Wiped Out!

31.1.17:

Supermarket with Michel, Spanish and playing "go-between" between David and the gardener was the sum total of this last day in January.
Glory, a month into 2017 already.
Weather:
16°, sun and blue skies 

30.1.17:
Sauveur, the electrician arrived an hour later than expected but got straight to work and stayed until nearly 1.30. I mention it as most workmen knock off on the dot of noon. He didn't reappear in the afternoon however, which is par for the course.
Oh dear!
It had to happen sooner or later! I've just deleted my notes from the ipod and it seems awfully complicated to try and retreive them. That'll teach me not to keep the blog up to date. Details of past "doings" will be sketchy but I suppose that being in the past, not many folk would have scrolled that far back anyway!
Still, those of you who know me well, are aware that I have OCD tendancies and can imagine how annoyed with myself I am!🙍
OK, a quick Gallic shrug and I'm back in business.
David called by for me to go with him in search of a local gardener; his face was a picture when a young 40 year old appeared from upstairs. Luckily, he's not one to gossip as Dot Cotton in Eastenders would say. It was of course, Sauveur, in case you, too are wondering.
Had a quick drink in the bar with David after unsuccessfully trying to track down Eric and then foutered around until 7pm when it was time for the Conseil Municipal; only it wasn't. A previous meeting was running late so it was put back until 7.30. That gave Nicole Park and myself time to go and have a hot chocolate in the other bar. The meeting was a good natured affair with no disagreement from the opposition.
Ended the evening with JJ and Nicole in the bar over a glass of rosé and platter of cold meat; ok, yes, there were a few chips as well!
Home to watch a bit of tv just before 11pm but didn't get myself to bed until nearly 1am. Still, that meant that I went straight to sleep with the alarm set for an early (by my standards) start in anticipation of Sauveur's arrival.
Weather:
13deg Sunshine, cloud at end of the day
News:
Trump invited to UK resulting in huge petitions against his visit

Back in Action

As today is Sunday, you'll know that I will have spent most of the morning at the café. Around the table with me were Jean, Françoise, Anne, Nicole S and Patricia. Stayed for lunch of a warming lentil soup and cheese with Nicole and Patricia. Nicole came back for a cuppa before going off to have more tea with other friends.It's great to see the sky blue again after a wet, chilly week; the days are lengthening and the mimosa is in full bloom giving off a heady perfuming.
Haven't time to write more as there's Spanish homework and one or two other bits and pieces of admin to do. What's more I've computer problems. This one keeps disconnecting from the internet and the cursor goes on walkabout so I'm merrily typing away but nothing is coming up on the page. The one downstairs has frozen after an updating. Grrrrhhhh!
Then tomorrow, the electrician is coming to start on the rewiring. Can you hear me gulping? It's going to be quite an undertaking but one that's been sweetened by a very reasonable grant.
Have decided to try and keep up to date and fill in the gaps later.
Weather:
13°, sunshine and cloud
News:
"Penelopegate" (François Fillon's Welsh wife accused of being paid for a ficticious job in his office when he was Prime Minister) is taking up many column inches or rather centimetres in the press.

Still Going Out

Thank goodness. It's 16th February really and I've finally caught up with the back posts. Just need to try harder to keep up to date. OK,  yes, I know, you've heard it all before.

28.1.17:

Should have gone to the market to the market in Figueres with Nicole S but as it was raining we just met for coffee in the bar and then stayed on for lunch.In the evening I went to a concert Jacques. A jazz trio of pianist, guitarist and singer who took us on a voyage through Argentina with East European undertones. It was not modern jazz, thank goodness and so for the second time recently I moved out of my musical comfort zone with pleasure.

27.1.17:
Tonight was the Association's winter tapas evening and the theme this time was masks. I had quite a fetching one too with a red feather on the side but rarely does anyone take a photo of the photographer.

26.1.17:
Committee meeting and language exchange this morning and popped into the bar afterwards. Flower making this afternoon and then dinner at Diana's and Robin's with Martine C.

Doing a Bit of This and a Bit of That

25.1.17:

Nicole P and Patricia came to try out "Cullen Skink" that I told them about the last time we met up. A smoked haddock soup wouldn't be to everyone's taste but glad to say it went down a storm. Well, it was good, as the lack of left overs testified! http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/899633/cullen-skink

24.1.17:
Coffee in the bar with Hortense then home in time for the electrician to come for a deposit on the work he'll be starting soon.

23.1.17
Nothing of note to report. Thank goodness for a blank day from time to time.

22.1.17:
Coffee in the bar in the morning and "galette des rois" and cava chez moi in the afternoon with the "copines". There was only, Anne, the two Nicoles, Maggie and Geneviève who came but it was pleasant all the same

21.1.17:
Went to the market with Nicole S and in the evening to a concert given by the National Orchestra of Montpellier (well, about 40 of them) with Jean-Jacques. Had priviledged seats among the great and the good of our little corner. On the programme was:

• Concerto for trombone and orchestra: Nino Roto (1911 – 1979) 
•  For Hercules’s Butcher: Jean –Marc (1957 -) The composer introduced this really interesting piece that explored French society under de Gaulle. We were invited to stay at the end for a drink with the orchestra and I exchanged a few words with the composer at the end and he wasn’t the least bit superior or distant.                       
•  Pulcinella Suite: Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971) 

I was a bit anxious that my ear wouldn't cope with the modern programme but it did. So glad that I decided to move out of my comfort zone
   
20.1.17:

 After ducking out of the first quiz held at the bar that Roger organised as I thought it might be too expat, I hesitantly joined Dani, Brian and Nicole in a team that we named the "Bons Viveurs". Guess what? We won! Isn't the trophy magnificent!??? Thankfully there was no need to fight over who had to take it home as it stays put.

19.1.17:
Language Exchange followed by a coffee in the bar. See, it's not always a glass of wine.
In the evening I went with the neighbours to see the Ken Loach film, "I, Daniel Blake" that recently won the "Palme d'Or" at the Cannes festival. Excellent but harrowing. Do watch it, if you haven't already. Then it was back to Gérard and Anna's for crêpes, a glass of wine and a debrief.

18.1.17:
Went into Perpignan on the bus with Maggie who had a medical appointent; a good excuse to go for lunch and a catch up. Took her to "Les Saisons" as it's never disappoints.  Both the meal and the appointment went well and as you can see from the photo, it was a lovely day. just as well as we had a fast 20 minute walk to catch the bus.
In the evening I accompanied Michel to the Maire's New Year wishes in a neighbouring village. We weren't able to linger long as the speeches had run on and Michel had a dinner date.

Bargains Galore

17.1.17:
A hard day's shopping in Figueres with Pauline and Penny. Coffee and a catch up first, shopping, lunch on the ramblas, more shopping, tea, some last gasp shopping and home for 8h45! So many bargains on offer. That's what I call shopping till you drop!

Me Again!

It's been a very slow moving day today with a late start but at least I've begun to update the blog from 20th December. In between a long lie-in and some TV catch up (Sherlock), there hasn't been much time to get very far but do check in every now and then. I'll be doing my best but I have quite a lot on this week starting with an apérobio this evening.Thanks for your patience. (Written before I deleted my notes; you should already know that I like to keep the record straight).
Weather:
9°, Cloudy, Windy, Showery

Chez des Amis

15.1.17:
Nothing special, just the usual trip for coffee and a bite to eat at the bar
 
14.1.17:

Out of the blue, Françoise invited me to go with her to Figueres; she had a Christmas present to change. Wouldn't you know it she forgot to take it! All was not lost, however, as I was going back on Tuesday and could do it then. Had a hot chocolate as the weather was cold and windy, a look around the food market and bought a jacket in the sale.
Didn't stay for lunch but was invited back to her house where Philippe had prepared a good meal.
Was invited for dinner at JJ's as his friends Alain and Dominique were there for a few days. A pleasant evening as you can well imagine from what you know of JJ. He's such a supportive friend and with no strings attached either. What more could a woman want?
Just look at the kind of sunsets we've been having of late. This one was snapped from the top of the house.

More Flowers, More Wishes and Another Galette

13.1.17:

Sorted out the stuff that was left over from the Téléthon and Christmas market
Carnival lunch followed by flower making
Tea, cava and 'galette des rois' chez Hans and Marie-Madeleine. By chance, Hans found the lucky charm in the galette without breaking a tooth and was crowned king.

12.1.17:
Language exchange followed by a drink at the bar
Flower making

11.1.17:
Michel came for lunch
This evening the Maire presented his New Year's wishes. There seemed to be less people than usual even though there was a very good apéritif laid on.

10.1.17:
Spanish group
Flower making
Decided not to go to the soirée guitares at the bar.

I Wish it were Warmer!

9.1.17:

A meeting this morning with Mike who leads the intermediate English group and Kathy, a TEFL teacher who's worked for the BBC World Service, about filling the gap that Mike will leave when he returns to UK.
This evening was the President presented the Association's New Year wishes to its members in the village hall. Oh yes, there was an aperitif and nibbles to follow. As you can see, it wasn't warm enough to linger too long.

8.1.17:
Coffee in the bar this morning but didn't stay for lunch. Too much to do for this evening to prepare for an apéritif dinatoire in front of the fire with Nicole V, her Bolivian husband, Federico, Ann and Terry.

Market, Music, Meal and a Monument

Market with Michel in the morning.
Later a large group of us made our way over the border for an Epiphany concert in our twinned village. An action replay of one we had here and that I missed before Christmas
A late lunch chez Conxita in La Vajol with Jean-Jacques, Colin and Lynn leaving enough time to show them the Retirada monument before we took our places in the church.
Of course we ran across other villagers who'd eaten elsewhere and were filling in time in various ways before the concert. It was freezing cold in the church and we seriously outnumbered the locals. Still, we'd made an effort and the music was good too.

Brightening My Life with Colour

6.1.17:

Hairdressers in the afternoon; long overdue cut and colour

Vernissage in Christian’s room later and quite by chance I was dressed in red and black which caused a few comments. 

Participants were short on the ground which was a shame for the artist whose work merits more attention that it got.

Of course a couple of us retired to the bar next door at the end.

Abridged Version Follows

Posts from here to the 30th of January will be skimpy as I've managed to delete my notes and as they weren't backed up, I can't retreive them. That'll teach me!🤔 

5.1.17:

Committee Meeting followed by the Language Exchanged followed by a coffee at the bar.

Flower making.

Tea at Josette’s, an elderly lady who looks kindly on me. Of course as it's that time of year, 'galette des rois' complete with ceramic lucky charm was on offer. Even had a bit to bring home.

4.1.17:

Flower making for this year's carnival which is on the theme of "Casino Royale"

3.1.17:

Coffee in the bar this morning. 

Jean-Jacques and Michel this evening for a bite to eat.

No Place Like Home

 Jill collected me from Mum's yesterday afternoon and I spent the rest of the day with my Little Sis and John getting to grips with the new toy in my computer stable. John, bless him, had bought a chromecast and a tablet for me and set it up with some interesting apps. Jill had negotiated a free cover.
On going to bed at midnight I fired off a New Year email to Martine C and learnt that she'd be at Barcelona airport collecting her car, a long no-need-to-know story. We managed to set up a rendez-vous and for me to warn Nicole P that I wouldn't need a lift from Figueres after all.
It was a cold, frosty and early start for the airport in the company of John and Tony. Even at 7h30 it was busy and we could only feel sorry for the folk in shorts and skimpy teeshirts coming off the Jamaica flight.
My flight went without a hitch and Martine was there waiting for me. (Photo taken from the plane.)
After UK's cold, dull weather, the drive back in sunshine was a delight  and Martine got us back without making too many other drivers irate! No need to elaborate.
Needless to say, the fridge was empty so Martine, Nicole P and I met for a bite to eat at the bar and reconted our various doings over the holiday period.Good as it is to see family and friends, it's good to be home.

Happy 2017 to You All

I hope that 2017 will bring us all Peace, Happiness and the Resolve to

"Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often and Leave Good Memories."