The diet that keeps you at home!

The way he treats his body, you’d think he was renting. ~Robert Brault, robertbrault.com

This week they declared on French tv that French women are the slimmest in Europe. No I have no idea how they arrive at this statistic. On Friday morning two English and two French women meet for a coffee and a chat in Fougères. We sit in the sunshine admiring the beauty of the castle and chat. I was rather surprised that the very, very, slim French lady was on a "regime". She even had her diet sheet with her and questioned what some of the words were in English. Later I asked to look at this two week regime and thought it wasn't really that bad well maybe for a week, well maybe if you could have some wine with your meal, well maybe if.....

But what caught me eye was.....the addition of LIQUID PARRAFIN......quelle horror...I didn't even know they still sold it!

When we walked back up the hill from the castle to the town, I took this very confusing photograph. Can you spot the two fatties!

Two fat men

I hope that you dont need to stay at home for the wrong reasons today. LOL.

The French word for thin is mince, sounds more like mance.

The French slang word for blimey or blast is mince.

Etymology for the word diet.

Happy with Branflakes

You cant beat a drive in the countryside on a dry sunny February day. The afternoon was perfect for photography, but alas I wasn't really in the mood.

Why?........Well it was a search for a lovely dog who had gone missing the previous evening. Worse still this dog was on "holiday" while her owner was enjoying a trip away. Its always more stressful when it is some one elses dog. So I was sitting in the passenger seat my eyes scouring the French fields for the sight of a dog. My friend who was dog sitting was stopping to ask postmen, walkers, folks in their gardens and people just out for a walk. Bars and bread shops and The Mairie (the Mayors office, many of which were closed), she also knocked on doors, and explained to locals.

We also walked around a hilltop which was littered with large rocks, weird sculptures and a Church, it has a air of the bizarre. No sign of the missing dog, I grabbed a couple of shots, but my enthusiasm to photograph this weird place was lacking.

Take a seat

Later the dejected dog sitter and I sat around the lovely big kitchen table and drank hot mugs of coffee. Then the phone rang, and luckily the knocking on doors had payed off. Off she drove to a house about 5 minutes away by car. The missing dog was enjoying a bowl of Bran Flakes.

I don't have a brilliant picture of the runaway pooch, so this will have to do I intended to discard this picture because it is slightly out of focus but you can see what a delightful layed back dog she is.

Got any Branflakes

The French word for flee is fuir.

The French word for lost is perdu.

The world spins around

All the time things are changing around us, life goes on regardless of whatever has happened to change things for you. These last few days I have been lost in my thoughts, I have been thinking of things in the past. I rub my eyes to see what is going on in the world.

I need to jump back on, and catch up.

Special thoughts to people that I know in Australia.

I thought that I would blog this wee beastie who doesnt move and can only observe the passers by in the park in Fougeres.

The Observer

The French word for past is passé.

The French word for dwell is remâcher.

Turn the page

After a few tidy up tasks, we pile into a big red van. A trip to the shops. En route we stop and pull up alongside a tractor we are now blocking the road (but around here it is not a big problem) and my friend chats to a farmer, or should I say shouts. There is a party on Saturday and she is inviting him and his family.

We pull into a supermarket car park and have a good laugh, the van has just stalled, my friend felt around the ignition and at first couldnt find the keys and wondered if the keys were at home. After we stop laughing we enter the store order lots of bread, and fill a trolley with several boxes of sparkly wine to make many glasses of Kir. The staff are very helpful. Onwards to the next shop to buy colourful paper covers for tables. Shop number 3 we fill another 3 shopping trolleys, this is to be a great party. The party thrower chats to a man who is waiting for the till to open he needs an euro!!!! He waits patiently and is very jovial.

The party is to celebrate a new start. nouveau commencement. The French word for laugh is here

Friends

Monday was a visit to a special friends house. There were visitors en route to the port and another friend enroute to Normandy. Three young dogs chased around and had lots of fun. Two men tinkered with a tractor. Women prepared a meal and waited for an oven which was on a go slow. Still we all have our off days.

The French word to tinker with a vehicle is bricoler

This is a friendly house and although there is a bell it very rarely needs to be rung.

Rangement, chante loup, and memories.

Today is Tuesday, Mardi and I went to visit a special friend of mine who has been having a great big clear out or rangement, sometimes you just have to tackle the things that you have been putting off.

My friend has a lovely new puppy and I love to see how she has changed.

On one occasion earlier this year when we went to collect elderflowers from the hedgerows we returned to find her rather pretty chickens very much at home in the kitchen.

On the way to my friends house I always smile when I drive pass the sign Chante Loup, as I understand this means, a wolf that sings, or howls anyway it is so French I love it.

We had a lovely morning drinking coffee and trying out some medlar liquor yummy, the weather was just so summery it was like being on holiday!! My friend had really made headway with the sort out but some things you just have to keep.

Plates painted by the children what special memories.