Bee keeping autrefois, and other matters.

About 40 years ago I was helping a couple of ex-Parisians leave their beautiful old farmhouse next door to us, and move down to the mountainous area of the Cevennes in the South. It all proved a bit disastrous, but it was their choice, and I was happy to assist them.

We unloaded all their beautiful antique furniture and belongings into a mountainside crumbling stone barn, and very reluctantly said Au revoir, knowing that it was probably Adieu.

I'll never forget watching those two vulnerable ladies standing and waving at us as we left. It's hard to imagine what happened after we'd gone. As much as we'd tried to persuade them to find a hotel, their Zen leanings over-ruled all. I pictured them sitting cross-legged, chanting 'oooom', and wearing saffron robes, as they looked out over the stunning mountainous landscape. We really felt as if we had 'abandoned' them; but they were reasonably wealthy, and they did own a car.  

On the way down, not long before we'd reached their new 'home', I kept noticing short bits of hollowed-out tree trunks on stone walls, these were invariably covered with a large slab of stone. I was informed that they were an ancient form of Bee Hive. They looked so beautiful, and natural, in those bleak mountainous surroundings that I was in awe of the ingenuity.

Just recently an advert appeared in my MSN news-feed page advertising brand new versions of these hives.

Carved in a slightly more chic decorative 21st C style than their older cousins, and having a more modern interior, they are bound to be popular again. I can see people taking-up Bee Keeping just to have a few of these in their orchard. They cost about 550 Euros each.

A propos my two ex-neighbours, I later learned that they had 'divorced'. Jeannine had headed further south to the Riviera, and Odette had died in a Parisian Hospital.

Before heading off on their Zen adventure, these two lovely ladies had given me all sorts of 'treasures' as part of their 'downsizing'. Amongst which were a lovely Biot Olive pot, a Trunk (below, complete with Odette's father's original address in Paris), and all sorts of exotic wooden spoons from their world travels; all of which I still have.

I have no idea what prompted their bizarre move to a ruined mountainside stone barn, but it really wasn't advisable. I missed them after they'd gone, and I quite expect they regretted their move as well.

 

Hard boiled eggs

 

I'm beginning to get really frustrated. I've been having a real problem with hard boiled eggs for our lunch salads recently. I find that the shells refuse to come-away from the eggs cleanly, leaving a rather pitted and bedraggled looking egg, that is most un-appealing (unna-peel-ing, geddit?).

I've been told that the eggs shouldn't be too fresh, or that one should plunge them into ice-cold water when cooked, or even to put baking soda in the water. Whatever method I use there are always one or more of the little bast*rds that refuses to peel properly.

Actually I've just cooked a couple and they were fine, but generally this isn't the case.

If anyone has a foolproof method, I would love to hear it. Maybe I should ask someone who works in a pickled egg factory; theirs always seem to be perfect.

I usually serve ours cut in half, with a squirt of Mayo and a tiny sprinkling of curry powder (as above).  Looking nice is as important as tasting nice, and some of mine recently have looked almost scrambled. A dreadful mess.

Flower gardening

I am NOT a flower gardener; this extract from my 2008 book 'Je t'adore 24' proves as much. And I don't like orange flowers, orange cars, orange clothes, etc. Deep blood red is my preferred colour, but I leave it to others to plant them.

However, the garden at this time of year is quite florid; below are just a few examples. There is also a second rush of Wisteria flowers, and plenty of others with forgettable names.

I do know of Hibiscus and Oleander, but I'm not good with flower names.

The most important element (for me) of a flower garden is that things just appear year after year without my intervention. I do a bit of pruning just to make things look tidy, but that's it.

So far, it's working quite well.

Reform UK, the manifesto.

 

When I read that Nigel Farage's new political party, Reform UK, were doing so well in the polls, I genuinely wondered why and how!

At present they are allegedly more popular than both Labour and The Tories. The reason for this must be their proposed manifesto; it can't be for any other reason. They are a brand-new party, they only have 5 MP's, and no track record.

I don't have time, or interest, in showing you their complete manifesto, but here are just a few of the more 'catchy' proposals.

No-one will begin to pay Income Tax on a salary/wage below £20,000.

They wish to scrap Stamp Duty on house purchases below £750,000.

They will abolish Inheritance Tax on all legacies under £2 Million.

They will reduce Fuel Tax by 20p per Litre.

They wish to cut Foreign Aid by 50%

They will ditch all attempts at Net Zero.

And, of course, they will stop illegal immigrants, and deport all foreign criminals.

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if people voted for them if all this was achievable. But somehow it all seems too good to be true. Where is the money coming from to pay for essentials such as Defence, Education, and Health? I failed to see any policies that would raise enough money to pay for all the promises.

However, voters don't really care about practicalities. Just a year ago the country voted for a party that promised 'change'; now they've seen what that 'change' actually looks like, they're all jumping ship and looking for someone else to vote for next time. That person seems to be Nigel Farage.

So, who is Farage? He was educated at Dulwich, after which he worked in The City for various firms of Commodity Traders. He later became an EU-sceptic MEP, often making controversial speeches in Brussels. He led the UK Independence Party from 2006 to 2016, and was elected MP for Clacton in 2024, when he founded his Reform UK party. He's also a friend of Tr*mp.

Now he wants to become the British Prime Minister. It might well happen! PMQ's would certainly be more entertaining.

p.s. I now see that Reform UK are being predicted to win 290 seats at the next election. THAT remains to be seen.

Single Mom DEMANDS Disabled Spot

We've all come across people like this, or have heard about their existence, but this one has to win FIRST PRIZE. I actually think she was being serious.

Isn't she lovely! She should be preserved in Formaldehyde.

Do watch the whole video; it's worth it.

One year already; how's he doing?

Well Starmer couldn't have been clearer in what he said (above), and all the nodding sheep behind him were obviously convinced. Of course as we all know, everyone's Council Tax will rise by 5% this year. Is anyone surprised?

One really has to wonder who Labour aim to represent, or even to 'please'. Their faithful voting 'working people' must be getting thinner and thinner on the ground. Even Nigel Farage's untested political party (Reform UK) is way ahead of them in the polls; and they only have FIVE MP's.

The only people who I imagine are happy, are the Union member Train Drivers, who were given a huge pay-rise as soon as Starmer entered No 10. I wonder what that was all about???

It is generally understood that Labour always 'rob Peter to pay Paul', but now those Peters are quitting the UK in their droves, and taking their £Billions with them. The wealth creators are leaving the sinking ship; and who could blame them. Shipping tycoon John Fredriksen being the latest to make his intentions known

Starmer recently tried to take-away certain benefits from the disabled, as he had with the OAP's. His aim was to deprive scroungers of welfare money, saving around £4.25Billion. His backbenchers saw things differently and he was forced to back-down (these people are their constituents). Now those £Billions will need to be found elsewhere by Rachel (from Accounts) Reeves. Their answer....Yet another Wealth Tax, which means more wealth-creators leaving for more tax-friendly climes.

In fact, the abuse of the 'disabled benefits' system is infamous, and Starmer was right to try to filter out the crooks. Scroungers are everywhere, and the bill is HUGE. Almost anybody seems to be able to claim incapacity or disability benefits without any questions being asked. After his U-Turn, we can now expect that number of claimants to rise even more.

In yet another U-Turn, even the OAP's are to have their 'Winter Fuel Payment' reinstated this year. It should NEVER have been taken away.

And while I think of it, we've seen a record 20,000 new illegal immigrants crossing the channel already this year. Worthy of The Guinness Book of Records methinks!

You can't keep-on bashing the elderly and vulnerable, raising taxes, filling the country with illegal immigrants, closing down schools and businesses, and making the rich leave the country, if you want the economy to thrive.

The Office of National Statistics tells us that unemployment in Britain is the highest it's been for four years; since the Covid crisis. Those figures will only rise further with this group of amateurs in charge. Student style economics are all well and good in a College Common Room, but not in Downing Street.

Historically, unemployment has ALWAYS increased after a period of Labour government. It's what they do best!

A recent LBC poll says 30% regret voting Labour, and 61% think Starmer should go, leaving Angela Rayner to occupy No 10. She could even bring back Corbyn. What an absolutely HORRENDOUS thought. 

I put 50p on Starmer having been ousted by the end of last year; I lost my 50p. However, I'll place another 50p on his being ousted by the end of this one! He's simply not up to the job.

Labour needs another (more honest) Tony Blair; but I don't see one anywhere!

White skies.

We've been back in France for just over two weeks, and today (yesterday) is/was our first cloudy day. We didn't see the sun all day. However, it was still very warm and the pool water had remained over 27 C, so we did have a few un-sunny swims.

It is so quiet here. Normally we see no-one all day. This morning a Dutch neighbour came by with his dog which made Billy happy. He doesn't see many other dogs here, unlike in Brighton. We have two Dutch neighbours, both of whom are charming, and both of whom have lovely dogs.

It's been so hot here recently that having a slightly cooler day is very refreshing. Without the burning sun on my back I was able to get-on with some gardening. Lady M made Apricot, and Plum, Jam, whilst I pruned Roses, and cut back Wisteria.

The grass isn't growing, so no need for mowing.

I began to red H E Bates' 'Fair stood the wind for France'. It wasn't what I was expecting, nor what I'd hoped for from Bates. I'm only half way through it, and already I'm thinking of abandoning it. We'll see. Instead I began re-reading Elizabeth David's wonderful 'An Omelette and a Glass of Wine'. She is such an intelligent writer, whether she's writing about food, travel, or anything else.

In many ways our trips to the supermarket are the days I look forward to most. I love driving through the countryside, being amongst people I don't know, occasionally chatting to people who possibly haven't spoken to anyone for a whole week. And, of course, treating ourselves to many of the delights on offer. 

Country life can be very lonely for some people; especially the old. Many farms are isolated, and those who live by themselves can really welcome company or conversation. I must have a certain type of face, as I seem to be singled out by some as a 'listener'. I rather enjoy chatting away about any old subject; last week it was about Anchovies. A woman couldn't find Anchovies, and nor could I; we had quite a conversation about it. We never did find our Anchovies, so they're back on the list for my next visit later this week.

Nature often surprises me. This 'Lords and Ladies' (Arum Maculatum) plant just popped-up by the old fountain. I've noticed several around the garden this year. They are stunning.

The Sunflowers are almost in flower, the Bees have all gone (perhaps the hives have been taken away), and our fruit trees are all showing their future generous bounty. Life is pretty good, and VERY quiet.

I know that I mention it quite often, but I have lived here for over two-thirds of my life. I adore the area, I speak the language, and I like 99% of the people. What more could one ask for!