Its 100 years since the dreadful battle of Verdun and all over France there were major commemorations. Merkel and Hollande went to Verdun and watched some performances which I watched on TV while ironing - children running through the endless white crosses of graves to the beating of oil drums was a particularly memorable and surprisingly moving image.
Here in Esperaza our Mayor and some of his council grouped around the 'Evocation de Verdun' statue and the local policeman played the tape of
The Last Post from the back of his policecar, naturally followed by the Marseillaise. The standard bearers were all strangers, presumably theres a national network that sends combatants out to make sure its done properly.
In this time of national chaos as the civilians strike against imposed laws, this emphasis on military matters might seem a tad sinister.
Nothing detered, the
vide grenier carried on - through ceremony, through rain - outbreaks of sunshine making for good humoured
esprit des corps.
Angela arrived on time despite yesterdays signal failure which had caused the trains to snarl up the length of France. She's safe, but stressed.
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