The Beginnings of Blondes Have More Fun

As you can see by the map below, France is a predominantly brown haired country. This makes anyone who is a natural blonde stand out, and I've always thought that one of the reasons Agnes Sorel made such an impact on King Charles VII is that she was a natural blue eyed blonde, in a court full of dark haired women. They met in 1443 when she was a young woman of around 20. He had been on the throne all her life and was around 40 when they met. She became his mistress soon after.

 

Her family came from Picardy (in the light haired zone), where they were minor but long established nobility. As a teenager she joined the household of the Duke and Duchess of Anjou (also known as the King of Naples and the Duchess of Lorraine). It was normal for young people to enter other households like this, with the parents hoping to forge stronger links with important patrons. They would receive an allowance, in return for agreed services, suitable for their rank and age. As well, these children would be educated and groomed for roles at court and marriages would be negotiated. Agnes's father must have been very well liked or respected, as the household Agnes entered was second only to the immediate Royal Family. Indeed, the Duke was the King's brother in law, and personally close to him. Agnes ended up exceptionally well educated, as this was a cultured and sophisticated household. She was clearly a clever child and soaked it all up.

As a young woman she became known as la Dame de Beauté, known for her great physical beauty, her lavish lifestyle and her influence on fashionable dress. As one of the King's closest confidents, she had political and social influence, often behind the scenes but there were occasions when the King nominated her as his agent. No other mistress had been so publically acknowledged. Like many women with both beauty and brains, she tended to polarise those around her, and she made powerful friends, but equally powerful enemies.

 

This painting by Jehan Fouquet is accepted as being an image of the Virgin, using the features of Agnes Sorel. Commissioned by Etienne Chevalier, the King's secretary, this was a common way of flattering an important ally.

 

We know from contemporary records and paintings that she was blonde, and her physical remains, examined in 2005, bear this out. Her long golden locks are discreetly portrayed in the famous painting by Jehan Fouquet on the right hand side of the Melun Diptych. You can see them streaming down the back of her neck and tightly pulled back at her temples.

France, Queen of the Roundabouts

One of the things some visitors to France comment on is just how many trafffic roundabouts there are in France. And they are not wrong. The statistics bear this out and show that France is a world leader in roundabouts. 

 This roundabout, in the industrial boondocks of Amboise, has an abandoned helipad in the centre.

According to the painstakingly calculated figures on the blog 'Beyond the Maps', the most roundabouts per population are to be found in mainly western France (Vendée, Loire-Atlantique, Landes, Mayenne) plus Pyrénées-Orientales in the south. The fewest roundabouts per population are around Paris and in the north east. We in Indre et Loire appear to sit in the middle. 

 A plane on a stick. To be precise, a Dassault Mirage IIIB two seater training jet previously of the French Air Force, now a roundabout decoration in Saint-Amand-Montrond

In terms of actual numbers of roundabouts there is a roughly east-west divide in the country, with the west being generally much more heavily endowed with roundabouts than the east. Toulouse takes the prize as the municipality with the most roundabouts (499 at last count). Virtually everywhere roundabout numbers are going up.

 

 A roundabout in the middle of le Blanc, a town about half an hour to the south of us.

 

France is the European record holder for roundabout density, easily outstripping neighbouring countries. The most famous roundabout in the country is of course the horror known as the Etoile, a six lane roundabout in central Paris, surrounding the Arc de Triomphe.

 

Arc de Triomphe and the Etoile.

This post is dedicated to entomologist Simon Leather, who loved aphids and France, but sadly died while being treated for colon cancer a few years ago. His blog is called 'Don't Forget the Roundabouts'.

Local Flooding

It has rained and rained, ceasing on Monday after weeks of wet and windy weather. The Claise is carrying a lot of water, and many trees have been damaged. Here are some photos I took between Preuilly and Chaumussay on Friday, during the peak of the water levels.

 

Once again the terrace of the guinguette was under water. 

Downstream from the bridge and weir at Chaumussay.

The bridge at Chaumussay.

From the bridge at Humeau.

The mill stream at Humeau is overflowing onto the island and draining into the river.

Refugee Association Christmas Party

I'm on the committee of an association which has supported displaced Ukrainians who arrived in our village early in the war. Our skillset turned out to be perfect for the task, with a team experienced in working with immigrants, medicine, education and the arts, and we have created a formidable network of contacts in the public sector and the charity and aid sector. This was our third Christmas party and things are beginning to change. Some of our Ukrainian community are moving on, to the opportunities in bigger towns and cities. The children are all growing and developing. Most are thriving, but not all.

 

Nataliya R and Anna.

 

Maria with gifts from Pere Noel, and Marilou in a Ukrainian embroidered shirt.

 

Speechifying.

 

Teenagers Vavara and Sophia catch up. When they first arrived they went to the same school, but Varvara now lives in Tours and was just down for the day. Both girls are super smart and doing well at school.

 

Martine, who took a Ukrainian family into her home in the early days, until permanent accommodation could be found. She's always there to help with advice and practicalities, and is very close to 'her' Ukrainian family.

 

I think Nataliya P has had the most difficulty coming to terms with her new and unasked for life. One of her ways of coping is to run every day.

 

Nataliya D has established a close friendship with one of her older French neighbours. He has become uncle/grandfather figure and clearly dotes on Nataliya and her children. Recently she has been able to return the favour and help him as he recovers from a serious fall.

 

Princess Maria with her mother Vitalina. Maria arrived as a timid two year old who wouldn't leave her mother's side, and has developed into a rambunctious four year old who has no trouble demanding attention from any adult she knows.

 

Michel, our Master of Ceremonies.

 

The loaded Christmas tree. Presents were exchanged all round. I got a traditional beeswax candle in the form of a motanka (guardian doll), some Ukrainian lollies made into a wreath and a lovely card from the Ukrainians.

 

Floral table decorations made by Olena and Vitalina.

Capon

Our traditional Christmas bird is a pintade - Guinea Fowl. This year we went for something slightly different and had a capon - a castrated male chicken, a practice that enhances their growth and meat quality.

The Janzé capon is a high value product from Brittany, renowned for its tender meat. The IGP rules say they must be free-range birds, raised for a minimum of 150 days on a diet of OGM (genetically modified) free grain, and for the last 3 weeks they are "watered" only with milk. 

The breed has an interesting history: famous in the 19th century but almost extinct by the 1980s. It was revived from individuals in an eco-museum near Rennes and reintroduced to farms. They're good fliers, and since 2016 have been put to work in cider apple orchards as a pest control measure.

As a meal they are excellent - really tasty, and even the white meat is moist. I enjoyed our dinner, but I'm not sure we needed the extra meat a capon gives, although it did make an excellent chicken noodle soup two days later. We'll try a Janzé chicken next time they're on special.

The Australian Beef Herd

My observation on our recent trip to Australia is that black Aberdeen Angus rule the paddocks. They've always been a popular breed in Australia, now it is rare to see anything else. A few Herefords, and that was really about it. According to my trawling of the internet, cattle with some percentage of Angus genes make up around 50% of the national herd. We weren't far enough north to see what the numbers of Bos indicus type cattle were in comparison. But I didn't see any Charolais even in good beef country.

50% of the Australian national beef herd is raised in Queensland. As in France, the consumer preference is for grass fed, and Australian farms reflect that, with two-thirds of the herd out on pasture. To be sold as 'grass fed' a beast has to spend its entire life outdoors eating grass.