A fresh nectarine, plucked from the tree, ripe and ready to eat in the morning sun.
“Break Step” when crossing the Trembling Lady is as abstract as it gets, but the sign on the Albert Bridge is unequivocal in its demand that step should be broken when crossing it in column of threes. So avoid doing that, if you possibly can, as the bridge fell down in 1831 before someone had the good sense to put up a sign warning of the likelihood of such an occurrence. Apparently a rhythmic oscillation is set up which creates a scenario in which the bridge eventually collapses. I find that a similar oscillation is set up by the other 11 months of the year and we are saved from collapse by the breaking of step created by the excesses of August.
A tree laden with ripe fruit in August
This morning I went to buy some bread in the nearby village. Being a Sunday morning, I was expecting it to be quite peaceful. On a sunny Sunday, as it is today, I expected the terraces of the two cafés to have their share of customers. Paper reading, post church going regulars seasoned with a sprinkling of holiday making visitors. The normal procedure, in the small épicerie or the boulangerie, would be to wait for a minute in a queue of one person, or a tutting two on a busy day. Today, I could not buy bread. Perhaps there was none to be had, but I will never know if that was true as I was not able to stop to find out. I was pushed through the village on a peristaltic wave of visiting vehicles that made stopping for bread as likely as parking a lunar module in mid orbit. Having been evacuated out of the back end of the village, I was forced to take a circuitous route to return home ; shame faced, and carbohydrate free. August had broken step, if not wind.
We shall soon be in the bosom of les aoûtistes when we take a short holiday on the Île d’Oléron where we shall feel the full force of oscillating August.
Food, Photography & France 
Oh dear, tourists, eh? 😉
What can you do. I’m going to be one any day now:)
😀
That’s my favourite bridge, though I don’t go across it much these days. I will be in Chelsea tomorrow though… 😉
Say a quick hello for me:)
I just came back from the market, jostling between a couple of people babbling pleasantly in French. 🙂
So did I 🙂
Love that bridge – and love the tree “laden” with fruit. Bonnes vacances mon ami 🙂
🙂
Sounds like the tourists have arrived? Definitely time for your own holiday. i am deeply envious. Have a lovely time. c
Looking forward to it:)
Bonnes vacances!
🙂
Enjoy your holiday, Roger.
Cheers, John…few days to go yet.
Have a great Holiday! Every month has its fruit…
Many thanks, Roberto:)
Next time maybe try throwin’ ‘bows? I find a good elbow jab can be pretty effective when executed properly.
Nice phrase, cool technique:)
What does les aoûtistes mean or shall I say where is les aoûtistes? I have very little French and this conjures up images of artist’s and bosoms, which then makes me think of art galleries .. which would be a lovely holiday as well:)
Aout means August in French.The majority of holidaymakers come to France in August and so they called aoutistes. Bosoms and art galleries sounds good to me too:)
Oh it’s a sad day when you can’t get bread.
I’ll get over it…just:)
Love your tree of abundance 🙂
It’s handy when they grow in a box:)
Was it a no vacancy situation, or was the flow of traffic that dense stopping would have caused and accident?
*an accident
The accident was August:)
No where to park, and no way of stopping in the narrow streets with blocking the whole village.
What I’d give for some of those nectarines. Ours are either hard as a rock and tasteless or mushy and tasteless.
I buy trays of them and leave them in the sun for two or three days.