During my travels as a hippie in the 1970s I came into contact with the great-grandson of Germain Nouveau

We spent time together in both Greece and France

Unlike his great-grandfather he was neither a serious poet and had never experienced mental health issues

But he has shared a religious conversion and now models himself on Saint Benoit-Joseph Labre

He returned to his home village just over twenty years ago and lives with a novice nun who I only know as Rai

They are blissfully happy and look forward to my yearly visits

We spend a great deal of time chatting to the fruits in the village market and often paint our index fingers red