Click for a few photos from in between all the visits here and there.
Friday 31 May 2019
The Kiwis Come Calling
28.5.19:
Then visited the Hotel Pams, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B4tel_Pams
Hotel Xanxo, Les Halles https://www.facebook.com/hallesvauban/and the
cathedral before picking up the baggage and heading for the bus.
K and K rested a
little, I phoned Mum and read her the riot act. Had apéros on the terrace until
the evening chill drove us in.
Weather:
21, sunny strong
chilly winds
29.5.19:
Did some
association admin this afternoon while, Ken and Kathy snoozed. They wanted to walk so I joined them on their
quest to do 10,000 steps. Walked up to the retreat and back via the fitness
equipment, ending up at Can Pepe.
Had a couple of
rounds out on the terrace before it was back to the chilli that I'd already
cooked. Sat around talking and video called Jill (n/a) and Rosie and Chris.
What a pleasure it
will be; tomorrow is a public holiday and there's no need to be up for any
particular time.
Weather:
24°, blue sky and
sun
31.5.19:
30.5.19:
No need to rush
out this morning. It's a public holiday. We all went down to the recreation to
look around the carboot sale. Nothing of interest.
Had a couple of glasses
of wine at the bar sitting inside since with all the work going on, the terrace
is out of action.
An afternoon of
pottering and then a walk over to Maggie's where she gave us tea and regaled us
with funny stories of her life.
Dinner at home and
a relatively early night.
Weather:
26°, sun less wind
31.5.19:
Saw Ken and Kathy
off to Barcelona this morning and finished off my packing for Bretteville.
We're not going until next Wednesday as Robert and Michèle are taking it in
their car due to limited space in JJ's and they are off sooner. Never have I
packed ahead of time and even more amazing, I managed to get two weeks stuff
into my cabin baggage! So much for having bought a new suitcase.
Jacky picked me up
to go for round 2 of Michèle's birthday at the same place as before. This time
it was the family do, so I felt very touched to be included.
Martine was my
chauffeur for the return in order to get me to the last twinning briefing at
which the wine and official presents were parceled out to those with space in
their cars.
From there, I had
an hour at home to start and tidy up the photos from lunchtime to give to
Michèle tomorrow at the market. Next came the inauguration of a photo
exhibition "Visca per le Llibertat" about the referendum and demonstrations in South Catalunya. http://visca-llibertat.cat/en/presentation/
The ones featuring neo nazis groups were particularly disturbing. This was followed by a documentary about the day of the vote. It was hard to believe that the photos weren't taken under a dictatorship in some South American country. Joan, sang several songs and of course, the evening finished with an apéritif.
The ones featuring neo nazis groups were particularly disturbing. This was followed by a documentary about the day of the vote. It was hard to believe that the photos weren't taken under a dictatorship in some South American country. Joan, sang several songs and of course, the evening finished with an apéritif.
Today was certainly one ofcontrasts.
Weather:
27°, sun and blue sky
Monday 27 May 2019
Fun Over, Duty Calls
26.5.19:
My
civic duty took me over to the Mairie to vote before coffee. There were an
array of possible lists to vote for including one that featured a dog rather than a
human on its posters.
Felt
out of sorts over coffee. Only 4 of us there and conversation was dominated by
the person who usually dominates any conversation whoever is there.
Spent
the afternoon sorting out my tax papers before the deadline is upon me.
Ended
the day as it started at the Mairie this time for the count. Marine Le Pen's
party "Rassemblement National" was predicted to be the overall winner
and the village didn't buck the trend.
Weather:
23°,
sunny
27.5.19:
This
morning duty called again, this time for a committee meeting. Then went with
Maggie to the supermarket and the fridge is looking happier than it's done for
many a week!
Cooked
and "prepped" (Jill's got me at it now) for Ken and Kathy, the NZ
cousins' visit. Early evening I kept myself busy and wondered when JJ would come to help with my
tax return. Finally phoned him only to find that he'd come home exhausted and
forgotten.
So,
tomorrow's plan to meet Ken and Kathy
seem likely to be thrown out.
As
all this was going on there was a crisis with Mum who had worried me when I'd
phoned. Suffice it say that she's let her leg get into a state and never said a
word. Upshot, Alison spent 6 hours of her birthday with Jill in A and E and
Jill was robbed of some much needed "me time". Mother played up not
wanting to go, then wouldn't stay the night at Jill's. Spare
me from ever becoming so selfish. Not best pleased that she hasn't a thought
for Jill.
The sunset is perhaps indicative of my sentiments!
Weather:
24°,
sunny
Saturday 25 May 2019
Jill's Visit
14.5.19:
Flew home from B'ham with
Jill having had lifts from Kim (UK) and Nicole (Fr). Had hoped to sit out on
the terrace of the bar in the sun but sadly had to sit inside as it was roped
off due to the ongoing work. Joined Roger and Don for a glass or wine then had
a short walk before turning in for an early night on British time.
Weather:
24°,
sun and light cloud
15.5.19:
Almost
overslept this morning as I hadn't turned my alarm forward to French time. Jill
and I did, still managed to be on time for the bus to Perpignan.
Spent
a pleasant time wandering around in the sunshine after fortifying ourselves
with a coffee at the Café Catalogne (as usual). Took
in the Quai Vauban, les Halles, Casa Xanxo (built 1508 for a rich cloth
merchant), place de la République et la Loge. We had a salad lunch at the
"Napoli" https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g187156-d2293399-Reviews-Le_Napoli-Perpignan_Pyrenees_Orientales_Occitanie.html .
Met Jackie, an interesting Canadian woman on
the bus coming back to the village. Bumped
into her again later on and she joined us at Pepe's for a glass of wine. Chris and Jo appeared so we stayed on a bit
longer even though our glasses were empty. Then there was nothing left to do
but drift home for a bite to eat and a bit of tv.
Weather:
19°,
sun and blue sky.
16.5.19:
Coffee chez Pepe with Nicole then home to make a mocha cake for dinner at
Jacques' this evening. Once the cake came out of the oven, we went to the bar to
meet the language exchangers. Only Ann, Terry, James (who explained the life
cycle of butterflies to Jill!), Anne (who welled up with tears twice when more
serious subjects were discussed and Roland. One other client came in; hope for
them that things pick up when the terrace is finished.
Went
for a walk after lunch and were hijacked by Chris who invited us in for a cuppa. Jo introduced us to Alexa and took us
around the garden in a fruitless (!) search for cherries. The birds had been
there before us.
Dinner
at Jacques (for his birthday) was a fun affair with the neighbours and Evelyne.
Leg of lamb and in addition to my offering, there were 2 other desserts.
Strawberry tiramisu from Anna and strawberries and thin slices of chocolate
brownies from Geneviève.
Home
for just after midnight and straight to bed without a guilty thought for the
washing up that's been there all day!
Weather:
18°,
sun, clouding over
17.5.19:
Woke
up to rain and low cloud and didn't immediately jump out of bed to meet the
day. Finally, made it over to the bar to meet Françoise for coffee.
Then
it was lunch at the restaurant with Nicole by way of a thank you for picking us
up. Super meal. (Ceasar salad, fillet pork with Roquefort sauce, dessert).
After
that, it was into the kitchen for me to "prep" (a new Jillism!) for
this evening's apéritif dinatoire with Jean, Françoise and JJ. The weather was
so dull and dismal that I fired up the stove to take the chill off the place;
the conversation was far from it.
Weather:
14°,
rain, heavy cloud
18.5.19:
Jacques chauffeured us to the market where we scooted around meeting lots of people in the process and making it to our rendezvous with Françoise and Jean only 5 minutes late.
Came back with Jacques, too, after having joined him, Jacko and Evelyne for a drink.
This afternoon watched some tv and did some work for the association. Having had quite a long spell indoors we wandered over to the bar only to find no one there; at 7.30pm on a Saturday night?? Continued our stroll and called into the other bar which had about 15 clients. Came home for hot meal and more tv.
Weather:
16°, showers and cloud, feeling chilly
Jacques chauffeured us to the market where we scooted around meeting lots of people in the process and making it to our rendezvous with Françoise and Jean only 5 minutes late.
Came back with Jacques, too, after having joined him, Jacko and Evelyne for a drink.
This afternoon watched some tv and did some work for the association. Having had quite a long spell indoors we wandered over to the bar only to find no one there; at 7.30pm on a Saturday night?? Continued our stroll and called into the other bar which had about 15 clients. Came home for hot meal and more tv.
Weather:
16°, showers and cloud, feeling chilly
19.5.19:
A
sunny day at last and so off we set with Jean and Françoise first to the
shopping mall in La Jonquera to buy a suitcase for me and say goodbye to 100€!
Then
came a coffee stop in Figueres on the Ramblas where there were a couple of
coblas (orchestras) playing for the Sardane dancers.
Next
it was back in the car to go up to the St Pere de Rodes 9th century monastery https://www.empordaturisme.com/en/a/what-to-do/culture-activities/monestir-de-sant-pere-de-rodes/ taking in a dolmen http://www.visitapau.cat/en/2015/04/13/dolmens-de-vinyes-mortes-i/ in use from the 3rd
millennium BC and splendid views on the way.
It's
good that the Spanish keep later lunch hours as we had time to go down the
steep, windy road to Port de la Selva. Ate at a good, reasonably priced
restaurant overlooking the marina. https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g1058799-d8007684-Reviews-Restaurante_Cnps-El_Port_de_la_Selva_Costa_Brava_Province_of_Girona_Catalonia.html
Coming
home, we got caught in a 4km queue of traffic coming up to the toll.
In
the evening Jill went to the rerun of the jazz concert that I'd been to last
month with Françoise. I had thought to meet them afterwards for a drink at the
bar on the terrace but best laid plans and all that ..... It had been invaded
by the rugby team and its supporters. They'd won through to the next round in
some cup match. We just beat a retreat home.
Weather:
22°,
sunshine and cloud
20.5.19:
Walked over to Maggie's for lunch and to spend the afternoon just chatting and having a laugh.
Weather:
Sun
but mostly cloudy
21.5.19:
Françoise
came over to meet us at the bar for coffee and just as she was leaving Martine
arrived for a catch up.
Apart from a walk up to the mini market, a visit to the current exhibition all taken at a very slow pace. Jill had space to read and
chill out.
It's great that Jill is not a demanding visitor as the weather and my lack of transport rather curtails things.
Weather:
Cloudy
with sunny spells
22.5.19:
Jean
and Françoise once again came and picked us up for a morning out. This time we
went down to Argelès to see our friend Marie-André's painting exhibition.
Walking through the market, we were amazed how big it was and it would
definitely be worth another visit.
We
abandoned the market in favour of going to the marina to have a coffee
overlooking the boats against a backdrop of mountains.
Then
this evening we joined Beverley and James, Lone and Jesper at Jacques for a
Mexican meal. All I had alcohol wise was a small margarita (surprised looks all
round) and also unusually for me, very little to eat. Jill had her first
experience of inquisitive New Worlders, mole sauce made with chocolate for
savoury food https://casablancamexican.com/mexican-mole-sauce/ and the delights of tequila! No complaints
about the latter. https://www.jamieoliver.com/drinks-tube/recipe/margarita/
Weather:
25°,
sun, blue sky, cloudier later
23.5.19:
Caught
the bus into town and met Michèle and Henri at our usual haunt. Even though it
wasn't market day, we still met quite a few people for a chat.
Visited
the Marc Chagall https://www.marcchagall.net/ exhibition "La
Couleur tombée du ciel", at the museum as well as some of the permanent
exhibition. https://www.tripadvisor.fr/Attraction_Review-g196603-d547020-Reviews-Musee_d_Art_Moderne-Ceret_Pyrenees_Orientales_Occitanie.html#photos;aggregationId=101&albumid=101&filter=7
Called
in at the bar on our return to the village and found only stragglers from the
exchange there. Last week Jill copped for James, this week she had the pleasure
of Anne who recounted her life story, woes and all, illustrated with tears. A
walk before tea and tv afterwards.
Weather:
23°,
sun and blue sky
24.5.19:
Rain
was forecast and rain came overnight. All we had on the agenda was a coffee
with Nicole this morning at the café. Apart from that and a walk in search of
cherries we stayed indoors and pottered. Watched "What we did on our
holidays" starring Billy Conolloy, David Tennant and other well know
faces. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2725962/ Breathtaking Scottish scenery, wicked humour
and lessons on life of benefit to us all; add in a couple of glasses of cava it
made for a pleasant last evening together.
Weather:
20°,
overcast and wet
25.5.19: Q. When are you coming back to visit? A. When do you want it to rain?
Started
the morning by going in search of cherries for Jill to take home, then met up
with Jean, Françoise, JJ and Jacques for a farewell coffee. What a shame that
she missed the cherry festival (that’s on this weekend), with its cherry stone
spitting and stoning contests, lots of bandas (lively brass bands), kilos of
cherries to buy, and every possible
product made from or depicting cherries to spend your money on. Next year,
maybe?
Ann
picked us up for the airport run and to watch Jill’s wee figure disappear
through security on her journey to home, hearth and family; maybe even some
sunshine!
Sod’s
law back home, the weather brightened here so there’s some foundation to her
answer about coming back! But ….. how appropriate, I found this on the internet
I looked around on the internet for goddesses of rain but it seems that they
are few and far between (another male dominated job) so was pleased to find
this. "Af Bri", the name of an angel who makes it rain! It fits!!!
Weather:
22°,
cloudy, feeling humid, brightening later
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