a la John Gummer of the floods in England? We wouldn't know because there was no TV as there was no electricity. One thing was for sure, he would be wearing his panoramic grin.
So with no electricity, what do you do without fresh bread? Madame Vignou hung over her gate at noon on Saturday, her hair and skirt blowing in every direction, looking in vain hope for the bread van. Her back up plan was to go to Mass really early on Sunday and dash out first at the end and into Ecomarche which is one of the few supermarkets open on a Sunday morning and bag a baguette - if there was one to bag.
So long discussions were held on the branch strewn streets of Oraas - what to do about the bread situation? A cousin in Puyoo was found who had a gas boulangerie, so an order was put together. Six baguettes for the farmer with children, two for Madame and Monsieur Vignou and I put my hand up for one, just to join in really. A day without bread is a bit of a blessing for me. But the baguette is the measure of solid life. Even sick in her bed, Monique will get up and walk to her favoured boulangerie to get her bread - twice daily if necessary. To her the boulangerie is paramount. Only- if in dire need - does bread from a supermarket do.
No wonder the utterance of 'Let them eat cake' became such an historic statement. You have to be in France to truly understand the importance of bread and the fresh baguette. You have to be in a rural village with no TV, no radio, no internet, no mobile possibilities and most importantly no boulanger, to learn that those inconveniences are nothing in comparison to the no fresh baguette situation.
Vive le pain.
posted by French Deal @ 7:59 am
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