Last weekend our friends Graham and Tracey came to stay at Le Pre vert. We first met 8 years ago when we moved into our apartments at Thollon-les-Memises, Haute Savoie. Although we were in different buildings we were invited for drinks and found we had a lot in common. They are both teachers, interested in music, skiing and cricket and we discovered that when we first started teaching, in 1979, Graham and I had lived about 500m from each other in a small place close to Cannock called Great Wyrley.
We'd meet up during most holidays for meals, drinks and the odd days out in the mountains. When we sold in 2009 we vowed to keep in touch and last Christmas we returned to Thollon to ski and this summer, on their way back to the UK , they made the long trek across France
We took them to Angles-sur-l’Anglin which in many ways is a miniature Yvoire (a medieval village on the shores of Lac Leman) but without all the souvenir shops and the lake!
A semi-retired Graham helping Tim with a drainage problem.
On our way home we drove through the main street of Preuilly-sur-Claise (where Simon and Susan of Days on the Claise live). The day was hot so the car windows were wide open. Near the boulangerie Tim noticed a lad hiding behind some cars wielding a huge water squirter. As we drove past Graham was soaked by the squirter and although Tracey and Gaynor ‘see the funny side’ neither Graham nor Tim can. We manage a U-turn at the top of the hill and go back. Graham, for once, is speechless but wags a finger or two. Tim manages to tell the lad several times that he isn’t very pretty (in other words, this could mean that he is very UGLY!) Gaynor wonders whether gentil (kind) is the word he’s looking for!
Feeling somewhat better we drive back down the hill, do another U-turn, and back past the lad who is waiting for another unsuspecting motorist. He doesn’t notice us coming back or even Graham with a water bottle at the ready. Graham squeezes, and, with exceptionally good timing and a squirt of biblical proportions, soaks the lad!
This kept our simple minds amused for the rest of their stay and whenever we thought about the look on the lad’s face as he was soaked we had a little chuckle.
Turn the other cheek? Not us …
There's nothing like a taste of your own medicine!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
ReplyDeleteI wonder whether, as the adults, we should have had greater maturity than to retaliate!
Oh frabjous day! Callooh, callay!! The phrase in Spanish for such wonderful retribution is 'TOMA!' - meaning 'take that' literally, but having lived long enough in Spain, I now know the rest of the phrase, which is less polite, is now quite redundant. I feel much happier using the shortened version. Great stuff.
ReplyDeleteAxxx
Thanks Annie. I'll remember the word TOMA and no doubt find numerous occasions to use it!
DeleteExcellently well done :-))
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan!
DeleteHave you ever noticed a lad with a water shooter along your main street?
Hello Gaynor:
ReplyDeleteIt would indeed seem that what goes round does, in fact, come round!!
Hi Jane and Lance,
DeleteIt does indeed, although I'm sure we should have acted with greater maturity!
Brilliant! :-))!! [and very educational for the lad ;-)]
ReplyDeleteWe have over 120 years in education between us, so know how to teach the odd 'good' lesson! ;o)
DeletePossibly wouldn't be endorsed by OFSTED, though!
LOL what a great story. Hope the young lad learnt something from it! Have a great weekend, Diane
ReplyDeleteThanks, Diane.
DeleteI hope he did too. As funny as it seems a more serious point is that in the narrow street he could have caused a swerve and an accident. Luckily everyone was fine. if a little wet!
Interesting blog, Amanda. I will do ...
ReplyDeleteExcellent story to keep me chuckling! I wonder what any of the 'older generation' of onlookers thought. That would also be amusing! Indeed you have GREAT maturity. Let it be that the best lessons are those we experience at first hand! So, wondering if I should use your approach with the "ring the doorbell and run" behaviour which I continue to experience!
ReplyDeleteOh..tell Tim I have two embarassing stories using a linguistic 'faux pas' avec gentil et jolie! It must be normal 'comme chevaux et cheveux'. Hilarious! You are commended with honours!
Hi Sweetpea,
Deletethe difficulty with your doorbell ringers is that they know precisely where you live. Perhaps you should take a photograph of them the next time you see them.
PS Love the cartoon
ReplyDeleteThe cartoon is a dead spit! The only sadness, in retrospect, is that Tim only had a bottle of water. Now, had it have been Coke or Orangina.....
ReplyDeleteI think he was a bit generous with the hair ...
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