No Place Like Home

The journey home yesterday seemed never-ending. Christian still coughing but that didn't stop him tucking in to a 3 course meal in the picturesque little village of Auyular, which I'd really like to look around some other time. As for me, I tried to eat something but didn't manage more than half a dozen mouthfuls. How glad we were to arrive home and curl up on the sofa.
Today, I stayed in bed, not even getting up to celebrate the New Year around at Jacques. Christian, wee trooper that he is, kept going until 4am!

TLC Needed and Received

Feeling pretty rotten so the small fortune that we paid to have the gîte cleaned for us was worth every euro. We're both coughing as if we'd worked down the pit from an early age. To heap on the misery, we had to turn back to collect a bag that we'd left, it was cold, wet and windy and lunch was a disaster ... a sandwich in a busy service station.
We were really pleased to arrive at Jean and John's holiday home just outside Cognac. They warmed us up with tea and made us comfortable in front of the fire then later on wined and dined us in good style with Christmas crackers and all.

Whetting the Appetite

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We couldn't come to the area without visiting Vannes which we did this morning. Managed to get up early and brave the rain. By now Christian is coughing well and my throat is starting to dry which isn't surprising as Christophe came with it, Valérie and her Mum have had it and been to the doctor's for a bagful of prescription medicines.
Vannes is a real delight ... old timbered buildings, narrow streets and classy shops. Much as we would have liked to stay there for lunch in one of the very tempting restaurants, we had to get back to celebrate Emma's birthday. She's a wee poppet and was a delight to watch blowing out her candles and opening her presents. Vannes is definitely on the list for another visit.

Feeding the Masses

You may have been wondering who has been doing the cooking. Well, we've taken it in turns to provide lunch and dinner for the others. Today, our turn finally arrived. Did roast salmon for lunch and fish soup that we'd bought in Port Vendres where it's made with tapas for dinner. Some might think taking fish soup to Brittany is like taking coals to Newcastle but at least we were sure of the quality and we do have to support our
local economy.
Although we didn't manage to put our noses outside the door, too busy slaving and all that ... I've included this photo here to cheer up the post and show what was a 10 minute walk away.

Reluctant Tourists

Finally got our act together to do some sightseeing. Visited the château of Suscinio, which looks as if it should be used in some medieval film or other. The weather was damp and chilly so we went back to the bar in St Gildas for tea.

Christmas Morn

Had a late start followed by a walk by the sea. Lunch was all well provisioned seafood platter which kept us going all day.

A Joint effort

You'll know by now that the French have their main meal of Christmas on the 24th Frank and his son Leo were in charge of the main course, a capon, while the grandparents sorted the starter to go along with the oysters and the two Valéries did the dessert. Smoked salmon and foie gras - nothing if not traditional. Yesterday, we'd been into the local market and bought our contribution so we had a pretty easy time of it. St gildas is a very attractive wee town close by the sea and even in winter you could see that it was geared up to tourists. We didn't do any sightseeing as Christian was coughing quite a bit and feeling tired, settling instead for a coffee in the bar on the village square.
Dinner was good but while the others stayed up late, we oldies were in bed by midnight.

En Famille

Our hosts waved us off after a good breakfast with lots of different homemade jams and we continued to head north west. Tried to find something to eat in a small village off the motorway but without success and ended up going into a sizeable town. Ended up in a a "Leff Brasserie", a restaurant chain specialising in northern food and beers. It was pretty busy and all I can say is that people have more money than sense. To make matters worse it was wet and cold.
Still, we finally arrived at the gîte where the rest of the family were waiting. It was huge and well-equiped and thankfully,, as there were 20 of us, the adults had their own bedroom complete with TV and shower. Yesterday had been Tanguy's birthday so we celebrated it with a raclette (melted cheese over potatoes, traditionally accompanied by cold meat)and cake.
Christian's ex-wife, Françoise and her husband were also there and imagine our amusment when I noticed that she was wearing the same boos as me. I couldn't resist remarking that "apparently we have the same taste!"

A Warm Welcome

Took the road north in bright sunshine and stopped just short of Toulouse for lunch. A good meal at a very reasonable price. The carpark was full of local number plates which is always a good sign and you can see rom the photo that it's got character. Made an overnight stop the other side of Saintes in a very pleasant B & B. The couple were interesting and the bedrooms carefully decorated and the meal very tasty. They didn't scimp on the wine either! Oh, and what do you know? The world didn't come to an end.

Watch and Learn

We're off to tomorrow and our bags still aren't packed. The booze, however, is alraedy in the car. Heaven forbid, we should mess that up.
Language exchange as usual, followed by an apéritif as usual but while Christian had his siesta, as usual, I went with Maud to watch Margaret decorate Christmas cakes. It was fascinating; what a pity there were only three of us there to benefit from her expertise. That did mean, however, that there was a bigger slice of sponge cake each.
Christian was awake by the time I arrived home and ready for our visit to Juste and Joséphine's to meet their new grandson and enjoy champagne and apéritifs.

In Search of Inspiration

Just a few days before we set off for our jaunt up to Brittany to spend Christmas with the family, so it was time to decorate our door in keeping with the rest of the street. a bit behind but beter late .... Yes, we've been busy but the theme, "recycling" had me a bit stumped. Finally used the interior of a wine carton to make a decorative panal using the long slits as windows, showing Christmas scenes. not my best effort, especially alongside the Christmas tree made from plastc milk bottles and the articulated dog that lifts its leg when you pull on its leash. That was Monday and Tuesday, Nicole came for tea.
Today we had a day out in Figueres; Christian struck lucky with a new overcoat and pair of trousers while sadly, despite being ready to spend, there was nothing that caught my attention. Had lunch at Mas Salelles, where else and then this evening,

there was the Mairie Christmas do. An apéritif and gifts distributed by Father Christmas for the workers , their children and even the retired workers. The council members received a small basket (nowadays made frome balsawood rather than willow) of goodies which is a nice gesture for all their hard work.

A Taste of Christmas

A busy weekend. Yesterday, there was no time to go to the market as Juste and Joséphine were coming to dinner so it was a quick zip around the supermarket and an afternoon in the kitchen. We had a nice Delia Oriental Pork Casserole (http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/asian/chinese/oriental-pork-casserole-with-stir-fried-green-vegetables.html)but with noodles rather than stir fry veg. It's so easy; it just cooks away in it's marinade in the oven.Yer canae wack it!
Today it was the village's Christmas market so we were both out all day. The gods were with us as it was lovely and sunny. The association had a stall with the left-overs from the Téléthon and mulled wine. The money raised went toward our sponsorship of a young Conogolese woman. By 4pm, the sun was going down and there weren't many people still shopping so we packed up what was left (to go the the local Emaüs charity for the homeless)and went onto the church for a Christmas concert. From there, it was over to Gaby and Robert's for supper, then finally to bed. Now you know why we're neither, healthy, wealthy nor wise.

We Wrinklies

Yes, time to search out the high heels and any clothing that sparkled to keep up with the other participants at the OAP Christmas lunch. The meal was good, the wine flowed and we danced until our feet were tired. All apart from the Madison, that is. I can't stand those collective scripted dances. Probably because I can't remember the steps. There wasn't much time to have a rest before it was time to head out for December's vernissage. We had a vested interest in this one as the Cancer Support association of which our friend, Penny is President, was showing paintings that had been donated. All the proceeds were going to the association. There was a good turn out (nothing to do with the mulled wine and Christmas cake, I'm sure) and being very reasonably priced, the paintings sold well. We bought one of Port Vendres, though where we'll put it is another story!

Going Global

Well, the association's language exchange welcomed two Estonians and a Fin; that makes 15 different nationalities. Weather is still very cold and it was a bit parky in the restaurant where we met Madeline for lunch. Still the food was good with the chef being worthy of his "toque blanche".

Auspicious Day

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After talking about it for 15 years we've finally had sensor lights installed on the back stairs. Juste was here working when we decided to toast 12.12.12, so we telephoned to Joséphine and she came over in time to be here at 12 minutes passes midday. Of course, they then stayed on for lunch. Hope the wish I made comes true but it is of course, a secret

Any Excuse

Started the day with a coffee in the bar where I left Christian while I went to distribute the association newsletters.He was still there when I came back so we had an apéritif and then went to the restaurant for lunch.Doesn't it look appetising? And, as a bonus, tomorrow's lunch is already prepared and I can get the website up-to-date.

All in a Good Cause

An early start for Maggie and I as we were up at the village hall to set up the association's stall for the main Téléthon fundraising day. We sold stuff that had been donated as Christmas gifts and ran a bottle stall. Made about 400€ which was not too bad.The village made 11,600€ which was even more than last year and is the best per capita effort in the whole Département. The British tearoom did a "sterling" job raising well over 1,000€. Christian and I were invited to stay on along with the Mayor and his wife to have an apéritif and eat chicken and sautéed potatoes.A pleasant end to a tiring day.

Masterminds

Tuesday nothing much to report apart from a fun "soirée guitares" in the bar. Good music and lots of new faces from outside the village.
Felt a bit tired on Wednesday, having made it home last night at 2am. Despite that, our brains were still in gear and along with Gaby and Robert, we won the quiz in the restaurant. 7€ from every meal went towards the Téléthon (5€ from participants and 2€ from the owners. Our prize was 3 bottles of good wine and a voucher for 20€, to spend in the restaurant, so no complaints there.
Yesterday after setting up he association's stall (in aid of the Téléthon)at the market, Maggie and I left the selling to the others and went to help prepare the wild boar stew that will be sold on Saturday, again for the Téléthon.More experiened hands did the cutting up, Maggie and I were let loose on kilos of onions and garlic.It was fun to be working alongside people from the village and of course very good for the street cred! The afternoon was a rather different affair as we'd been invited to a tree (to which we'd contributed) planting ceremony in memory of Rosie's son who had died recently.She and her husband are involved in all things musical in the village so friends played and there was poetry too, followed by a wee refreshment.
Today, we weighed and filled 105 cartons of stew and were rewarded with an apéritif for our efforts. There was even a carton of left-over sauce which went down a treat on pasta, so no need to cook.

We Came, We Tasted, We Spent

Yesterday we went over to see Jean who is now back home and although tired, no surprise there, he was bright and chirpy. Left before the nurse arrived and came back to the villae for a glass of wine before lunch.

Today, I left Christian to work at the Mairie while I went with a group from the association to do a wine tasting at "Dom Brial" in Baixas. We started with a film, visited the cave, did a tasting and spent some money, quite a bit actually as it's quite an upmarket wine.
Next came a visit to the church which has a well-known very ornate Baroque altar. Somehow we managed to lose a couple on the way to the restaurant and of course they were the only ones without a mobile and despite one car going off to look for them, they were nowhere to be seen.
We went on to lunch which was a laugh a minute. The association has never ended up in something so basic .. the toilets apparently unbelievable, Marie, the owner, larger than life but very welcoming and the food actually wasn't too bad.Everyone took it all in good spirit and even our lost couple, who had a terrible meal weren't annoyed which was a relief as it wasn't our finest hour.
Being the first Monday of the month, Christian had his surgery up in the mountains, so I went to see Annette for a blether. We were the only people in the auberge for dinner so we ate in the bar and very reasonable we were too. Omlette and salad.

3€ Well Spent

It was still cold but sunny so we wandered the shops looking for an overcoat for Christian, had coffee and spent quite along time in the Goya Museum. There are only 3 Goyas but there were lots of other Spanish paintings to look at. Apart from us, there was only one other couple looking around which is a shame as it really is a little gem. We had a very good fish lunch in a restaurant accessed through the fishmongers so the food was all very fresh. Came home without stopping and had a quiet night in.