And the Socialising Continued!

19.7.20: Made a late arrival for Sunday morning coffee and turned down an invitation to join Philippe and Françoise for lunch. With a heavy day yesterday and dinner at Martine's on the cards tonight, it was the most reasonable course of (in) action. 

Walked over to Martine's with JJ for a very pleasant evening on her terrace with it's beautiful views. David and Laura were came to so not only did we have the pleasure of their company but also got to enjoy a berry fruit pavlova, Laura's speciality. Walking back went a little way to dealing with a few of the excess calories.

The next few days were quiet with just a couple of coffees with Nicole and a trip to the supermarket with Ann.

23.7.20: Joined the "rump" of the language exchange group for a chat and a cuppa. Dined out this evening at Jean-Jacques's where the chat was much more politically orientated. Well, it would be. He'd invited two of his colleagues who'd stood with Antoine in the municipal elections and their partners. One also works at the Mairie in Perpignan where she's having to get used to the new right wing++ Maire. JJ excelled himsalf with a veal and olive dish and I was on dessert.

Before the end of the month, there were invites for tea chez Monette with Nick and Lizzie on 24th. Monette (80) runs a painting club in the village and despite being ill is a larger than life character with a huge heart who has a soft spot for the English. We did actually start off with tea and biscuits (that I'd made as gift) but soon moved onto quiche, red wine and lemon mousse. Followed on 27th by coffee at Anne and Ian's in their garden served with every precaution as they're shielding . On the 28th it was tea at Nicole S's and didn't I deserve it after a walk up to her place under a sun that was beating down even at 4.30pm and the next day tea at Josettes's. Josette is an elderly woman (90) who looks on me as her "go to person" should she want to know something about village or association activities. She'd made a lovely, gooey chocolate cake, some of which came home with me. And of course there were meals to eat!

25.7.20: After the Saturday market in the village where the local "banda" was playing and an apéritif at the bar, six of us (David, Laura, Jacques, Nicole, Martine and moi) went to the restaurant for tapas and wine. Had just enough time to digest that before heading to Jeanie and Daniel's for a pool, cheese, wine and honey  party. Jeanie, an American had been to Italy recently where she discovered cheese being paired with honey, wanted to initiate us to it's delights. We were able to tell her that mel y mató is a popular Catalan dessert! Columbus "discovering" America springs to mind. Still, despite not going in the pool, it was a pleasant late afternoon sitting in the shade chatting and gently supping chilled rosé.

 28.7.20: Dinner chez Anna and Gérard on their roof terrace with some of the neighbours. It was a late night but so what. Don't think that we disturbed the neighbours.

 

31.7.20: The hottest day of the week and I took it into my head to give the "pub" a good clean. Dust and cobwebs are no more. It's once again a pleasant, cool space in which to take an apéritif. As you'll probably have realised, it was done with precisely that aim in mind. JJ, Jean and Françoise came for an apéritif, dinatoire before we went over to the bar to listen to music. JL is laying on music twice /week and is able to take advantage of putting tables on the square in order to cope with social distancing and were happy to park ourselves there. The baby swallows already sleeping were even farther away.

And so, the month has slipped by as quickly as ever, it's been very hot and sticky. Temperatures up to the 30°s and there have been interesting skies, too.....