June is a Gasson (by birth). So whilst the cat (ie me) was away in Paris she spent the morning looking up the Gassons of France. Most appear to have died over 100 years ago. However there are some left and then to her surprise, there was one in Vitry le François. A shop owner. With a Google map. Right across the square from where we live.
Well the cat came home early for once and it was still light. We decided to pay a visit to the shop and look for the name. Here it is.
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| The bookshop at Vitry |
It is an Aladdin's cave with nooks and crannies. I think the proprietors may have busied themselves on the shelves near our browsing because we clearly were just wandering round. So I was close to the older lady when the shop assistant asked "madam Gasson" something.
What an opportunity! "Excusez moi" I said, "mais est vous Mme Gasson", "oui" she replied, "Donc, Mme Gasson, ce ci est Mme Gasson" I said pointing to June. (Madam Gasson, this is Madam Gasson) - people who know us will realise this is a slight twisting of the truth, June is in fact Mme Westoby, but it was too good a line to miss because of a detail!
"Vraiment?!" she exclaimed - yes it was true, and after I had put the detail right, her husband joined us an we had a jolly good chat. They were very surprised (and pleased) that there were Gassons in England. Something to do with William the Conqueror we thought. Were we tourists? No we live across the square. More amazement!
They were charming and friendly and we bought a book that will teach us the French times to plant our pottager (allotment) - if we get enough time down there! Actually it's a planned event; with June's brother planning to visit us just before Easter to do just that- plant up the vegetable garden. It is as well to be prepared.
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