6 children. After an energetic mornings play on the green opposite we were called in for lunch.

Now normally, lunch would have consisted of a drink, a sandwich and either a chocolate biscuit or some other treat like an apple.

I was astonished therefore to be given a plate of porridge, and told to help myself from the toppings of syrup, jam, sugar or salt..

At the time I didn't like readybrek, never mind porridge (fussy eater, wasn't I?) and probably made a big fuss, but Mrs Appleby took no nonsense... "If you don't want it, then you will go hungry" which many a 50's child will be fully aware of.

The reason I am writing this, I am about to sit down to a bowl of oats so simple, plain with brown sugar topping and a dusting of cinnamon.. how things have changed. I started to eat hot breakfasts in cold weather when I had a flat in Bedford with no central heating and the only way of keeping warm in winter was a hot breakfast which was filling and cheap.

Keep safe on the roads if you have to venture out, I am lucky, overnight we had a little snow but not too much however I will be in work early to miss some of the traffic.

A little later

than expected and the snow has started to fall in earnest. We arrived home 29 mins ago from our regular BMW meeting in Towcester and ominous clouds were gathering in the East. No sooner had we parked the car in the car port and covered SOH's car ready for his early morning start than the blizzard began to blow.

The wind chill is massive and the temperature outside dropped from the balmy 3 deg C to just over zero deg C in just over 5 mins and now the white stuff tinges the ground. I hope we don't have too much as we have some important stuff going on at work tomorrow and it is a long trek round by leg if I can't take the car to work.

Zeltus, meanwhile, is in Sunny Spain in t-shirts and shorts enjoying a break from the Gites, though his journey down hasn't been all that good as the car suffered a catastrophic failure in an essential drive component and has been taken to Benidorm to be fixed... what you can afford least to happen, usually does when it causes most mayhem.

Have a good Sunday

Hope everyone had a great Christmas

SOH and I had a good day, we were up late, not getting in from the midnight service until nearly 1am but it was a good way of welcoming in Christmas as the service brought together the worshippers from the Anglican, Catholic, Baptist and Methodist churches in the village and each preacher took his/her part in the service.

After a cup of tea, about 7am we headed downstairs to see to the Wabbit and the Gerbil that are staying with us, both were fine but were hungry for the treats we supplied to them for breakfast. Wabbit didn't see to know what the carrots and cabbage was for; we think their owner simply feeds on dried food with no fresh vegetables for treats.

Afterwards with a cup of coffee, suitably laced with a good tot of Jameson's we set to unwrapping the presents intersperced with telephone calls from family and friends.

SOH and I found to our amusement, we each had brought the other the same present of a money box in the shape of a camper van in the Cornish flag design.. we were laughing at all of our conniving to obtain at wrapping of these as we had even brought them from the same ebay seller.

One of them will be used for saving towards a new television, and the other for a new PC; things which we need but are expensive (even in the sales) and need to be saved towards.

We had bug (prawn) cocktail for starters, Donald for lunch, no turkey for us, served with roasted potatoes, carrots, cabbage and brussel sprouts for SOH. Followed by a lovely homemade christmas pudding which arrived from Zeltus just in time for this year served with cornish clotted cream and flamed with brandy we had a lovely time and it was nice just being on our own.

Today we are preparing for travelling down to Cornwall, so posts might be a little sporadic over the next few days..

Millau

Today we are heading off towards Millau and our journey home, we are leaving a day before everyone else will as we want to take in the bridge and then we will head up to Zeltus for a stay.. we brought a book that he wants as well as some nuts and catches for his motorbike. Good job he isn't having to pay mileage costs.. no instead he is providing us with bed and breakfast before we move on towards Chartres and we might even be able to persuade him to travel with us part way.

Also this will be the only opportunity I will have to update the blog however briefly on how the journey has been so far, so you never know I might be able to get a couple of photo's loaded and you might even get a real post for a change.

Cote d'Azur

By the time you read this, SOH and I should be on the Cote d'Azur and settling in for a few days of rest and relaxation after 3 fairly long days on the bikes. We don't have internet access until we get to Zeltus so I am taking a book and pen with me to write it up the old fashioned way as I hope to get it published in the BMW Club Journal on our return. So I need some witty suggestions for a title... over to you guys - what do you think?

The Wise Herb Filmbiography

Janet from 32 aker wood tagged me, at my request, so blame me for this

Le Rules
If you had to select celebrities/actors to play the parts in the story of your life today (including yourself!), who would it be and why - this can be based on looks or personality.

1. List the people who would play you and the key people in your life.
2. Give credit to the person who tagged you.
3. Tag four new people to participate.

1. Mum, would have to be Victoria Wood - mumsy but funny with it, could be serious at times but liked to try things out..

Liked to sing, even though she couldn't hold a note - something I inherited from her... tone deaf and proud of it.


2. Dad, would be played by Heath Robinson, never knew anything he couldn't turn a hand to and fix up in an instant. Loved playing in the garage tinkering with tools and turning out contraptions to shut gates and the like. A quiet man, he was never loud even when annoyed.

3. SOH - It has to be my favourite actor (other than Viggo Mortenson) - Sean Bean. Straight talking but great sense of humour.

Remember when Geraldine Grainger dreamt about him at her wedding when he say 'Come Away Lass' in the Vicar of Dibley... but he could also be a knight in shining armour (like SOH), who couldn't have failed to see his prowess in Sharpe..

3. Me - that's a hard one, I would love to be played with Genevieve Bujould (she played Anne Boleyn in Anne of a thousand days).. but it is more likely that I would be played by 'old hag/young lady' as in this optical illusion.

I have always admired the tudor period of history and the chess game of life that the courtier had to play. The peasants sorry working class would simply get on with their job and the daily grind but the gentry had to try and navigate round the intracate quicksand at the court of the King.

Me - I don't think I would have lasted 1000 days, Henry would have had my head off much sooner :-)

5. Zeltus - well it has to be bofh - this is the brother that said to me back in 1980 that getting into computing was a good idea. So far I haven't managed to get out of the industry, but 6 years ago he emigrated to France to run Gites with his Missus. Mind you he still does computer/IT work for people so perhaps bofh isn't such a bad guess.

Like Janet, I am not going to tag anyone, but if you want to take up this 'offer' of your own film, then let me know and I will officially tag you; though I would be fascinated if Dickiebo took up the challenge of who to play in his life story.

Memories

Today will be the 6th Anniversary of Dad's passing; I kind of like the American expression, it is far softer than the more outright dead.

This is a picture of Dad just before he had a trial flight in the plane behind. Zeltus and I chipped in to buy it for his 70th birthday but he didn't take up the flight immediately saving it for a sunny hot day in September; little did we know that a year later on the same date he would go to sleep and not wake up.

Sam, joined him and the rest of the family last October and I can visualise Mum and Dad taking Sam and the rest of the dogs out for endless runs over the elysian fields chasing rabbits and having fun. God Bless.

A drink tonight of the Jamesons Reserve will be our toast to you.

The French Trip

On Sunday 7th September the great adventure begins - we are off to France on the motorbikes to the Cote d'Azur . SOH and I are travelling down with a couple of friends and we don't have to be at the park until 10th September giving us 3 full days to travel through France.

The plans are to go over the channel on Sunday afternoon and then ride to Amiens - about 80 miles, for our first overnight stop and a chance to take stock and adjust things on the bike if necessary.

Monday (8th) morning we head towards Chalon Sur Saone about 310 miles. We aren't planning on pushing it too hard as we want to enjoy what we are doing but we think that we should be able to do this in about 6 hours.

Tuesday (9th), we head down towards Salon de Provence and our overnigh stop, this is a shorter day at only 266 miles and we will enjoy a relaxing evening with good food and good company.

Wednesday (10th) we only have a 100 miles to our destination at the campsite. With luck the sun should be shining and we won't be too saddle sore. Unpack and relax is the order of the day.

We then stay there until the 16th when we head home - but SOH and I both wish to visit the Millau bridge and may leave on the 15th to head over to see the structure and take some photos. Then we will head up to Limoges to visit with Zeltus, however it will be brief as we have to be back at Bolougne to catch the ferry at 10.00am on Friday 19th September. Hopefully we can persuade Zeltus that he should get his motorbike out and join us for a ride before he heads back to home and we head Northwards.



All being well we should be home on 20th September, just in time to have a day off before we both go back into the melee of the workplaces.

What does this mean to the blog, well this will be our first official blogging break but fear not, where there is internet access there will be a post however brief it might be. Don't expect many photo's until I get back though.. unless I can find a willing person to assist.

Kipling Part 1

When Zeltus made a comment on a recent post, where I mentioned Kipling; a quote was left which I thought I had come across before... having got a copy of barrack room ballads many years ago... when I checked it was this :

The Young British Soldier

WHEN the 'arf-made recruity goes out to the East
'E acts like a babe an' 'e drinks like a beast,
An' 'e wonders because 'e is frequent deceased
Ere 'e's fit for to serve as a soldier.
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
So-oldier of the Queen!

Now all you recruities what's drafted to-day,
You shut up your rag-box an' 'ark to my lay,
An' I'll sing you a soldier as far as I may:
A soldier what's fit for a soldier.
Fit, fit, fit for a soldier . . .

First mind you steer clear o' the grog-sellers' huts,
For they sell you Fixed Bay'nets that rots out your guts -
Ay, drink that 'ud eat the live steel from your butts -
An' it's bad for the young British soldier.
Bad, bad, bad for the soldier . . .

When the cholera comes - as it will past a doubt -
Keep out of the wet and don't go on the shout,
For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out,
An' it crumples the young British soldier.
Crum-, crum-, crumples the soldier . . .

But the worst o' your foes is the sun over'ead:
You must wear your 'elmet for all that is said:
If 'e finds you uncovered 'e'll knock you down dead,
An' you'll die like a fool of a soldier.
Fool, fool, fool of a soldier . . .

If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind,
Don't grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind;
Be handy and civil, and then you will find
That it's beer for the young British soldier.
Beer, beer, beer for the soldier . . .

Now, if you must marry, take care she is old -
A troop-sergeant's widow's the nicest I'm told,
For beauty won't help if your rations is cold,
Nor love ain't enough for a soldier.
'Nough, 'nough, 'nough for a soldier . . .

If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loath
To shoot when you catch 'em - you'll swing, on my oath! -
Make 'im take 'er and keep 'er: that's Hell for them both,
An' you're shut o' the curse of a soldier.
Curse, curse, curse of a soldier . . .

When first under fire an' you're wishful to duck,
Don't look nor take 'eed at the man that is struck,
Be thankful you're livin', and trust to your luck
And march to your front like a soldier.
Front, front, front like a soldier . . .

When 'arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch,
Don't call your Martini a cross-eyed old bitch;
She's human as you are - you treat her as sich,
An' she'll fight for the young British soldier.
Fight, fight, fight for the soldier . . .

When shakin' their bustles like ladies so fine,
The guns o' the enemy wheel into line,
Shoot low at the limbers an' don't mind the shine,
For noise never startles the soldier.
Start-, start-, startles the soldier . . .

If your officer's dead and the sergeants look white,
Remember it's ruin to run from a fight:
So take open order, lie down, and sit tight,
And wait for supports like a soldier.
Wait, wait, wait like a soldier . . .

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier of the Queen!