Day 152, 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. 96 years ago today saw the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front and the armistice signed in Compiegne, France. Some new friends picked me up on the way past and we headed to the local village of Lussac-les-eglises - population about 600. Which compared to my hamlet of 18 houses, two thirds of which are empty, is pretty big in a little smoke kind of way. The ceremony was short - only 13 minutes. But apparently not short enough for the lorry and half a dozen cars that drove past. Held next to the war memorial (as always with a massive amount of names for such a small place), it was quite moving, and interesting - and I was able to pick up enough words to get the gist (valor, courage, fraternity, war etc). The music was canned and since I didn't know the words to the very quietly sung Marseillaise, I did a solemn review of both the NZ and Australian national anthems in my head. Spoke to a few people about housesitting and had the funniest question... Where do you base yourself... UK or France? Had to explain the concept that 'home' is where I am - The sweetest smelling "homeless" person you'll ever meet. Also heard at least two people had turned off the heating in their swimming pools in the last couple of weeks as it's finally too cold. Hello. Swimming Pool? I don't even have a bath. Or for that matter a properly hot shower. It appears I am housesitting in the wrong neighbourhood in this part of France! Met a great many nice folks including a surprising number of Australians. Somewhat of a sly invasion going on here I think. Though fine, it was chilly and therefore fun to head indoors for 'the bunfight'. Mind boggling I tootled along and had a couple of glasses of "vin rouge" and some peanuts. An interesting way to spend Armistice Day - all the more interesting because it generally takes a back seat to the April ANZAC celebrations in Australia and NZ.

(PS - from the WTF/Surely Not Department... A woman who pulled over safely, though on double yellow lines on a quiet side street, to remember her heroic family members who died in WWI was immediately given a parking ticket by a council warden. Kensington High Street council folks now back-pedalling and have offered to rescind the fine on appeal. In the interests of reconciliation and peace she has decided to drop the matter.)