As editor of a local magazine I was asked to participate in a programme about how the credit crunch was affecting France. Sam the producer made a preliminary visit and assured us all that we were in safe hands, this was a BBC programme and not made by one of those slipshod independent companies. What's more it was a serious economic study of the French attitude towards the housing market and housing development.
At the appointed hour we arrived in the bar in Bonnieux. The table was dressed with some saucisson and some pichets of pink wine and there was Sam assuring us again it was going to be a serious programme. The other members of the panel were already present - a nice architect called Andrew from Bonnieux and a couple of English home owners from a neighbouring village.
We chatted for a bit as we waited for the film crew, who eventually arrived a couple of hours late. They'd had all weekend filming in Provence and this was their last set. Oblivious to the beautiful scenery the camera man grumbled about the wretched BBC and the long hours. We were miked up and all was ready and only at this stage after a research trip and a whole weekend filming, did the bloody obvious occur to the director. In fact it may have been Andrew the architect who intervened and pointed out that if one was making a programme about the French attitude towards property wouldn't it be a good idea to interview a Frenchman.
Frantic phonecalls followed but no bilingual Frenchman who developed property was immediately available.
I am looking forward to your comments on the recent decision by the European Commission to retreat from their plan to allow red and white wines to be blended to produce rose (sorry, but I can only create accents when I am using Word.)
Thank God Mariann Fischer Boel, the European Agricultural Commissioner came to her senses and listened to the comments made by Xavier de Volontat of teh Associatio Generale de la Production Viticole.
Posted by: Emma | June 09, 2009 at 08:44 AM