Tuesday 24 July 2007

Loic and the unholy relics.


In the short space of time since Loic’s resurrection from the dead there seems to have developed some sort of cult surrounding him and it is now virtually impossible to go anywhere about the grounds of Chateau Loufoque without espying one or two females hiding behind trees or walls hoping to get a glimpse of him. It is most distressing m especially as some of them managed to inadvertently trample the asparagus bed in their eagerness to get closer to their idol.

Only yesterday evening Madame Grognonne was forced throw a bucket of water over a group of young sardine gutters from Paimpol who had come all the way from the coast just for a chance to stroke Loic’s leg which they apparently believed would cure their “fish filliters finger”, a common affliction amongst their profession, it is, so I am given to understand, a similar complaint to tennis elbow but decidedly more odoursome and less socially acceptable.

Unfortunately all this interest has meant that Loic is still disporting himself about the place with a skip in his step. Jacques is worried that should he remove the leg in order to straighten it out with a few well aimed hits with the lump hammer someone might steal it for a souvenir the moment his back is turned. This is not as unlikely as it sounds as an enterprising old swineherds form the next village, who fortuitously for him, discovered Loic’s missing hand after falling in the fosse on the way home from a rather drunken evening at the bar tabac, put it up for auction to the highest bidder and the curé purchased it for the princely sum of 12 Francs, a bottle of holy water and a dozen church candles.

The curé has now given it a polish up and has had it chained to the makeshift altar so that wives of all shapes and sizes may now pay highly for the privilege of lining up in order to kiss it in the hope of ensuring fertility. I understand that this was causing quite a disruption this morning as several men came from their work to find the midday repas unprepared and the hearth cold as their wives were out in the square pinning their hopes upon my gardeners discarded appendage.

At one stage the gendarmes had to be called away form their luncheon as a fight had broken out between some of the women who were accusing each other of spending too long fondling the fingers and therefore depriving others of the experience. All I can say is that obviously news of the devastating effects of his groin injury is not as yet common knowledge.


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This photograph was taken just before a slight fracas at the shrine today. Behind the shrine you can spot a group of men returning from work and seeking out their wives in the crowd. As you can see the curé has moved fast in constructing a more formal structure for the veneration of St Fiancre and Loic’s hand. If you look carefully at the girl at the front of the picture you will of course be able to instantly recognise the distinctive dress of the unmarried fish filleters of Paimpol although obviously the sardine embroidery on the lace cap is not clearly visible from the photograph. The gentleman standing next to her is commenting unkindly on the fishy aroma which is an unfortunate hazard of their trade. However since he is the swineherd who sold the curé Loic’s hand I hardly think he is in a position to cast aspersions on the personal hygiene of others.

15 comments:

Sally Townsend said...

So pleased to see that the Grognonne household is back in fighting form with Madame's wit as sharp as ever !!

Blossomcottage said...

Heaven forbid what might happen when someone notices the groin injury, and will you be able to report the outcome without making it X rated.
Blossom

bodran... said...

I've been trying to catch up with your adventures and have done myself an injury with laughing!! you are a tonic..xxoo

@themill said...

Madame, you are razor sharp! Too funny.
Have left a reply on the first message you posted about agents, but then I noticed everyone had commented on the second one. Hope you find it.

Fennie said...

I can't help thinking that the opportunity of acquiring a governess cart of slightly younger vintage has been lost by the Loufoque household and let slip to the church.

Perhaps if Jacques and Mde Grognonne could be so persuaded, some sort of stall could be erected in the grounds of the Chateau in which Loic could sit on a velvet cushion and sell off various bits and pieces of himself - spare parts as it were - hurriedly knocked together by Jacques in the stables?

The resulting income would allow for a replacement asparagus hoe-er, perhaps even for one with two legs, and the resultant crop of asparagus sold - or exchanged - for sardines.

Even better, the hunger of the crowds flocking to your door could be assuaged by a new 'Galette du Saint Fiancre' biscuit created expressly for the occasion, with a picture of the miraculous Loic surrounded by the sardine filleters of Paimpol drawn and copyrighted by your goodself, impressed into each one. (That is into each biscuit. If each of the sardine filleters came away with a picture of Loic (however well drawn)impressed into their flesh I think that would be a miracle that somehow would be quickly covered up).

Suffolkmum said...

I knew it, it'll be Saint Loic soon.

LITTLE BROWN DOG said...

Heaven help us when news of the groin injury comes out, so to speak! I'm thinking along the lines of parades of pilgrims lining up to lay their hands on Gauginesque carvings of towering wooden objects...

Can't wait for the next installment

Norma Murray said...

S'funny how things change. I certainly didn't hope for fertitlity whenever I kissed.

Grouse said...

Well it all makes sense now, this healing hand and the groin injury. There was I, oh! suspicious mind! thinking he was up to no good....................

Frances said...

Bon soir, UPL,

Please forgive my not writing for a while. Life is just too busy...and I do have that H. Potter book to finish reading.

Delightful to know that excitement continues to circle your location.
How is your daughter's hair growing going? I can still remember a very, very, very scissored cut from Sassoon Molton St. by on their top designers, that I took home across the Atlantic. Months, Months later, I was stopped on a New York avenue by someone asking where I had my hair cut. I gave full praise to James of So. Molton.

Wish that I could write more now, but will return to more words within the week.

Please do keep your creativity srong. It is a beacon to us!

xo

muddyboots said...

merde, can he not be trimmed & the bits sold as relics to help those less fortunate?

@themill said...

In recognition of your trials and tribulations I have nominated you for an RGB award.

@themill said...

Click on the icon in my blog, save it on your computer than upload to your page as usual. You are now allowed to display it on your page!

Westerwitch/Headmistress said...

See knew Loic was special . . .

Anonymous said...

Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!