This is a picture of our local parish church. It is one of the larger ones in our area and we are quite proud of it. Of course financially it is a bit of a strain. We organise many events during the year to raise money.
There is an annual walk of 5 km, 10 km and 15 km distances depending on your physical condition. There are tables along the way where you can buy juice, biscuits and bottled water at extortionate prices.(but the cause is honest, honest) The idea is to tire everybody so much that they need a lot of refreshment. We’re right on the edge of the Sologne forest (the biggest wooded area in Western Europe), so that’s where we go. Being the Loiret it’s as flat as a pancake and it is difficult to find new circuits, so quite honestly, it’s becoming boring. But we get new recruits each year who don’t realize quite how dull it is.
There is also an art show where you can sell your masterpieces. If you sell something the church takes a 15% commission. I like contributing but I draw the line at putting that stuff in my sitting room. The mayor always comes to the event, he likes arty types.
There is a bring and buy sale. We bake masses of cakes in order to raise a maximum of money. Then we have to buy them. Eating them is optional; otherwise they go in the dustbin. I make an English type fruitcake; it goes down very well with the French; le cake does. Or maybe it weighs down many a poubelle.
Right now we are getting ready for Christmas and decorating the church. Since it’s so big we can’t decorate everything. We have bought an enormous Christmas tree (Abies normann) and covered it with tinsel. There’s a nice angel at the top. This week we will put holly, ivy and flowers on the altar. We have a small committee to do the flower arranging, I am the only masculine member, other than the priest.
Right after the holidays I will have to go to confession. Gluttony will be at the top of the list.I'll talk about that later.