People sometimes say Grosbreuil is one of those villages you drive through at nightfall without meeting a living soul. Shutters closed, quiet streets, and everyone at home over a bowl of soup.
Not a chance! This Monday evening, the Compostons Ensemble committee tried to book a room for an urgent meeting. The answer: everything was taken. Not a single free room, not even a corner of a table. Grosbreuil does not sleep in the evening: open a few doors and you will see for yourself.
A quick tour of the open doors
- Yoga
- Gym
- Pilates
- Theatre
- Arts and crafts
- Basketball
- Badminton
- Archery
- Music
Behind one door, people are breathing deeply: that's yoga. Next door, they are working up more of a sweat: gym and Pilates keep the winter tummy at bay. Further along, lines are being rehearsed and entrances polished: it's theatre night.
Elsewhere, scissors, brushes and glue are busy at arts and crafts. The ball bounces at basketball, the shuttlecock flies at badminton, and arrows fly straight at archery. And somewhere, notes drift out of a music room.
In short, night may fall early in Grosbreuil in November, but the lights in the village halls stay on. Well done to all the associations that keep the village alive: it is excellent news… unless you are looking for a room!
And what about us?
We needed a room, and fast! The committee had to meet quickly about the famous new food waste collectors that have just landed on the route de la Luctière, right next to the recycling drop-off points. You may have spotted them: large metal units that arrived without warning, rather like flying saucers.
They raise quite a few questions for our association, which has been composting the kitchen waste of Grosbreuil's residents since 2009. We will tell you more very soon, promise.
Luckily, the town hall came to the rescue! The mayor, Marc Hillairet, together with Laurent Enfrin, fourth deputy mayor, welcomed us into the old schoolroom of the Maison du Patrimoine in Grosbreuil. Many thanks to them. Meeting on school benches to talk about compost: you have to admit, there are worse settings!
So next time someone tells you Grosbreuil goes to sleep at nightfall, you will know what to say: just try booking a room!
Come and see us at the composting site
Drop-in sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 10 am to 12 noon, rue des Lavandières. Coffee, advice and good humour included!
