Everyday Life in Rural Communities - La Poste

The day rarely passes without a visit from la Poste. This takes the form of a little yellow van on the horizon travelling at, or close to, the speed of light around narrow country lanes and coming to an abrupt halt as close as possible to your letter box. ‘Les boîtes aux letters’ are either freestanding in close proximity to your house or installed in a wall surrounding your garden and the artistic French can even incorporate them into their box hedges; delicately trimming around its façade so the postman will recognise it.

 

You must not expect punctuality from any public service (or anyone else for that matter) so do not set your clocks according to the mail delivery. But what you can expect and come to rely on is a personal service. He will know your name, you will have exchanged greeting and shaken hands and that you have uttered “Bonjour” in the distinctive fashion of  ‘les Anglais’ or in the case of the Welsh, Irish or Scottish; undoubtedly Celtic. This limited amount of information in the course of time will prove sufficient for the delivery of a letter baring only your first name!

 

Once a year before Christmas, there is an extra delivery in the shape of a very informative calendar, (I certainly enjoy reading mine), it comes in the shape of an A5 sized thin hardback book. This year my entertaining “Almanach du Facteur 2009” is embellished on the front and back of its cover with views of Monaco and Southern Corsica. Inside, each page of the month is complimented by colourful diverse snippets of general knowledge and on other pages are found maps of the local area, France and the world. To show our gratitude for the services rendered by our friendly neighbourhood “facteur” the custom in response to receiving this calendar is to give a similar gesture. ‘Les étrennes’ is the equivalent of the British Christmas box but in my experience exercised with more finesse in France.

 

In Brittany, the impression of ‘la Poste’ is a positive one from the point of view of the consumer. The country village post office is quietly efficient and much appreciated by the villagers and the surrounding farmers; so much so that a threat to its closure resulted in a petition to the mayor. On the busiest morning in our village, Saturday when the market arrives on the square in front of the church; people happily filed behind one another to add their signatures to a protest.

 

I am happy to say our little village has managed to keep its traditional post office; which is run by a mature lady who has a charming sense of fashion expressed by a regular change of  her eye catching brightly coloured necklaces. The queues are never too long but one should be prepared; while standing in turn holding a cumbersome parcel, to see a more senior member of the community boldly ignore everyone and stride past you up to the counter.  This action is never challenged and reveals a refreshing insight into French culture which is often overlooked; a respect for their more senior citizens.  

 

There is something reassuring about catching sight of the little yellow post van rolling through the countryside in all weathers to deliver letters, parcels and sundries. It suggests an enduring need of small communities to sustain a treasured way of life and the postman and the postmistress contribute to its continuing existence. “Vive la Poste!”