Still here
This has been "one of those weeks" here in the Possum Kingdom. It's hard to put a finger on exactly why we've been so busy, as no one thing has taken all that much time. But everything together has meant I haven't been able to sit down and write an update.
First, there have been several visitors; some regular Possumworld readers and some new friends. It is the time of year when we start to get lots people taking vacations and coming back to base, so to speak. JM and I are always delighted to see these friends from far and wide so look quite forward to them dropping in for a coffee or going out together for a meal.
As I have said before, May is a strange month in France. Lots and lots of holidays. I don't think there is a week in the month without a holiday. Last weekend was Ascension, which in the Possum Kingdom means we had our annual village fair.
Luckily for us, it was held on the other side of the village this year. That means we got to enjoy it, but it wasn't right outside our window. After the protests of last year, there were only two nights of music and rowdiness. Since we closed the windows and shutters, we weren't disturbed at all. Unfortunately, as always happens with these things, there was too much late night drinking and the rowdier element did their usual round of destruction: overturned trash dumpsters, broken bottles, trash everywhere. I don't really know if there is an answer to that, but it does seem to get worse every year.
The gentleman who keeps the chickens at the entrance of the village gardens was almost in tears when we saw him Sunday morning. A few weeks ago a band of hooligans had stolen his black chicken and cooked it next to a field. We'd seen the results and were unclear, at the time, about what had happened. That was the day that Shmoo was terrorized by the smell of what had gone on. I imagine that after the killers left, a fox had come by to claim the remains and that is what Shmoo had smelled.
Besides that chicken, however, last weekend the kids threw bottles at the chicken coop, so severely injuring one of the birds that he had to put it down, and less severely injuring another, which seems to be recovering. The poor man was trying to clean up the broken glass that littered the birds' area.
If only we could have the good side of the fair and not the drunken lout side, everyone would be happy.
Another event in the village that brought us all sadness, was the loss of Manu Montoro's father. You may all remember that Manu's Uncle, Pepete, passed away in December of last year. At about that same time, his father started complaining of aches and pains. Everyone, including him, thought it was arthritis. Sadly, it turned out to be bone cancer. He passed away on Tuesday, devastating everyone. Our condolences once again to the entire Montoro clan.
But life must go on. This weekend another holiday, Pentecost, beckons. For some, it's a 3-day weekend, for others, Monday is just another workday. But it is the countdown to summer. As usual, the weather has finally changed, and although we expect rain for the next few days, it is now summer rain and has a whole different feel and smell about it.
Enjoy your weekend, your friends and your families. Life is too short to be sad for long.
Ciao for now.
Randy
First, there have been several visitors; some regular Possumworld readers and some new friends. It is the time of year when we start to get lots people taking vacations and coming back to base, so to speak. JM and I are always delighted to see these friends from far and wide so look quite forward to them dropping in for a coffee or going out together for a meal.
As I have said before, May is a strange month in France. Lots and lots of holidays. I don't think there is a week in the month without a holiday. Last weekend was Ascension, which in the Possum Kingdom means we had our annual village fair.
Luckily for us, it was held on the other side of the village this year. That means we got to enjoy it, but it wasn't right outside our window. After the protests of last year, there were only two nights of music and rowdiness. Since we closed the windows and shutters, we weren't disturbed at all. Unfortunately, as always happens with these things, there was too much late night drinking and the rowdier element did their usual round of destruction: overturned trash dumpsters, broken bottles, trash everywhere. I don't really know if there is an answer to that, but it does seem to get worse every year.
The gentleman who keeps the chickens at the entrance of the village gardens was almost in tears when we saw him Sunday morning. A few weeks ago a band of hooligans had stolen his black chicken and cooked it next to a field. We'd seen the results and were unclear, at the time, about what had happened. That was the day that Shmoo was terrorized by the smell of what had gone on. I imagine that after the killers left, a fox had come by to claim the remains and that is what Shmoo had smelled.
Besides that chicken, however, last weekend the kids threw bottles at the chicken coop, so severely injuring one of the birds that he had to put it down, and less severely injuring another, which seems to be recovering. The poor man was trying to clean up the broken glass that littered the birds' area.
If only we could have the good side of the fair and not the drunken lout side, everyone would be happy.
Another event in the village that brought us all sadness, was the loss of Manu Montoro's father. You may all remember that Manu's Uncle, Pepete, passed away in December of last year. At about that same time, his father started complaining of aches and pains. Everyone, including him, thought it was arthritis. Sadly, it turned out to be bone cancer. He passed away on Tuesday, devastating everyone. Our condolences once again to the entire Montoro clan.
But life must go on. This weekend another holiday, Pentecost, beckons. For some, it's a 3-day weekend, for others, Monday is just another workday. But it is the countdown to summer. As usual, the weather has finally changed, and although we expect rain for the next few days, it is now summer rain and has a whole different feel and smell about it.
Enjoy your weekend, your friends and your families. Life is too short to be sad for long.
Ciao for now.
Randy
