Comments on: A slow season, to reflect & collect energy

By: marolyn

marolyn — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:53:19 +0000

Martin – I totally agree about the “free and sociable” aspects of shopping in village shops, and I never dreamed that saying “herring” in French would be a good ice-breaker, everyone helps and we have a good laugh. Watching the exchange, whether in the market or shops (c’est “Extra”, ce Camembert!) is not only entertaining, but an on-going French lesson. So, see you at the café after rounds in the Lalinde market?

By: martin

martin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:30:23 +0000

Shopping at the market in France is not shopping but an essential part of one’s weekly social diary. As one strolls through the market one meets friends and spends time finding out how they are and what they are doing. These things cannot and should not be rushed.
Choosing food from the stalls is a pleasure and buying from local producers who might have just harvested what’s on their stall. The shops have a festive air about them. Jean-Paul, the boucher, jokes with customers whilst his father, and former owner, extols the quality of the beef which he has personally chosen from a nearby farm – ‘excellent, superbe’ he tells all the customers – no need for a French English translation here.
Finally coffee in one’s favourite bar with some friends to put the world to rights rounds off a most pleasurable and rewarding morning.
Who cares if one’s grammar or pronunciation is corrected. Indeed if we were not corrected then we would never learn – and it’s free and sociable.
The supermarket is for those things which are essential but which give one no pleasure in buying. Could anyone ever get excited buying toilet paper or washing powder?

By: marolyn

marolyn — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 09:17:15 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Mimi! A good share of my motivation to keep shopping simple and local arises from the recently opened Carrefour hyper-marché just minutes away on the road to Bergerac, and seeing local grocers struggle to stay afloat. So, not only is doing my rounds in the village actually quicker, but hopefully having our business encourages them. By the way, the Roquefort bridge on your site enticed me to add a wedge to my basket this week!

By: Mimi

Mimi — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:28:17 +0000

It’s a bit daunting to shop local in France, I have found. Places like LeClerc and Carrefour (which reminds me a bit of Whole Foods Market) allow for some anonymity. And they see a lot of tourists, I suspect, so no one is likely correct improper grammar. Still, shopping local is more fulfilling, more charming and ultimately more satisfying!