Day 12 Part 2: Maromme

[Continued from Part 1]

As I came into Maromme, sure enough the road sign made mention of Oadby and Wigston. I grabbed a picture.

The Hotel de Ville (town hall) is incorporated into a block of flats, along with other shops, on one side of a pretty garden. It's an unusual way to arrange things but I quite like the idea that the administrators of local government work underneath the homes of some of the citizens they serve.

It's not easy to compare the French system of local government with the British. French Mayors have much more executive power and seem to serve an eight or nine year term of office. That makes them much more powerful.

As I sat in the waiting area outside the mayors office, I noticed the department names on the signs. There was an office for the forthcoming local elections next to me, in which two or three people worked. There were signs to departments for youth, for leisure, for cemeteries, and adoption. It was noticeably quiet, with little chat and very few phone calls. I couldn't imagine that this was the only site for the council, they must have another annexe for all the other staff.

M. Lamiray welcomed me into his office and we spent half an hour or so together, the conversation being entirely in French. He has an assured manner and the personal presence of someone who has real power. He appeared younger than me and I wondered if he is a rising star in French politics. My French is very limited but Hugh's translation of the little speech that I had prepared worked a treat. It seemed that the Mayor understood every word. We exchanged our gifts: I passed on a couple of local history books as gifts from Cllr Jill Gore and M. Lamiray gave me two guidebooks for the Haute Normandie Region.

M. Lamiray explained the tiers of French governance with a little diagram. "First, France. Then the regions. I am a Councillor of Haute Normandie, as well as Mayor of Maromme." He described how the Departement and Canton levels, fit between the region and town.

It was good to meet and I'm glad that our conversation didn't grind to a complete halt due to my lack of French. We exchanged pleasantries and I was off again.

I enjoyed a delicious and filling chinese buffet lunch and a quick trip to the post office, to post back home a parcel of the Mayor's books.

On the way out of town, I climbed the road that took me into the forest and the spick and span village of Montigny, where I'm spending a night in the best hotel of the trip so far.

It's been a relaxing three days, with two short walks and a day off. Tomorrow I begin a challenging fifty miles in three days, so things are going to get tough now.

My walking verse was Psalm 15.1,2: O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your hill. Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart...

I've been pondering verses like this in relation to the tired debate which tries to suggest that it's better to 'be' with God than to think of 'working' for God. I get the message but most times I hear the idea it's a gross simplification. Which of us can really take the time to be Mary, when there's such a lot for Martha to do?

I wondered how the many references to "walking with the Lord" relate to this. I need to do some more reading but I'm particularly drawn to the notion of 'walking with God', rather than 'being with God'. It's dynamic, suggesting that we can go places with the Lord. It's purposeful but not enslaving. It suggests companionship but not clinging.