On Friday, Claudie, Phillipe's wife came down to tell us of the sad news of Georges death. He passed away on Thurs afternoon at his home, after a long illness. His health recently has been poor, he suffered agonies from a back destroyed by a lifetime of literally back-breaking work on his farm. When we first arrived in Mort Limouzin , we often saw him and his wife, Blanche milking his herd of 80 goats in his little veg patch opposite the farmhouse or carrying the pails of milk into the dairy to put in the cooler. We would take down our bottle to have it filled with the still warm, frothiy goats milk, delicious on cereal or in a rice pudding. No comparison with the pasteurised and strong-flavoured goats-milk sold in the shops. Sometimes we would meet him, leading his herd to eat grass or shrubs along the local foot-paths or digging in his veg garden beside the road. Memories of a vanished time...another village inhabitant gone not many of us left now. Lately, Phillipe or Claudie had to call at the farm to help him undress etc and he did have a home-help daily I believe. Once, I was called in to help Claudie, when he fell out of bed and couldn't get up. Most undignified , a sad come-down for a self-reliant farmer... I'm sure he was ready to go. Still, a shock for his family, but at least he died at home.
RIP Georges, it's been nice knowing you.
Bye for now.
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