The Christmas Lunch. Everyone was invited to attend, so as the bells struck mid-day, everyone assembled at the village hall. We were ushered into the large and slightly chilly hall. Aperitifs were circulated, glasses were raised, Merry Christmas to all.
Tables had been laid in a large horse shoe shape and the school cook began to serve the scallops in puff pastry and then veal cooked in white wine. Whilst we were enjoying the salad and cheese the mayor sang a traditional Christmas song, as he does, I am told every year, and finally to finish chocolate cake with crème anglais.
As I looked around me I saw everyone enjoying a simple but traditional French meal with absolutely no pretensions at all, and again I noticed that there are no social barriers. The commune gardener had been in deep discussions with a very senior man in the police who is responsible for speed trap design and development for over an hour, the local cleaning lady was sitting between two very influential business women yet there are no social divides everyone is respected regardless of their job and the size of their car.
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