Fete de Saint Hubert

What a fantastic day I've had today! We collected Danielle and Bernard's grand-daughters ( 6yrs and 9yrs) from their son Nikola's house this morning to head off to the forest for a service to celebrate the feast of Saint Hubert, the patron saint of hunters. (not St Aubert, as I thought yesterday! I haven't quite got my head around all the french vowel sounds yet! ). We went in for a coffee to his house first so I could see it. It is the oldest house in La Longueville - built in 1720 and has been completely restored. It is the most beautiful home inside and Nikola and his wife have kept the decor true to how it was. They are very proud here of the traditions of their past and preserving them.  This home is 'french country' at its best! It was just beautiful. The French Country shop in Auckland would want to just uplift every single thing from inside and ship it home!

They have begun to work on the grounds outside and it is looking lovely.  Nikola is a physiotherapist in the village and his wife works for a national recruitment company.

They are obviously particular as every inch of the house is finished according to the traditions of the area right down to the pictures on the walls and ornaments around.

The ceilings inside the house have been left as they were, and I have seen the same in each house I have been inside. They are sort of vaulted brick ceilings (curved) between beams of wood.  It's looks effective but I'm sure they built them like that for other reasons than effect!

 

One room was a 'den' and would be the envy of many kiwi males! It had a pool table and the bar shown here with proper tap facilities and the liquor cabinet set behind a fabulous picture frame! Probably not blokey enough for some guys but I could definitely put up with it in my house.

 

We set off after that for the forest glade and arrived at the place along with dozens and dozens and dozens of horses and donkeys! Some were pulling carriages and many were all decorated for the occasion. There were all sorts of dogs and rabbits also - a real managerie! The service began  in the glade surrounded by the horses with all the other animals part of the congregation. Dappled sunlight shone through the trees and the choir and band of french horns were accompanied throughout with neighing, braying and intermittent barking but nobody minded, especially not Father who had a lovely manner with all the animals. At the end of the service, baskets of sliced baguette were blessed and then boy scouts walked amongst the congregation distributing pieces for everyone, then as Father blessed each animal in turn, they were all given slices of baguette as well!

 

French Horn band in traditional dress.

Un lapin!

 

Phoenix's cousin gets a blessing!

 

Some decorated themselves instead of their horse!

 

 

 

When the final animals were blessed we headed home for the family lunch that the Regniers have on Sunday with their son, daughter-in-law, two grand-daughters and Danielle's mother. After the aperatif of tart fromage, Nikola cooked the most delicious duck breast on the BBQ with honey and a slosh of the champagne we were drinking at the end! 



Lunch began at 1pm and finished at 4.30pm!  All I wanted to do was sleep by then, but an hour later we headed over to a village half an hour away to visit their second son and his family. They have a two month old little boy who was a lovely wee fellow and a 3yr old and a 5yr old. This son sells farm machinery and the village was in the midst of countryside like all the others I've seen. Row upon row of corn and maize paddocks. Lots of potatoes are grown and also le lin, from which linen is made.

We arrived hpome at 8.30pm to begin preparing the evening meal! It's difficult keeping up with this schedule - I haven't quite adapted yet as I'm always ready for bed by 5pm!

 

School day tomorrow so I navigate myself around by bus for the first time. Hope it's as easy as I've been told it is!