There is trouble in the village and it all started when a fox stole Henriette's rooster.
Let me explain. Henriette is our neighbour, she would be the wife of the amazing dancing Henri. She has always kept chickens and when we have a cake to bake or a soufflé to put together hers is the gate to knock at. Her eggs are large, fresh, dated by hand and sell like hotcakes.
Her chickens were an even tempered bunch, laying happily until last Christmas Day when a fox snatched her rooster! Henriette was sad, Henri grabbed his gun and went to look for the fox and her pretty hens went into mourning and stopped laying.
By coincidence, at the other end of the village, the young farmer Sebastien purchased some beautiful young chickens as a present for his wife. I know, I know not everyone's idea of the perfect gift but here we have our country values to defend.
Sebastien's chickens turned out to be des poules extraordinaires and before long were laying so well that he was into egg overflow situation. Having heard that Henriette's chickens weren't doing their stuff he helpfully put up a sign outside the gate offering eggs for sale each Saturday morning from 9 to 12.
His eggs are large, fresh, dated by hand and are selling like hotcakes.
In the meantime Henriette has acquired a replacement rooster, her hens are happy and Henriette is back in business. You can see where this is going.
What started as a simple chicken coop crisis has become a diplomatic situation.
As it is impossible to knock at either Henriette's or Sebastien's gate without being seen, the village folk find themselves with divided loyalties. Do we remain faithful to Henriette in which case Sebastien's new found source of income will dry up as suddenly as it started, or do we continue as clients to Sebastien and risk the wrath of Henri?!
Who would have thought that the appetite of a winter fox could cause so much disruption? In the village I hear whispered conversations discussing the merits of the opposing eggs. The shop has decided to have no part in the egg war and has turned to a new outside supplier. Sebastien seems to have some powerful lobbyists, but Henriette has the vote of the older generation on her side. All part of French village life.
Who would have thought that the appetite of a winter fox could cause so much disruption? In the village I hear whispered conversations discussing the merits of the opposing eggs. The shop has decided to have no part in the egg war and has turned to a new outside supplier. Sebastien seems to have some powerful lobbyists, but Henriette has the vote of the older generation on her side. All part of French village life.
And me in all of this? I now buy a dozen eggs from both gates!
As if life weren't already complicated enough!
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