The Savoie is idyllic. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to, rather like Devon on steroids but with mountain ranges. But this tosh about a peaceful life in the country is, well, tosh.
I am pleased to report that the well-known and well-documented international terrorist conspiracy to keep me awake has another victim: Rupert. I never thought I would see the day but since we have been here he has been woken up by:
An over-sexed or over-something moth living in the beams
Rats or some rodent with fast friends running over our heads
Cows mooing (I am not joking, it woke me up too)
A neighbour’s dog running upstairs
Lambs bleeting (I noticed he ate his roast lamb with particular gusto on Sunday)
Dogs barking (no change there, we are in France after all)
Tractors racing (or at least that’s what it sounded like)
Birds singing
Cockerels crowing (to be expected)
It feels like we’re living in a mini-farm. But I love it. I have invested in some multi-coloured ear-plugs and am fighting the forces of evil. Rupert says he can’t wait to get to London next week for a bit of peace and quiet. I might just stay here with my earplugs in.
Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 2008
Dear Helena.
What you have running overhead is most probably a stone martin. These nocturnal critters live in the roof and come home around 4 am to chew on their prey – frogs, lizards, mice etc. They are fond of the hilly regions of rural France and Switzerland. One forced me out of my house, it was either sell or spend €200,000 on the roof insulation that it had destroyed. Be careful, they are pretty but dangerous and will attack humans if cornered.
As for cows, tractors, lambs and birds, well, it’s the country ain’t it.
Graham
Helena,
As a country girl growing up I never noticed the quietness and background sounds. I moved to the City where wailing sirens and traffic are the norm. I stayed with my parents a couple of times on the farm since then and the quiet is unnerving. I couldn’t sleep! It could be worse! You could be smelling the clean country air perfuming PA Dutch Country when the fields are fertilized.
Sharon G
I had a wave of nerves when I got at the over-sexed bit wondering what was coming next.
The only sound on the list is the moth beast creature but we have the horses going by on their way to the gallops instead.
The mice in the loft have even eaten the baby moses basket: discovered last week when we got it down.
Hope your trip is all you hoped for.
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