loaves and fishes

A simple pleasure here is fishing, Roger (our next door neighbour) spends many a hour standing on the river bank, fishing rod in hand, nothing fancy just a rod, no reel, and a float.  Throw the line as far out a possible and wait for the float to disappear beneath the water, strike fast and if you are lucky you will have a catch.

Its been a warm day, and we spend the evening sitting on the wall with a glass of rose, watching Roger fish, at first he is not aware of his audience his gaze firmly fixed on the water, we watch quietly as his casts the line, it is not long before he strikes, a gleaming silver fish is pulled from the water, we break into applause, Roger smiles and seems pleased that we are watching him.  It is not long before he signals another catch, and then another.  The sun is slowly disappearing behind the cliff and the light is turning purple.  Roger packs up his rod and brings the bucket up to the road, we are eager to see his catch.  Silver fish splash about in the bucket, maybe 15 or so, we applaud his large catch.  Later that evening sitting in the courtyard sipping a cold glass of wine, Maryse  (Rogers wife) calls out to us, she has a bowl of cleanly gutted fish to share, again we are grateful for our French life.  Ian cooks the fish for petit dejeunier, coated slightly in flour and fried in Normandy butter, the flesh sweet and delicate, but unfortunately very boney!!

Bread is more than a simple pleasure here, it is a religion.  Life revolves around the boulangerie, bread is baked twice a day, only freshly baked bread is to be served, whatever is purchased in the morning cannot be possibly served again in the evening.   The bread is baked without yeast, no bloated stomachs; the center is quite dense, with a very thick crust.  The bread is normally broken open with your hands in a God like act! Children are given thick slices of bread to eat in place of  lollies, no obese children here, food is considered a joyous experience and one that is to be respected.

“Let them eat cake”, Marie Antoinette.