Saturday, 14 July 2007
Apart from a light fall of rain early in the morning, the Fourteenth of July was a perfect summer’s day in Montcuq.
Our household went down to the bar to hear the speech by the mayor at midday, see the parade of banners by the veterans, and share a “verre d’amitié” (glass of friendship) further up the road under the chestnut trees.
Some other Australians with houses in the area joined us, as glasses of strange sweet red wine were distributed, conversation flourished and the crowd gradually dispersed.
We had lunch in the courtyard at the house and followed it with a deep sleep, luxuriating in soft sheets with the afternoon sun streaming in through lace curtains.
On our way to the village feast we were accompanied by a pair of camels, who were then tethered to some plane trees while we ate. They were part of the entertainment to come, and meanwhile they pruned the plane trees vigorously
The tables were covered with white tablecloths, and bottles of wine were set out along them.
Our party lined up with everybody else and each person got a tray with first and last course – melon with ham and goat’s cheese, bread and tarte tatin, which many people ate then and there instead of leaving it for dessert. Then we lined up again for the hot food, which was duck, with potato gratin.
Gradually we moved across to the courtyard of the orphanage, hard against the donjon, where a stage had been set up.
The entertainment was in two parts – first, a polished, fast-moving dance routine by a professional group, and then a long rambling drama set in North Africa (hence the camels) and involving every person in the village under 30 years of age. The plot was convoluted but it was a delightful production.
The evening finished with a fireworks display high over the tower, which had been lit with rippling coloured lights during the performance.
Our senses were exhausted by the time we straggled home after midnight.
Previous day: Rest day in Montcuq