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The following are diary entries from the old Breton Diary for 2007 up until I fell ill and stopped updating the site.

Tuesday - 17th April - 2007 - A Death in the Village.

After a hard day's work, I dragged myself to the bar (as is my custom) for a well deserved Panache (or two).

Michelle seemed distracted. 'Perhaps she's also had a hard day', I thought. Then, the church bells started ringing.

"A death in the village." Michelle explained. "Marie went to the cemetary yesterday, to visit her husband's grave. That was strange as she normally only does that on a Sunday, after Mass. This morning a neighbour found that she had died in her sleep."

Monday - 9th April - 2007 - Vide Grenier - Guegon.

I visited the local Vide-Grenier at Guegon, today.

I came away with three large bags of goodies but was especially happy that I managed to find a riding hat for 5 euros (and it fits).

Lots of other things including many old cork-stoppered, glass jars - that's where this years dried mushrooms (and Ceps in Olive Oil) will go.

I also picked up a couple of fishing reels, not very high quality but, brand new and only 5 euros each. I'm sure that the fishes won't notice that they didn't cost a lot!

Finally, a slightly tacky keyholder that fits in with my collection of slightly tacky nautical stuff

The prize find, though, was a complete service of 6 Escarot plates. Brand new and only 5 euros.

The more squeamish of you should make a note that I am planning to hunt, purge, cook and eat my own Escargots, this year. And I'll be writing about it here - you have been warned!

The real joy of a Vide-Grenier is slowly walking round, saying hello to your work colleagues and neighbours, and passing a few pleasant hours knowing that it's not going to cost too much.

Of course, there's the obligatory sandwich and glass of beer at the canteen, and the discussion with complete stranger as to what bargains you've found.

I ended up sepnding about 50 euros and feeling that I'd spent a full day at the Oxford Street sales.

Then, of course, there's the getting home and finding that the book you've picked up (the one that you've been after for ages), will be joining the other two copies that you'd forgotten you'd bought at previous Vide-Greniers.

For any of you who already live in Brittany, a list of up-coming Vide-Greniers can be found here at... www.PointDesChine.com

Sunday - 8th April - 2007 - Carnac.

With a newish car, the world's my oyster. So, today, I went to the Sunday Market at Carnac - it was a lovely drive and I only got lost a dozen times (no change there). I made the big mistake of going by the coastal route - it was packed with people on route to the seaside for the first warm weekend of the year.

The market was packed. I treated myself to a dozen large oysters (the extra large ones) which I planned to grill (seasoned with Garlic, butter and shalotts), on Monday. I also sampled some local cidre and ended up buying 6 bottles of it.

I love outdoor markets; I love wandering round and trying to conncoct a meal out of all the good stuff that is on offer. I love watching what the other people buy, and wondering what they are planning to do with their purchases. Even the 20 minutes wait to get out of the car-park seemed pleasant, with the Faure Requiem playing on the CD Player and the knowledge that I had a bag full of juicy bargains, in the boot ot the car.

Saturday - 7th April - 2007 - A tired trip to the market! Easter shopping.

It was with reluctance that I dragged myself out of bed, this morning. Yesterday, after work, I drove to Carentoir to visit a couple fo old friends that I have seen since I moved to Les Croix (from Ruffiac), in September 2003.

We had bumped into each other, by chance, last week at a Vide-Grenier and they had invited me round to dinner. There was a lot of catching up to do and, by the time that I got home, it was very late. I did try to catch up on some of my emails but, the excellent dinner that Marnie cooked was just too much for me and so, at 2am, I headed for bed.

As soon as I was decent, I went into Josselin to visit the Market. I didn't buy anything there, this week, as I am forgoing my traditional Saturday night Fruits des Mer to try and clear out the fridge and make space for some imminent purchases (more of which, later) - so it'll be cheese and bread and pate and wine, tonight - there'll sure to be a salad to go with them, as well.

After the market, I went to Super-U (my favourite supermarket) to pick up the things that I would need for my Easter Fete. The supermarket was packed - we take our fetes very seriously, here in France.

Wednesday - 4th April - 2007 - No Prawnies for Tea!

In my Shower-room/Toilet, I have a large plant pot containing some indoor plants. I bought these plants (think Banana Plant, Rubber Plant etc.) as waifs and strays from my local supermarket. I tended to them, I looked after them, I always remember to water them. They prospered and grew - I was happy. I just couldn't understand why they recently started dying off. It was only today, after work, that I realised the reason. I caught Sammy (the big, fat, stupid and naughty cat), digging a hole and doing something that he shouldn't have been doing - in my plant pot!

So, Sammy - no prawnies tonignt, not for you. And, perhaps, not tomorrow, either. And... the replacement plants are coming out of your Prawnie budget!

Monday - 2nd April - 2007 - A Vide-Greniers.

For the second week in a row, I have spent Sunday going to a Vide-Grenier. I was on the hunt for some weird and wonderful kitchen equipment (you really don't want to ask!) and some riding kit (I plan to take up horse riding).

I didn't find much of the stuff that I wanted but did manage to pick up these two escargot services for just 5 euros. The shells are oven proof pottery - much nicer that the plastic ones you get at the supermarkets.

I am planning to collect escagots as soon as they dare to invade the garden. Then I'll purge them, cook them, freeze them and then re-heat them in garlic butter (with finely chopped shallots).

I like escargots - possibly because God invented them as the perfect way of soaking up garlic butter; possibly because, by collecting them from the garden, I'll be giving the tomato plants and lettuce a chance of adolescence but, mainly, I suspect - that, if you collect them youself, they are free!

The greatest bargain I found at the vide-grenier, was the chance meeting of some old English friends that I hadn't seen since Friday 5th September, 2003 - way too long to be apart from good friends! Hello again, Dave and Marnie!

Thursday - 15th March - 2007 - Bessie reborn!

I have finally decided to replace Bessie. I have replaced the old Bessie with a newer one. The newer one is a green car - she has a turbo - I haven't actually got spinning that, yet! The old Bessie decided to go out with a bang, literally... I was due to pick up the new Bessie tonight, this morning the old Bessie broke down, within sight of work.

Wednesday - 14th March - 2007 - Bought my herbs - snow on the way!

The weather has been gorgeous, in the afternoons, at least. The mornings are cold and foggy but I can live with that - where I work it is cold and my mind is often foggy, there.

So, convinced that summer is finally here, I bought 6 pots of herbs that were on sale at my local supermarket. Some of my herbs from last summer have survived - the Thym is going strong, as is the Mint. The Rosemary is looking a bit sorry for itself and the Basil didn't cope at all (I didn't really help, there. I love to pick a leaf every time I pass by and shed it over a sliced tomato, for a little snack).

I could never go back to dried herbs, now (apart from Herbs de Provence). Fresh herbs, crushed and ground in a pestle and mortar and then drenched in Olive oil - that's the way to go! It's amazing how great a snack you can make from a couple of sliced tomotoes, some shredded, fresh basil, a squirt of lemon juice and some oven warm bread (I heat up those part cooked baguettes - I haven't quite got round to baking my own but, one day soon...). A dash of olive oil over the sliced up baguette, a glass of Muscadet and - well, there's no other word for it - Heaven!

I went, as always, to the bar, after work. Michelle and I chatted about the weather and she told me that next week, snow is predicted! A wonderful entry into the real world for my baby herbs! Luckily I have a metal plant stand that takes 6 plant pots - I might start my herbs off in the kitchen, just to give them a chance. I'll sure that they'll reward me for that.

The conversation turned, as it always does, to food. We got talking about the special offers at the supermarket. I explained that I am a sucker for these and have a cupboard full of about a month's supply of whatever is on offer. The treat of the moment is glass jars of Choucroute Garni (au Reisling) - 1 euro 90 for enough for two to eat comfortably.

I bought one and tried it with mashed potato - half on Monday and the other half yesterday. With yesterday's, I perked it up a bit with a dash of Worcester Sauce (how very English of me). It's about the best Choucroute that I've ever had so I got another 11 jars today (all I could fit in my basket). It's got a long shelf life and is the ideal quick and easy meal after a hard day's work. I have just checked in the cupboard and have found that I have got 9kg of pasta - all bought on three for the price of two, special offers - must make note to myself.... Buy no more pasta until July!

Sunday - 11th March - 2007 - Guinea Fowl for tea.

In my local supermarket, I found a Guinea Fowl for sale at half price. From reading the label, I guessed that it had had at least some sort of life and so I bought it. I stuffed it with black olives, a handful of garlic cloves and a couple of whole, red onions.

I roasted it slowly and before long, that lovely Garlic stench was forcing me outside into the garden. Luckily it was warm!

I ventured back into the kitchen and then ate about a third of my Guinea Fowl with roast potatoes and boiled cabbage - gorgeous! When I get my Hobbit House, I am definately going to think about breeding some Guinea Fowl!

Thursday - 8th March - 2007 - Bits of Dead Pig (and other things as well!)

Someone on my favourite Brittany website was advertising some real pork for sale at the end of March. I have just ordered a poitrine and a head and four trotters. The poitrine will be sliced into 3 inch thick slices and then frozen for roasting later on. I have just discovered an old recipe for slow cooking the trotters, I'm not sure that they'll fit in my slow cooker but, I'll give it a go! The head is going to be boiled for 1 hour, then allowed to cool, dried and then roast in the oven. I might have to invite some friends round to help me eat it - then again, that'll only mean that I'll have to buy some more plates and knives and forks - I am a typical batchelor!

When I go to collect the pork, I shall take a good look round - perhaps what I see will help me away from the endless cycle of buying pork from work. Don't get me wrong, the pork at work is good quality (it's the same that anyone over here would buy in a supermarket). However, having bought great pork from one of the butchers in Josselin, I know that I am missing out on the real taste, albeit at a many times the cost to me.

Work on the Hobbit House plans is going well. I am having to learn how to use a CAD package (computer aided design) and have come up with 2 basic plans. One is for a low, barn sized house (56 feet by 24 feet) and the other is for a smaller (and cheaper) place - 18 feet by 36 feet. It all depends on how much money I can get together. The smaller house wouldn't have bedrooms; instead, it would have two Breton Wall Beds - basically, curtained off alcoves, either side of the fireplace.

Monday - 5th March - 2007 - Ray Carver and the wind!

I have been re-reading some Ray Carver recently. I think that he is my favourite short-story writer. The early Hemingways were great and I do love the late (and early) Fitzgeralds. But, Carver seems to have a weight that was born of personal pain - and that, I think, makes him the winner.

I also like Carver's poems - this fragment (called A Late Fragment), is one of my favourites...

And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.

Work was great, today - there wasn't too much of it, in other words!

It's cold and wet out, tonight. The wind is blowing and the cats are complaining. I'm just about to eat a sort of Pot au Feu cooked in the slow cooker. I started it off yesterday and it is just about perfect today. Beef, vegetables and Frisse cabbage - cooked slowly with garlic, onions and turnips. Served with peppery boiled potatoes - yum, yum!

Wednesday - 28th February - 2007 - A Walk, Memories and a Dream.

Yesterday, after work, I decided to go for a little walk around the block. The walk took me past a farm (well, where I live, all my walks do). As I passed the cowshed, I got a whiff of that cowshed smell.

And, with it, a flood of memories. My Granny and Grandpa used to have a farm in Constantine, Cornwall. Everytime I go past a cowshed, I have a vivid memory of watching the cows being milked and of seeing the young calfs. Now, accordingy to my father, Grandpa sold his farm when I was 9 years old - strange that I should have such detailed memories.

Last night, I had a strange dream. Normally, I don't remember my dreams but, this one is still with me, now - many, many hours later.

The dream started with me in the garage of the bungalow that Granny & Grandpa built after they sold their farm. I could smell the unique smell of Grandpa's garage (for it was very much his) - a sort of mixture of Castrol engine oil and chicken feed - strange in that they didn't keep chicken after they sold the farm.

Grandpa had a workbench in his garage and, as a boy, I was allowed to make things there. I'm not sure that I made anything useful out of the offcuts that I was allowed to cut up and nail together but, I do remember passing many happy hours trying.

In my dream, I saw the jars of old screws and nails that Grandpa had collected. It was only in the dream (30 years after the last time I had played carpenter in his garage), that I realised that the reason that all the screws had burred heads and that all the nails were bent - was because Granpa had rescued them from bits of wood that he was going to burn. No wonder those nails were so hard to hammer in (for a young boy, 30 years earlier) - no wonder none of my creations ever came to much!

I left the garage and went into the utility room. This was a small room that connected the garage to the bungalow. There was a coal scuttle there and cold, tiled floors. The steps were roughly rendered and my young boy's legs often had scratches on them, as a result. It's strange, the things that you remember, isn't it? Granny used to grow her Geraniums in this room and, even now, just the sniff of a Geranium will take me back there.

Still in my dream, I walked into the bungalow and straight to Granny's kitchen. Just as the garage was Grandpa's, the kitchen was definitely Granny's. Here (and now, aware that I was dreaming), I was assaulted by a seies of smells and tastes. First the smell (taste?) of over peppered bolied potatoes, the smell of pasties cooking in the Aga. The granny smell of Granny and the feel of her soft wrinkled skin. I could, somehow taste her Heavy Cake and her Saffron Cake, as well. I could, once again, taste the wonderful ham she used to buy, with a thick fatty edge (the sort we don't get today). Her Coleman's mustard (made from powder) and that big, blue mug of milky tea.

Finally, I walked into the living room and the fire was burning. I was alone in the bungalow but the fire had been lit. The crackle and the smell were just the same as they had been when I was a boy - nothing had changed. On the sideboard I could see all the family photographs (just as I can see them now) - the wedding photographs from the sixties, those horrible Christmas cards that my father used to make - all of us (brothers and sisters) wearing identical jumpers (knitted by Mum) - always taken on a Sunday morning when we had better things to do than line up for a painful photo (hoping that none of our friends would see us in our matching jumpers).

I knelt down in front of the fire (just as I would have done, 30 years before) and felt the warmth of it. And then I woke up.

It wasn't a bad dream, it wasn't a dream that worried me whilst I was having it and it doesn't worry me now.

I just wonder why it happened. Perhaps all people have detailed dreams like this. I shall definitely be going for another walk past the farm, next week - perhaps I'll go back to Constantine (in my dreams), as well. I do hope so.

Tuesday - 27th February - 2007 - Work Stuff.

Work has been strange again. Last week, Marie France was on holiday and her replacement went sick. I had my work cut out replacing Marie France's replacement and trying to help my replacement do my job. It didn't help that last week was very busy. On Friday I was sent home at 6.30pm because I had done my 10 hours of work - the maximum that is allowed by law. There was still work to do but I wasn't allowed to stay even later to help finish it off - that was a strange situation to be in.

This week is quieter and both Marie-France and Gerard are back at work. The ambience that was missing last week has suddenly returned. I've worked alongside Marie-France and Gerard for two and a half years now - somehow (even with the occasional language problems), we seem to have fitted in together and become as one. One, that is, where the sum of the parts is more than the total.

I often find myself thinking, "I must ask Marie-France for another stack of large pallets." Only to find her coming towards me with a stack of large pallets on her forklift. We don't seem to need to communicate, not anymore.

Thus, we have time to have some fun. Every Friday, when we say goodbye for the weekend, I say "A Demain." Gerard will say, "Non Keith, A Lundi." "So, he hasn't told you about working tomorrow, the boss?" I reply. Same joke, every week but, if I forget to do it, they'll repeat the joke back to me.

There are some English new starters at work. I tracked down one of them on Monday to say hello. He seemed to be coping. I saw his car in the carpark - a 2CV that I have seen around and abouts for at least 3 years. Martin is perhaps a couple of years older than me, but not really not much older, if at all (it's difficult to tell; we all wear white boiler suits, hairnets and hard hats).

One of the lads who works in the same department is a mate of mine. He always greets me... "Hullo Mon." I think that's the only English he knows.

I asked him... "How's the new guy getting on, L'Anglais?"

"He's working out OK, working very hard - doing really well, for an old guy." He replied!

Next time he says "Hullo Mon" to me, I'll reply, "Bonjour, Garcon!"

Thursday - 22nd February - 2007 - Conger Steak - the easy way!

The fish van is came round this morning (whilst I was at work). I had handed in my order to Michelle (the landlady of my local bar) - the fish are freshly bought off the boats earlier in the day - I went for a Conger steak, to be slowly cooked in wine with tomatoes and shallots and served on a bed of rice. Almost Italian! As, I was in a good mood, I even splashed out on a few prawnies, for my masters (the cats who have to be obeyed), as well!

However, when I got home, I decided to cheat and do something different. I'm not sure if it was the thought of washing up that pointed me in the right direction but, I did make the right choice. So, what did I end up doing?... You'll need to look at the Kitchen section of this site, to find out!

Wednesday - 21st February - 2007 - Gallettes and a Poem.

As I've stated before, I often, after a hard day's work, pop into my local bar for a beer and a chat. It's not so much that I need an alcohol infusion - what I really need is a break between work (which is becoming more and more difficult for me) and home.

Michelle, the landlady seems to have taken me to heart. Last Wednesday, she was cooking Gallettes and insisted that I try some. I did and then had to struggle to squeeze myself out of the door when I left. Michelle does make exceedingly good Gallettes!

Tonight I popped in and we had a chat. The fish van is coming round tommorow morning (whilst I'm at work). I have handed in my order to Michelle - the fish are freshly bought off the boats earlier in the day - I am going for a Conger steak, to be cooked in wine with tomatoes and shallots and served on a bed of rice - am salivating, already! As, I'm in a good mood, I might even splash out on a few prawnies, for my masters (the cats who have to be obeyed), as well!

Since http://www.Brittany-Friends.com have been kind enough to put a flyer on their site linking to this one, I have seen the visitors stats rise and rise. I'm not at all interested in the commercial aspects of that - this site is a family and friends one and, as such, will never have any advertsing on it. I do, however, like to think about the people (mainly complete strangers) who seem to be popping in to take look at the site at least once a week.

I have chosen a poem, almost at random. It's one that I know very well - I'm sure that you do too! I don't really know what it is about this poem that I like, apart from the phrasing and the economy. Auden uses the minimum of words to make the maximum impression. He also knows how to make those words flow.

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone
W.H. Auden

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Saturday - 3rd February - 2007 - Random Wafflings.

Often, after a hard day's work, I pop into my local bar for a beer and a chat. It's a very quiet bar and certainly not for tourists. Michelle, the landlady, seems to have taken me under her wing (perhaps she does that with everyone).

She went to the doctor last week and had a blood test and now knows she needs to reduce her cholesterol. Thus, no more pork products for a while. She had just bought Boudin Noir for tea. Now off the menu. "You like Boudin, don't you?" She asked me. "Love it", I said. Guess what I had for tea on Thursday. Yesterday, I popped in and she was making Crepes. "Try one for me", she asked. I did. "It's lovely", I said. "Oh, have another one then." Five Crepes later I waddled out of the bar - I didn't need to cook tea last night - a space issue, I suppose you could say!

Michelle seems to spend most her time dashing from the bar into the kitchen - her husband works at the same place that I do and he finishes work at about the same time. After a hard day's work, he wants his tea (sorry DiDi, you were going to have Boudin last week - but I had it instead!) - he was looking a bit grumpy last night. I think he's finally realised that if Michelle is on a Regime, he's going to be on one too!

When she's not in the kitchen, Michelle loves to talk to me about cooking - often with samples. I've realised that she cooks basically the same way that her mother did (and her mother before her) - I'm trying to learn how to cook in the same manner (although I don't have a cholesterol problem - I'm allowed charcuterie!). Perhaps that way, I'll grow some roots - the ones that I'm already growing (I hope) - you know the ones. The ones that mean you belong.

Michelle's sheep has just had two lambs. Her 8 year old grand-daughter first question was "what are they were called?" My response was "Roti and Fricasse". Michelle laughed - Happily, I don't think her grand-daughter understood.

Finally, I have just had a donation to help me kick-start the Hobbit House project. The £10,000 will help me buy the land, the required barn (if the land doesn't have one) and go towards having the foundations dug. Thank you very much (you know who you are - you're the person who is now, somewhat poorer!) - the plans have now been adjusted; it's now going to be a two bedroom house.

Monday - 22nd January - 2007 - Sylvia Plath.

Another long stretch since my last post - basically, I haven't had much to say and anyway, I have been busy trying to price up my Hobbit House.

I'm more and more convinced that the Hobbit House is the right way for me to go - I want it to be the last house I ever live in (the cats don't like moving), so it's important that I get it right).

I'm learning more and more about ecological living and am becoming a bit of a convert (I've even tried growing a beard - that didn't work out!) For me, it's not so much about saving the planet (although that is very important) - it's more about saving money - mine!

I recently came across this poem on the web - now, I like Sylvia Plath's poetry and this is one of her best. It's rare, frightening and exhilarating to find a poem that you feel was writen for you and you alone - for me, this is one such poem.

Mad Girl's Love Song
Sylvia Plath

I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead;
I lift my lids and all is born again.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

The stars go waltzing out in blue and red,
And arbitrary blackness gallops in:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed
And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

God topples from the sky, hell's fires fade:
Exit seraphim and Satan's men:
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I fancied you'd return the way you said,
But I grow old and I forget your name.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

I should have loved a thunderbird instead;
At least when spring comes they roar back again.
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

After finding the poem, I printed it out and went for a long, cold walk to Lanouee. I ended up in the bar (where else) but, all during the walk there (and back) the words...

I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)

kept echoing though my mind.

Sylvia Plath is better know for being the wife of Ted Hughes, for commiting suicide (by putting her head in a gas cooker and turning on the gas) and for writing, perhaps, the best opening line in literature...

"It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenburgs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York."

Other great opening lines (from other authors) that come to mind are...

"Mother died today, or perhaps yesterday."

"My name is Asher Lev."

"He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish."

"Stately, plump Buck Milligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and razor lay crossed."

Aside from thinking about my Hobbit House, I'm also contributing to http://www.Brittany-Friends.com. and making lots of new friends there. It's nice to make friends. I think that when our time is up and we are facing St. Peter, in front of those Pearly Gates, he's going to be not so interested in how much our house was worth, what sort of car we drove or how much money we earned. He'll probably be more interested in how many friends we had, and how well we treated them.

Thank you to everyone who has emailed to say that I am missed on the other site that I used to contribute to - I've tried to reply to each of you to explain why I've moved - if I've missed anyone, I'm sorry. Basically, life moves on - anyway, life is too short to waste being unhappy (nice and gloomy Sylvia Plath melancholy is allowed, though - just not too often!)

If you would like to add your comments about this page, please feel free to mail me at Comments - I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Please don't forget to add the address of your website, should you want me to link back to you.