Different families.....

So it has a been a while, I have not had much to say… however now I have…

I have a whole new family, not that I have rejected my old one; they are way to precious to reject (you know who you are, lovely ones)

Let me explain a little more…

I have a Saint Paulais family…

There are so many delights about small town living but there are so many pitfalls and annoyances too. Everyone knows your business and when they don’t they ask what’s up?? Literally, ‘we’ are that confused we don’t understand what is happening with you…. My ‘normal’ response is, that I am grateful for your concern but really has it got anything to do with you?? (btw, this is both French and ‘ex-pat’ interest.)

The good thing is the postie always knows where to find you where ever you may be, I love the fact they NEVER leave me a parcel slip at the café when we are normally closed and simply bring it the next day.

So as most of you know James and his rugby team did really well last year and thanks to the changes in regulations by FFR they will remain as a team this coming year. (I can promise you SPAC did not pay them, they couldn’t afford too)

So, this whole rugby league thing or as they say in France Rugby 13 has got me a little confused, firstly I had to learn the rules (in French!!) so I understood when my fellow parents complained at the ref for whatever unjust infraction. Don’t get me wrong Rugby Union or as they say here rugby 15 is still my first love just not for my ‘baby’ (176cm at 13!!!) boy!

Often the games are played away and I need to be at the café so am unable to attend but my ‘family’ have me sorted. Firstly they help transport all the kids to the games and then support them just like a family should (I remember you with great affection, Gordon Lanham-Love!!)

Firstly, there are the drummers, which can be adults or kids, trust me PE (St Georges Park) you have nothing on this lot! Then there are the real shouters who get the entire crowd going, sometimes even the opposition parents find themselves screaming for the incorrect team

Then there is MY ZULU, my first French friend she always reminds me, WHOOAH, I thought I was loud but no, this lovely one takes the cake, and she has the laugh that just enriches everybody’s life, it is so deep and so sincere; but DON’T mess with her she is fierce!!

Then there is her husband, reflective and quiet but OH, so strong, normally one of the drummers, heart of gold, salt of the earth guy. In fact he was the one who started calling us family and insisted that I had his and JP’s mobile numbers in my speed dial in case I ever needed them at the café. He is very zen and the weed helps!! But we love him to bits.

He was also the one who organized for the ’family’ to watch the Football World Cup Final at his home but in the street, he closed the road with sofas etc and the tv outside and with the’ bar’ behind us, it truly was an amazing event! I think wherever you were that day In France it would have been special but this was intimate and inclusive and we had at least seven nationalities there, so we all felt very French, just like the team,  n’est pas??

Then there is our lovey troubadour, who has more stories than I can keep up with and probably speaks more languages than any one I know.  His heritage is such a mix and so interesting. But at the rugby field he is LOUD, when he is not involved with the training and being ‘official’.  His wife is just so lovey too, she works in the tourist office and has the biggest smile and such a big heart.  She obviously has to be fair, but she tells all the people who ask that Le Petit Chou is ‘her’ canteen as not to break the rules of her work.

Then there is the formidable JP, (James’s French father), in fact I think James is often happier there than anywhere else apart from the rugby field. He is Catalan by birth and is a no-nonsense sort of guy but will drop everything to help a friend out. I love that he treats James as one of his own, he has five children with the gentle and sweet S.  I am always trying to contribute to James food bill but they keep telling what’s one more and they have a large potager (vegetable garden) which James helps in and also helps ‘muck’ out the chickens.

Then, of course there is my lovely P who does not attend the rugby yet but maybe one day but he keeps me sane most of the time, and NO, we are NOT romantically involved he just happens to have very similar interests and we love to chat, discuss politics, listen to music and discuss and drink wine together.

There are of course the amazing, supportive and incredible mothers A & S, who help me at the drop of a hat, in spite of all our differences they embrace the fact we are in together as mothers!

This ‘family’ is of course quite apart from the lovely Swedes we have adopted, or did we adopt each other??

And then there is the ‘mais oui club’ which is quite another story and in fact you have to be in it to know any more about it! BUT TRUST ME THIS IS VAULT FAMILY!!

So, all those year ago when Simon said to me you will miss the cosmopolitan life of London, five years later I can probably reply that all is well, I am blessed to have such a diverse family that comes from so many different nationalities and bring so much culture, diversity and interest to our lives. 

As to the customers of Le Petit Chou, too many almost unbelievable stories to tell here, you probably wouldn’t believe half of them but let’s just say one of my French regulars loves his dogs and has beautiful horses that he likes to ride to the café… VIVE LE FRANCE!! VIVE LE DIFFERENCE !!

JE SUIS CONTENT, MERCI!

PS. Thanks to Xavier for kicking my butt to write again