The Mechanism
All Cleared Away
We have had the annual Méchoui on the Mont up behind our house -this is a lamb spit roast put on by our local hunters.
The lambs are spit roasted by our neighbour and to do this, several days before, he digs an oblong hole where he will lay and light a wood fire. On the day he is up at 4 am, to start the fire so that the wood is red hot to roast the lamb. They spatchcock the lamb and then spear a rod through. This year there were three. The mechanism used to turn the spit is home made and works very well. We turned up as the lamb was almost cooked. They use a long stick with a paintbrush on the end, to baste the lamb using a secret recipe.
A van arrived and the lamb was loaded and taken up to the mount. The apparatus is dismantled and pressure washed. The holes for the fire are then filled in, a job my husband assisted with. We then all left in a convoy to join the feast. Our neighbour’s wife prepares several plates, which she delivers to the elderly neighbours to have in their houses. Once this is done she can join us to eat.
On the mount they erect a large marquee, and inside are tables and benches to sit at to eat. There is a long tent, where you pick up a tray and then you are given a large helping of meat, chips, bread, cheese and a cake. You can come back after you have eaten for a coffee. The meal is well worth the 12 euros charge.
Our little hameau all sat on the same table plus a few of our friends. The talk was enjoyable and brought forth lots of laughter. It was the birthday of one of our party and I sang happy birthday in English then everybody sang it in French. Someone produced one of the cakes from the meal, and as we didn’t have a candle someone else stood a chip on the top. After this, one of the group began to sing a French song and everybody joined in. After several songs I was asked to sing. The only French songs I could think of were ‘Sur le Pont d’Avignon’ and ‘Au Clair de la Lune’. They enjoyed the fact that I did know them and they sang along with great enthusiasm.
After the singing the party split up. We came back with some of the group and played boules at the end of our track. My husband and I always end up on opposite teams and his team always wins. When the game was finished we all went to the next house for an apero in the garden. We were lucky as the sun was still shining. The apero over, we moved to the next house for a meal.
We had a great day. Walking home we agreed, yet again, that we are very lucky with our friends and neighbours and our life here in France.
