Mons farmhouse

I am so chuffed by this painting. It has a remarkable history.

It is painted by a member of the Pelassy family - Mons' ruling dynasty (Mons is in the canton of Fayence, Provence) - M. Pelassy is the mayor. The Pelassy family own the neighbouring property and we share some olive terraces. I have a lawn mowe admittedly a big yellow one - they have a tractor: it's called keeping up with the Pelassy's. One day, my children will be mayors too. Noel Pelassy painted the picture.

The painting is the side view of our house in Mons (which is, as it happens, for rent) from the olive terraces. The lady in the picture is called Nicole. Nicole was massively popular in the area - everyone seems to know her. We wish we had the chance to know her: she was well loved and everyone speaks well of her. She lived off the land, tended chickens and harvested the olives.

Sadly, she passed away and her estate was sold (she left no heirs) to a lawyer. We bought the house from the lawyer when he moved to the USA in 2000. We first saw the picture hanging on Noel Pelassy's wall when we went to introduce ourselves.  Noel was warm. friendly and a WW2 veteran - we quaffed a Pastis with him and left a peace offering of a bottle of wine. Sadly, he passed away our first winter. We never really knew him. The house was left to the Pelassy nieces.

The painting stayed put in Pelassy land until one day, at lunch with some friends who live in the hamlet, we see the painting on their wall. Roger Pelassy (the brother) presented it ceremonially to our neighbours (and dear friends), knowing how fond they were of Nicole. In 2006, sadly, Roger Pelassy died as well and we all remain shocked at this tragic news.

I blag a photograph. It is our house after all. We are fascinated by its history (over 200 years) and the story of its dwellers, like Nicole, who have inspired such affection.

Comments

[roger]

I have received angry comments from an interested party regarding this story: I am generous enough to include some modest changes.

The same commentator advises me that Noel was only assistant to the mayor, doesn’t own a tractor and that my kids can’t become mayor(esses) under existing legislation.

Worse, however, is the allegation that boule-tosser who - & I quote - "bought the house from the grasping relatives of the lovely, kind, funny and intelligent Nicole rapaciously negotiated a re-division of those terraces and planted land mines to enforce his new rights." (I suspect the latter comments to be emotive fabrication and the result of parochial jealousies).

I, humble servant of the truth, will dig further at the Mairie de Mons.