April Album

Can be found here  https://photos.app.goo.gl/wpSjKofsugtDUbUHA 

Out with April, In with May

30.4.19: Ending the Month on a Good Note

Another day of catching up and here I am all up to date, at least, with the blog but we all know how that turns out! Gives a new meaning to "watch this space"!

Weather:

22°, sun and blue sky

29.4.19: A Working Trip to the Seaside

No treadmill for the legs; instead at 7am I was on the one for the brain aka the computer. On a deadline to get a load of things done. 9h15 Jacques and I sped off to Collioure to the Mairie to a meeting about the piper's visit. Met up with Jacques's Mexican in-laws for an omelette lunch.

Spent the afternoon getting mad at the printer and working through the "to do" list.

This evening there was a bagpipe meeting after which I couldn't face going back to the computer so just watched tv and decided it would be best to get up early to continue the attack. It's all so wearisome.

Weather:

19°, sun and cloud

28.4.19: Sant Jordi/St George's Day

Up early to be over at the Mairie to help set up our stands for the Fête de Sant Jordi. The weather gods were kind to us with sunshine all day but where were the people? Several stall holders were awol and we were hardly overrun with customers. Still, we did make over 450€, all for the pipers.

After all day "on duty" I thought twice about going to the flute and piano concert in the church but I decided that I should not pass up such an opportunity.

JJ came for supper and I'm pleased to say that he looks much better.

Weather:

19, sun, a little cloud

27.4.19:

Baked a ginger cake to sell tomorrow and apart from helping to load Maggie's van with books and other paraphernalia most of the rest of the day was spent on the computer. The evening was a lazy one in front of the tv. Yes, again but I haven't the energy to do anything else more taxing!

Weather:

19°, cloudy 

26.4.19 : Diners sans Frontières

Around the table this evening were Jacques (French), Lone and Jesper (Danish), Beverley (Californian), James (New Zealander) and of course, yours truly from "Perfidious Albion"; Conversations went on in French, English and Spanish while we devoured Beverley's tasty goats' cheese and blueberry tarts.

So here I am, in bed with aching feet, a dead brain, one eye on "the Good Wife", the other on writing this blog in the hope that I'll finish before falling asleep.

Weather:

18°, sun, cloud, showers

Thank Goodness for the Treadmill

22.4.19 - 25.4.19
The weather this week has been up and down. Warm and sunny as well as a chilly wind with light showers. On the (non) social front I've beeen on the treadmill, spent time on the computer and watching tv. Thanks to Maureen, I also watched the film "Can you ever forgive me?" The title comes from a Dorothy Parker quote and is called "a real life caper" by the Guardian reviewer.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/feb/03/can-you-ever-forgive-me-review-melissa-mccarthy-richard-e-grant-lee-israel
Of course there was time devoted to the association; a morning at the Language Exchange (25th) andSome of us will be in medieval costume, soliciting donations for the books to go toward the Pipe Band visit, handing out roses and running a small bar along with cakes and savouries to eat.
an afternoon (23rd) sorting books for Sunday's fête de Sant Jordi (St George's Day) when it's traditional to give books and roses.
I did have some real social interaction, too. Tea at Jacques, coffee at the bar with Ann and Lynn and went twice to the restaurant for lunch. On Wednesday (24th) with Kelvin and Irene, here on holiday from the UK and then on Thursday (25th) with Nicole. 
Thursday was a bit of a challenge. Even though lunch left me feeling sleepy, I managed to prepare a main course for the next day's dinner. Then I tidied up and got ready for les anglaises and an at - home apérobio. We'd decided on trying a couscous from the new take away on the Main Street.

All agreed that it was a good alternative to the bar where latterly we’ve left feeling ripped off. And an apéro first on the patio before going in to eat  was just the thing.

Weather:

16-25°, changeable

Thank Goodness for Chocolate

21.4.19:

A dismal start weather wise to Easter Sunday but that's often the case here.

The bar was very quiet with a number of regulars who'd gone off to support the village rugby team in the final of the Occitanie Cup. There's been a banner across the main road and red and white balloons (team colours) dotted around.

I was saved from a solitary lunch by an invitation to lunch at Henri and Michèle's.

This evening was spent quietly in front of the tv and sad to say, the rugby team lost 14-10. And so endeth the dream of contesting the French Cup in their category.

Weather:

17°, damp and cloudy

22.4.19:

No bank holiday lie in as I had a date with Nick to go to the supermarket. Oh what joy! Still it meant I could get some bulky stuff and ingredients for the dinner (yes, another) I'm doing on Friday night.

Had a drink and catch up with Nicole at Pepe's and spent the rest of the day on the computer, on the phone and clacking knitting needles together whilst watching tv.

Well, even in the South of France, not every day can be fun filled and action packed.

Weather:

18°, overcast, damp, chilly, heavy rain at night.

Thank Goodness for Music, Art and Film

15.4.19 - 20.4.19:
The reoccuring themes through the week (as it is every week, if you haven't noticed) were the association (committee meeting and admin) and the pipers (meeting and updating documents). My own stuff, however, did get a look in at one point but there's still a list of things to do as long as my arm. One day ....
I just need to get through to October after which, I'm leaving the committee and have told the President so. 2020 is going to be the year when I start to enjoy only having commitments of my own chosing rather than obligations. 
Disaster struck at the Folk night (15th) at the bar. It was so well attended at one point that someone knocked into the shelves holding the glasses and loads of them came crashing down. The patron wasn’t very happy but it’s a surprise that it hadn’t happened before. More importantly, no one was hurt. The folk night isn't really anything to do with folk as we would know it.There were songs from the 60's and Beatles' classics which were impossible not to sing along to.

There were two vernissages; Bridget's (16th) in Céret https://bridgetrookwaterhouse.webs.com/ which I got a lift to with Nick and Lizzie  and James's which was in the village (19th), in Christian’s room. http://jamesprattfineart.com/
James made a special mention of him during his speech and earnt he and his wife an invitation to dinner next week. It’s wonderful how Christian's not forgotten even though it’s nearly 4 years since he died. There was wine and nibbles afterwards but rather than finish the evening there, Martine and I went for one last glass at the bar sitting at a table on the bare earth of what was the terrace. The photos will show you what I mean.

I made it to see "Girl" the last cinéclub film of the season. Based on a true story, the photography was good but emotionally it was quite hard going. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/mar/13/girl-review-lukas-dhont-victor-polster-transgender-ballet  So much suffering and anguish.

On the eat and drink front: 

Coffee at Joëlle's and at Pepe's with Nicole, an apéritif dinatoire chez Thérèse and Joan's along with Jean and Françoise, and another excellent lunch at the restaurant, again with Nicole.

On the domestic front, the man came to change the pump on my washing machine which took no time at all. (19th). Hope it’s reflected in my bill!

Much more interestingly, Gabriela, the Argentinean woman, who was one of the art therapy workshop organisers, came for tea. She’s ready to help with the pipers’ visit and wants to have some English conversation with me. An interesting, intelligent and likeminded woman, it will be so good for me especially as I'm serious about moving myself forward.

And that brings me to today (20th). Hope you're as impressed as I am that this post was written on the actual day!

Went on the bus to the market and had coffee with Jean and Françoise. There was a lovely atmosphere with the sun shining and happy looking people. Even strangers said “hello”. Went afterwards to the bar where I was sure to find some village folk in the hope of getting a lift back. Not only did Nick and Lizzie come good but Hans ordered up a bottle of champagne to toast his daughter’s birthday. She’s here for a week from Berlin and like her dad speaks excellent English. 
Sadly the sun didn’t last much after lunch time so by the end of the afternoon when I went out to listen to the Catalan traditional “Goigs” (Easter songs), it was decidedly chilly. A basket is lowered down with offerings for the Pascal Omelette  though this year, it was empty as with the village hall being out of action because of renovation work, there's nowhere to have it. The Mayor's wife is given flowers in the Catalan colours and then choir sets off to sing its way around the village.
Caught up with the blog and watched tv with my feet up. Well, it’s a holiday weekend after all, so no “tut, tuts”, please.

Weather:

22°, sun and blue sky in the morning, cloudy and chillier later