22.1.19:
Coffee and week's
worth of catch up with Nicole at the ever-more-chilly bar. Why do we put up
with it?
Sadly, the latest
Michelin Guide doesn't feature any new restaurants in the Pyrénées Orientales.
Here's the link to
the photos of my latest activities. https://photos.app.goo.gl/n7Zkx8w6ibNgqTvKA
Off now to follow
my afternoon ritual of a pot of tea and something sweet. There's still some
Christmas cake left. My mouth is watering just at the thought of it and to
think there's enough to see the week out. So having spent more than a couple of
hours on the computer and some time on the treadmill after a lay-off than more
weeks than I'll admit to, I'll light the stove and make myself comfortable on
the settee. A cosy evening with my feet up. What's not to like?
21.1.19:
And if your mouth is watering from seeing the photos of the "panaletts" we made at the cookery workshop, here's the recipe. https://www.shbarcelona.com/blog/en/catalan-recipes-panellets/
Spent a short time
this evening at the bar listening to music otherwise did
some work on the
computer, watched a lot of tv and took no exercise.
So much for today being "Blue Monday". It wasn't the most depressing day of the year at all and there are only 4 red days of very, very expensive electricity, which come with my particular contract, left to endure until 1st November when we start all over again
Weather:
10°, sun, blue sky
and cloud
20.1.19:
Jean, Françoise,
JJ and I started off with a coffee in the "Café Fraternal". Oil
tasting followed. Bought the 3rd lot we tried and went off to watch the
"castellars" (human towers). One went up to five tiers. https://www.castellersdebarcelona.cat/international/what-exactly-are-castells-or-human-towers/
Went to Llança for
lunch via Vilajüiga, St Pere de Rodes and Porta de la Selva. "Bar
Felip" was a modern, simple place on the Plaça Major with its Liberty
Tree. The people were welcoming, the food was cheap and tasty; what's not to
like? https://www.tripadvisor.es/Restaurant_Review-g1236052-d11823634-Reviews-Bar_Felip-Llanca_Province_of_Girona_Catalonia.html
Weather:
10°, overcast, sun
breaking through on our return to France.
19.1.19:
Today was one of
those market days when I bumped into someone I knew ever 10 metres. Met Jean
and Françoise for a coffee, as usual. How often this phrase turns up in my
posts.
Apart from
cleaning the Association's room ready for the cookery workshop on Monday, it
was a lazy rest of the day.
Had a look at the
night sky before going to bed and saw the moon encircled by what looked like a
large ring of cloud. Having looked up the phenomena, I now know that it's
called a Winter Moon or a Lunar Halo. sorry that the photo doesn't do it justice.
Weather:
13°, sun and blue
sky
18.1.19:
Slept later than
usual. Had the offer of a supermarket trip with Maggie so being in need of some
bulky items, I put aside the idea of doing some work in the computer and jumped
at the chance.
Flower making this
afternoon with pancakes on offer at break time. There were only 9 of us but
Françoise didn't stop once to draw breathe and the noise level from a couple of
the others was head splitting.
Tapas at the other
bar with les Anglaises then home for an episode of “Grantchester” while tucked
up in bed.
Weather:
13°, sun
17.1.19:
Maggie is still
off with bronchitis so I had to be up in time to open up for the language
exchange and on pansy watering duty. A cuppa at the bar, some cooking and
preparation for my evening visitors.
The neighbours
came in to watch "Roma", a film that has had very positive reviews an,d is on Netflix even before it's been released on the big screen.
Something to eat, something to drink, a bit of chat afterwards, 3 pots of
homemade jam and 2 jars of homemade pâté for the cupboard.
Made in black and white,
all agreed it was a sensitive film but we were at a loss to know where the
title came from. Thanks to Wikipedia I now know it refers to Colonia Roma, a neighborhood in the city.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/nov/29/roma-review-alfonso-cuaron
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/nov/29/roma-review-alfonso-cuaron
Weather:
12°, cloudy and
overcast.
16.1.19:
Joined the morning
commuters for the journey into Perpignan so that I could arrive early to join
the queue in front of the Préfecture where I was to pick up my Carte de Séjour.
The security guard who carried out airport-like checks of visitors with great good
humour and the woman who dealt with me was charming. Restores your faith in the
upholders of bureaucracy. Did a bit of food shopping before returning home and
spent the rest of the day doing this and that in the house.
Weather:
13°, heavy cloud
15.1.19:
Went off this
morning to Figueres with Pauline and Penny. As tradition dictates, our first stop was for a coffee which we had
sitting in the sun at the café La Pau. From there we went and filled our senses
with the colour and buzz of the market. Shopping came next until we needed to
refuel. With our usual restaurant closed for good we had to find somewhere new;
opted for "Aroma Café" and had a tasty meal served by a friendly
waitress. https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g315921-d8367907-Reviews-Aroma_Cafe-Figueres_Province_of_Girona_Catalonia.html
More shopping followed; bought a coat. A bargain at 40€.
More shopping followed; bought a coat. A bargain at 40€.
Arrived home for
8pm, just in time to see the end of the Brexit vote and the tabling of a no
confidence vote in Theresa May's Government.
Hey ho we're on
the way to hell in a handcart!
Weather:
16°, sun, blue sky
14.1.19:
14.1.19:
Made a start on
preparing the texts for a forthcoming photo exhibition that I'm helping to
organise.
Took a break to go
for coffee with Nicole and were joined by Gabriella, a Doctor of Criminal Law
at Barcelona University who has a gîte in the village.
Met with Michel
about the expo, did more work in the texts then met Nany to check out the room
where she will be doing a cookery workshop next week.
Couldn't be bothered
to go to the folk night at the bar as I supposed that there'd be nothing new.
Watched a new episode of Outlander and yes, Jaimie is as gorgeous as ever.
Weather:
16°, sun, blue
sky, still windy
13.1.19:
12.1.19
Mkt with Michel.
No Françoise as she wasn't on top form so, as they say, if the mountain won't go ....... I bought a bunch
of flowers and walked up to hers for a quick " hello".
11.1.19:
Coffee and a
listening ear for Nicole this morning at the bar. A funeral for another
Christian also from Normandy at the same crematorium where we said our goodbyes
to my Christian.
10.1.19:
9.1.19:
Walked over to
Jo's with Raymonde for coffee and cake. Unbeknown to us, it was to mark her
birthday and that of 4 others. There must have been about 20 of us and more than
enough cake for all!
Coffee at bar with
Nicole before Paul and Mireille arrived to learn about the Association. Ah yes,
part of my responsibility is to put new members in the picture. All that took
to almost lunch time. Just relaxed in the afternoon catching up with easy going
tv.
13.1.19:
Coffee at the bar.
Nicole S has taken to coming again.
Made some phone
calls, did some cleaning, some backing and prepared dinner for Jacques and
Michel.
Weather:
16°, sun, blue
sky, wind in the afternoon
12.1.19
Mkt with Michel.
No Françoise as she wasn't on top form so, as they say, if the mountain won't go ....... I bought a bunch
of flowers and walked up to hers for a quick " hello".
The market was
quiet with a lot of absentee stallholders and fewer folk than usual. Nothing
for it but to head for the café where I joined the usual crowd plus Nany and
André.
In the evening I
went with Michel to a vernissage in Argelès “Lord Phistocrie” - Exposition de
Christophe Prévost-Debaisieux. Interesting, amusing, and intriguing. Once home,
I couldn't be bothered to drag myself out and over to the bar for a night of
blue grass and country music.
Weather:
12°, sun, blue
sky, less wind
11.1.19:
This afternoon, a
real treasure came at the time he said he would, to sort out my 20 year old
washing machine. What a surprise that someone was ready to do it and what a
saving on buying a new appliance.
This evening there
was a twinning meeting and a vernissage after which I looked in at the bar next
door where I was invited to join Roger and Don in a glass of red wine while
being entertained by some of the Banda musicians.
Weather:
8°, blue sky sun
and a few white clouds. Very cold wind.
10.1.19:
Early morning call
from one of the Association members to day she couldn't come to the language
exchange as her heart was racing and she couldn't raise her arm. Went around to
sit with her until other help came. Ended up not to be a cardiac problem and I
was able to get to the exchange where there was a good turn out. A cuppa at the
bar as usual followed by a late lunch and a walk up to Nicole S's for tea.This
evening "Shoplifters" was shown at the cinéclub, a Japanese film that
won the "Palme d'Or" at Cannes this year. A real mixture of emotions. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/nov/21/shoplifters-review-hirokazu-kore-eda
Weather:
7°, sun and blue
sky. Strong winds again
9.1.19:
From there it
wasn't far from Maggie's and as she had a really bad chest cold off I went to
commiserate with her. My effort was rewarded with a gin and tonic.
Made carnival
flowers this afternoon, worked on the web site when I got back, downloaded and
tidied the photos from the weekend and finished off with some tv catch up.
Weather:
11° but feeling a
lot cold with the wind chill factor, sun, blue sky, strong winds.
8.1.19:
Coffee at bar with
Nicole before Paul and Mireille arrived to learn about the Association. Ah yes,
part of my responsibility is to put new members in the picture. All that took
to almost lunch time. Just relaxed in the afternoon catching up with easy going
tv.
This evening there
was an unexpected invitation to eat with Jean and Françoise along with JJ.
Back in the
village, I stopped off at the bar for the tail end of the soirée guitar. Just
the die hards from either side of the mike were left but the music on offer was
foot tappingly good!
Weather:
12°, sun, cloud
and very strong wind
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