On Friday last week I saw the commune pick-up go past and the back was filled with pots of chrysanthemums which had brightened the village since just before Toussaint. We remarked that the Toussaint season was over and the next underway - preparations must be in hand to install the Christmas decorations. It is fairly quiet here apart from all the tractors, fuel and grain lorries which we now don't notice too much, but a different voice or engine sound and we're on the case. Someone once said "God knows everything, but the neighbours miss nothing." - that'll be me they were talking about! So, today I heard voices and heard some sort of machinery outside our house and looked out and here was Elvis in the cherry picker, chatting to a neighbour and installing a light on the nearest lamppost. Not Elvis Presley, you understand, but Elvis who works for the commune (I think he's Portuguese but I'm not sure about the popularity of the name in Portugal).
So, this evening, ce soir, we were having a little stroll and were delighted to witness all the said lights going on on all the lampposts in our street. The lights are new this year - white and pink - and they look very festive. Next to appear will no doubt be Santa's chalet down in front of the Mairie, in preparation for the Christmas Fayre this Sunday. We are away here from the towns, so I'm not sure what decorations there'll be in Tulle, Brive and Limoges, but Christmas is not so commercialised here. The local shops have decorations in their windows and normally a Christmas tree outside, decorated with coloured foil bows. Since we moved here five years ago, we've noticed more residents decorating their houses and gardens with Christmas lights and decorations.
On Sunday we'll be going to the Christmas Fayre in the village, then a Christmas Carol concert at La Croisille, about 12 kilometres from here. There'll be French and English carols and songs and readings, followed by mulled wine and mince pies - just right to get us into the Christmas spirit.
couple of years ago we bought a small live tree from our local supermarket for 5 euros, so hope we can get one at that price again this year. Last year was a bit of a sad affair as the house was upside down as we had changed both our boiler and woodburner, so had no heating, other than the flames from the Christmas pud! We have always loved our family Christmases, so I'm looking forward to a proper Christmas this year, with family coming for a few days before Christmas, and before that to digging out our Christmas decorations (some so vintage, they are even older than me!). They'll be going up hopefully on around the 13 December to cheer the dark evenings ahead.
© Marie Tyler, 2016
