Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
chopping vine tops and sides. Sean hitched it onto the tractor for the first time, attaching
and adjusting it perfectly. He came in for lunch having successfully finished a hectare. For
once, a tractor job was going smoothly. That afternoon he came back earlier than expected
having nicked the trimmer on a trellising pole. It needed straightening before he could use
it again.
Sean dismantled the trimmer and I took the offending part to Monsieur Bonny. I had done
so many trips I could drive the road to Coutures blindfolded. The part was fixed in an hour
and Sean moved the trimmer into the courtyard to reassemble it. He was determined to get
it back together and Garrigue vineyard trimmed before Cécile arrived for the group meet-
ing that afternoon.
The trimmer proved more difficult to put together than it had been to dismantle. Without
sufficient tightening, the blades could fly off, wreaking destruction. Lunchtime came and
went and Sean remained in the roasting courtyard battling with the trimmer. Exhausted,
frustrated and soaked in sweat he kept at it. Cécile arrived for the meeting closely followed
by twenty farmers. Halfway through the introductions Sean yelled for me and ran to the
kitchen holding his arm awkwardly. I bolted after him, saw a trail of blood and shouted for
Cécile.
Sean was standing over the sink pouring blood and shouting for clean towels. Cécile, after
seeing Sean's arm, yelled out the door for anyone that knew first aid. A young man ap-
peared and quickly took charge.
'No tourniquet, just pressure,' he said, holding a clean cloth tightly over the massive gash
on the inside of Sean's arm. He encouraged Sean to lie down. In the meantime Cécile called
the ambulance. Sean was shivering with shock and blood loss. I sat down on the step, my
head between my legs to stop fainting. This was my husband's blood, and more than I had
ever seen in one place. I heard Cécile describing the wound. My head swam again and I
lodged it back between my legs. I vaguely heard Sean asking Cécile to check I was OK and
tried to pull myself together, admonishing myself about who had been injured. Fifteen long
minutes later the ambulance arrived.
The paramedics checked Sean's vital statistics, asked me a few questions, then lifted him
onto a stretcher and passed him through the kitchen window to the ambulance. Sean was
begging for painkillers and shaking relentlessly. They explained they couldn't give him
anything as he needed surgery. I kissed him and they whisked him away to Bergerac Hos-
pital.
'Remember to phone the school and ask Sonia to look after Ellie,' said Sean as the ambu-
lance doors closed.
Two farmers put the tractor and the trimmer away. Others cleared up Sean's tools. Cécile
called our social services organisation to notify them that Sean had had an
'accident du
travail'
and to find out what assistance we could get. She took the details and explained
