Excuse my French

I had a dream earlier in the week which left me somewhat discombobulated for a few days. It isn’t unusual for Tony to be part of one but as I began to stir, I felt the need to Google him and see how he was getting on. Even two and a half years on, I still hate the fact that I can’t talk to him. Even Google has its limitations.

With most of us living life in lockdown at the moment, the need to have a good catch-up over the phone has become one of life’s necessities. I love spending the evening gossiping and having a good vent about Covid, Trump and the rest of life’s irritations. One question I am regularly asked is how my French is getting on and it occurred to that apart from these nightly chinwags, I don’t speak my mother tongue that much anymore. Mumo and I regularly insert French into our conversations and my kitchen wall (soon to come down) is covered in useful verbs. Even the dogs aren’t immune and I have to say are excellent students. Mind you, the village chiens have probably been teaching them a load of swear words judging by the amount of barking at the gate. It is often said that the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it and learn from the locals. Although I have a daily lesson online, the residents of Rouffiac are wonderful teachers and will always help you when you fumble your words. Funnily enough, considering my love of the phone, I go to pieces when trying to understand French speakers. Maybe people tend to talk faster on the phone and perhaps not being able to see expressions is the issue. I much prefer my visits to the local epecerie where Yogi’s charm starts a multitude of discussions about how myself and the woofers are getting on.

This week the garden got a new friend in Denis, the man wot knows a thing or two about jardins. Denis doesn’t speak English and my understanding of the lingo thus far has not included names for plants, spade, chainsaw etc but I am learning quickly. Denis and I can be seen regularly with our heads bent over our phones Googling translations and looking at French garden designs. Thankfully we have the same ideas about the above otherwise the language barrier could be a disaster. He also loves dogs which is a blessing as Arry has become his new best friend, Denis tells me the feeling is mutual even if he has almost been ladderless in the branches a few times…..

“It is astonishing how much enjoyment one can get out of a language that one understands imperfectly” (Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve)