Good Things to Eat Every Day

27.9.15: Update
As I've had a couple of folk worrying that I hadn't been active on the blog for a while, I thought I'd better say that I'm fine; just been busy and when I'm not, I've been watching tv and as both need the computer, I can't do both.  Hope to catch up sooner or later. I have not abandoned writing about life here, so please don't abandone me!

Hi!
It's November and I'm back in business slowly catching up.. Current posts though are up to date. I'll try hard to keep it that way but I've said that before, haven't I? September's back posts are now done so there's just October to do..

A nothing special Sunday (27th) passed with a sunny morning giving 24° followed by cloud later.
Dinner at Netta's along with Barbara and Roger on Monday (28th) which had temperatures of 23°, cloud and sunshine.
Tuesday, (29th) a cool day, 18°, with drizzle in the evening. Michel came for lunch and carried on sorting the computer while I went off to my Spanish group. Made a ginger cake for tomorrow's MacMillan tea party before heading over to the bar for this month's apérobio
 with Barbara and Lynn. Nico did a super job again with the tapas
 and was well pleased by our enthusiasm. His imagination knows no bounds! Well, I guess it makes a welcome change from something and chips and his sunnier disposition is to be welcomed.
Today, (30th) Maggie had planned to have the McMillan tea party that she organised on the terrace of the bar as it was closed but the heavy rain put paid to that which was a shame. Set up instead we squeezed ourselves into the little (non-functioning) chapel up the road. I was lucky enough to be selling raffle tickets so had a chair and a bit of elbow room. There were loads of good things to eat and people were extremely generous with donations and buying raffle tickets. We raised £600 in 2 hours and it was all down to Maggie.
Came home and baked another cake to take for this evening's meal at Maud and Daniel's where I'd been invited with Michel. Having worked overseas, Maud did us an exotic meal which was very tasty. Poor things  had just returned home from a few days away to find their back garden completely ploughed up by wild boar which seem to be more destructive this year than usual. Wonder when a "Civet de Sanglier" will be on the menu!  http://www.therealboar.co.uk/recipes_p08.html

Bitter Sweet Moments

Today should have been our wedding anniversary and so it was another first milestone to pass on the journey without Christian. Ironically, it was Joan and Thérèse's wedding day so there was no time dwell. First at the Mairie and then on to an old mas that is used for functions though being near housing, festivities had to finish by 9pm. Of course I missed Christian not being there but it  was a great day with lovely food, nice people to chat with and a variety of non-stop entrainement .... choir, hirdy girdy, guitarist, Catalan duo, Les Inoxydables (Michel's rock group).
Once again I stayed to help with some of the clearing up (no cleaning this time) but with an early finish and having survived the journey back with Linde, we stopped off at the bar for a last drink. Well, there were several last drinks as we met up with Ben., Kath and  their 3 little ones (last day of their holiday) and Izzy and Richard (the first day of theirs). Being with young folk was just the best antedote to a day that had the potential to bring creeping melancholy.
Weather:
26°, sunshine

Absent Friends

Andy and Maureen left for Carcassonne this morning to start their journey home. With an empty house once more and nothing pressing, there was time to go for a coffee. In the afternoon, there were a few last minute things to do for the AGM. There was a good attendance and a glass was raised once more to Christian. I translated the proceedings .
There were about 110 of us for the paella that followed. José always does a good job and there was nothing but praise. Despite being tired, I stayed on to help clear up and clean up, The reward for which was a drink at the bar with Kathy.
Weather:
25°

No Stress Here

24.9.15:

Coffee at the bar then a lovely lunch at the restaurant. Spent the aftrnoon preparing papers for tomorrow's AGM and trying not to get frustrated by an incompatibilty between a "Word" document and an "Open Office" programme.
Jean, Françoise and Linde came around for apéros and a wee rehersal of "Bacassine", a song we're doing at Thérèse's wedding on Saturday. Becassine is a Breton cartoon character who was 105 years old in February of this year. Click on this link to see who I'm talking about http://ancoco.centerblog.net/rub-becassine-.html
and on this one to hear the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7dPVz-DsPw
Don't laugh!
Weather:
23°, sun and a little cloud

23.9.15:

Two messages received about the blog being way, way out of date. Don't mean to worry people so should get into the habit of posting a "I'm fine, just busy" message. Maureen cooked us a tasty dinner and what's even better, there were leftovers to freeze for another day.
Weather:
22°, sun, mostly cloud, wind

22.9.15:
Coffee at the bar with Maggie then lunch at Michel's along with the local dentist.
Weather:
23°, cloudy

21.915:
Apéro chez Jean and Françoise with Jean-Jacques once again acting as chauffer
Weather:
27°, sun and no cloud

20.9.15:

Jean-Jacques took us down to Collioure and while he went for a walk, we had a stroll around the market. Met up for a glass of rosé opposite the sea. Once back home we rank cava at Jean-Jacques and had lunch at mine.
Weather:
27° sun and no cloud

19.9.15:
Bill left this morning and we went off to the market. Met Martine at the café for an apéritif and she gave us a lift back. Went for a walk in the afternoon, had a drink in the bar and dinner at home.
Weather:
24°, sun

In Memory of Christian

Awoke with an exciting evening in view. The renovated "Maison pour Tous" was being inaugurated and the expo/conference room has been named for Christian. I'm so pleased and of course very proud that he'll be a part of the village long after I'm gone too. The painting is a souvenir of the expo that's showing at the moment.
Andy and Maureen driven over from near Quillan by Bill, arrived in good time for the festivities. There was music from the village banda, apéro, food in the square accompanied by a group, guided tours of the building and of course speeches. André mentioned Christian with respect. The new top Civil Servant and the MP didn't attend as expected as a fire down on the coast which had resulted in the death of a woman firefighter needless to say took priority. Oh yes, I got to cut the ribbon into the room. I found it all very moving but managed to keep myself in check. Near tears turned to delight however, with the number of people who told me how pleased they were about the room. It would be lovely to think that he was watching it all. Click for more photos https://picasaweb.google.com/114284735716067114333/ChristianSRoom

Quiet Times

13th - 17th September

Carmen and I have been struggling with "Guso" online payments for Christian's concert of last August. Going round in circles to end up paying as much in charges as was paid directly to the musicians. Still, not going to use up any more energy writing about something I don't understand.
On the social side, there was coffee with Hortense, with Ann and Lynn; a trip to Picard for some fancy frozen food with Maggie, supper with Jean-Jacques, a Téléthon meeting and getting organised for Andy and Maureen's visit.
Weather:
The last few days have seen temperatures in the mid  to high 20's , sunshine, cloud and heavy rain on Tuesday .
News:
Jeremy Corbin has been elected as Labour Party leader, pictures of refugees fleeing Syria continues to shock and "Stagecoach" is moving into France under the name of "Megabus" to run cheap travel under the Macron law now that long distance buses can compete with trains.

Lunch by the Sea

Up early for the "Orange" computer expert's call. Did he get me sorted out? No, I got short shrift and told it was the computer's fault that it wasn't connecting. Ah well, back to the drawing board.
Luckily, the day picked up as I went down to Collioure with André and Nany for lunch with Michèle and Henri. To our surprise, it was not in their flat but in "Casa Léon", a restaurant specialising in fish.
 http://casaleon.canalblog.com/archives/2010/04/20/11812454.html
We did go back to theirs though for coffee and a digéstif and I could hardly keep my eyes open. Probably because I've had a weeping eye for a few days. On coming home, I went around to Nick's with the computer and ended up staying for a glass of wine and feeling even more sleepy. Resisted the invite to stay for something to eat and toddled home for a quiet night in front of the telly.
Weather:
29° and a south wind

All that Jazz

Sold the car today for the asking price to guy who did the MOT. What a relief to have one gone and less insurance to pay. Had lunch at Michel's; another "potjavelech" and chips. I've told you about this northern cold meat in jelly dish before. Sylvie, who works over the border,  was there too for a change as it's the Catalan national day and therefore a public holiday.
In the evening went to the bar with Anne and Nicole to eat and listen to Hans's  group "Bossa Nostra".  Pretty good. Here they are playing in Collioure. Hear for yourself......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF9khp1bVSs
 Hans is the one on double bass though the portable model doesn't really look like the kind we non-specialists are used to.
Weather:
26°, sunny

Doing the Business

10.9.15:

Back to the bank to finish off the business and left with my head spinning but came out the proud owner of a very smart black umbrella. Just as well as the early morning sunshine had turned to rain. Called into the lawyers too, bought myself a watch and then went for a coffee  before getting the bus back.
During the afternoon I spent a long time on the phone to Orange going round in circles. http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/13838737.French_customer_service_at_its_twisted_peak/
I won't bother going into detail as Fidelma puts it so much better than I ever could.
Later on went to the charity shop with Maggie to take bags of Christian's clothes . Still more to go.
This evening Jean-Jacques came around after the council meeting for a catch up over a glass of wine. Quite like old times except there's no Christian there with us. Jean-Jacques misses him a lot too.
Weather:
23° but going cooler with the rain

Dining with Friends

9.9.15:

Irene and Alan, cousins of Christian's from Normandy who are staying over in St Cyp called in unexpectedly. Unfortuately as I was waiting for Kelvin and Irene we couldn't manage more than a very quick catch up over a coffee. Kelvin and Irene who have a holiday home over in Cane,  very kindly invited me for lunch down in Banyuls. A real treat it was too. La Fanal, overlooking the sea, has a michelin* and Kelvin insisted on the "Ballade à Banyuls" menu for us all. After a few protests, I accepted gratefully and enjoyed every mouthful of fine dining. http://www.pascal-borrell.com/ballade-a-banyuls.php
A wee walk afterwards and home for a cuppa. Not much of a return but they're not the sort of people who count such things.
Feeling tired so only stayed for the business part of the music association's AGM and came home for an early night.
Weather:
25°, sunny

8.9.15:
Went into the bank by bus but had to cut short the meeting with the lovely manager as it was taking far too long and I had a rendez-vous with Anne for a coffee. She came armed with flowers for me which was kind. Took the bus back to the village for lunch at Viv and Pepe's along with Terry and Ann. From there I walked over to Nicole's for tea, quite a trot and a discusion about the women's group.
Weather:
27°, sunny

Friends to Stay

7.9.15:
John and Jean left and the rest of the day as spent catching up with website stuff and in the evening a meeting at the Mairie for assciations to put in their bids for rooms. Yawn, yawn.

 
6.9.15: 

Coffee at the bar first of all and then we took the easy, road to La Vajol. Visited the monuments; well, it's obligatory as is the photo; then had lunch at Ca la Conxita's and Mr "Conxita", who doesn't speak any French or English, touched me on the arm everytime he passed by way of sympathy. Conxita had obviously told him about Christian.  Did some shopping on the way back. The guy who's interested in buying X3 called in on the off chance to look it over and it seems as if we've got a deal.
Had a disturbed nights sleep after reading some toxic emails between the folk working the garden but I aint going to dwell on that. Suffice it say I emailed back in no uncertain terms to leave me out of it.
Weather:
23°, sun


5.9.15:

Saturday, of course meant that there was an obligtory visit to the market. Popped in to a vernissage on our way through where I met a few folk. Didn't stay for the apéro, too much of a scrum. Had coffee instead in the bar and came back to the restaurant in the village for lunch.
In the afternoon we drove up to a 13 century hermitage with views over to the sea and then came back down roads lined with cork trees. Stopped off to look round a small stone village, finally ending up at the lake for a walk and cup of tea. There was some wind which we braved while sitting looking out on the mountains opposite.
Once home we stayed there for the rest of the evening and enjoyed a tapas supper.
Weather:
23°, cloudy
  
4.9.15:

Had a tour of the "Maison pour Tous" (the renovated old Mairie) and had coffee at the bar which is right next door. Had lunch at home and dinner too. Nicole joined us for the latter though we didn't linger long over our meal as there was music at the bar provided by an American singer/guitarist. He was a better musician than singer I might add but the programme was varied with blues, country and some classic. Despite the earlier rain making it a bit chilly, we stayed outside in the company the usual British contingent who help fill up Jean-Louis' till every time there's something on.
Weather:
22°, rain most of the day

3.9.15:
Joined the language exchangers for a coffee and that went home to await John and Jean's arrival. Once refreshed with a cuppa, they were ready to walk around the village delivering association messages with me, remarking as we went how much the village had improved since the last time they were here. On our way back, the rain came on and on our way passed the bar, we were invited to join Jean-Jacques, Michel, Kathy, Linde and Cedéric. Luckily, the awning kept us dry but the temperature had dropped. Ended the evening with dinner and chat at home.
Weather:
22°, rain at the end of the day

2.9.15.
Car back from its MOT. Passed, of course and apparently, the guy who did it is interested in buying it. Did more association stuff, took the clothes and did some supermarket shopping. Prepared food well into the evening so that I would be organised for John and Jean's visit. Feeling tired.
Weather:
26°, Light showers, sunny spells with cloud at both ends of  the day.

1.9.15:
Schools went back today and it felt much the same for me as I went over to the Mairie to try and sort out the statutory payment for the concert that Christian sponsored. Didn't get very far and was glad to head off to the bar for a coffee first with Susan and then with Anne. The afternoon was fun packed; not! Loaded up Maggie's van with numerous black bags full of Christian's clothes that were going to another home.
Weather:
25°, feeling cooler. Evening rain