Here are a few more pictures I took from the Puy Saint-Ambroise near Lapalisse in the Allier département (northern Auvergne) two weeks ago. I'm having computer problems, I'm cooking a capon for lunch, and I don't have a lot of time to give to the blog today.
The photo above shows a beautiful farm with a small glassy lake, pretty trees, and a handsome farmhouse and its outbuildings. The one below shows some typical modern pavillon houses, one of which is not quite finished, I believe. The red brick is still bare — it hasn't yet had "render" or enduit (stucco) applied to the exterior walls.
Finally, one more panorama.
Last night, I got an e-mail from a person whose initials are P.W. asking me if I could help her get in touch with local authorities in a nearby village. She said that she had been informed by a French neighbor that her house here has been burglarized, and her French is not good enough for her to be able to talk to her neighbors or the authorities and understand what they are saying to her and what the situation is. I hate to have to be so suspicious and careful, but I'm afraid the message might be part of some kind of scam and I don't feel safe answering it. I'm sorry. If you live in the Saint-Aignan area and know an Englishwoman whose initials are P.W., let me know so I will be convinced the e-mail is legitimate. I've been scammed before...
Yes, it sounds strange, if not fishy. Does she give you the location of her property? Or the name of the "French neighbor" so you could get in touch with him/her? You're right to be suspicious. If I were you, I'd forget about the whole thing and let the "French neighbor" take care of everything. Wait and see!
ReplyDeleteMaybe P.W. is the one who sent you that expensive IPhone?
Deletethat's a classic scam. Let it go.
ReplyDeleteNo name? No address to check up as she seems to want you to do? No neighbor to contact?
ReplyDeleteEmails from unknown senders wanting you to open an attachment or to answer a question should be zapped immediately, without hesitation. If the message is legitimate, he/she will try again. Roderick
ReplyDeleteSorry, everyone. False alarm. P.W. is perfectly legitimate. Sorry also for her troubles.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear that her home has been burglarized :(
DeleteMore and more I'm convinced that there is some kind of gang of thieves around here targeting houses owned by people with English-sounding names. They can find them in the phone book, for example. They must know that a lot of the English people who have houses here leave them standing empty much of the time.
Delete