We were part of a small village, Brece, on the border of Normandy and Brittany and seemed to be in one or the other most of the time. Every small village or town in that part of France ( or everywhere?) clusters around the church, usually old and most imposing. Tall grey spires were seen from the distance. Our church in Brece, “Eglise Notre Dame”, 15th C, was typical. Around it spread the cobbled streets, plain stone houses with faded shutters on windows with Breton lace curtains, some completely shuttered up (just for the winter), belonging to absent owners. There was a “Boulangerie and Patisserie”, usually always a “Coiffure” and not much more. It was very austere, except for the spring bulbs and blossom. There was always a town square, sometimes a war memorial, in plain gravelled open spaces. Nearby towns, depending on size, had more shops ….”Charcuterie”, “Boucherie” and “La Poste”.