Good out of bad?

Really not a great photo. Another one of those grabbed in Paulette's kitchen this time with her friend Gerard. And maybe that is the good that has come out of the bad. Since her husband's death earlier this year and her son's death a couple of years ago Paulette has had some atrocious goings on to deal with. I can't say all the details yet but there are many tribunals outstanding against a woman in the village (Paulette's daughter in law who although separated from her son never divorced). Many of these tribunals have been and still are involving Paulette. However this man Gerard also has one due this month against the same woman who refuses to give him back his land to sell .. (farmers have rights to continue farming land that has been loaned to them by the land owner for a number of years and this DIL inherited this right when her husband (P's son) died). She refuses to hand this land back till she has to in about 5 years time and in the meantime Gerard has not a penny to rub together as Paulette often says in the French equivalent ... but he now helps Paulette in her garden and on her vegetable plot and she in return often makes him lunch. We bought two plastic bottles of home made Pineau from him this morning just so that he would have some cash. What is delightful is the friendship that has developed between them. We sat there and listened to them talking to each other animatedly this morning. Gerard has such a strong local accent he is impossible for us to understand .. we can only make out what they are saying by her responses. But day by day she grows in vigour and love and it is beautiful to see and to witness.