77.

Early October.

Emile retrieves two bushes from the back of his white Renault van. They are the BROOM type, not too prickly but very twiggy. Its S W English or Welsh names are perfect - Brusher or Basom. Just the job. . He climbs through his roof top skylight with the bushes held stems together and tied with a thick rope. I am watching him from the bottom of my garden. He walks nimbly, legs astraddle the ridge, and drops the rope down the chimney shouting to Marie in the room below. He sits the shrubs prettily on the top , thin trunks down, so that they look like a fancy sculpture blooming from the chimney mouth. Marie pulls to his order and the brushwood condenses, squeezes and disappears. A broom to sweep the chimney. Voila!