Village Life

21.6.18: Being a grumpy old woman

Thursday and of course, it was the language exchange in the morning. Didn't succumb to a glass of rosé afterwards but had a cuppa instead with Nicole, Ros and Charles.
This evening the Fête de la Musique brought a goodly number of people into the square to eat, drink and listen. Didn't fancy beef cheeks and dessert at the bar for the princely sum of 20€. Seemed a bit much given that the entertainment was free and as a consequence had lots more people putting money into their till than would be normal for a Thursday.
We ate instead at the restaurant where gambas were on the menu with a delicious albeit small slice of chocolate dessert. Marginally better value; certainly better quality.
Kevin did a good blues set but otherwise, the music was the same ol', same ol' and pretty dull.
Weather:
34°, blue skies

20.6.18: A new square at long last
The bar being closed, I tried the new "salon du thé"  which has been opened by Joëlle, the seamstress in front of her workshop on the main road. She's created a comfortable terrace and with all the hard work she does to earn a living, she deserves to be supported.

After lunch I went with Martine and Laura to buy plants to cheer up my window boxes and in the evening attended the public meeting to unveil the project to renovate the square. Much to my surprise, there weren't any complaints even when it was announced that there would only be 5 short term parking spaces. Work is likely to start at the beginning of November so come Easter next year, the centre of the village should have a new look.
Martine and I joined Terry, Ann and their friend Carol afterwards at the other bar for a glass of wine and then had another when JJ and Antoine (also on the Council) joined us.
On the way home, I found Don and Roger in the square who had just finished erecting a canopy over the temporary stage that had been put up for tomorrow's "Fête de la Musique". They were enjoying a bottle of red wine and I was invited to join them. And I did!
Weather:
31° Sun and blue sky

19.6.18: Summer is a coming in
Beautician, computer, treadmill, cleaning (not much) during the day and then this evening an apéritif dinatoire chez Judith and Trevor, an Irish couple with a holiday home here. Munching, sipping, chatting on their terrace looking out over the garden and Canigou beyond. And, no washing up to do. All very pleasant.
Took this photo on the way over to theirs. Pretty impressive nest building, isn't it but all I can say is, thank goodness they're not my eaves. Doesn't take much imagination to realise the mess that all those baby swallows leave behind!
Weather:
26°, sun

18.6.18: 

Went along this morning to the ceremony to commemorate General de Gaulle's call from London to the occupied French to resist. You'll know by now that such events are followed by an apéro and this was no exception. Came across Anne on my way back home; she was having a cuppa at the bar while waiting for her take-away lunch. Joined her but didn't linger too long as I had a date with the treadmill to keep!
Weather:
26° sunny