Fete de la Musique.

The local fete de la musique took place the evening that we got back from our holidays so we thought it would be good to go with Tony and Mags to give them a taste of village life.
The programme stated that aperitifs would start at 7. 30 and the meal at 8.30. Knowing that these things never run to time we got there about 8.15. It didn't look as if there were that many there so we resigned ourselves to having a drink and waiting for things to happen. There was a group from Toulouse who were playing rather loud music so we took our drinks outside for a while. Slowly, more and more people turned up and the crowd round the bar got thicker and thicker. Another drink and we asked Sophie what time we could expect to eat, about 9pm she said. About 9 Sophie suggested that we take our places at the table she had reserved for us and our neighbours. Alain was sitting next to me and by 9.30 he was getting quite angry about the lack of food!! It seems that there is a hard core of "drinkers" who are reluctant to leave the bar and also a reluctance on the part of the organisers to close it as of course the profits go to whoever is organising the evening. Finally, at about 9.45, starters appeared and the bar shut and the rest of the evening got underway. After the starters, melon and ham, the main course of magret de canard and stuffed baked potatoes arrived and kept arriving. Not only seconds but thirds and fourths as well ! It must have been 11pm when everyone had eaten their fill and this was the time that the pupils of the Castandet school of music were due to give their "recital". We felt so sorry for the children as it was so late and their excitement had been building throughout the evening. It was such a big occasion for them! The "recital" only lasted for about half an hour as they showed off their prowess on various instruments. As we commented, their enthusiasm was greater than their ability. A young lad on the drums, so small that one could barely see him behind them, was very good as was the last performer an older lad on the piano. That over it was back to the food, large platters of sheeps cheese and then dessert. Once dessert was over the group took to the stage again and started on a very special version of what sounded like rap. Most people were amazed at this, some laughing, some looking decidedly shocked! At this point we decided not to wait for coffee and to make our farewells. It had been a long evening and Tony and Mags were leaving the next morning. I think that, although bemused, Tony and Mags enjoyed their taste of village life but would not be too willing to repeat it on a regular basis.!