Royal with cheese

Row of Rumps.

Off to the Marche aux Bestiaux in Parthenay this afternoon for a quick mooch around the annual foire de elevage et gastronomie. We’ve been in previous years and it was always good. Slightly less going on this year. Fewer animals, exhibitors. The Gastronomy element was more or less totally absent. Still, we did enjoy it and I guess the downturn is reflected in all elements of life. No taking away from the dedication of the farmers and their pride and passion in their animals. Hundreds of them turned out in their sunday best and the animals were superb.

Cow eyes

Halfway around the fair and a minor bustle approaches. It’s quite possibly the next president of France! She’s the current president of the department but perhaps better known for losing out to President Sarkozy in the 2007 election.

Ségolène Royal

An inordinate number of hangers on surrounded her but she did bring a whiff of glamour to proceedings. A much needed whiff as everywhere else had the odour of cows, straw and horse-piss. I don’t think I saw many other ladies in a couture outfit and high heels. Certainly none that I took a bunch of paparazzi snaps of anyway!

A small group of photographs featuring dreadlocked donkeys, cute cows and the like are on flickr, as usual.