Where Do We Begin?

John and I were up early as we had scheduled two trips to the manure heap at the top of the hill to put onto the new rose beds. ( By the way I don't want to shout too loud but the "cheapie roses" from Carrefour are all doing well, despite the odd nibble from passing deer!!). We had just filled the trailer and about to head for home and a white van arrived and turned at the end of the track. We assumed it was the farmer who owned the manure just checking what was happening. We decided that it would be politic to stop at his house on the way home to ensure all was well. We saw the white van parked outside the farmer's house so out I jumped. However the man who got out of the van was not the man with whom I had previously negotiated collection of the manure. Eventually we established that the manure farmer who we had seen on his roof was infact his neighbour and just doing some work for him. He then launched into a very involved tale about his boundary disagreement with his neighbours. He was a very pleasant man but all this took about half an hour and we were pleased to extricate ourselves and be on our way home.

About 500 metres further on we passed the farmer who owns the manure so again we thought it politic to stop and explain what we were doing. However as I got out the farmer and his son began shouting and pointing at the wheel on the trailer. It was totally flat. Almost before John was out of the car, they were jacking up the trailer on pieces of wood and had produced a socket set to undo the nuts, but as always they wouldn't budge. ( Not to worry, son leaps on his moped and is soon back with an air gun - as used in garages.) Meantime their neighbour had arrived and was contributing to the mellee. Eureka, the wheel was off and we were directed to a shop in Gourdon to obtain a new tyre. Much hand shaking of manure covered hands and profuse thanking followed. Needless to say the particular tyre we required was out of stock and due in next week. John then remembered that he had an aerosol designed for tyres in just these circumstances, so we had no alternative but to give it a go - it worked miraculously.

It was way passed mid day by the time we were eventually spreading the " muck" on one rose bed but we reflected that we had had a thoroughly enjoyable morning and made new friends.

We had to go into Cahors shopping this afternoon and John keeps moaning that he is just not getting on with his jobs, shhh I've got a few more lined up for him.