Sun, Sea and Sand

30.4.14:

A real pleasure to wake up to a sea view but Christian didn't really want to linger after breakfast. Stopped by Decathlon to buy some batons for me so that I have one less excuse for not joining the walking group and by the supermarket to get something to eat for lunch.
In the afternoon he went off to buy a new computer as his at the Mairie is old, tired and inefficient. No wise cracks, please.
He wasn't on top form and made the mistake of carrying our overnight bag up the two flights of stairs to "The Nest" and was not well when he arrived but once he lay down, he felt better. I can tell you that we were both pretty scared by the turn of events.
Weather:
20° sun but cloud coming in from the south

29.4.14:

Christian was given a tip for restablishing a stable wifi connection and "by George, I think he's got it!  That's a "My Fair Lady" quote, if you're too young to recognise it. It's been so frustrating only being able to connect from late at night until 9h or so in the morning.
Lauren called in just before lunch and stayed for a quick apéro which is an unusual event ..... not the visit but the duration.
After Christian's siesta we went off to Port la Nouvelle for dinner, bed and breakfast in a hotel overlooking the sea. A "Groupon" offer which expires tomorrow it seemed a good deal; don't they always? Anyway, the room was spacious, well equipped but could do with updating and there was a view of the Mediterranean as far as the horizon. We'd been a bit worried that we also have a view over the petrol terminal, so were happy with that part of the deal. After settling in, we went for a stroll along the prom which wasn't very busy and not all the restaurants and shops were open even though schools are on holiday.
Dinner was the other part of the deal and while it was fine, lots of fish, I wouldn't have been happy to pay the full 33€ for it. Christian's appetite was better than it has been so that's encouraging.
Weather:
20°, Sun in the morning but cloding over later at home;  22.5° and sun in Port la Nouvelle

Scary Moments

26.4.14:

Spent over 4 hours at the clinic but they've tried to sort his medication which hopefully will settle things down. There was fun this evening though as we were invited to Lone and Jesper's for the evening. A bit of light relief was most welcome.
Weather:
21°, sun and cloud



25.4.14:
Spanish first then a light lunch at the restaurant. Christian was at the GPs to renew his prescription but also because he's not been on form for a while. The upshot was that he needs to go into the ED of the clinic where he has already been treated tomorrow morning as things are just not right. The lines on my face are getting ever deeper.
Weather:
18°, cloudy, strong wind

24.4.14:
The usual Thursday stuff though we ate at home rather than in the restaurant.
Weather:
23°, sun, cloud, light, wind
Headlines:
One year ago today, a sweat shop collapsed in Bangladesh killing over 1100 people. Several top European companies used it.

Where's the Dragon?

23.4.14:
It was strange not being in the thick of it as normally when the association organises Sant Jordi (St George's Day), I'm the prime mover but I have to say, it was more fun having no responsibility. The downside was that there it was a bit of a half-hearted affair in comparison to previous years! There was no apéritif at the end but Nany had the good idea for folk to come back with things to eat, drink and share. Very pleasant!


Weather:
22°, warm and sunny with blue skies

22.4.14:
Went to an osteopath in Perpignan as my back is still not right. according to the practitioner, I was cured though it might take a few days to take effect. Being Tuesday, Christian had a council group meeting and came back with Jean-Jacques and Michel for an apéritif.
Weather:
18°, drizzle with sunny spells later

Eggstravaganza

We were quiet during the day and as the internet connection has been playing up I couldn't even get to watch any TV online. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrh! in the evening we were up at the village hall with Margaret to partake of the pascal omelette(s). There were 120 of us so that was a heck of a lot of cooking to do and of course, there was more singing to sit through.
Weather:
17°, drizzle during the day, downpour at night

Easter Sunday

It was a typical Easter Sunday weatherwise so yet again we ate our lunch inside the restaurant. There were 8 of us, Kelvin and Irene, Nany and André, Margaret, Martine and ourselves. It was a good meal with Spring flowers decorating every dish. Everyone came back to ours for a digesitif for as long as they could keep their eyes open!
Weather:
17°, cloudy, light rain, chilly

Singing for your Supper

It's Saturday again so off we went with Margaret to the market where we met up with Henri, Michèle, Nany, André and Martine. Henri persuaded us to go back to theirs for an apéritif which lasted until after 3pm. Finally dragged ourselves away to come back to the village to see a group of locals singing 'les goigs", an Easter tradition. For once it didn't rain but as usual people gave generously towards the pascal omelette. In the evening, Henri and Michèle turned up for an apéritif +++. No peace for the wicked, eh?
Weather:
20°, sunny but cooler in the wind

Dustbins Extrodinaires

18.4.14:
Nothing special. No Spanish so as the work next door has finished, I cleaned the street and our front door. Nick came around in the afternoon to fiddle with the website , nothing special.so sas I said
Weather:
23°, sunny, clouding over later
Headlines:
 Gabriel Lorca Marquez, the novelist, died.

17.4.14:

Thursday morning and with Maggie away, it was my responsibility to open up for the language exchange. Went, of course to the bar afterwards for a glass of wine and were joined by Margaret who's here for a few days. If we'd needed an excuse, we had one with Margaret but as you know by now, we didn't and went anyway. While there, we were treated to some entertainment as  the controversial underground rubbish containers departed the square for patures or rather a carpark new up at the village hall. So, now there sould be less grumbling from the regulars at the bar and farther to walk for us.
This evening we were invited to Jean-Jacques along with Andrée and Pierre, a Belgian couple. All this week, JJ has been doing his duty as a grandpa looking after Victoire and her friend and as it was payback time they were hired as canapé chefs and did a good job especially with the prunes stuffed with marzipan. Mmmm!
Weather:
23°, sunny

In the Name of Jesus

16.4.14:

On the road again for 9h and we had a long but enjoyable drive via Limoges. Stopped at "Les Jardins de Corrèze", which has services with splendid views, for a sandwich lunch and for Christian, a wee snooze on the grass. Arrived home in the early evening feeling weary but pleased that the journey back was without mishap.
Weather:
9° when we left, 23° en route in the afternoon, 23° at home. Sun all the way



15.04.14:

Left to head south at 9h and drove to Vire, a detour from our usual route, to see Christian's 93 year old godmother. She coped with the surprise as if it wasn't one and she seemed pleased to see her wee boy. By the time we said our goodbyes with an obligatory photo (we always wonder if it will be the last), we were ready to find somewhere to eat. Went as far as Flers and found a rather chic place called "Les Veilles Pierres" just on the outskirts. The food was good but the service impersonal. http://www.aubergedesvieillespierres.fr/
We spent the night in Dangé St Romain (obviously that was a saint who got around) in a simple Logis. The bedroom was small but clean and the meal was simple but good, especially the foie gras. Sadly, Christian is somewhat off his food.
Weather:
6° in the morning, 17° farther south in the afternoon

14.4.14:

You'll be scratching your heads wondering if I've gone all religious but worry not ..... this is actually the name of the hotel where we ate with Christophe for lunch. We should have eaten at a "Chinese" but it was "fermé exceptionellement" and rather late on we went to this place in St Romain du Colbosc which is on the way to Valérie's where we were to go for coffee. The staff were were pleasant and the food honest. On arriving, Valérie and family, her Mum, Stéphane and Yohann were in the garden enjoying the sunshine. We stayed for the afternoon and then went home for another quiet night in. Well, we're off tomorrow and it's a long drive.
Bah oui, I forgot ..... there was another "au nom de Jésus!!!" This time when we found that someone had dragged a key down the side of our car ..... the first time that this has happened since we've been together. What a sad sight.
Weather:
13.5° sun and blue skies

Birthday Celebrations, Take Two

Awoke to drizzly, chilly weather; not the ideal start to Christian's birthday celebrations "en famille". Lunch was organised at a "banqueting " centre set next to a small lake and where we celebrated his 60th. We were 34 of us altogether and for the first time all his 4 children and 11 grandchildren were in the same place at the same time. Only Dorothy was missing. There was a set meal with plenty of wine and of course champagne. The presentation of the dessert, including fireworks and two white doves was somewhat over the top and a complete surprise but the kids were enraptured. And the icing on the cake, so to speak, was the appearance of the sun when the apéritifs were served enabling us to benefit from the lovely surrondings. I can honestly say that a good time was had by all.

 
Apéritif

Toasts Chauds

*****

Cassolette Océane et Vin Blanc

*****

Suprême de Volaille Crème de Ceps

Sa Garniture et Vin Rouge

*****

Salade

*****

Croquante de Livarot Chaud

*****

Caprice des Bois et Champagne
*****
Café 

Patched but Roadworthy

12.4.14:

Had a quiet day so that Christian could recuperate before tomorrow's festivities. Only went out for a coffee at the local bar and were even able to sit out in the sun. Once again, the father-in-law of the cheese seller that we use at the market was there and apparently he's heading down here for a couple of months next week. Have I told you before that his son played football in the same club as Christophe when they were teenagers? And, the ex-owner of the bar who we'd also met there before, will be helping at tomorrow's do (in another town) as she's friends with the people who bought the establishment from her parents. Small world, eh?
Weather:
13°, sunny


11.4.14:

At breakfast this morning we found ourselves next to a couple who have a house in Il sur Tet, the other side of Perpignan and that the woman had worked with our friend Michel in the N. of France. after that, it was of course, off to the garage to secure the front wing. Would you believe it? There was a nicer looking hotel with off road parking opposite! while we were there the lorry owner phoned and said that his driver was 71 (and driving a cattle wagon! Am I being ageist?)and wouldn't have driven off if he'd realised but if there was evidence of the bump, they'd take responsibility. The Gendarmerie also phoned to say that their colleauges in the other town had visited and now it's over to the insurance to sort out.
Had lunch in Artenay, a regular stop for us and arrived chez Christophe at 17h45 for a quiet evening in with the family.
Weather:
18°, Sunny

Normandy, Here We Come

Managed to get organised and leave at 9h30 and we made good progress, stopping at the "Pont de Millau for a picnic lunch in the sunshine. We took our time and visited the exhibition to watch a short video about it's construction and then while Christian had a siesta, I walked up to the viewpoint to take some photos. We both did this a several years ago with Andy and Maureen and I was pleased to still be able to do it without a problem.
Big mistake; we hadn't booked anywhere for the night as we weren't sure how far we'd get. Stopped in Cosne d'Allier and saw there was accomodation at a château that's now been turned into a conference centre. They had space but with a meal of radish for starters and spag bol for the main course we headed into town. The hotel on the main road, which we'd been directed to,  was a family affair and if you've travelled in France you'll have come across these old, tired establishments. Still, we were tired too and fed up, the owner was pleasant, the room was clean and adequate and there didn't seem to be any other villages for quite a distance, so we booked in.
Went for a stroll and had a beer in what really was a bit of a one horse town and came back to find that our car had been bashed on the wing. Fortunately, someone had taken the cattle lorry's number so off we went to the Gendarmerie. They were very pleasant and helpful and found the company but there was no reply when they phoned. Christian tried to phone later too but with no luck.
Had dinner at the hotel which was simple but good enough feeling that disappointed with the end of what had started ourt as a lovely day but realising that it could have been worse.
Weather:
Temperature ranged 16°-20° as we travelled, sunny

Politics, Pampering and Pals

9.4.14:
Weather:
25°, sunny
Headlines:
New FN Council in the N of France has evicted a Human Rights group from it's rent free room as it's deemed to be political association and therefore not eligable Under the law for Council money.

There's great excitement in the P.O. as Segolène Neuville has been made Sec of State for disabilty and social exclusion in Valls's new governement. It's the first time since 1957 that anyone from here has been so elevated. She was born in Haute Seine (92) but rose in politics here "mentored", as the local press likes to call it, by Christian Borquin, Senator and President of the Regional Council. She still works in the Department of Infectious Diseases and her constituency assistant is Juste and Joséphine's daughter. Our claim to fame is that we shared a table at Emilé's wedding reception.

8.4.14:
Jean-Jacques, Jean and Françoise for an apéritif.
Weather:
20°, cloudy

7.4.14:
Had a lift with Sylvie to her hairdressing salon over the border (it's much cheaper) for a long needed tidy up. Christian, who had been given a haircut by the village hairdresser for his birthday, went to the Mairie. He was there again in the evening for the first full Council meeting of the new group .
Weather:
22°, sun but cloudy later
Headlines:
France has been declared "persona non grata" at the  commemoration of the Rwandan genocide, being considered guilty of support for the Hutu regime.

6.4.14:

Had a Sunday lunch time drink in the bar, a lazy afternoon and dinner at David and Laura's along with Michèle, Henri, André and Nany.
Weather:
23°, blue skies, cloudy later

Easter before Palm Sunday

Met up with Henri and Michèle at the market and then came back for lunch at the restaurant where there was a special carnival menu. The weather was just perfect with blue skies and sunshine and it was the best ever ; several floats ans a great marriage group of men dressed as women and vice versa. There's a Catalan saying that a couple who marry when the bride is either pregnant or has a baby have celebrated "Easter before Palm Sunday"!
Christian was feeling tired so we didn't do anyting other than wear a hat. We went to the village hall in the early evening for an apéritif and to listen to the local banda but decided to give the evening fancy dress disco a miss. There was no early night however, as we met Jack; went for a drink at the bar and then back to his for a bit to eat. Still tomorrow is Sunday and nothing until the evening.
Weather: 21deg

Rest, Rain and Renovation

4.4.14:

Our first obligation today was the funeral of the daughter of the elderly woman that I helped around Girona last Friday. She was 61. The church in Argelès was packed out with people standing up the side aisles and with many, many more outside. There were lots of the local politicians there as her husband is on the Council. The service was a requiem mass taken by a youngish (well as priests go) priest. He had a good singing voice which was a great improvement on the one who ministers to the village. I also liked the way that he acknowledged that there might be non Catholics present  and invited them to join the communicants for a blessing if they so wished.
No sonner than we'd dropped André and Nany back in the village than we set off to Cistella to meet up with Adrian, Pauline, Frank and Penny at the restaurant there.It was good to see the rivers swollen and running fast as we passed through the countryside. Heaven knows, we haven't been having enough rain. The drizzly weather was over, the sun was out and they were well pleased with the outing. Well, who wouldn't be? Blue skies, thickly snow capped mountains in the distance, poppies waving by the side of the road, friends and a good meal. What's not to like?
Christian had a little snooze in the car before we headed home but before settling down for an evening infront of the telly we stopped off at Juste and Joséphine's to say hello over a cup of tea.
Weather:
13° am, 20°pm strong winds dying away later

3.4.14:

Christian feeling brighter which is less of a worry. Our after language exchange session at the bar was a bit different as a Finnish member, who incidently lives in Estonia, made a traditional Easter dessert called "mammi", a kind of malted rye porrige which takes two nights to cook at low temperatures. It's dark in colour and at best you could imagine that it was chocolate based at worst ....... fill in the space yourself. I'm too polite. Served with cream, it was actually very nice and I can honestly say that it was a first for the clients of the bar!
André and Nany were there too and we all ended up eating grilled pork slices and chips together. They even ate a pud but self righteous me gave it a miss. The "mammi" had given me more than enough calories for one day.
Weather:
16° Rain all day, very heavy in the afternoon. Miserable and chilly.

2.4.14
Christian feeling a bit better but still tired. His results show that his sugar levels are up which maybe explains some of it. He spent the day resting at home until the meeting this evening at the Mairie to unveil a proposal for the renovation of the square. It was well attended and the overwhelming majority were in favour of making it parking free. Of course there were a couple who complained that they didn't want to park elsewhere and walk. No comment.
I left before it was finished to join Lynn and Anne for our monthly apérobio The blokes plus Jean-Jacques who'd all be at the meeting came along too afterwards and the women ended up paying for them. Don't need that to happen too often, do we?
Weather: 17° Overcast
Headlines:
Segolène Royale is back in the Cabinet with responsibility for the Environment

1.4.14:

Another sightseeing day out, this time to Perpignan. The group was smaller and younger than the visit to Girona so we did a good bit of walking around the town at a reasonable pace. Our guide, a member of the association is very knowledgeable and showed us various nooks and cranies unknown to us as well as the usual sightseeing musts. Spotted a couple of restaurants on our way around which will be good to check out on our rare visits to Perignan. We had lunch in a crêperie which was full of junk shop finds and everyone was happy with what they ate which is always a sign of success!
Weather:
20° Overcast star, sun later.

31.3.14:

This morning I talked my way around the village while delivering the association newsletter. During this time, even though he wasn't feeling too good, Christian went to the Mairie but I was relieved that he made himself an appointment with the GP in the afternoon. He's to go for a blood test tomorrow.
Weather:
13° am, 16°pm. Dull
Headlines:
Emanuel Valls, who's of Catalan origin from Barcelona and the current  Interior Minister is to be the new Prime Minister. So, now there are three politicians of Spanish origin in key posts, Marie-Sol, Touraine (Health Minister) and Anne Hildago  (Maire of Paris) being the others. It's gererated lots of discussion and is very important to those of Spanish origin who fled Franco and who were looked down upon by the French, to see such public success.