Cooling Down, Slowing Down

31.7.15:

Still not 100% but better than yesterday. Took 2 buses and 45 minutes to go the 4 miles for the lawyer's appointment. Signed a piece of paper which cost me around £300, most of it duty! Slept this afternoon to be revived enough to go to the bar for a musical evening. Joan, who sang at Christian's funeral was the star turn but luck wasn't with us as about an hour in, the skies opened. Fortunately, Thérèse (an unlikely dinner companion) and I had just finished our rather mediocre meal of steak, gravy and pasta. Still, it is ever thus when there is mass catering but we still go to support the event. Left at 10pm to have another early night.
I learned afterwards that Joan had planned to sing Christian's song. Such a shame, the rain put an end to that plan as the concert wa cut short. Though maybe not, as I'm sure to have snivelled!
Weather:
27° Morning sunshine followed by menacing clouds, thunder, lightening and a downpour
 

30.7.15:

Woke up feeling absolutely drained of energy, so instead of going to the language exchange, I snuggled down and went back to sleep until midday. Wandered over to the café to meet up with the usual Thursday suspects and had the plat du jour at the restaurant with Ann, Terry and Annette. Feeling tired, I left as soon as I'd eaten to go home and rest. Called off from drinks at Jean-Jacques too.
Hopefully, taking it easy should enable me to be on form for the meeting with the lawyer tomorrow morning.
Weather:
22°, Cool, cloudy with rain at the end of the afternoon.

29.7.15:

Was going into town to meet Rowena for a coffee and while waiting for the bus Chantal came along and despite protestations, she insisted on giving me a lift. It's not always easy to be independent. Before Rowena arrived, I bumped into Bridget and her friend Colette who works as a tour guide. Interesting woman and as Rowena and Cindy arrived, they moved off. Came back on the bus after a good old catch up.
More music. Françoise invited me this evening to a concert of operatic arias. Quite a few people from the village were there too; it amused Françoise, who is a local, to see that I knew more people than she did!
Afterwards I went back to hers for a drink, nibbles and a catch up with Jean who'd been to a talk on matters scientific.
Weather:
29°

28.7.15:

Had a coffee in the bar with Ann and Lynn and in the afternoon went to a funeral in the church. I'm becoming aware that we're at an age when women are finding themselves on their own and struggling to get to grips with things on a wide front.  I'm asking myself if there's room to have a monthly get-together for "women alone" to share info, advice, contacts, discussion, offer support and find like-minded folk for social activities.
This evening Nicole and I went to the local evening market but weren't tempted to buy anything, contenting ourselves with listening to Hans from the village playing jazz in one of the bars. David and Laura came by and joined us and Lynn and Colin were there too but at another table.
Weather:
27° yesterday, 29° today

Festa Major

26.7.15:

The last day of the festa is more traditional with Sardanes in the morning and afternoon. For once, I was out and about most of the day. Yet again, Nancy and I had lunch together; this time a salad at the bar.
The traditional levant de taula didn't happen this year for the first time since we've been here. Shame if the old traditions fade away.
Having missed two days of the Festa Major, I decided to show my face this evening and join Nany and André for deep fried squid rings and chips at the recreation ground. Not worth all the calories so I didn't linger long. Came home and watched the tail end of "Barchester" which is showing on France 3 at the moment. By the way, there are more and more dramas playing on French tv these days, if you're remotely interested. And I caught up with the blog ...... finally up to date .... but how long for?
Weather:
32° sun and some cloud

25.7.15:

Went with Nancy on the bus to the market. There was a cold wind early in the morning and I went with a top too warm for later on, so needed to buy a teeshirt in order not to look ridiculous among the underdressed tourists. Came back in Nick's Saab convertable which put us in the mood for the menu du jour at the restaurant. Why? If it had been the bus we'd probably gone to the bar!
There was a very refreshing tomato, watermelon and mint chilled soup starter which was a bit ironic as for once there was a cold wind blowing.
Dinner was out too; this time chez Nicole who had also invited Anne (French), Lynn and Colin (Brits). Walked there and back which was a bit of well needed exercise.
The second night's meal was paella along with a live show. Apparently, it was good and attracted a lot of people.
Weather:
27°, Sun and wind

24.7.15:

Rain, something we've all been waiting for, arrived this afternoon. The gutters rain like torrents and the earth breathed a sigh of relief. Linde was here at the time for a cup of tea. It only lasted  couple of hours but at least it's cooled down.
Rather foolishly, when offered a load of books I just thought that I could pass them on to the Cancer Support France book exchange without specifying that they needed to be in good condition. I salvaged about 25 from 5 big bags full. The rest were old or tatty; all had that brown grubby look. So now, as well as all my own kept - for- too -long stuff, I'm having to take them bit by bit to the recycling bins. A real chore. Still, my own fault and I was pretty ruthless. On my return from such a trip, I met Roger in the square and we ended up having a glass of wine on the terrace of the restaurant. This time we were joined by the patron.
Sadly, the first night of the village festa suffered from the afternoon downpour. Only about 30 people turned up for the grilled sardines of which there were 400kg!!!! Apparently there were slightly more folk for the disco.

More or Less Back in Business

23.7.15:
To save a bit of cash and being unable to phone out for at least 10 days I went over to using internet for phone calls. All too boring to go into here; suffice it to say, I've been going round in circles. Phone now working but internet playing up (so can't phone when it's not connecting!) and the internal network is a bit capricious. Still I'm managing and will tackle it at a later date.
As usual for a Thursday I went to the language exchange followed by an apéro at the bar. Annie joined us and was delighted not only to be able to speak English but also to meet David and Laura and talk about the Scotland visit. David is hopefully going to be able to contact some schools for a possible exchange in the future. People from here are always so keen to visit Scotland. Can't say I blame them! 
With all the chatting we'd done, I had just enough time to get home and cook a quick lunch before Rowena came for a catch up over a cuppa.
Starting with a glass of cava chez nous then watching flamenco with Nicole, Anne. Martine and (another) Annie at the bar was a pleasant way to spend the evening. The meal was neither here nor there but the ambiance was lively and we had a great table at the front with the fountain gently splashing cooling water behind us.
Weather:
32° Sun and very light breeze

22.7.15:
Was treated to lunch by Dani and Brian. All very pleasant if some what hot. Ate light; self service hors d'oeuves  and fish. https://fr-fr.facebook.com/pages/Le-Relais-dOulrich/328583570576724
From here I went to see Hortense (who's just been elected to a neighbouring council) and Bridget, a very talented artist. A cuppa and wide ranging on - the - same-wave length chat was envigorating. Joy of joys there was even a little rain. Sadly the elation was short lived as  back in the village there were only a few drops.
Being hot and humid, I gave the concert in the church a miss. Glad, as it was apparently stifling inside but sorry as it had been very good. Comfortable body or uplifted spirit. Life is full of choices, eh? 
Weather:
32° sun and cloud; humid with a few spots of rain

21.7.15:

A first visit to Thérèse and Joan's (Joan is Catalan for Jean which is French for John) new house in blistering heat. Fortunately, they had AC and dinner was squid, fresh salad and veg from the garden. A real treat. Joan was kind enough to come and pick me up and take me back. Hope people will let me take the bus when I can, otherwise they're going to get fed up with me!
Coming home across the square, I was inveigled into joining Roger, Debra, Gilles and Sabrina , the patronne for a glass of rosé at the restaurant. I'm so weak!
Weather:
35° Sun

20.7.15:

Colin and Lynn did a great meal for 30 of us in their garden. I'm amazed that a couple can work so well together in the kitchen especially in such hellish heat. Pleasant as it was, I was one of the first to leave as I didn't have much energy to continue the social chit chat. 
Weather:
34° Sun

19.7.15:
Today was a first; I went to Sunday mass in the local church. A bit strange as Christian despite his name, was no follower of religion. I'd felt it was only right to take up the warden's offer of saying a mass for him by way of appreciation for him having rung the "glas" (death knell) when Christian died. In fact Christian would have loved having people thinking of him and saying a wee prayer to speed him on his voyage. It amused me to think of the priest toasting Christian with holy wine when he lifted up the chalice. 
As it was Jean-Jacques deceased wife's birthday, mass was said for her too giving us both mutual support. There was coffeee afterwards, followed by a couple of glasses of rosé. André bought some saucisson and pâté at the butcher's and asked Jean-Louis for some bread, a board and a knife. I'm sure it's not every patron who would be so accomadating. All very pleasant. Amazingly, JJ, Nancy and myself were able to do justice to another apéro of champagne and lunch of magret canard accompanied by a good bottle of Collioure wine chez nous.
Gave the BBQ at Maggie's a miss. Well, enough's enough, n'est-ce pas?
Weather:
Hot and sunny

18.7.15:
Market in the morning; Annie, a teacher of English in one of the local schools came for a cup of tea and to talk about her planned trip to Scotland with 36 young people. In the evening there was a BBQ at David and Laura's. Surprisingly, I don't have a photo. "Tant pis!"
Weather:
31° Sun

Picking up the Pieces

The last couple of weeks posts are a bit sketchy as on 17th July I managed to delete a chunk of my notes. Sorry that it's a bit of an unembellished catalogue but it's the best I can do with an incomplete calendar and an inadequate memory.
Weather 
It's been very hot and dry and  Fidelma Cook's recent article in "The (Glagow) Herald" just about tells it like it is. http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/13416567.At_last__I_m_learning_to_cope_with_a_Mediterranean_heat_wave/

17.7.15:

Went into meltdown this afternoon when I put my ipod back to factory settings. Michael, who lives at the end of the road and fixes and installs IT stuff wasn't hopeful that I could get data back until I mentioned having transfered some books from the laptop. He advised me to resynchronise and much to my relief a lot of material came back up to 30th June. Funnily enough, not the books and since I've only managed to get two back on the ipod but that I can try and sort later.
Drinks chez Roger this evening along with Mike, Linda, Netta and her husband. Small world  as I'd worked with Netta back in Scotland at which time, she already had a holiday home in the area. It's only recently that I learnt they'd bought in the village. Did quite a bit of catching up in between glassesof cava.
On my way back home, I stopped off at the bar for some summery fun music. played by "Tryoland'Art. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_mx9EyIHNU

16.7.15:
Language exchange and our usual apéro at the bar which today was enlivened by one of the young Norwegians (or was he a Dane?) singing and playing his guitar. Martine and I had lunch together at the bar along with Michel Kluska who I owed for helping me with my telephone and internet connection that has gone pear shaped.
This evening we were once again in the company of our "Friends from the North" as Lone and Jesper had organised another Viking challenge for  memebers of the association. This time in revenge for watching the Catalans dance the Sardane for the last 12 years, they got their own back by getting us to do some Danish traditional dances. Lots of fun washed down with 3 kinds of Danish beer. Now that's what I call integrating well with the locals.

15.7.15:

Carmen arrived with a lovely selection of this morning's harvest of veg from her garden. A ratouille is in the offing, methinks.   

14.7.15:

Thank goodness for the 14th July as at least I know exactly what I did. Up into the mountains at the crack of dawn for the ceremony at the war memorial; back down to the village where I sat at the bar and watched everyone march up to the memorial here and then back again. It  was far too hot for a delicate English rose like myself so I opted for shade; then it was over to the Mairie for the speeches, presentation of medals, the Marseillaise (I've finally got the words more or less straight in my head) and an apéritif. Only drank water as I was saving myself for an alcoholic one at the bar before lunch with Henri, Michèle, Martine, André and Nany at the restaurant.
In the evening there was the traditional firework display which this year was even better than last year. There was even one that was in the form of a heart. Such a delight but such a shame I didn't manage to snap it. Of course it made me think of Christian who, child that he was, would have been oooing and ahhing at my side. Time for a little unnoticed sniff.

13.7.15:

Well, I know that I didn't go to the market on Saturday as it was the Feria and therefore just heaving with people who later would be in all kinds of states. Can't remember what I did instead. Well, I am writing this two weeks later. At least I have a photo to prove that today I found my way to the bar to hear Chris the Cat playing but for the life of me I don't remember who I was with! Another thing that I don't know, is why he seems to have a love affair with snails. Look closely at the photo. Without Christian being present, no one was press ganged into buying his latest cd.

10.6.15

The expert came to value the house which has to be done for the succession. He was most impressed and kept saying how charming it is but we know that already, don't we?
In the evening there was a curry meal at Nick and Lizzie's to which Roger was invited too. This time I stayed the course.

9.7.15:
Lunch at the restaurant after the apéro at the bar, after the language exchange. Back to the bar in the
evening for apéros with les anglaises where the tapas are more copious. For a change, I was the first to leave as I was feeling tired.

8.6.15:
After a quiet couple of days spent close to home, Jean and Françoise's visit for an apéritif was a welcome change.

5.7.15:

After an apéritif in the village with Eamon ad Liz, we headed off for lunch at Al Catala which recently won the local heat of a tv reality show. http://www.restaurantalcatalaceret66.com/fr
Far too hot to sit outside and of course it was strange being together without Christian. In the hope of benefitting from a bit of breeze we drove down to Port Vendres for our coffee overlooking the marina. Came across this fun notice. I know which option I'd go for.
But the day didn't finish there ...... was invited along with Annette for supper at Ann and Terry's.

4.7.15:

Market in the morning and much against my better judgement, "Moules/frites" with hundreds of others down on the recreation ground. Ate te chips but passed on the mussels. Didn't stay for the disco prefering instead to go to the bar for a coffee.

3.7.15

Lunch in Montbolo with Annie and Graham who I hadn't seen for over a year  and then dinner along with my neighbour Jacques at Ken and Margaret's. They'd also invited their Spanish neighbour who funnily enough has gîtes in the village. An interesting woman who teaches at the Autonomous University of Barcelona so it was good to be able to say more than just "hello" as our paths cross in the village.

2.7.15:

Took a long planned trip with Nick and Lizzie this morning to Capmany to buy cava.  Luckily Jurgen only wanted a carton of cigarettes as the car was well loaded with our purchases that  took a bit of effort to get in. We stopped off for an apéritif and a few tapas on the way back. Gave a proper lunch a miss as Martine was hosting a birthday dinner for Nick. Apart from herself it was another all Brit do. Mustn't let myself get sucked in but it's hard when people are kind and you're invited.

1.7.15:
Jen left to drive back to Barcelona airport and to try (unsuccessfully) to get some money out of Avis for the tyre. Jean-Jacques and I were  invited to Mireille and Jacques for lunch and then in the evening I was out again, this time to Lone and Jesper's, Danish friends for a salad supper.

Filling the Gap

All behind again with the blog but times are difficult and there's not enough energy to go around. Most of you will know that things took a turn for the worse after my last post on 21st May so there's a huge catch up to do. Even though I know that it's unlikely that these posts will be read and the blog is hardly the stuff of history, I'm not one to leave gaps. Sometimes think that our daily doings are the height of egocentricism but both Christian and I like to read back, so as Magnus would say ... "I've started so I'll finish" .....
PS. Just reread this nearly three weeks later to realise that I'm speaking of Christian in the present tense.