Another Valley

Funny how different two valleys can look and feel. For once we had lunch out with Ann and Henry where they now live rather than head over the border as usual. An apéritif chez eux to start off with and then a good (for a price of 12.50€)lunch. We were the only people in which gave us chance to catch up with a couple of months or more of news. This small restaurant in the heart of a village is up for sale.... anyone tempted?
In the evening I attended a meeting chez Maggie, the English woman councillor. The aim was to set up an association (club/vol org) which would try and bring the different nationalities together in the village. The name we came up with is "........ sans frontiers". Let's go for broke, I say!
One piece of good news, the THT is to be buried so no pylons to disfigure the landscape. Remains to be seen if the electricity companies or the State (ie,us) will pick up the tab.

A bit of this, a bit of that

Monday came in with a drop in temperature and the threat of rain. Cancelled the trip to the allotment and did odds and sods around the house. Had an apéritif with Jean- Jacques and Michelle and then we were invited over to Michel and Joëlle's for another apéritif with their visitors. True to form the discussion continued and we were invited to eat with them. Joëlle always does enough food to feed the 5,000 in the eventuality of extra mouths to feed. Our Scottish friends would say that we "could get a piece at anyone's door!" Just ask if you need a translation.
Today there was a bit of "Blabla" (a report + photo in the local paper about St Jordi and a grant voted by the council), scooping out channels to water the allotment, a seat in the sun with our new Colombian friend Yaneth and her adorable 2 year old Lisa, a council meeting for Christian and a couple of bottles of wine this evening with Lone, a Danish friend .

Mairie Day

Another early start for a Sunday; this time Christian had official duties to commemorate all those who were deported from France during the 2nd world war. There was a wreath laying ceremony in both villages and both were followed by "un vin d'honneur". As it was fine in the afternoon we spent a little time on the allotment before getting changed to go to a concert as official guests!The programme consisted of pieces composed by Haydn, Mozart and Schubert and played by a string quartet in the church. Afterwards there was......? right first time, un apéritif during which the musicians played something quite different, "Pennies from Heaven". As it was on the way home, Michel, Joëlle, Michelle, Jean-Jacques, Christian and I stopped off at the auberge for something to eat. Thus ended a day well filled.

Another Saturday

Combined the market with meeting up with André and his wife, Françoise for an apéritif. André and Christian hadn't seen each other since they worked together about 30 years ago in Scotland. They've been living here for 2 years but we obviously don't hang out in the same places or with the same people!

Girly Day

A trip to Figueres with Rowena and Pauline which started with a coffee in the park, lunch in the centre and finished with tea in the park. Did a lot of chatting and a bit of shopping in between. I was back too late to go with Christian to an official apéritif in the other bit of the commune but no doubt there will be others.

Books, Roses, Dragons and Phew!

At last a moment to draw breathe. Sant Jordi and the Mairie have been keeping us occupied. Much to my relief everything went well yesterday even though I had to go and search for Jean-Louis (who was suffering from the night before) to open up and at the end to give a wee thank you speech in French. The day started with cleaning the terrace photographic evidence in twice; the butcher offered the old folk an apéritif and Armand gave the women a rose as is traditional. Christian said that there was already a space on the bench with my name on it for next year when I get my pension. The sun shone, there were plenty of people who came along bought books and enjoyed the afternoon. Rounded the day off with 13 of us going into Catalunya Sud/Spain for something to eat in a lorry drivers' restaurant. A plate full of grilled fish for 8€. Eat your heart out, Rick Stein!

April Showers

For three days now there's been sun in the morning and heavy rain in the afternoon. The creatures of habit that we are meant there was a trip to the market on Saturday morning; there was a meeting at the townhall for Christian in the afternoon and in the evening Philippe treated us to a meal at the auberge. Sunday was a duty day - taking photos at the endurance horse competition (over either 20/40/60/90kms)for Blabla and showing face for the Mairie. Two young women, one of whom rides for the British team, managed the 90kms. Although apparently it was a hard course, there's talk of repeating it next year. In June there's a half day trek and it looks as if I might be roped in to help on the bar. It's that or make sure that the horses walk when they are supposed to, trot when they are supposed to and gallop when they are supposed to. The occasional trek with IT (intermediate treatment)groups doesn't, I feel qualify me for the later.I do have some experience of bars though!
Already versed in the arts of s--t shovelling, today, we moved on to muck spreading ready for the arrival of a man with a rotovator (hopefully) this week. Everday opens up new horizons!

Not much doing

More rain on and off; another flag; more people at the door with books for the booksale/exchange. The idea was that this would be an opportunity to get rid of our excess books. I have a horrible feeling that we'll be left with more than we started with! Highlight of the day was tea with Philippe's Mum!

Fly the Flag

Pity I was never a Blue Peter fan. What with making posters and now sewing catalan flags I could do with finding a local W.I. for a handicrafts crash course. Someone once did say to me that they could see me as a vicar's wife living in a village and doing good deeds. This St Jordi lark is making that image a little too close for comfort, not that anyone would imagine Christian in the role of vicar though! The morning started with a bit of a jolt when I saw the news report on the Scottish news about an ex colleague having fought to have a certain anti-cancer drug but who had lost the battle with the illness. Only 53. The day ended with an apéritif chez Joëlle and Michel which turned into supper. Another day gone during which incidently we had rain. Haven't yet had the heart to go and see if the posters have survived.

A Change of Scene

Wednesday is market day in Banyoles. Held in the old part of the town on a huge arcaded square it was pleasant to find a café in the sun and watch the shoppers go by. We didn't eat facing the lake nor did we just have a salad! We ended up in restaurant that we'd never been to before by following the signs to"Mas Casadevall" which turned out to be part of a training facility for people with autism. This small restaurant is housed in a old, pretty stone farmhouse and served up a great menu with wine for 9€. By the time evening and our visitors came I wasn't very hungry but I did my best.

Puppet on a Swing!

Pity I couldn't get the animated version to work but it's still hilarious. Is there anything that anyone can say? During an ordinary (meetings, Blabla and more ironing)sort of day, this brought some light relief as will our proposed trip tomorrow to Banyoles, where the Barcelona Olympics watersports were held . Lunch by the lake, hopefully, in the sun will make a welcome break before we come home to prepare for friends who are coming for dinner. Will we be able to order a simple salad rather than opt for a good value menu, I wonder?

Hands Up

Have you heard that recent UK research shows that if your index finger is shorter than your ring finger, you're at greater risk of arthritis in the knees and hips? Interesting or what?
Another lunch out to day ~ back to the auberge, this time with Joëlle, Michel an Alain, one of the other councillors. We're thinking of asking for a loyalty card. Apart from that, we've been putting up publicity (painstakingly created with coloured markers on flattened cardboard boxes by yours truly while muttering "why am I spending my time doing this?) and I finally got around to doing a bit of ironing while catching up with "Casualty 1907". Just in case you think that I only watch drama, I have been watching the fabulous documentaries about tigers in India. We might moan about the BBC but it does turn out some good stuff.

Fresh Air Day

Up and out by 8.45am to take photos for Blabla of a mountain bike race of 30kms. We were there at the start and for the prize giving at mid-day. Fortunately it was a fine day as afterwards we were signed up to help clear the allotment of weeds before the rotovator did it's stuff. Unfortunately we couldn't get the thing going so there was time to linger over the BBQ before cutting out dead wood from the trees.

What about old Buster, then? What a trooper to run (walk) the London Marathon at 101 year's old. Christian, however, is not that impressed that he's still working as he thinks that the bosses/government will want everyone to follow his example and work longer before they get the pension!

Happy Campers!

Arrived with the rain just tipping down and it stayed like that for the whole time that we were in Perigord. It's easy to understand why it's so green. Felt sorry for Valérie, Guillaume and the kids who had left rainy Normandy in search of a little sun. Our mobile home was neither mobile nor a home. It was clean but not very spacious even though it was meant to be for 4 people. Still we made the trip to see the family which was the best bit and as I was armed with a good detective story, the time passed very quickly. Arrived home yesterday and stopped by at the Auberge for lunch as there wasn't anything much in the fridge. Today, yes I know that you now know that Saturday is market day, was a day to stock the fridge, start clearing the garden and to make some posters for St Jordi's day. Who said that life wasn't varied?

Olympic Spirit

Well things really kicked off in Paris. 3,000 police (the ones you don't mess with), MPs demonstrating in front of the Assembly building, reporters sans frontiers unfurling banners on the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame that showed the Olmpic rings as handcuffs, the flame being put out and then it was all aboard the bus. The Chinese apparently seemed to be the ones calling the shots which hardly seems normal and there were quite a few arrests and cracked heads. Does this mean that Sarko will lose the order for the nuclear power station he sold only a couple of months ago?
Meanwhile here, the weather is warmer and grandad's spade was put to work clearing out the irrigation channels. This evening Christian is off at a council meeting and tomorrow we escape ....
Comment: Glad your back 'on air' again. I'd assumed you'd gone to Paris for the free Tibet demo. It's strange how the BBC reported that in London, although there were only a few hundred demonstrators, the Olympic torch was successfully carried through the streets and the police behaved very well. Whereas today's BBC news about you awful French putting out the flame and then not be able to continue with the procession shows what a bad lot you are. I assume French t.v. have given an exact opposite report (Edofglasgow)

Comment: French tv showed the demo in all it's various guises - police aggression, protest banners flying and furious Chinese. San Francisco promises to be a rough ride too.Where were the "happy games" again? (Nous)

 

Monday Grind

Cold (12°), St Jordi, blabla and hair-pulling computer frustrations for Christian. Roll on Wednesday when we really do escape. The Dordogne should be far enough.

No Escape

In an effort to get away from politics, blabla, St Jordi and computer frustrations we decided to head 10kms up into the mountains for lunch at an old highwayman's hangout. At just over 700m altitude, I was glad to have a sweater with me. Ah yes, the temperatures of 25° have gone and I'm regretting turning off one of the storage heaters. Still, I digress ... we obviously didn't get far enough away from the village as right behind us were four activists from the village who supported Andre's campaign. We all sat together and between tucking into a good lunch (duck breast for me and lamb for Christian) we talked ...... politics, blabla and St Jordi! We were then invited for coffee by someone who lives in the village and talked .... politics. As Jean and Marie-Lourdes stayed on, no doubt to talk more politics we gave Juste and Josephine a lift home. They invited us in for a cuppa and we talked ... politics, St Jordi and blabla. Best laud plans and all that. Once home we kept off the computer and instead watched "Midsomer Murders" in French. At last something none too taxing.

Catching up

People have said to me that they don't know how I find the time to write a blog. Well, as you, my faithful few have realised I've let things slip of late. Even though it's a beautiful day (25°) outside rather than turn my freckles to the sun I thought I'd better fill in a few gaps and bring you up to date.
Today started as most Saturday's do with a trip to the market where pale skinned folk with bright red streaks could be seen enjoying the atmosphere while they bought their saucisson, olives and fruit. Strawberries at 4.50€/2kg. Bought some for lunch -yummy. While I'm on the subject of unseasonality, I have a vase of berry coverd holly and lily-of-the-valley in the house which makes an unusual combination. Traditionally, lily-of-the-valley is given on the 1st of May. Do hope that we don't have a late cold snap as I heard that you're subject to today.
Heard on the news that poor old Philip is in hospital. I do hope that it's not as a result of being close to Carla raising his blood pressure!

Lunch in the sun

Lunch in the garden with Jean and Françoise under a canopy of wisteria was a real pleasure. Managed to catch up with their news and as a result of Jean's back problem's, the proposed visit to Scotland has been put on hold. Given that Christian is still finding his feet at the mairie (careless of him to loose them, I say) it's no bad thing. We'll get there sooner or later I hope. In the evening I was still in lazy mode so rather than cook at home we went to the bar for something to eat and ate well, I might add. Didn't hang around too long afterwards but came home feeling well content. Night, night everyone, sleep well. A demain!

Shovelling S..t!

A garden, a friend with two horses, a sunny afternoon, an opportunity too good to miss for Michelle, Joëlle and I. We still haven't signed the papers for the garden but the owner has said we can start so it was on with old shoes and gloves to start our very own manure heap. By way of recompense Christian and I sat on the terrace of the bar with a glass of wine before dinner and all felt well with the world.

On tender hooks

I'd been dreding this day! Won't go into the whole story but it involves the local newspaper not having cancelled an item we'd put in asking children to sign up for a theatre workshop for St Jordi (George)which we want to mark on 23rd April. Old George was a busy sort of fella as he was busy fighting dragon's both in Catalunya and England. Here it's traditional to give a book or a rose so at the moment I'm filling the cave with books for a used book sale. Will go into more detail of the day nearer the time as I need to get back to my moment (Christian will tell you that there were more than one!)of panic. Joëlle and I armed ourselves with a load of sweets for disappointed kids but much to our relief no one turned up.I can't tell you of the weight that lifted from my shoulders - no public humiliation, no comments about p... ups and breweries! A cuppa chez Joëlle and Michel's afterwards turned into an apéro when the American's turned up to see their house.

Poisson Avril

April fish is the French equivalent of April Fool's Day and apparently dates back to when the Pope of the day changed New Year's Day from the 1st of April to the 1st of Jan. "Uninformed" types who continued to celebrate on the first of April had tricks played on them because like April fish they are easily caught. I reckon they weren't that daft as Jan comes before April and they probably celebrated twice! I was with Flo (the founding part of Blabla) at the nursery school and there were one or two folk walking around with fish cellotaped to their backs. No, no not a lump of cod, paper ones! In the evening Linde's American friends came around for an apéro and a look around the house as part of their cultural activities. oh well, what ever turns you on.