Monday morning grey and drizzly. Que faire? Well…we need a new kitchen bin as our current one has rusted away. We also need a plumber to fix the leaking loo cistern tap. Solution is of course Brando’s - aka Vaison Ménager. ‘La Samaritaine’ of Vaison where they sell everything! Even better, I am allowed to drive.
We arrive and park in the surprisingly chocabloc parking - usually pretty empty. Then see an ancient black Citroën with sandwich board on its roof proclaiming that today is the 100th birthday of Brando’s - 20% off everything! Inside all is mayhem. Man in wheelchair with microphone announcing bargains and exhorting customers to fill in the lucky dip lottery forms, queues of people, cacophony of sound. I managed to register for the plumber who should come next week, we found a smart new plastic bin having decided that metal was a waste of time, and at the checkout we were given a commemorative tote bag and asked to spin a wheel of fortune to win yet another gift. This was one of those cardboard parking timer disc things!
Somewhat shell shocked by the whole experience we retired to Vaison for a saunter and hot chocolate. But the carnival continued. Outside the Roman ruins we came upon two giant heads made from chrome tubing gazing towards the cathedral.
Vaison is not bad on a Monday because quite a few of its shops are open, especially the bookshop and upmarket pâtisserie. So after an indulgent hot chocolate topped with shaving foam we browsed the literary offerings, bought cards etc and bread and superior chocolate eclairs. Admiring as we passed, the window completely full of fruits confits!