This morning I was waiting for my pillow (and a lot of other ‘stuff’) to arrive and using a wallpaper stripper to free up the left half of the front door in advance of the delivery. Just as I managed to free it and push it open, an elderly man with a shopping bag stopped in his tracks on the road outside, put down his bag and looked in
He greeted me and asked whether it was now my house, so I suggested he come in and look around. He became quite animated and said that he’d always wondered what it was like inside. He took off his gloves and left his bag in the hallway, while I gave him an abbreviated tour (first floor only), very conscious that he might not be as nimble as he looked. The house met with his approval and he told me exactly where he lived, including a direction involving a wardrobe(?), and told me to knock on his door any time and say my name, and he will provide tea or coffee, according to my preference. I’d followed what he was saying, except that I hadn’t really listened to the actual street address – I didn’t see me calling in on him anytime soon. But he wasn’t leaving anything to chance: before he left he took out his phone, gave me his name and number and had me call him there and then, answering ‘hello’ into the handset as he stood in front of me. Clearly not an insane axe murderer, just a delightful old man on his way to the market. He kissed me on both cheeks and went on his way, just as the pillow crew turned up
While the pillow people were there I noticed Monsieur’s gloves on the radiator
Oh merde! I should have paid attention to the address. Now I had to call him, of course. Baz called to talk chickens, perfectly normal daily stuff for us. I told him about the meeting and the gloves. ‘It’s a ploy’ he said, laughing and reinforcing fears that I’d pulled
Shortly after, the gentleman called me. I told him I had found his gloves, and he said he was on his way over. When he arrived he explained again where he lived, including the bit about the wardrobe. It was only a few doors away. Would I like to see where it is?
I followed him around the corner and we climbed the stairs, turned left and passed the said wardrobe, next to which was the door to his flat, where we were greeted by a well-kept ginger cat, who took time to check me out before allowing physical contact. I didn’t go in, but could see that it is an elderly single man’s home, the walls and furniture dotted with numerous dusty notes and photos. Perhaps he has numerous cats too. Anyway, he repeated his invitation to me for coffee
So I will go and say hello, take some cake and have a chat (or un chat) for half an hour sometime this week. He’s too close to ignore, I have time on my hands and it might just make his day
P.S. Thank you to whichever blogger/s recommended ‘All the light we cannot see’. I am about two thirds through it now and it is one of the loveliest and most beautifully written books I have ever read
Poshbird with Passion 
Hi, have just found your blog via FranceSays – and am really enjoying looking around. It is these sorts of unexpected encounters that I so love and, ploy or not, the gloves may be the start of a warm friendship. I hope so!
LikeLike
Thanks, these little things do add colour!
LikeLike
Your caller reminds me of my elderly Italian neighbour who brought me giant tomatoes and told me war stories. He sounds a gem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The only thing that could have made All The Light We Cannot See better would have been to have read it in France. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was incredibly moving. Like you, I shan’t say any more than that as I don’t want to ruin it for anyone
LikeLike
Sorry NUTTER, this damn predictive text!did you ever finish “the Children’s Book”?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s still on my mantelpiece. I shall read it when I finish this one. Thank you for reminding me
LikeLike
People are friendly in our adopted neck of the woods.
The odd butter ( including yours truly!) My only advice is to follow your instincts; and the hairs on the back of your neck……
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a pleasant encounter – and it will be good for your French too!
I have just downloaded that novel to my Kindle on the recommendation of somebody too. I’m glad to hear you liked it so much and now I must hurry up and finish the book I’m reading at the moment so I can get on with it.
I hope you are soon in possession of your pillow. I know the square ones got a lot of support in your previous post for being more aesthetically pleasing but I still maintain a square pillow is not a pillow but a cushion. no matter how well stuffed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the everyday conversations that I have with people who don’t seem to realise that I am filling in the gaps! Pillow is safely in a cover and at the give with me. I’ll watch the rugby with a glass of wine tonight and will snuggle up for a few more pages (I might even lie in tomorrow and read – how decadent!)
Are you reading anything good?
LikeLike
I’m reading something that I bought in the ‘pre-order special offers’ on Kindle which is entertaining enough and called, bizarrely, ‘In the LIght Of What We See’ . I’m bound to get the title mixed up with ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ after I have read them both.
Have a nice evening and enjoy une grasse matinée.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did you notice that it still corrected ‘gite’ to give? I thought I had mis-typed the first time but it’s the auto-correct!
LikeLike
Sorry, at the ‘give’
And yes, the ‘cushions’ will be on the bloody fauteuil this evening!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a delightful encounter and you have clearly made his day and will again when you go bearing cake to share a half hour with he and his cat. Un chat chat perchance 😉 I have All the Light we cannot see on order to take with me when I travel back to France next week … I can’t wait to start it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. It’s the perfect book to be reading as you head home, and you’ll find it hard to put down once invested. Enjoy!
LikeLiked by 1 person