15 oct

One month of travelling done, six and a half in front of us. Fifteen churches today, just because it was the fifteenth, and Julie told me to look the other way when the sixteenth was just there for us to grab. 199 to go. Phew we’re out of the 200rds.
Five more pastors of Ars, even Julie is getting hooked to his choleric presence. ‘Have you seen your guy’, she asks, sometimes even when I have missed him in some obscure chapel.
This was some serious driving. More tha a hundred miles. But well worth it. We saw some of the Burgundy highlights. Charlieu, Semur-en-Brionnais and as the 15th church, it was raining and getting late, Anzy-le-Duc, which turned out to be our favourite one. Quite spontaneous capital carving and a lovely harmonious three-levelled-high rising tower.
Julie and I had a quite interesting, for our own ears, conversation if Anzy was before Autun or later. Julie got it right. It’s earlier. Julie’s insight: ‘It isn’t really Catholic yet.’ She refers to the demonic, paganistic like references to snakes and other horrible creatures.
Driving around these prosperous agricultural areas, it dawned to me that this is really EU-money that is being used. I mean, everybody knows it is those damned French farmers that get paid most handsomely out of the EU-wallet. And here they were. As charming as you can imagine. Quite prosperous looking. With those healthy, friendly and well fed Charolais cows everywhere. Charolles, the town that they are named after is just around the corner here.
Julie thought Le Brionnais looked quite a bit like Bavaria in South Germany. That is of course the manic hidden agreement between the French and the Germans which is the main flaw of the European Union. We’ll protect each others farmers. It will cost a dime, but then again, nobody can stand up to the united Germany and France together.
Which is madness I suppose. The whole cement of the european union is based on the premise that it is necessary to protect our agricultural sector. In the case of the EU, to protect the agriculural sectors in France and Germany.
But it looks nice around here, Julie claims. Sure it does, but to me it is not clear why Dutch or British (or rather more extreme, Greek!) taxpayers should pay for this comfortable status quo here in Le Brionnais. It would be a blessing, I suppose, if agricultural policies would become purely national affairs again.
Not that I am against the European Union. Of course not. Who would want to get out of that most blessed institution except for some brainless people, mainly Brits. The EU is a blessing, even with it’s harmful elements, like the agricultural policies. Those have to be changed, but they will have to be changed from the inside.
And then. Of course it is a waste of money. There is no rational defence for it. But sometimes the Irratio also wants to have a word. And it speaks here in Le Brionnais. Seeing how well organised, healthy looking and prosperous the world here seems to be.
And who really cares that it costs a little extra! The world today is focused on costs, while the emphasis should be on benefits. It is easier to grasp of course, costs. But the visionary thing to do would be to look ahead , imagine the future and enjoy the present.
Just one example. Our Boeuf Bourguignon tonight, made of , no doubt those damned inefficient Charrolais cows down here, will taste better than ever again tonight,. just like it did when we had it a few days ago.