Monday is my shopping day.
During my 20 Km drive into the town where I shop, I hardly saw a single car. In fact I was thinking how wonderful it is to live somewhere with so little traffic.
When I arrived at the shops, it was DEAD. Not a single car in the huge parking area.
On returning home I see that it is Lundi de Pentecôte. A Catholic day off; everything is closed.
The worst thing is; I'm sure I made exactly the same mistake last year.
I realise that you are probably an hour ahead of us? But that is very early to go shopping!! Rain all day here...not looking forward to 2 wet dogs soon!
ReplyDeleteWe had quite a storm last night. Very heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. OK this morning.
DeleteUnlike the UK, your Pentecost, or Whitsun, holiday shifts each year, as it should do here but got fixed for convenience. Next year it will be earlier in the month as Easter is earlier and the date of Pentecost is related to Easter, 7 weeks after. You have been warned.
ReplyDeleteI have taken a mental note!!!
DeleteYou're late today, I was worried, I thought perhaps the storm Miguel was guilty.
ReplyDeleteMy this morning's post didn't register, as I mistakenly posted it yesterday, and re-posted again this morning.
DeleteWell, at least you got to enjoy a quiet drive admiring the peaceful countryside :)
ReplyDeleteYes, that was the only advantage.
DeleteGod punishes you for denying His existence by making you forget certain feast days before you go shopping. The same thing will happen next year, and the next year, and the next...
ReplyDeleteIf there was such a thing (as a god) I would agree with you, but alas....
DeleteThere is no such thing as Tories either.
DeleteAnd I thought French people were staying home like those in Commonwealth are on their public holiday to celebrate Her Majesty's birthday. Rather unlikely really.
ReplyDeleteThey're staying home because The Pope said they could have the day off. Goodness knows what this Pentecost lark is all about; no doubt some more of their mumbo jumbo.
DeletePresumably, if Lady M had been with you she would have queried why there were no cars on the road. What day does she shop?
ReplyDeleteI presume you mean 'what day does she get back'. She's back of Wednesday; just a short trip this time.
DeleteI don't know anything about Pentecost but I do know that "Pentecostal" Christians here often speak "in tongues" (gibberish) and handle snakes. Crazy as loons!
ReplyDeleteI was 'speaking in tongues' on my way home. I wasn't happy.
DeleteThanks for that comment, Cro. It made me laugh.
DeleteHa ha, haven't done that yet but we've gone shopping in a nearby town and found the place closed down because of a local holiday.
ReplyDeleteMark in bright red on next year's calendar!
I don't even know what it is, but there seems to be several Pentecosts each year.
DeleteStores don’t close here unless there is a disaster. If there is money to be made, people have to go to work, even on our Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteWould you write a letter to M Macron. He needs to know about this!
DeleteHa-ha, you should know better in France! Done that a couple of times.
ReplyDeleteI was so annoyed, and just like last year I had my suspicions en route seeing no cars whatsoever.
DeleteWe have a kind of flower/plant festival in the village, our local shops in the town were open in the am and as usual we had a pleasant lunch out at one of our favourite restos. One good thing is that the 'holy days' are on the real day rather that always being a Monday.
ReplyDeleteTraditionally they are on Mondays 'pour faire le pont'. You then have a 3 day weekend; enough time to fly to Australia and back.
DeleteJoin the Oldies club.
ReplyDeleteUsually they have a BIG sign in the supermarket saying 'Closed on XXX', but I must have missed it. I shall try again tomorrow morning.
DeleteShops and supermarkets close here on Sundays. Many close Saturday afternoon as well. The only shops open on Sundays are in petrol stations, train stations, and souvenir shops. Many years ago in Northern England I needed some things urgently for the baby and it was on a Sunday and all the shops were closed. But I knew where there were some shops open. I drove to a mini market in an Asian part of the town and they had everything I needed for much less than the High Street prices. And a smile for me for free. :-)
ReplyDeleteDuring Ramadan my barber used to nip in the back for a cigarette. Don't tell anybody, he'd say. And I didn't. He was a Muslim from India and sometimes he'd give me a game of chess. He even taught me the original Indian rules. Point is - religion is a funny old business.
DeleteI've always had huge respect for Asian small shopkeepers etc. These days they are almost the only people in the UK who understand what 'working' really means. They also understand the importance of education, which is why they all work so hard to send their children to the best schools. The sons and daughters of those Asians who ran 'corner shops' are now all solicitors or doctors!
DeleteThey were kicked out of Uganda for working too hard!
Deletejust a thought, Cro..you should have had drawing materials with you..you could have had an interruption free drawing session...
ReplyDelete