Busy Sunday in St André

This morning saw the lane covered in painted numbers and a pink arrow pointing towards the calvaire and the little track beyond.  A notice attached to a post hadappeared showing that permission has been given from the Mairie for an organized event.

The event was a running race and a walk of either 26km or 12 km happening with walkers arriving, obviously, later.  They were starting and finishing at the swimming pool in St Nicolas du PéIem.  I arrived back from shopping for tomato purée to be stopped at the calvaire because of runners coming through and my neighbours as spectators.  I parked the car and joined them to take a few photos and encourage the participants.  

I wonder how many entrants will pass through our little hamlet today.  One of the runners handed me a screw of silver foil from food he had eaten explaining that he didn't want to litter the countryside.

Last weekend we had an endurance horse race coming through, although I seemed to miss it entirely and didn’t see a single horse and rider.  Usually I am aware of conversations in the road and the clip-clopping sounds filter through.

Next Saturday evening there is the annual Fest Noz (night festival) in Lanrivain the next village, but I have been invited to a classical concert the same evening so am torn at the moment.  I have never been to a Fest Noz, although they are rife in all the towns and villages in Brittany throughout the summer months and very well supported. The sense of community here is strong and people really enjoy getting together for social gatherings.  There will be the usual sort of stalls you find at an English fête but there will also be




Breton music, on bagpipes among other things, and a lot of Breton dancing.    This photo was taken from the internet.  A large bonfire will be lit, as is the tradition in Lanrivain and, of course, drink and food, probably crêpes and galettes.

It’s Fathers’ Day in the UK today and the presenter on BBC1’s Breakfast show has not stopped going on about his son not contacting him yet (he has his mobile under the table he sits at).  He started complaining at 6.45am and I don’t know of any lads who are likely to be up at that time thinking of texting their Dad.  If my Dad was still alive - he died in 1981 - I'd love to spend the day with him, he was a lovely man and I think of him often.

I've just been up to the field to collect eggs

and on my way back the lane had a stream of bikes coming through.  By the time I'd put down the eggs and the dandelion leaves I had picked for the rabbits, I just caught the last two.

I'd been watching the tennis when David Nalbandian was disqualified from the Championships final at Queen's after injuring a line judge by kicking an advertising board into his shin.  It was an accident resulting from bad temper, he hadn't meant to hurt the official.  However, bad behaviour on court at this level of tennis is unacceptable and although it was a shame that the full match wasn't played, it was correct that the final was won by default by Marin Cilic.  Let's hope the line judge recovers quickly from his leg injury.

Three things I like:

1.   Eating my polytunnel salad leaves for lunch with trout fillets.

2.   Having so much going on in the village today.

3.   Finally speaking to my friend, June, on Skype, for the first time since she's moved, although we were cut off mid conversation, I think because my laptop was too hot.