Truly ‘t is a rare bird in the land
Those of you familiar with my nonsense will know that I refer to my spouse as The Husband with Two Brains or HB². But he has another moniker, one that arose when he wasn’t even in the same country as the protagonist, let alone the same room.
Some while ago, probably 6 months after I moved to France, I was taking coffee with Raymond (adopt French accent, for he is indeed a proud Frenchman). Raymond came into world of HB² quite by chance some 20 years ago. A knock on his office door, a frantic colleague needing help with someone he suspected to be a Frenchman who had appeared uninvited in the lab. Under gentle interrogation it transpired that Raymond had spent all his savings on a single air fare to New York in pursuit of an Astronomy Professor that he particularly admired. He being, at the time, a student and general helper at the Astronomy faculty in Nice. Picked up by the Police wandering aimlessly, he somehow persuaded them to put him on the Amtrak to Boston from where he found his way to Harvard and there the story brought him into my husband’s orbit. Struck by his tenacity, his extraordinary affinity with the night-sky, which is akin to the ancient astronomers who first mapped and tried to understand the world beyond our globe, and touched by his desire to learn, my husband took him in and found him work in his lab. Eighteen months later he returned to France to complete a degree having finally accepted that to be taken seriously in the world of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Cosmology and all the attendent highbrow orbits he fancied dabbling in, he must have a degree. Since that time, Raymond remains devoted to Two Brains and I would suggest with some reason.
Back to the café where I had enjoyed a coffee and a chat with the same Raymond and asked his advice. I was concerned about my husband at the time for reasons I now fail to remember – living lives separated by 3,000 miles nurtures anxiety, or at least that has been my experience. As we stood to say our au revoirs, Raymond clasped me by the shoulders and, as he faire les emphatic bises (the air-kiss-kiss we do in France but with supplementary vigour to impart fortitude), declared that my husband is really un cochon rouge – a red pig. I queried this with a smile intended to make me the fool and a gentle ‘quoi?’ and he repeated ‘il est un petit cochon rouge’ – so in fact not just any red pig , but a small red pig. My husband stands almost 6′ and though of light and lean frame is not one to ever be described as little, particularly in France where most men are of, let’s say more concise hauteur. Including Raymond. To be doubly belt and braces sure that I understood him Raymond then announced in English ‘he is a red pig, a small red pig’.
Later that evening on the phone to The Brains I asked him, having Googled colloquial, slang and vernacular French all afternoon in vain. I enquired in a roundabout Winnie the Pooh sort of casual way what calling someone un cochon rouge or indeed un petit cochon rouge might mean. The answer came back ‘red pig or little red pig’. So not helpful at all. Accordingly spurred by what had now become an obsessive need to understand, I made a full confession, including sharing my troubled mind over he who owns both brains and was subjected to a stunned and complete silence. The identical stunned silence it turned out that Raymond employed a few weeks later when asked what he had meant by calling The Brains a red pig. He claimed he had said ‘un petit cochon rose’ and meant that my husband is more sensitive than he lets on. Less macho, less girder-built. I can firmly report that he did NOT. No sir. Not. At. All. I heard him entirely distinctly and he called my husband a little RED pig. Of course it has stuck. It begged to and would have been dreadfully rude to ignore it.
Therefore, when staying in Boothbay Harbor, Maine as recommended by my blogging friend ‘The Weird Guy with a Dog’ whom I wholeheartedly urge you to check out, and confronted with this wingèd porcine outside a pretty store selling eccentric ironwork, I was minded to abduct it but made do with a photograph for now. I perfectly intend to own it when we have a house to put it on – after all who can resist such a wondrous hog, seemingly dancing in the air, gleeful cheeks a-puffing, perky ears a-flapping and that tail uplifted with such blithe abandon. Nothing at all like my husband but portraying perfectly the joie de vivre I suspect we all aspire to and with the added advantage of telling you which way the wind blows. It is a rapturous porker, a piggy I will dream of until I return to make it my very own. I was inclined to share this story by the Weekly Photo Challenge prompt this week ‘Rare’ – if it piques your interest, you can see a sensational selection of entries here.
PS: The quote is Martin Luther, Priest, Scolar, questioner and reformer ‘A faithful and good servant is a real godsend; but truly ‘t is a rare bird in the land’. Raymond has been a good and faithful servant to The Brains these more than twenty years and as you will discover when I write more of him is surely one of the rarest of birds you will encounter in a lifetime. Actually Luther was uncommonly fond of his rare birds giving the accolade to wise princes and even more to upright ones. That would probably apply today though to politicians rather than princes, I would suggest.
What a glorious piggy! You must have him!
He shall be mine. It was kismet that our paths crossed
Brilliant. I enjoyed every word. Thank you and of course piggy will be yours..
Thank you SO much …. I’m very glad you enjoyed it and that you agree that is clearly MY piggy!
No doubt at all! 🙂
Love it – you need that little red piggy – I know it will go well with your décor, right? Thanks dear Osyth, hope you are rested from your trip and welcome back! Happy Weekend to you! 🙂
I need the right roofline to display him – husband is going to be DELIGHTED that our house search in France now depends on a Red Pig!!! Thank you for the lovely welcome, dear friend and I’m hoping above all else that you are resting and taking care of yourself
You must absolutely find the right house in France for the pig, he is definitely yours, but buy him quickly before someone else snaps him up. We can always store him for you here until you find said perfect house! X
I have a thing about pigs (maybe that’s why I married le rouge!) … I’m so glad you understand my need for this one and your delightful offer is taken seriously … thank you!
Oooh, I do like this! Your storytelling always put a smile all over my face 🙂 Great post my friend!
Thank you mon amie! I am so glad you get smiles from my stories … this makes me very happy 🙂
You always manage to do that 🙂
So, did you rescue him?
No … But we took the shop owners card and if he has gone when we are ready, he will make us one. He’s not an insignificant porker and will look fab on the roof of our Maison principale when we find it …. No way they will allow him on La Maison Carrée sadly though I think he would enhance the place 😂😂
Me too! I can see just the spot for him there . He’s such a positive pig
Just need to get the mayor and the Historic Monuments Chap drunk on Aveze and we have lift-off 😉
I know we are lucky (in some ways) not to be under auspices of BDF. Otherwise I would not have a roof terrace or free choice on facade colours.
The Mayor takes an interest but he is not dictatorial.
It’s a double edged sword the BDF but not as bad as many make out (maybe it’s a departementale thing … ours is certainly not a fascist dictator. The Mayor has been hugely supportive but we are ever aware that we are care-takers of what the village calls its ’emblem’ – and we want to stay friends!!
Well, our hovel is no-one’s emblem; the old ladies still think of it as collapsing outbuildings that were turned into some sort of grotty house relatively recently .i.e. 19thc .
It is locally considered (by both the French and the incomers) to be a very undesirable house, though our builder has always begged to differ as he deems it to be sold and aligned perfectly compass- wise.
It will be most interesting to see what they all think when it’s done…..If I could make an entire village rethink it would most certainly be a mini-miracle
They may never let on but I bet they will be proud …. Or conversely they may be of the opinion that they knew it all along 😉 I know whatever their thoughts that this so called hovel will be a triumph of good taste, skill and style combined with a mighty big glug of tenacity x
sorry “solid”. not “sold” makes quite a difference
It’s ok I have an inbuilt reverse autocorrect app in my head … I got the actual meaning 😉
When pigs fly! I see it and immediately think of a pink floyd concert from years ago! There are so many incredible craftspeople in Maine,
I fell in love with Maine in those few days …. We only scratched the barest surface of course but in addition to the scenery (which is incredibly beautiful), the people are really special. But you know that 😉. Pink Floyd … I remember seeing the pig flying over Battersea Power Station for the cover of Animals. The power station remains one of my favourite buildings in London. I will visit Maine again and again, no question 😊
Next time you visit i will take a day or two off and show you and hb2 around!
Thank you! We’ll hold you to that. No question 😃
We have a beloved restaurant in our neighbourhood called “Flying Piggy’s” and there is a cochon very much like this one painted on their sign. You must come for a visit. My treat!
How can I refuse? Apart from great company, I get to see the piggy’s twin 😉
Love your storytelling – it is so gentle and enfolds me as it unwinds. Love the little piggy 🙂
Thank you, Claudette … What a lovely compliment. I’ll fight you for the piggy, though!!
So funny! The phrase, “When pigs fly” sprang immediately to mind. BTW, being Lutheran, I am a big fan of Martin. 🙂
janet
I’m not Lutheran but I too am a fan. Wise, scholarly and not afraid to stand up to the status quo and push for change – at the high end of admirable!
Looking forward to reading about the good and faithful servant and why he called Two Brains a little red pig.. Unless I missed the explanation in the post, there is more to this little red pig story..
Glad to see you writing again ! Fun and with a seemingly cliffhanger here 😄
You are right …. There will be more! So happy you enjoyed it – your opinion is very much valued chez moi as I hope you know 💫💫
Cool choice for this challenge, Osyth. 🙂
Thank you Stefano …. It’s funny what the prompts bring out 😉 So kind of you to take the trouble to comment … Many thanks for stopping by ☺️
What larks!
Lovely story. Let me just add the existence of the Pigtown Fling, an annual dance event in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the US. When I was a younger man, the symbol of the Fling was a wingèd pig. http://www.cincinnaticontradance.org/pigtown.htm
Oh my good Lord, I have to go to this! Thank you so much for sharing it and thank you for your kind remarks about the story.
Delightful 🙂 I wish there were more rare politicians and I am looking forward to checking out that weird guy with a dog.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it and particularly pleased that you picked up my remark about politicians 😉💫 The Weird Guy is great – I hope you enjoy his blog 😊
I love the pig. How funny!🐷
So glad you enjoyed the story and that piggy shall adorn my next when it finds me (which I truly believe is what will happen) 😉
It was so funny! Gotta laugh.
haha A delightful post Fiona! So glad you are back over here, hope we can catch up xx
I hope so too. I’m glad to be here – I’m always pleased to be in the same time zone as so many of my friends 🙂 xxx
Xxxx
I can see why you covet such a magnificent flying pig. 🙂
I’m glad you understand …. And thank you for taking the time to comment 😊
You’re welcome. Good luck with your porcine aspirations! 🙂
Love this post….and the flying hog would look wonderful in your garden…..xxkat
He’ll sit on our roof and spin with the wind one of these days, I’m convinced. Fortunately Two Brains agrees or it could get messy 😂😂😂
LOL
Thanks for a great read with which to start the week Osyth. For some reason I had a flashback to Tommy Steele and his Little White Bull – googled it to find it was released in 1959!! – relieved to see the memory is still intact – thanks for the jog 🙂 Have a great week
I loved that song though of course I’m too young to remember it’s release (!!!) …. It’s my great pleasure to have given your memory a jog and your week a good start 😊
Love it especially since I have a passion for pigs particularly the ones I had on the farm so I can understand your penchant for the red porky. I’m sure he will adorn your rooftop one day.
Wonderful post! Love the pig! 😊
That pig SHALL be mine 🐷 …
Lol😊 It’s wonderful!
Love the read. Your stories are always awesome. Too much positive energy in you to share with. And love the motivation in you with the fellow bloggers. You are so distinct in personality, Thank you Osyth.
What a lovely compliment … I am flattered and humbled – thank you SO much for making my day 😃
And, I managed to once again trash one of your comments. Don’t feel special, I seem to do it whenever, I reply on a computer rather than my iPhone. Thank you. Did you see any whales?
Haha! I keep ending up in other bloggers Spam …. perhaps I should take a hint! Yes, we saw several … it was absolutely magical because we had our youngest daughter with us who is staying for three weeks from England and it fulfilled a life-long dream for her 🙂
That is awesome. They are amazing to see. I hope that you have a fun filled three weeks in planned. Cheers!
We do – much of which you have pointed me to through your pictures. She’s a Fine Art student going into the final year of her degree …. Plenty of art and inspiration to be found when we know where to look and your blog is a great guide in addition to being chock full of beautiful images 😊
I’m so glad you could use my blog as a menu of sites that she can go to see. Enjoy!
I guess it could be much worse…. Teddy was regularly called kwagga in Egypt (to his face) which means friendly outsider or possibly something not quite so nice…
😂😂😂😂 …. I’m sure it was meant as a compliment!
I am laughing and slap happy + sleepy so will come back soon to reply to your when pigs fly post! 😀
Laughing is ALWAYS good …. Sleepy must always be respected lest it turns into its cruel sister, exhaustion xx
So thankful you joined me in laughter and hope you don’t catch the sleepy part as yawning can be contagious. I heard a sweet note of sympathy from you, dear. Thank you!
Superb post and so well written. 👍
Thank you! That little pig was an open invitation to write the story of mon petit cochon rouge 🙂
What a lovely way to start my day.. with a smile from this post.. Yep that ‘joie de vivre’ is obviously catching from that pig! x
Joie de cochon! 🐖 xx
renifler comme un cochon maintenant ! xx Have a great day! x
Mais jamais sentir comme un cochon 🐷 😉 et bon journée a toi aussi xx
Merci ma petite ‘cochon’ ami .. haha xx
Thank you so much for the link …. much appreciated 🙂