Chores, Conference and a Cold

31.1.18: Pride comes .....

What started with sniffing yesterday is now a cold. Feeling tired, I stayed in bed until 11am. didn't move far from the settee for the rest of the day. And, I'd only smugly said yesterday that I'd managed to avoid colds and flu while all around were falling victim.
Weather:
12°, cloudy

30.1.18: Learning and Lunching

The annual conference organised by Jean and Françoise was this year on the Tasmanian Wetlands given by Professor Peter Davies http://www.utas.edu.au/profiles/staff/environment/peter-davies
It was well pitched for the lay person and as I was given a copy of his book, I  can take my time to assimulate more. The 6th formers present listened attentively for an 1h30 and asked lots of questions so obviously they got a lot out of it too.
Florence and Jean-Louis came with me but didn't stay for the lunch at Al Catala. I sat opposite Lynne, Peter's wife who is a lively, interesting woman. The couple have a cottage in Collioure that was once the home of  Patrick O'Brian, author of "Master and Commander" which was made into a film starring Russel Crowe.  Hadn't known of the existance of this literary link. He also wrote "The Catalans" which I'll try and get hold of sometime. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1551873.The_Catalans
You're probably wondering how Jean and Françoise always come up with so many interesting people who give their time freely. From what I've seen it's about their passion to widen the horizons of young people, hard work, persistance and their ability to transmit their enthusiasm to potential speakers. Peter was over in Geneva for a RAMSAR conference so everything fell into place. By the way, I now know that the Ramsar convention was signed in the city of that name in Iran in 1971 for the conservation and sustainability of internationally important wetlands. And, now you do too!
Weather:
14°, blue skies

29.1.18: Don't ask!

Forgot to say before that the mimosa is coming out; always a welcome sight.
Visited the rubbish recycling with Maggie, then had a coffee and whizz around the supermarket..
Back in the village I met Nicole for a coffee. Back home I rearranged the dvds that I rearranged last week. Where? Exactly where they were before!
Weather:
15°, sun, blue sky and low lying snow on the mountains

Nothing to Set the Heather Alight

28.1.18: Ashamedly Lazy Sunday

Coffee then an apéritif at the bar.
Blog catch up.
Pottering, drinking tea and watching tv.
Weather:
16°, sun and blue sky

27.1.18: No Flowers, No Computer

Coffee at the bar while I waited for my lift to the market with Michel. Market was quiet with both fewer stall holders and fewer shoppers.
What else was there to do on a  wet afternoon but to curl up on the settee and watch a couple of films.
Weather:
11°, cloud and rain

26.1.18: Less TV than Usual!

Well, they were right about the rain which meant that Maggie and I cancelled our trip to the dump. No great hardship there. Did some cooking, had a late coffee at the bar with Nicole and then stayed on for lunch with Nany.
Saw Martine at flower making in the afternoon and we'd both come to the conclusion that the Costa Brava is best left until more accomodation is available. We'll try Girona instead.
Despite having had a cuppa and some chocolate while we worked I'd just made a pot of tea at home when Michel phoned to invite me around for a drink. Rapidly abandoned the tea in favour of a glass of red wine.
Weather:
12°, cloud and rain

25.1.18: Communication Vagaries
Language exchange during which I had the two most boring participants in my group. Even a cuppa at the bar did little to lift my spirits as there was the prospect of paper flower making later on.
Double wammy! My heart sank as I found myself making flowers next to this morning's boring woman who didn't stop bending my ear for the next 2 hours. Highlight of the afternoon was tea and galettes.

In the evening there was the AGM of the twinning association which focussed on the visit from the Normans at the end of April. I'm putting up 3 people who I don't think I've ever met. There was a bit of discord as the visit has been arranged at the same time as an association holiday to Portugal. As the two associations have many of the same members, it was all rather stupid. What happened to communication? All ended well with an apéritif to bring the meeting to a close.
There was good news though; the builder has been and put a tarpaulin over Margaret's roof but without her having accepted the estimate! Just in time though; rain is forecast for the next couple of days.
Martine and I left early and nipped into the bar next door to discuss our project to get away from time to time together. Decided to look for something on the Costa Brava.
Weather:
14°, cloudy

24.1.18: Maison pour Tous to the Rescue

Isn't it just the way? I had to send some papers toute de suite to complete my dossier for the grant but the scanner played up with 2 pages still to go. Luckily, the MpT, the Maire's information centre, did it for me. All a bit of a rush as I had to be at Margaret's for 10.15am to meet the insurance assessor. Of course, he was late and I can tell you, it was a cold, dismal ¾ hour until he came.
In the afternoon, Terry and Ann invited me to join them in a trip to the shopping mall in La Jonquera; looked around but as usual, there was nothing to inspire other than a welcome cuppa.
Linde came for supper after which we watched the "Queen of Katwe" about a young Ugandan woman coming from the Katwe slums who went on to be a chess champion. Watch it if you can; it's a nice "feel good" movie. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_of_Katwe
Weather:
14°, sun and cloud

23.1.18: Water Everywhere but in the Tap

 My first task was to fill buckets, kettles and a baby bath with water as there was to be a cut at 9am and no indication as to when it would be reestablshed.
Strolled around and sat reading in the sun in Céret while Yasmin was at the doctor's. Had a lengthy coffee before lunch at home.
Afternoon in front of the computer and Jean-Jacques came for an apéro in the evening.
Weather:
19°, sun

22.1.18: Early Start to the Week

Committee meeting first thing.
Inspection visit by the organisation that's giving me a grant toward the work in the house.
Coffee at bar.
Computer.
Apérobio: All present and correct.
Sorry that the photo doesn't capture the number of bees being busy going about their business on this winter honeysuckle. It was quite a sight.
Weather:
19°, sun

When Flapjacks are the Highlight of your Weekend!

21.1.18: And then there were Two

What a surprise when I went out of my front door to go the the bar for coffee. The wind was warm! Nicole P, Florence and 5 others were there; just Nicole, Martine and I stayed on for a single course lunch.
I was expecting six folk in the evening for an apéritif dinatoire and as of yesterday morning, they started calling off until there was only Martine and myself! Was I right not to take it personnally?
Weather:
18°, cloudy

20.1.18: Downsizing

Went to the market with Florence; met Françoise and had a leisurely coffee. This afternoon Roger and Don came to pick up my old freezer, which is far too big, to take it to a good home.
I made some flapjacks for tomorrow night's guests; wait, who am I trying to kid? The Christmas cake being finished, there was nothing to go with my afternoon pot of tea and I've become used to having something sweet in the afternoon. By the way, I think it deserves more than the 3 stars it has on the website.
https://goodfood.uktv.co.uk/recipe/chocolate-and-ginger-flapjacks/
Weather:
18°, sunny spells and cloud

19.1.18: Nothing is ever as it seems here
Not having heard from the other builder since last week, I finally chased him up only to find that he'd been and had an estimate in his car ready to deliver. All that feeling guilty about taking my eye off the ball for nothing. Took the opportunity when he arrived to whisk him back around to Margaret's to look at the verandah. Said it wasn't for him but he recommended someone else. Family don't seem to be too bothered about how things are going as there's been next to no contact coming from their direction. I'm starting to wise up!
Lunch wth Maggie https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g196603-d11928905-Reviews-Restaurant_GuyMolas-Ceret_Pyrenees_Orientales_Occitanie.html that gave me the opportunity to have a good ol' moan; did me the world of good.
Home where telly and relaxation was on the agenda.
Weather:
16° sun, rain overnight

An Awful lot of Boring Stuff!

18.1.18: Boring Insects
Language exchange, tea afterwards at the bar but couldn't stick it out for too long as there was noisy work going on and some horrible smelly product being used.
Had a "expert" come from a company in Perpignan to check over my beams as there is some wordworm that needs treated. He wasn't in the least bit pessimistic as said it wasn't that bad. Phew! but no doubt it will soon cost a goodly sum to deal with but I won't go there for the time being.
this evening went with Michel to La Jonquera to do some shopping and then went back to his for a bowl of pumkin and orange soup which I'll definetly give a go myself.
Weather:
16°, blue sky and sunshine

17.1.18: Eventually Tackling the Boring Jobs

The buider's estimate to cover the roof arrived but he had the wrong address on it! Had he been to the wrong place? Had he been to the right place but got the address wrong or had he not been at all? Nothing to do but go and have a look. There was no house at the address that he'd put but I didn't get a view of the plastic sheeting blowing in the wind. Met the neighbour who said that someone had been on the roof so it would seem that I'd been suspicious for nothing.
This was my one bit of excitement for the day as the rest of the time was spent cleaning.
Weather:
16°, sunny and windy

16.1.18: Great Hosts, Boring Guests
Nothing much in the morning
Dentist in the afternoon after a pleasurable sit in the sun while waiting for the surgery to open.
Dinner at Yasmin's with four other Brits (won't go into details). Interesting conversations with her husband and lovely Persian food made up for having an English view of the world during the evening.
Weather:
19°, sun

15.1.18: Boring Start, Better Finish
Domestic stuff then coffee with Nicole at the bar. in the afternoon I went hunting for the meeting about this year's carnival. I got the right place but the wrong time. Rather than go back, I went and checked Margaret's after yesterday's rain but no new signs of damage so  once back home, I abandoned the idea of going to the meeting, made a pot of tea and ate Xmas cake.
even though I was feeling weary, I went over to the bar for a folk evening. It was mostly American but there was a very talented young (well, in comparison to the others) who played Irish music on a mandolina. Did me the world of good to have a bit of pep to chase away "Blue Monday"!
Weather:
13°, sunny start , cloudy later

Here and There with Friends

14.1.17: Coffee with Friends
Decided not too worry too much as I reckon that nothing can be as bad as last week and even if the "tarpaulin" isn't that strong, it's better than nothing. Whatsmore, the rain was nowhere near as heavy as predicted.
Coffee at the bar was a lively affair with about 14 of us making our presence felt. Spent the afternoon and evening just pottering.
Weather:
11°, rain showers

13.1.18: Lunch and Dinner with Friends

Had a coffee at the bar while waiting for Michel to go to the market. Met loads of people and had a new experience at the post office where I needed to use a machine to register a letter. It's a real bind having our post office out of action while it is being renovated and all this DIY stuff is such a bore.
Joined 20 others at Margaret and Ken's for a buffet lunch. It was an ex-pat do and all I can say is "thank goodness for the cava".
Had a little bit of time at home and then went to JJ's for dinner along with Michel, Jean, Françoise and Linde. Confit of duck legs with sauté potatoes, two desserts and a magnum of champagne!
Weather:
13°, cloudy with a cold wind

12.1.18: Tea with Friends
Didn't hear from the builder so had a wander around on the off chance that I might see him at work. Of course, I didn't. The local fire officers  came back at the request of the Maire to see if they could help but I was not in the least bit surprised to find that they can only intervene in an emergency. Was all a bit embarrassing but they gave me the name of someone who might help. Late Friday afternoon, he wasn't replying.
Was able to take my mind off things though as Michel and Nicole were coming for tea and Christmas cake. Michel, bless him came bearing 4 bottles of very nice wine for letting him leave his car in the garage while he was away. Beats the usual scarf that he normally brings me. Nice one!
Weather:
12°, chill wind

11.1.18: Lunch with a Friend
Language exchange but not the usual cuppa at the bar afterwards as I was meeting Nicole to take her for a belated birthday lunch at Can Nadal. Came home and learnt that the tarpaulin on Margaret's house which isn't a tarpaulin but strong plastic has started to work loose in the wind. Not good as there's an amber alert for heavy rain on Sunday. Could hear it blowing about and found some damp patches have appeared so took more photos. At last the internet is back on so did some catching up before going to an information meeting organised by the Mairie about the storm . Took the opportunity to corner the local mason and ask him to come and give an estimate. Tomorrow he promised......
Feeling a bit wearied so gave the Cinéclub a miss and didn't sleep well for worrying about what I can do to get the roof sorted
Weather:
11°, strong wind, feeling cold

10.1.18: Catching up with Friends
Up and out early to collect Margaret's key that I'd left with the neighbours, a really nice family. In fact, I spent a bit too long chatting and was a little late meeting Yasmin who'ds back from her trip to UK. Coffee and catch up was the order of the day and what a lovely surprise; who should be in the café but Françoise. She invited us back for lunch which was "Petit Salé", Christian's favourite.
I knew I shouldn't have eaten that "pain au raisin" with my coffee!
Did a quick supermarket shop afterwards and went home to find that the internet was still off; a good opportunity to watch a couple of films.
Weather:
12°, sun

Nature's Fury

9.1.18: Appreciating a Helping Hand

Back to Margaret's for her friend Paul (also a holiday home person) who was going to look at the verandah structure to see if it was safe enough. No real concerns.
Then there was a civil funeral in front of the Mairie and here's the view from there which is such a welcome change from all the debris.
From here some of us went for a coffee where there was an almighty din being made by the work on the new kitchen.
Of course the main topic of conversation was the aftermath of Sunday's events.
Apparently, the Maire and Nany are putting up a couple who've been made homeless, the Commune is having difficulty getting a declaration of a natural disaster which obviously implies financial aid from governement and winds of  200km/hr were recorded.
Coffee over, I went withe Ann and Terry to inspect an Irish couple's house where we found the fire service on the roof . Job done, I was able to hijack them and get them up to Margaret's. They were a lovely cheerful bunch who came from St Laurent de Cerdans right up the valley and were most helpful they were too.
Weather:
13°, sunshine and a little cloud

8.1.18: Toing and Froing

Back to Margaret's to check if there was more damage but fortunately the rain had been less heavy and nothing had changed.
Had coffee at the bar with Lynn and Colin and then at the end of the afternoon, I finally managed to get Margaret who needless to say was in a bit of a state. Went to the Mairie declared the damage to her house and put her name on the list for the fire service to put a tarpaulin over the roof. Then there was a call from the Mairie about contacting another Brit about the damage to his house. Don wasn't answering his phone so took his friend Roger to the Mairie to make contact on his behalf.
It was lovely to come home, close the shutters and put my feet up.
Weather:
12°, rain less heavy, cooler

7.1.18: Headline News
Woke up to hail battering against the window. The sky was bizarre; solid cloud and very, very low. imagine my surprise when Nicole arrived to ask me if I was ok. Why? says I. Apparently a mini tornado hit the village half an hour before and where she lives is like a bomb site. Windows out, trees, electricity poles, walls and chimneys down, debris everywhere. This link will take you to the local paper's website though I don't know how long it will be valid for but it does give a good idea of what it was like.  http://www.lindependant.fr/2018/01/07/mini-tornade-sur-maureillas-et-le-vallespir-ce-dimanche-vos-photos,3085939.php

Went to the bar and had the last coffee to be served as the electricity was off. Heard that Colin and Lynn's house was damaged so went to see if they needed any help but all was under control despite them missing 60 tiles and a satellite dish. Jean and Françoise phoned to say that they were at mine so back home I went and made coffee and served them large pieces of Xmas cake.
Tried to get to Margaret's house where I'd heard there was a tree down but the police wouldn't let me through as the fire service was working on the main road.
Not able to settle to anything, I decided to go and see how Nicole was and we decided to see if the bar could rustle up something to eat. Despite having a gas cooker, it wasn't  possible so off we went with Giles and Martine to the Café de France for a late lunch.
Back in the village, I was able to get to Margaret's and found that a chimney had come down damaging her verandah letting the rain in. Took photos for her insurance. Communication with Margaret was difficult as I was without internet and phone and she didn't pick up on mobile phone messages. Finally got hold of her daughter so was able to settle down for the evening without having to worry unduly.
Weather:
13°, heavy rain, hail, mini tornado!!

6.1.18: 3 Valiant Efforts

Didn't go to the market and went instead to have coffee at the bar where I met Lynn and Colin. Made lunch for myself; I'm really getting the hang of this cooking lark.. Did some catching up on the blog and took myself to bed for midnight, the 3rd of my "must do better" resolutions.
Weather:
16°, sun

Still Warm and Sunny

5.1.18: A Royal Flush

Had a bit of a lie in, sorted out the freezer and did some work on the computer.
This evening over 80 of us got together to listen to the President of the Association present her New Year's wishes, eat galettes des rois and drink cider or wine. I found the lucky charm hidden inside the tart without breaking a tooth and got to wear a crown.
At home, I haven't need to light the stove all week. Just amazing
Weather:
17° sun

4.1.18: Coping with the Local Bus Timetable

First language exchange after a two week break and then of course there was a cuppa afterwards. I'm doing well with giving a glass of vino a miss, aren't I?
The afternoon was a bit of a marathon as the bus I needed to take for an appointment with the podiatrist arrived 2.5 hours in advance. Fortunately, the sun was shining and so I parked myself on a bench and caught up on all my emails and New Year's greetings. It was all very pleasant as you acn see fromthe photo. Then I had a walk to stretch my legs and went to the library to watch a film that I'd downloaded. My appointment didn't take long but didn't finish in time for me to get the 4.55pm bus back to the village; missed it by 7 minutes. So another wait; this time an hour and a half. Went back to the library and then when it closed I went for a coffee . All this may seem like a waste of time but quite honestly, I wouldn't have been doing anything different at home and the bonus was that I was out in the sun and had a bit of a walk.
Arrived home just before 7pm and tucked into a tasty bowl of soup in front of the tv.
Weather:
19°, blue sky, wind wasn't quite so warm

03.01.18: Catching Up

Another Stay at Home Day. Didn't get farther that the terrace where there was a balmy breeze making it possible to leave the patio doors open wide. Spent this morning catching up with the Association website and this afternoon catching up with the blog. Another blazing sunset this evening.
Weather:
21° blue sky and some cloud. As I write, it's 7.45pm and still 19°!

January?

03.01.18: Catching Up

Another Stay at Home Day. Didn't get farther that the terrace where there was a balmy breeze making it possible to leave the patio doors open wide. Spent this morning catching up with the Association website and this afternoon catching up with the blog. Another blazing sunset this evening.
Weather:
21° blue sky and some cloud. As I write, it's 7.45pm and still 19°!

02.01.18: A Good Walk and a Good Meal

Françoise came over to celebrate the reopening of the café with me. It's amazing what an important part of life it is. Later on I walked over, enjoying the views as I went, to Maggie's for a lunch to celebrate Trevor's birthday. Annette, Jo and Chris were the other guests and venison was on the menu. It was beautifully tender. There was needless to say, champagne to kick off with and at the end Trevor opened the bottle of "Black Grouse" that I'd taken him. He obliged me to take a dram and very easy it was to drink too.
The mile+ walk home was just right to ease the conscience and eliminate some, though sadly not all, the calories.
Spent the night in.
Weather:
17°, sun, cloudy later

10th Anniversary

Who would have thought it? Certainly not me but I started Chitchat on 1st January 2018. There are still a few holes to fill but Maureen, I will try harder to keep up to date. So it's actually the 3rd and I have just got here from Christmas day.
OK now back to the 1st ....
Jean and Françoise came over for coffee bearing an invitation to go up to Ghislaine and Nicolas's for lunch. It was an age since I'd seen them so it was a pleasure to say "yes". We stopped off in Céret for our coffee and found that there were lots of people out and about doing the same or dancing the traditional New Year sardane in front of the Mairie. Of course there was an apéritif to spread even more good cheer but we gave that a miss. Met lots of people that I knew even one or two from the village. Jacques and Véronique among them. Apparently the neighbours weren't much after me going home last night.
It takes about 40 minutes to get to our destination but the drive in the sunshine up into the mountains was a bonus. Lunch was good, chat was abundant and there were the lambs to bring a smile to our faces.
Spent the evening watching the tv and don't laugh ..... knitting.
Weather:
18°, blue sky while the West of France was being battered by the tail end of hurricane Carmen.

In with the New!

Happy New Year to one and all!

Bonne Année à toutes et tous!