Following our week of snow, we had rain-- quite a lot! The river burst it's banks and all the ditches were overflowing-- but hey--- it's still only January!
This Saturday saw the Asnois 'Soiree Galette & Cinema'.
We didn't make it this year as we'd already been invited out to dinner--which was so superb that I've no regrets at missing out.
A couple of days earlier we went to a 'raclette' evening-- this is a development from the 70's 'fondue'evenings. Like a fondue, all the food is prepared in advance--but not cooked-- and then you sit round the table and can griddle meat, potaoes or bread on the top of the reclette, or grill cheese and meat in the middle section. With a few glasses of wine and good company, it is agreat way to spend a winter's evening.
The galette evening is an annual event in Asnois to celebrate Epiphany. It should really be on January 6th--we call it 'Twelfth Night', but in France it's 'le jour des Rois' and celebrated with a special cake--'La Galette de Rois'. They can be bought in all the boulangerie and the supermarches and consist of 2 layers of flaky pastry, filled in the middle with frangipane. A gold paper crown is included in the wrapping, and inside the cake is a 'feve'. A feve is a broad bean and is meant to bring good luck to the recipient. The feve was later replaced with a porcelain charm--usually a character from the Nativity--and these nowadays are collector's items. Like everything this has now been dumbed down to a plastic Disney type charm--loved by the children, but lacking the 'treasure ' to be prized in the past.
In Asnois there are films-- last year we saw 3 home movies from the 60's showing life in the village. The first was from Roussille farm showing life around the farmyard--everything from milking the cow and feeding the hens to making butter in the antiquated kitchen with the cat sitting on the table and trying to help with the procedings.
Then we saw a wedding. 6o's gear in France was much the same as in the UK. The bride wore a large floppy white hat and travelled from Vielle Metive ( an hameau about 2kms from Asnois) in a horse and cart down to the Mairie--followed by all the guests on foot. She was met by the groom in his best suit with wide, bell-bottomed trousers. Being the 60's we weren't allowed to see inside the Mairie-- but afterwards they all came outside and linked arms in a knees-up and sing-song!
The 3rd film was back to 'life' on the farm. Actually it was film about slaughtering! We saw pigs killed and butchered. Black pudding (boudin) was made. Then we saw the same-- with rabbits, chickens, lambs--- you name it, we watched it being killed and the meat prepared for farmhouse use!
It was fascinating to see the whole village ( everybody from 6-96!) watching this on a Saturday night.
I just cannot imagine such entertainment in England!
Then, when that was all over we had mugs of cider and slices of galette.
That was January 2008-- I suspect 2009 was not so different, but I'll get back there in January 2010 if possible!
Yesterday our website designers came over for lunch and to instruct us on the basic maintenance in order to keep it up to date. We've spent quite a lot of time over Christmas either e-mailing or on the phone. David and Edna have done a wonderful job in creating our website --we are so pleased with it--and it was lovely to meet them in person.
This blog is meant to compliment the website--and I've not yet linked it so:-
anybody reading the blog without having started on the website..........VOILA!
I should probably attempt to squeeze it somewhere near the beginning of the blog now--but I've only just sorted how to download photos!(-- and possibly a snowy picture wasn't the best of ideas--it looks a bitcold and dark--I'll find something warmer for the next time!)
(And--to digress--- yesterday I discovered how to'chat' on 'Facebook' with son Tom who's just arrived in Buenos Aries!)
Anybody wanting a website can get hold of David and Edna by clicking on:-
They were quick, helpful and instructive and nothing was too much trouble. I can thoroughly recommend them!
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