Viplaix et Montluçon

Yesterday we needed to go and get more food for the cows, so after hitching up the trailer, it was decided i was driving. I hadnt driven this tractor before, and suddenly 15miles per hour bouncing along the road feels quite fast. I almost though alan jones was sitting next to me as i learnt what to do from Kenny, sitting behind. It felt although i was taking up the whole road, butwe got to Viplaix and loaded the sacks of food. Whilst we were there we decided to go to get bread, so i had to park this tractor and trailer in the middle of the village. The best spot was next to the church, as hopefully you can see in the pictures. The bakery was shut which gave an oppertunity to walk round. Like many of the little french villages i encounter, it was half deserted, many houses with shutters shut and abandoned. Looking round at the amount of antiques and architectural salvage there is in these places sitting rotting away, i'm sure some money could be made selling them in the UK. The houses are ncie, what i've noticed though is that they seem to favour the modern, cheaper materials, and like to have things functional and new. The houses arent that expensivee either, around €40,000 for an average vilage house. Makes you wonder about buying a few and renting them out until the area is back in demand, then selling. We are not far from Montluçon, so the prices wil rise;
Anyways, enough business thinking, back to what i've been up to. Today i was out in montluçon whilst they went to the supermarket. Being around 1 o clock in the afternoon, the place was almost totally deserted. They are very strict on their lunch times here, and the place was dead. Even on this satruday afternoon all the shops were shut and no-one was around. So i toddled around the town on my own for a bit, and then headed down to the train station. that also being very quiet, i sat and waited with a drink until i was collected to go home. Whilst i waited and watched i noticed a few things.Everything feels very 1998. Everyone in town seemed to have a sense of style, and no-one seemed to be without a boyfriend or girlfriend, except me of course. What would these people think of Guildford on an average saturday afternoon?
On the way back we dropped in on some neighbours (sheep farm not too far away) for a coffee and a very tasty scone. Their collie was nice, i'll have to get me one one day.
Overall a good day, i'm just thinking about travel arrangements and how to get home. Its been 2 weeks i've been here now, and i think about 41 days till i set off home to Wales. Plenty of time then for more posts and pics. Bye for now...