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 31st July 2010
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Book of the Month 'A Botcher in France' by Trevor Danby (Book Guild Publishing, £16.99)
Idly leafing through the Sunday supplements, Trevor Danby spotted an advertisement for what seemed like implausibly cheap properties in the Charente region of France. Intrigued, but without any intention to buy, he contacted the agents and set off. One particular residence offered a superfluity of wardrobes, a dripping cellar occupied by enormous spiders, and a roof in danger of collapse. Against all reason and ignoring his wife's suppressed hysteria, he decided to buy it. This was back in 1986 before the Charente had been discovered in droves by sunshine seeking expats. Recently published, this is a wry, funny book filled with larger than life characters *** We have two copies of the book to give away. To enter answer this question: what is the famous French after-dinner drink that comes from the Charente? Email us your answer, marking it 'Book of the Month - May 2008' in the subject heading. The first two randomly chosen correct answers, received after the closing deadline of May 31, 2008, will win. Didn't win or want it now? Buy it! A TASTER... Monsieur Hercule was on site the following morning at his usual ungodly hour, to drag us from sleep with the sound of sawing and hammering. As we sat at breakfast with our guests we felt decidedly guilty, having invited them for a week to escape the noisy bustle of London. They were subjected to clamorous activity directly above a construction site. A break in work suddenly made us realise we were shouting at each other, and we lowered our voices and smiled sympathetically in a relieved way. But this relief was a cruelly short calm before the storm, and we were suddenly in a war zone. A six pounder’s explosive force jerked us up off our chairs, the first of a continuous bombardment. We began to look as if we were travelling over an assault course for tanks. Our speech came in hiccups, as we attempted to spread butter and jam on crisp French bread, and drink the choppy waves of coffee that slapped over the rims of the cups... By now, the floor was visibly dancing up and down at each explosive impact. In a tone implying little option, my wife asked me if it was possible I might have it in mind to ask Monsieur Hercule for an explanation of what was going on. .....Creeping down the last few steps, I peered into the cave to see Monsieur Hercule striking a massive oak upright with a huge mallet, like Mr. Universe with his gong at the start of a Rank film.... He caught me peering in. ‘Ah!’ I said swiftly. ‘So...It’s all going well, then?’ ‘Ouaie.’ ‘Quite a job, no doubt.’ ‘Ouaie.’ I nodded reflectively. He shrugged, waiting for me to say something intelligent. ‘Right...So I’d better let you get on, then.’ ‘Bah, ouaie!’ he said in his upper register. Having been dismissed, I returned to the others in the courtyard. The explosions started up again. ‘What did he have to say?’ asked my wife. ‘He is terribly sorry for the noise, but there is no way of getting the supports in place except by brute force. He said he will try to complete the job as soon as possible.’ ‘Amazing! she exclaimed to the guests. ‘He’s never said that much in a week before!’ Living in France Home Page Looking for a property in France? Use FrenchEntrée's Property Finders to help you find your property and to help you through the buying process 
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