The Chair Caner – Le canneur de chaises

it’s nice to know that chair caning is not a lost art! We have quite a few 19th century cane-seated chairs and 6 leather ones but that’s another trade altogether! C’est bien de savoir que le cannage des chaises n’est pas un art perdu ! Nous avons plusieurs chaises cannées du 19ème siècle et 6 …

Encouraging Blood Donors – A la recherche des donneurs de sang

At the market on Saturday, this brass band was encouraging blood donors – particularly relevant after the recent killings in Paris. Mon sang pour les autres = My blood for others. Au marché samedi, ce fanfare encourageait les donneurs de sang, une action particulièrement pertinente après les tueries à Paris la semaine avant. 

A Sad Day for France – Une journée triste pour la France

We no longer live in Paris but still have many connections; The killings today took place in the neighbourhood where my daughter used to live. At the market this morning, the lady on the vegetable stalls answered her cell phone while serving me at about 11 am. She apologised, saying “Excuse-moi, but it was my …

The Biscuit Truck – Le Type H à biscuits

At the market on Saturday in Blois, we were delighted to see that Damien, our favourite biscuit maker – his Sablés des Grouets are very moorish – has a new biscuit tin. And not just any tin.The Citroën H Van, Type H, H-Type or HY is a light truck (or delivery van) produced by Citroën between 1948 …

The Knife Grinder – Le rémouleur

You thought that knife grinders had disappeared? Well, here’s proof to the contrary. I loved the “shop front” so went round the other side to see what it was attached to. What a clever set-up! Vous pensiez que le rémouleur avait disparu? Mais pas du tout ! La devanture m’a bien plu alors je suis …

The Biscuit Tin – La boîte à biscuits

Our very favourite pure butter home-made shortbread biscuits – Les Grouets Sablés – now have their own tin (small and large size) decorated with the Loire Valley châteaux. You can buy your own at the Louis XII market in Blois on a Saturday or Amboise market on a Sunday. Bon appétit! Nos gâteaux secs préférés pur beurre …

Riverside Market – Marché en bord de rivière

From time to time, we go to the Sunday market in Amboise, held on the embankment, next to the Loire. Although it is reputed to be the best in the area, but I prefer the merket on Place Louis XII in Blois. De temps en temps nous allons au marché d’Amboise le dimanche. Sur le mail, il se …