Eek!

St René
Yesterday's weather: Beautiful. We went out and the views were wonderful, looking down on the Dordogne valley which was still misty - looked very romantic.

We had a nasty shock today. The temperature is -4 degrees outside and we've had our first frost. It is clearing quickly and didn't get as far as our patio so the plants are all safe, but it has given us a reminder to put all the more sensitive plants into sheltered areas.

I went out late last night to call the cats in and the sky was magnificent. There were hundreds of stars and the air was still warm so I expected a fog this morning rather than a frost. Before the sun came up this morning the stars were shining brilliantly through the bedroom window, until I realised, I thought the sun was coming up. Apparently we have both Venus and Saturn visible this month and next week (21st) there will be a further meteor shower visible so that should be worth getting cold for!

It's the second biggest rugby match tonight - France vs Argentina. I wonder if it will be as popular as it would have been in France were playing in the final? I hope that the Paris transport system has managed to get itself up and running again in time for everyone to make it to the match, today and tomorrow. I'm sure that if the workers were inclined to strike on a Saturday (heaven forbid, since that won't create nearly as much chaos as a weekday) they would be delighted to strike tomorrow and get their own back on all the English fans!

Trust me to open my mouth

Ste Edwige (no, I don't make them up!)
Yesterday's weather: Still lovely. Lunch in the garden every day for a week now, how good is that?

As I wandered through the supermarket past the clothing rail that said 'Coupe Mondiale - 50% reduction’, I thought it looked rather sad, especially as many of the reduced rugby shirts were pale blue Argentinian colours.

I finished my shopping and headed to the checkout offering the usual cheeful 'Bonjour, Madame' to the checkout assistant. She just glared at me and nodded.

Call it short term memory loss but too late I had remembered that I was supposed to stay silent if venturing out for the next fortnight. The checkout lady (they call them checkout 'hostesses' here - this one wasn't the hostess with the mostess), scanned my items and tossed them to one side.

A friend came along. 'Ça va ?' she said cheerfully.

'Non' was the answer.

'Why? What's wrong?' her friend asked.

'Les Bleus' she groaned - obviously this lady was economical with words.

Her friend laughed and made a joke. I apologised to her for the English team's inconsiderate victory on Saturday last. 'Je suis vraiement desolée’ I explained.

'There you are' her friend said 'Madame regrets that the English won the rugby match'

The hostess looked at me with doleful eyes. 'C'est pas vrai, Madame. Vous êtes heureuse que votre équipe a gagné'.

She looked so miserable that I couldn't think of anything to say to that.

Jonny the Conquerer?

Ste Aurélie
Yesterday's weather: sun, sun, sun

England's victory over France is not being celebrated in the Dordogne today. There are glum faces all over France after their humiliating defeat by the English.

No, not the Rugby World Cup, sacré bleu, as if that wasn't bad enough but no, this time it was Ady Hurrell's victory in the World Conker Championships.

Mr Hurrell beat the French representative Mr John Ingram at Ashton in .......

Wait. Hang on bit there...... Mr JOHN INGRAM??????? That doesn't sound very French now, does it?

Let's investigate a bit further.....

Ah. It says here that Mr Ingram is a Dordogne antiquesdealer..... Read on, read on....

He admits that he comes from Leighton Buzzard. Now as I recall Leighton Buzzard doesn't have a French postcode..... Oh, but that's OK because he says that he does a lot of business in France.

Now, in my book I don't think that 'doing business in France' would qualify someone for representing France in a world championship anything. Imagine if Jonny Wilkinson suddenly decided that, since he buys copious amounts of beer at Cité Europ once a year (this is purely hypothetical, you understand, I am in no way suggesting that he would) he therefore does lots of business in France and that qualfies him to represent France in the Rugby World Cup.

Now, that would be an interesting prospect.

Zut, alors!

St Just
Yesterday's weather: perfect

Oh dear. I have a feeling that it is all going to go horribly wrong. Depending, of course, on who wins the Rugby World Cup semi-final later today. Argentina haven't made it this far in a World Cup before so they should be the underdogs. If South Africa win this evening then England will have once again to face up to their humiliating 36-0 defeat of just a few weeks ago.

Oh yes. Of course I was supporting England to win yesterday. (Ahem)

There's a hush across the valley today and no way are we going into the village for a couple of days at least. If we do we will remain silent and if anyone speaks to us we will do that wonderful Gallic shrug and pout and pretend we have no idea about anything.

'Beh, oui, alors.' one says, shaking the head looking downwards and walking away. At least that is how we are trying to perfect blending in with the natives. They have this wonderful shrug, pout, shake and move thing to perfection and long ago I realised that if you throw in an 'Alors ...' with it and throw your hands in the air, they think you have understood and just don't wish to comment. They respect your silence.

This week I think silence may be the best option.

Damned if you do and .........

St Serge
Yesterday's weather: dull with sunny spells. Warm.

So Johnny Wilkinson has found his form again and is the hero of yesterday's rugby match. That result was a surprise. Maybe not as much as last night's result which apparently resulted in roars of approval which didn't quite reach our ears being tucked away in the Lot countryside.

This creates something of a dilemma for us; what colours should we wear next Saturday (shame it's the 13th, doesn't bode well really, does it?). I suppose the good thing is that after the event we can say that we supported our birth/adopted country (delete as required) and we'll have been on the winning side. If the French win we will cheer with them. If England win we will stay indoors for a couple of week.

Or pretend to be Irish or Australian.

Anyone for rugby?

Ste Emilie

Yesterday's weather: Cooler, mixed sun and cloud

I'm not a great sports fan as anyone who knows me well will testify, but I do love a World Cup. Bring on a few underdogs who somehow have managed to get through to the finals and I'm there waiting for them to be thrashed by the best.

I don't actually enjoy seeing these teams humiliated, it's just that there is this inevitability about it. Take poor old Namibia - beaten by Ireland the other day and thrashed well and truly by France this week, they are bottom of their group with 'nul points'. Gerogia aren't faring much better but France, host and favourite are only in the middle of their group and need to do so much better to get through to the quarter finals.

We live in Rugby country here mid-way between Brive and Montauban but it has been strangely quiet so far. There are a few flags out in Cahors, some of the shops have 'World Cup' displays but there has been a bit of a hush so far. Just wait and see if France get any further in the tournament, then there will be a big noise.

However, if they don't the French team can surely take comfort from the success of their annual calendar, the 2008 version of which was on sale in our local bookshop just last week.

Here's a taster from the 2007 edition:

Unfortunately the 2008 one was still under shrink wrap but I think I should add it to my Christmas list. It must be better than the offerings from the local firemen and postman - actually my postman had better not pose for his, it would make everyone refuse to buy it!