Tag Archives: La Bourrée de Vergheas

Sunday 15th July 2012 – WE WERE IN …

bourrées de vergheas puy de dome france… Vergheas today.

That’s the farthest extremity of the Canton of Pionsat and so we had an early start.

Not as early as my start though. Having had two consecutive early nights (and a third one in a moment) I was up and about before 08:00 – on a Sunday – with no alarm – and for no particular reason either.

When was the last time that that happened?

bourrées de vergheas puy de dome franceThe Open Day at Vergheas was by far the best-attended so far, and there were the local musicians in attendance.

You can see the two old women there turning away on their vielles à roue for all they were worth while the men were having a good old go at the accordion. Everything in 3/4 time of course – nothing complicated here.

bourrées de vergheas puy de dome franceThe Bourrées de Vergheas – the local folk-dance troupe – were in attendance too. And after giving a demonstration of a few dances (all in 3/4 time of course) they grabbed hold of all of the foreigners present and had them up on the floor dancing.

Even Marianne was invited to dance and I’ll publish the photo sometime unless I receive a well-filled brown envelope in the meantime. It was certainly an exciting way to spend a morning – much better than staying in bed.

bourrées de vergheas puy de dome franceThe dance troupe, by the way, caters for all ages as you can see in the photo.

There was even a little girl of about two or three dressed up in traditional Auvergnat costume having an immense amount of fun there with all of the grown-ups.

As you know, I’m all in favour of involving the youth of the community in these events. It is they who are the future and if you don’t engage with them then the traditions of the area will all die out.

But Marianne is not well – she has her bronchitis again. Hardly surprising – I reckon that we will all be developing gills sooner or later if this awful weather continues.

But Marianne became worse and worse as the morning wore on and in the end I had to drive her car home to Pionsat.

All events are now cancelled for this week while she recovers.

This afternoon I finished the rock music radio programmes and not much else. I’m thoroughly worn out too and at all of 23:19 I’m off to bed too. I can’t last the pace these days and I dunno what’s the matter with me.

Sunday 1st July 2012 – This is a rare event for a Sunday.

Yes, I was up and about and breakfasting long before 09:00. Mind you, I don’t think that anyone at all could have slept through the torrential downpour that we were having. It certainly was impressive. And all my clothes from the washing that I did the other day – they’ve had another rinse.

 La Bourrée de Vergheas open day folk dance danse folklorique roche d'agoux puy de dome auvergne franceIt was Roche d’Agoux where I went with Marianne this morning. It’s the start of the tourist season and so for the next 8 Sundays my lie-in will go for a burton while I act as Marianne’s technician for all of the Open Days in the Canton.

As the highlight of the exhibition, we were treated to a display of local folk dancing by the local folk dancing group here, La Bourrée de Vergheas. They even invited people up onto the floor to learn the dances which is an excellent way of keeping the music and the dancing alive.

We went back to Marianne’s after us and she made lunch for us. And then it was back here to carry on with the European Paper Mountain. I’ve found piles more papers that need sorting and filing, and so I can see this turning into a “Forth Bridge” job.

That’s about it, really. I’m tired after my early start and so I’m going to bed for an early night and badger the paperwork.

Sunday 7th August 2011 – I DIDN’T GET MUCH …

… sleep last night either. Not because I wasn’t tired, but the torrential rain – all 11mm of it, that fell through the night was enough to keep anyone awake.

bourree de vergheas folk dance music musique danse folklorique pionsat puy de dome franceSo I missed the start of the Sunday meeting in Pionsat but made the brocante, but just like everything in Pionsat, it’s getting worse and worse.

But the Bourrée de Vergheas, the Auvergnat folk dancing and folk music group from Vergheas down the road, they were in attendance. Giving one of their dancing sessions in the square and inviting the local people (and the tourists) to take part.

Back home, Terry rang me up. He’s had a stone chip on the windscreen of his van and it’s split the screen. With no Liz around, he needs the benefit of yours truly to sort out the claim so we met up at Pionsat again to discuss things.

Apart from that, I’ve had a Sunday off. I deserve one too, because I’ve been working hard just recently. And I’m back at work tomorrow.