Volunteers organise Community BBQ
The Volunteers at La Giraudiere started the end of their first week by having a French lesson on Friday morning with the delightful Lynn who divided us into two classes of beginners and more advanced. She inspired the group consisting of Americans, English and Scots to practise their French after her departure.
The afternoon was spent preparing for the much anticipated barbecue to which Paul had invited friends and neighbours. The kitchen was a hive of activity where a variety of salads were prepared, baguettes cut up and sangria made up from Paul’s secret recipe. Finally the hour approached and the guests began to arrive. A surprising number were British but owned houses in the vicinity and had lived here for several years or spent their time between Britain and this beautiful region of South West France.
Others had lived all their lives in the area and came with their children, the youngest being a baby of four months. There was a group from the gendarmerie and a Parisian who is building a house nearby. One of Paul’s former apprentices, Julien, arrived with his wife and inlaws togetrher with the delightfull Louis a 18 month old boy who kissed everyone in sight.
John, from Scotland, was in charge of the barbecue supported by Angel from USA and David, from UK, was the barman offering everyone a welcoming appetif of sangria. The village butcher supplied the meat , the burgers being truly delicious and the sausages equally flavoursome. The locals brought with them some delicious desserts including Monique’s apple tart and some brownies to die for! As the evening wore on, conversations took place in English and French and a small group resorted to speaking Spanish with Angel, a volunteer of Puerto Rican origin.
The weather remained dry all evening but was disappointingly cold and gradually people drifted inside to the warmth or crowded round the heat of the barbecue.
“Maybe you would like to come and volunteer at La Giraudiere and write this blog or maybe some articles check out volunteers in France articles“
