Sarah and I went to a local fayre recently which promised much in hunting and fishing terms. It was not quite what we were expecting having attended a lot previously in the UK, but for those who enjoy all things French I thought I would try and illustrate some of what we did see here.
You can just imagine having this thing charging at you and I have been told some of the specialist French "chasseurs" hunt them with bows and arrows. Men with bigger "cojone's " than me! "Was that Boar wild?" "Wild, it was absolutely furious!" I love the tail, a humorous touch by the taxidermist?
Another magnificent head, hopefully not tormenting the hounds too much below. Whatever your views on hunting, there is no escaping the passion and respectful tradition of the local "Chasse".
It's not only Boar you see in the forest.
The hounds were out as well, taking a well earned rest before the season starts in earnest. The sound of a pack of hounds in full flight "on scent" is one that never fails to stir the soul.
And of course it would not be a proper hunt without a horn to blow with this being a particularly splendid example. We hear these sometimes in the Winter in the woods at the back of our house and I find it strangely elemental, an essential part of country life.
My favourite though was the cheese wagon run by a delightful mother and daughter. The cheese at the top is a "Salers" cheese from the Auvergne. Very strong flavoured, tasting as though it had been stored in some old socks, it was what I would call a proper cheese. Such was it's maturity we were told it would keep for up to 3 months. We got home and I had a big piece with some fresh crusty bread and a few tomatoes from the garden with a big glass of red wine. The perfect end to an interesting afternoon.
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