Brave and tasteful.

The Grande Dame of the stage sleeps in late. We miss the little nuts parade and the crowning of King and Queen Nut 2012. However, all is not lost. As we arrive the induction of the new members of the co-fraternity of nuts is taking place in front of the town hall. A moment of what might pass for great solemnity. The new members of the cofraternity kneel, pledge allegiance to the nut '' that most delicious and nutritious of Gods gifts " and are then tapped three times on each shoulder with a hazelnut branch. Through it all the sound system whistles insanely. A little old lady in a white cardigan wanders onto the stage and starts to conduct an imaginary orchestra. She is gently escorted back down the stairs and handed back to the supervision of the matron of the old folks home.

Ceremony over the co-fraternity of nuts process through the market hall. They are escorted by three ladies in leggings who perform under the somewhat unimaginative stage name of   ' The three sexee laydees ' . The old farmers look at the three ladies with great interest. The Grande Dame joins the end of the procession and dances uninhibitedly. The locals look on. The Grande Dame is wearing a broad brimmed hat with a peacock feather. Angus wishes he was invisible. 

'The font' bites down on a piece of nut cake and breaks a tooth. Sheared clean in half. A call to the emergency line at the dentist in London. An appointment made for eight on Monday morning. 'The font' heads off to the airport.

Angus and the Grande Dame go to the Hotel Nationale for dinner.  An establishment owned and run by our electricians brother. It doesn't appear in any guide. Champagne ordered the Grande Dame looks around the pink and green decor of the dining room. '' I always think the French are so brave with colours ". There is a brief pause, then she continues " of course brave and tasteful are two very different concepts ".