Valentine's Day

THE VALENTINE BALL!

This year--probably because it was on a Saturday, Valentine's Day has been celebrated in just about every village in France --in style!

We went to the dinner dance at La Chappelle Baton. We said we might be a bit late as the England-Wales rugby match didn't finish until after 8.oopm ( hooray--Wales won!--although Geoff wasn't so amused!)--- but people were still queuing to buy tickets at the door when we rolled up.

The first drink of the evening was a bizarre concoction of rose wine and pamplemousse ( grapefruit). Not something I'd want every day, I thought , as my glass was topped up for the 3rd time!

As usual all the tables were beautifully decorated. Napkins were folded in heart-shapes. Flowers were arranged in heart-shapes---and glitter hearts were sprinkled all over the table cloth. Every table was named after a dance style. We were on 'rock'-- along with another English couple, 2 members of thesalle de fete committee ( French)--who rushed off to help serve meals and generally arrange this and that-- and Monique ( French), whose English was far superior to all our French---but who had to flee outside every 20 minutes for another fag!

Jean-Pierre --the regular animator--provided the music--on his accordion, his synthesizer-- and for the very few youngsters, his DJ stuff!

The average age of the party-goers was nearer 60 than 40--so the accordion was played for most of the evening.

The pasa-doble was popular, but the Viennese waltz provided the best entertainment. Watching elderly ladies, dancing together, spinning round and round, with very serious looks on their faces--I'm sorry to say--caused us much amusement! And they must have come back to dance it 3or 4 times throughout the evening.

I'm not sure whether the dances were between the food courses --or vice-versa! Both went on until the small hours of the morning. About 2.00am somebody came around with a bottle which said 'whiskey'--- and poured out generous tots of brandy to all and sundry. At that point we decided it was bed time--but I heard the revelry continued for at least 2 more hours!

On the way home we passed Charroux Fotball Club and Asnois Salle de fete--both with people falling out of the doors on their way home! It seems that Valentine 's Day was taken seriously by young and old in France this year!