'It is traditional', I was told when I first arrived in Normandy 'for the local firemen to come round to your house at Christmas to give you a calendar in exchange for a small donation.' Great!! Having a penchant for fireman this was an occasion I anticipated eagerly even though I would have to wait for 8 months for their arrival on my doorstep. Disappointingly, when the day duly arrived only one fireman turned up and he had his son in tow! Damn!! Never mind, I paid up and was given my calendar. Oh NO! Further disappointment. They were all pictured fully clothed and running around with bits of fireman paraphenalia demonstrating noble, firemanly acts. There was even a photo of one of them getting married. Like I cared!
So yesterday I was quite thrilled to go to Laval Christmas market and bump into the lads of the local Rugby club ....selling calendars. My first thought after a cursory glance was 'hmmm...no thank you,' but a closer inspection revealed that each page was illustrated with photos of these lovely boys as nature intended, their modesty intact due, as you will no doubt have guessed, to the discreet positioning the odd rugby ball.
So thank you boys - that 90 minute drive to Laval was well worth the effort!
Photo from the 2010 calendar of the Rugby Club Lavallois. Visit their website here
