Chez Merlaud

Grey and wet today - so dismal. We dashed into Luc's bar for a coffee and croissant. The bakers is closed on Tuesdays except in the summertime and this is definitely not summer! So the butcher sells the bread and croissants on these days.

Mr A wanted to buy a few things so went down to this shop - Merlaud - which is famous in the region. Usually they have stacks of vegetable crates outside (but not today with the weather I guess) and you might be deceived into thinking that it is a green grocers. You would be so so wrong! It is that and everything else as well. The shop stretches back for what seems like miles. Maybe I will blip it if I can get a shot that shows the extent of it tomorrow. You can buy anything here and get the most amazing service. You can buy the smallest most obscure screw for a some obsolete piece of machinery of you can buy the latest wall size plasma TV! There are sunloungers, pegs, wood burning stoves, toilet roll holders, parasols, plant pots, artificial geraniums, dog food, plugs, wires, fishing rods, soya milk, biscuits, wine ... well I could go on and on.. Heaven knows what the stock is worth. It is run by one family (a large one!) who did sell the stored to Vival but nothing seems to have changed thank goodness... It is a life line here in the middle of the country.