We had a local chap round to give us a quote for central heating, M. Pascal, who's wife is running for Mayor - current Mayor is rubbish, running the town into the ground, you see. Yes, we're straght into the town politics even though we can't vote here. Anyway, we commented on the length and frequency and variety, but mostly the frequency, of the town bells. We notice particularly well, since we are right behind the clock tower. They chime every 15 mins, getting longer each time, and then chime not just once, in case you weren't concentrating, but twice. There is a particular flourish for the 7 O'Clock bells, am and pm. They are called the...um...verger bells or something. I'm sure the Catholics among us will know them. Well, on commenting on them to M. Pascal, he immediately took up the point by saying how proud the Vernet people are of their bells, so that was the end of that conversation. In addition, we became slightly alarmed when a siren went off shortly after the twice played midday chimes. Having raced out to the car to check that the alarm wasn't the cause and draining the battery, M. Pascal, our new-found source into the local knowledge, assured us that this happens everytime the 'pompiers' - firemen- are called out. He said it can happen 2-3 times a day. The alarm goes off at the Mairie, and they hear it at the 'caserne' - firestation- and off they go. Why the phone call can't just go through to the firestation and 'voila!' I do not know. But may be a French person amongst us can shed some light on that.

Anyway, I don't really want to make out that actually we are in the middle of a bell and siren hell-hole, we barely notice them, even after a couple of days (I think they turn the volume down at night), but I find it a little strange to be in the middle of a rather picturescque landscape and find it to be rather less than absolutely silent.

 We Vernet people are very proud of our bells. Tomorrow: the house-fire, and not even owners, yet!! Arghhhh