Strange evening at the bar
After work on Monday, I stopped off at my local bar for a well earned beer. Mondays are difficult for us as we have to start out by packing (for freezing) anything that we put into the fridge at the end of the day on the previous Friday. When I say ‘fridge’, don’t think of your kitchen fridge, think instead, of a fridge the size of Basingstoke!
Michelle, the landlady of the bar, said “I have something for you.” She disappeared into the kitchen and came back out with a bag containing 2 pigeons, already drawn and plucked. I was effusive in my thanks and she took her time explaining how I could cook them.
Some of the others in the bar also joined in to offer their advice. Within 20 minutes I had a dozen different ways to deal with my 2 pigeons – but that’s rural France for you!
I found myself sitting between a Swiss French and a local Farmer (speaking a very rough dialect). I tried very hard to join in the conversation but, although they were both speaking the same language, neither of them was speaking French (at least, not the French I know).
I think that it is important to go to the local bar at least twice a week. Somehow, even if you just sit in the corner on your own, it helps you become more a part of the community. When I got home from the bar (my head flying due to the constant translating between Swiss French, Local French and the French I know), I put the bag containing the pigeons on the kitchen table.
“What you got there?” Sammy asked.
I explained.
“Oh goody”, he said. “Flying Prawnies!”
That’s Sammy for you!
Cindy just smirked and said, “I think what Daddy means is that he has two examples of ‘Columba Palumbus’.”
What did I do to deserve an intelligent cat?
All the best
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