Went into the countryside around Duras this afternoon after finishing some important business (shopping for early Christmas présents) to look for something unexpected. En route to Duras we had passed a field containing a few horses, three of which were actually laying on their sides, something l have never seen before. I thought they slept standing up but my dear wife gently disabused me of this notion stating that it wasn’t the least unexpected to see our four legged friends prone on the grass . So l thought l might take a few snaps on the way back anyway.
You guessed it – not a horse in sight. I parked the car and walked up the little path beside a lovely old stone wall that ran alongside the field – nothing. As l moved upwards to the next field, where the wall veered of to the right, there was some movement in the trees on the skyline and this lovely little horse emerged and trotted down the hill alongside the wall and stopped, on its side right next to me and proceeded to ask me what l wanted. It was so unexpected that she spoke English, here in the middle of the French countryside that l was speechless. I eventually managed to splutter out that l was on the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge crusade to find something unexpected to photograph and was looking for sleeping horses.
She said that they had been frightened off my an annoying little jack russell terrier called Claude who belonged to next doors farmer, a rather annoying chap who only likes horses if they were on his plate. Margaret, for that was her name, went on to suggest that rather than waste my journey why not take a little vignette of tasteful photographs, which she would gladly pay for by return of post.
That settled it – she was absolutely right, no point in crying over spilt milk, so l took some very nice close’ups and a full body shot over the wall. She also gave me a lovely little trot up and down her path which, l think, came out quite well. Before taking my leave l asked her if she knew of anything unexpected in the vicinity l could photograph as l was rapidly running out of options and the light was going. She suggested that l try the bus stop in the village where the Dubois twin sisters had been waiting for a number 11 from Neuffons to Monségur for the past thirteen years. Apparently they refused to leave the shelter and rarely showed themselves, except to receive food parcels and timetables from the local population. Margaret said l would be lucky to get a picture as the are very camera shy but it was worth a try.
After exchanging addresses l returned to the car full of hope that finally l might get a picture that would be a worthy contender for this weeks challenge. Well five minutes later l managed to get one of the rarest things, a picture of two young women, albeit their legs, who live in a bus shelter. A local chap who was passing and introduced himself as the Mayor of the village, seemed interested in my story and said that Margaret rarely got to chat in English these days and would have enjoyed the opportunity. When l told him about this weeks challenge he proclaimed that the Dubois sisters story was perfect as nobody in the village except them had any expectation of seeing a bus in the near future, possibly never.
So here is my contribution – WPC – Unexpected (Bus).
(All the photographs, paintings, artwork and other images in this blog are copyright and cannot be reproduced without my written permission and consent)
redstuffdan 
Great post! Delightful photos and good story. :)
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Thank you very much
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Love your blog. Beautiful photos.
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Lovely photographs-
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Thanks for visiting and following my blog, love your blog, it’s great. Your comment about horses lying down reminds me of when I was a newbie in the rural community where I lived for 8 years in Queensland. I saw a horse lying down, panicked thinking it was dying, and rang the owner who reassured me, without – very kindly – screaming with laughter, that horses did indeed lie down. But she thanked me for my concern and whether she howled with laughter after putting the phone down I have no idea, but I think I can guess!
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And did she make any corny jokes? (Sorry. So sorry.)
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Bonjour Laurie
Margaret is overwhelmed by the compliments she has received – Thank you
Dan
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Hello Claire
Dont worry, there was a chestnut close by watching over her antics with me.
Regards
Dan
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Bonjour Lilly
Margaret was very happy to hear your comment – l think she blushed but its very hard to tell with someone of her coloring.
Regards
Dan
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Bonjour Madame Lorik
Thank you – It was all Margarets idea so she deserves the credit.
Regards
Dan
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What a clever idea! A great shots!
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Margaret is very cute!
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Bonjour Emilio
She was definitely English, she even had a Cornish accent.
Thanks for following
Regards
Dan
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I fear you misinterpret her name. Unless she is an English horse, would not her name be Marguerite? Or Margaux, perhaps? Nevertheless, I enjoyed your conversation with her.
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Such a fun post! Love Margaret … and the feet!
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Those horses are just beautiful.
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If Margaret approached you like that she probably wanted your company. She might have been lonely if she was in the field by herself, horses don’t usually like being alone, they need a companion, even a goat or a donkey in the field. She has a gentle face.
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Thanks Chris
Thats the King of the Forest – he’s half tree, half wood nymph and semi transparent. Only those with an affinity with the Woodland can see him. So l guess thats you.
Regards
Dan
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A lovely little story of Margaret to go with her noble face. Dare I ask what is that strange design between the two horses heads, in both pictures actually.
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Hi Tim
Thanks for taking the time to read the story. I forgot to mention that waving a leg in the air is how the sisters communicate their equivalent of the “finger”.
Regards
Dan
Regards
Dan
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Love the dual foots. Yes, I realize that feet is correct but considering this photo, foots seems more appropriate.
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