The laying of the wreath

Today is a Bank holiday. I went up to the ceremony on the Place de l'Entente Cordiale at 11am and listened to the Maire reading a text and poems read by one of the school children.The attendance was disappointing and we all agreed that the numbers reduce each year which is a shame. For the younger generation, the wars on the twentieth century are now history and there are fewer and fewer young people who have had their immediate families affected. The obligatory aperos followed and it was a chance to catch up with a few friends and people who matter in the village. Towards the end, the Maire, who can be difficulty to work with, came and put his arm around my shoulder and Jeff's, our tower captain, and said the commune will do some of the minor works in the church which we have been asking for for five years. That is certainly a result and it is important that we keep in with the Maire. He has a certain reputation and it is true that he is more approachable and full of bonhomie when he has had a drink or two!