25th November 2012

The end of the world is nigh, and salvation is in our region!  Well, so the ancient Mayans prophesied.  And, we haven't got long to prepare for the day of the apocalypse: 21 December 2012.  The tiny village of Bugarach, nestled amid breathtaking landscapes is the place where tourists are heading from far and wide.  It's so small there are only two narrow cobbled streets and less than 200 residents....well there were until the world descended on the place. The publicity boys have been in full flow: 'come and book your final doomsday destination'.  Of course, the puzzled inhabitants don't know what to do. Some have decided to get out while they can by putting their old terraced houses up for sale.  Typical French. Why would anyone want to buy a house when the end of the world is nigh?  The mayor, Jean-Pierre Delord, a 60-year old farmer has been rushing around like a self-important headless chicken, proclaiming special security measures and the like. But what can he do to prevent the apocalypse other than make money from all this unexpected tourism? Meanwhile, planes from the US have been fully-booked for December by passengers with one-way tickets! And the village sign and mountain pebbles have been stolen to be sold as profit - but if there's no future, there are no buyers. Couldn't understand why one budding entrepreneur was charging 5 euros to bury last wills and testaments in the last place on earth until I noticed Him indoors had gone missing....