A Belley of laughs
August 28, 2008
The journey through the Bugey region, least the one that Fr Colin took to visit these small villages was very hilly, the roads windy and narrow in places. However the steep terrain did not deter French wine growers as for the first time in Cerdon (opposite) we were to see significant plantings of grapes. While I’ve no evidence to suggest saying this, and I’m sure it’s not the case, it would however seem on the evidence that we’ve seen to date that the French grow grapes on hills and Maize on the flat land.
The first stop on the journey to Belley and environs was Cerdon. The old Church still stands, and Mass was let by Marcel Ma’ah. Some described celebrating Mass here as a “heart-lifting”, as it was the place that gave cause for the founder of the Marists to say that this is when the Society of Mary began.
After lunch we toured through the old Cerdon presbytery. It’s really in pretty bad shape, and while the local bishop is intending to renovate the presbytery, with poor piling and much of the interior needing significant work, it will be interesting to see what how the new presbytery will look. Local politics I’m sure will come into play. It’s sad to see it in such a state of ruin and really hard to see what can be done to do it up, yet keep it authentic.
Arriving at Maison St Anthelme, the one-time seminary but now a mixture of old peoples’ home and a backpackers (we’re the later), our room allocation went smoothly. Not all rooms had the same facilities, some had TV’s, phones and en-suites, or combinations of these. For those who had them, a talking point was the tiny size of the en-suite. It seems they were a kit-set and just fitted into the rooms. Quite novel.
It didn’t take long for our “invasion” to become public to the old people, well least one of them. While one might like to think that it was in the spirit of Fr Colin and the early Bugey missionaries, it’s pushing it somewhat. You see, Matt Morris was looking for Charlie Randle whom he thought was immediately opposite him. Matt however was a little disoriented, and so knocked on the wrong door. An elderly French gentleman answered. Matt, surprised not too see Charlie, apologised. Despite Matt’s apology, he old Frenchman had a little difficulty with Matt’s “cold calling” and as he turned to go back into his room, closing the door on Matt, he said in broken English, “Vot-iz-zee-matteir-wiz-you?” (What is the matter with you?) Profound question or not, those that know Matt I’m sure can imagine that he’s been “dining out” on it for a couple of days now. For those that don’t know Matt, it’s never just about the story, the humour is also in the re-telling.
As well as the natural progression of the renewal programme, with most of us travelling light, people had remote preparations for our three day journey. Everyone seemed to be going to travel even lighter and so it’s a case of taking the necessary clothes and hope that no disasters happen. There’s been lots of pressure on the laundry and drying facilities.
Arriving in Belley and after a long day on the bus, the opportunity for a beer down town, just 5 minutes walk away, seemed an answer to prayers. To the best of our knowledge, and unplanned, eight of us, including Christoph and Thilo seemed to congregate at this one particular pub. If our stories and consequent laughter didn’t make the locals wonder who we were, our arrival was soon announced, again by Matt Morris who knocked over his 50cl almost full glass of beer. The beer “fortunately” spilt mainly on Matt, the glass smashing on the ground. I say “fortunately” because Matt also brought with him a pair of shorts, which he’s wearing to visit the churches for the next couple of days, saying, “after all these years, God’s going to have to learn to like my knees.”
The dramas of the first day were far from over. Arriving home after 6pm, the main door to the backpackers/retirement home was locked. We left prepared with the combination numbers, however they didn’t work. With a German Shepherd guard dog barking our our heals, and uncertain whether the patrol man had given the dog its dinner yet, we were keen to get inside quickly. As you would. Several tried putting the number in, then at last, a moment’s respite and the man who appeared to be the owner came to our rescue. He proceeded to “tear strips” off of us, all in French and we think because we were supposed to use another door other than the main one. Who knows, however we quickly forgave him for buying his hospitality diploma on the Internet, just to get away from that angry German Shepherd.
The story doesn’t end. Later in evening, Charlie arrived home after a post-dinner walk. Arriving at the same door, he put the same numbers in and couldn’t get in. So he pushed the door bell. Immediate the window above opened and in French, so we can only presume, Charlie was told a thing or two. He tried again. No luck. So he pushed the door bell. Again the window opened and he was told a few more things, and while it was still in French, Charlie suggested that the message, it not the content, was just a little clearer. So, no German Shepherd in site but none the less taking his live in his hands, he ventured forth a third time! He still couldn’t get in, however this time pressing the door bell had an irate Frenchman open the door.
Next morning, after breakfast with the old folks, some of whom were in their dressing gowns for breakfast, Matt Morris and John Murphy were sitting in the foyer. The owner approached and started to talk to us once again in French. Gesticulating, it was clear that he wanted to once and for all settle how to use the front door, after-hours. Matt went with him to get a lesson on how to open the door. All of a sudden a quickly humbled owner apologised to Matt in perfectly acceptable English, saying that he couldn’t understand why the combination wasn’t working.
Comments
2 Responses to “A Belley of laughs”
Got something to say?
John, thanks for the stories and the pictures. It brings back lots of memories for me. Why am I not surprised that so many Marists managed to gravitate to the same pub!!
Tony
Where is Charkie keeping his bike?