Monday 7th September

The Summer is almost over.  And for the French it certainly is.  A few decades ago France closed down for the whole month of August and everyone went on holiday and a residue of that still remains.  The schools were closed for two months actually and students have now returned.  And a strange quiet has descended.  The madness of the Marches Nocturnes and Gourmande Evenings is over for another year; in fact we went to the very last Night Market in Duras on Thursday and it was one of the best, very good food and another accordion led disco with everyone of all ages up and dancing the Madison, and jumping whenever the DJ/Accordion player shouted “Jump”.  Madness indeed, but great fun too.

There will still be music in the pub on a Friday night and this week it is the Barker Boys, Geoff and his son Liam, so something to look forward to.  A few of our friends are away too, in Paris or Spain, and the Café is a bit quieter as well.  The weather has turned much cooler the last two days too, although it should be warmer by the weekend, and I am sure it is a lot better than England.  As the nights draw in, and it is now dark when we wake in the mornings we are reminded more than ever that Autumn is on it’s way.  As we drive around the sunflowers are all burnt brown and hanging their heads waiting to be harvested, large bunches of grapes are hanging from the vines but it is another month before they will be gathered in.  The markets have long since finished with cherries and the plums are coming to an end too; it will soon be the pumpkin festival.  What a year we have had though, two months of almost non-stop partying.  So, in a way the quiet is welcome.  At least until next year.