December brings a Seasonal Chill and then Unseasonal Warmth

 1st - 7th December: Don't put it down; put it away!

Came across this advice in one of the many magazines that I read and have adopted as my mantra of the moment. You know what? It works! 

A lot of fun activities leaving little time for anything else apart for a good walk with Jacques. First off:

• A folk night at the bar though I didn't stay for too long. Then came:

•  An apéro chez moi before Jacques, JJ and Martine went to the restaurant for at long last, their first service after several weeks of voluntary closure. What a treat for us but poor Maud was having to do a brave job hopping around the restaurant on one leg.  A night cap at Jacques rounded off the evening. 
• A trip to Figueres with Nicole S. Went on the trans border bus and headed straight to the market where we looked for warm socks to deal with the cold weather that's hit us. Had lunch at "Kornig" which was pretty mediocre. Shame, the best restaurants are outside the town.
• Back over the border again the next day; this time with Jacques who went for an estimate on some body work (for his car!). Prices are less than half that they would be in France. Went from La Jonquera to Figueres for a walk around and a hot chocolate. 

 After yesterday's experience we went for a drive through the countryside visiting one or two small villages on the way in hope of finding a restaurant open. Finally ended up in Llers where I knew of a one that was short on chic but full of character. Ca la Franisquetta did a no choice 4 course meal with lemonade, water, wine and coffee for 10€!!! Needless to say it was full with a lively crowd; some were on their work lunch break, others were celebrating a birthday amid lots of hilarity. It's quite an experience anf of course, Dali visited back in the day.

• Sunday coffee at the bar with Martine and JJ turned into a apéro of a rosé which was accompanied by a little dish of olives; now there's a surprise! We then stayed on for a bite to eat as a menu has been reinstated; now there's another surprise! Yet another surprise was that the starter of serrano, manchego and pa tomate was much more generous than of late. Food is still nothing special though but no one promised a perfect world and with the other café doing food, they seem to be trying to up their game
• Lunch of steak and chips at Jacques'. Didn't put up much of a fight when he proposed a bottle of cava to accompany his culinary efforts.

• Ventured forth to the first of the neighbourhood Christmas "open doors". Well, that was the idea but 3 of the 4 groups of neighbours who've signed up are opting for a pavement get together. Still it's the first time for this new initiative. Sad to say, there was no one other than the usual participants of our fête des voisins. Have given up hope that other streets will follow our example.

It wasn't all hedonistic pleasure. I did do a good deed though; helped serve tea at the Téléthon tearoom. Well, that's until Françoise arrived when I hung up my pinny and had a cuppa myself while we sat through the raffle draw which had 66 lots! As well as my own ticket, I had those of three other people and none of us were lucky. What was I saying about a perfect world? However, the village raised 12,500€ thus topping the list of villages/towns in the Département.

Weather: 10°-14°, sun, cloud cold and a bit of rain

8th - 15th December:

Drank a lot of tea at Jacques, at the café with Françoise and up at Nicole S's. Ate at Jacques' twice. One meal organised with his friends from up the valley; and an impromptu meal after the jolly, little village Christmas market. It was followed by a brass band concert in the village hall and that by Bastille day's postponed firework display.

Shame that the photo doesn't do it justice. I also took a turn at entertaining friends. Jacques for tea, JJ, Jacques and Martine for a curry lunch.

 I also took Ann & Terry to the restaurant for lunch by way of a thank you for Ann acting as chauffeur when I had my eye problem a couple of months ago.

This week there were two pavement "open doors". 

The first get together took place at the end of the road and my goodness it was cold. We were the same group as last time minus Jacques plus a new resident from another street who was passing with his son who've just moved here from New Caledonia. Four days later it was there neighbours from near the church who offered us their hospitality. wine, pastis, vegan food and even some silly games. The presence of two children added another dimension which didn't go amiss. Next week it's my turn with the help of my neighbours Jean- Claude and Marcelle.

Weather: 11° - 17°, cold wind, a days heavy rain and several of sunshine and blue sky

16th - 23rd December: 

Yesterday's curry did service for several days. What joy, no cooking to do

apart for some nibbles for the apéritif that I hosted for Ann and Lynn, neither bar being open on a Wednesday. Frankly it was more comfortable and the food tastier so no hardship. There was more work and preparation to do a couple of days later as it was my turn to host an "open doors" and this time that's what happened. Worked perfectly as we were able to invite in passers-by and could eat and drink sheltered from the cold. Even better, the mulled cider which no one had ever had before, went down well as did, the wine and cava. As luck would have it, a young woman and her two daughters had moved into a house at the end of the street that morning. And that's what's behind the idea.

On the spoiling myself side there was also a coffee with Nicole P at the café and then with Hortense at mine.

It was not all food and drink though. Made some time for the treadmill, the oldies gym on a Monday plus a good walk with Françoise and Théràse which went some way to try and combat the calories.

In preparation for Christmas, I made my festive calls to people in UK and went to the hairdresser's with the voucher from the Mairie that I'd opted for instead of a food "hamper" (it's actually a box). Thought it was better to keep the money in the village.

Sadly, my only other activity of note was the funeral of a 55 year old woman who'd been on the Council with Christian. Sent shock waves through the village. But as ever sadness gives way and we move on to other things that help us forget the fragility of our lives.  

Weather: 11° - 14° mostly sunny 

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

As usual houses in the street was decorated with tinsel, greenery and fairy lights (nothing brash) and our well worn homemade snowmen and Father Christmases.

Christmas Eve: No big meal lasting until midnight this year as the French do, as I was invited to spend the evening with Maggie and her family ~ an all British affair.

Our Hosts

There were 8 of us for canapés (a big thank you to Mr Picard), a superbly rich chocolate log made by Rachel from a Nigella recipe, wine and pink champagne. 

 

I had a really nice time and came home feeling thoroughly spoilt.

Weather; 15°, cloudy, fine drizzle in the evening

Christmas Day:

Merry Christmas to One and All

No porridge this morning. Yoghurt and stewed apple seemed more reasonable. Linde, Jean and Françoise came for an apéro. Each had their own drink (Françoise - gin, Jean - red wine, Linde who discovered Black Grouse, me - cava of course).

 Saw my guests off and put my coat on to walk over to Ann and Terry's. Mr Picard once again had a place at the table. . It was a real Christmas cracker - something of everything  - good food and wine, laughter, music, sport and political shenanigans but above all, nice people to share it all with! "Excess is not enough" is a favourite expression of mine but this time it was more than enough!!!

Weather: 17°, sunshine and cloud

Boxing Day:

Coffee with Françoise at the café then spent the rest of the day quietly watching Christmas specials on tv, thrying out a "Poinsettia" cocktail and munching without restraint on any goodies that my eye alighted on.

Weather: 18°, sun and blue sky 

27th - 30th December:

An early morning phone call from Maggie brought the news that she, her daughter, husband and one of the women at the Christmas Eve get together had tested positive for covid. Of course, I then set to and phoned my Christmas morning guests, my Christmas lunch hosts and cancelled the lunch date I'd organised with Martine. Phoned my nurse (here they are self employed and when needed you choose who you want) who advised me that I should self isolate until Thursday when she would come and give me a test. She duly did and it was negative, so New Years Eve could go ahead. 

Weather: 19° - 21° warm and sunny; not like December at all  

Family and Feasting with Friends; Disappointment and Dull Moments

 1st - 7th November: A busier than usual week. Sorry, no photos to enliven the posts.

There was the house to get ready, shopping to do and food to prepare before Frank & Stéphanie's visit. Some relief from these tasks came with a very lively folk night at the café.

Driving down from Paris in one go, Stéphanie and Frank arrived in time for tea. Rebeka, a friend of theirs also from Paris, was in the village to see her parents so she came over on her last night here for an apéritif and didn't leave until 11pm! Turns out that I know her mother and can understand why she might be glad of a change of scene! For once I was in bed before midnight as needless to say, the Thai pork I'd made for dinner didn't make its way out of the fridge unlike the 3 bottles of cava!

The next day was a combination of business and pleasure. Off we went to the clinic in Perpignan in style for my annual check up ; Stéphanie folded herself into the back of the little Audi roadster and I got to ride in the front. Appt though late, went without a problem. Walked from the clinic to the centre of town and met up with Frank and Stéphanie. 

We wandered around a bit in the sunshine and decided on the Bar Celone for lunch. Easy going, retro, nice people. On our return Gilles came to value the house with a view to putting it on the market. So, my toe is in the water.

A vernissage, an "Oriental Breakfast" in aid of the Téléthon, an apéritif chez Jean and Françoise, dinner for Jean-Jacques chez moi plus a day out in Spain and Canet filled the remaining couple of days of Frank and Stéphanie's visit.

Weather: Mixed with temperatures of 14° - 19°. A rain shower, chilly wind and sunshine 

8th - 15th November: Several meals with friends. No photos this week either.

• Dinner chez JJ with James & Beverly (NZ/American), Jacques and Suzette
•  Breakfast chez JJ with Jean & Françoise around a groaning table
• Lunch at Thérèse & Joan's on Armistice day. Didn't attend the ceremony as there was a heavy downpour 
• Lunch at Jacques' with Rosemarie & Eduard
• Lunch with Jacques chez moi

 Otherwise, I went to the huge Auchan shopping mall with Jacques. He was sorting out a new phone which took ages and by the way, he still came away with no special deal. My time wasn't any more interesting. Didn't find the more speciality products I was looking for and had to queue for ages at the checkout. The large, easily navigated aisles are not enough to entice me back I can tell you. Oldies gym restarted after a two week break, had a couple of treadmill sessions and a short walk with Françoise so there was a bit of exercise among all the eating and lazing. On a sadder note, there was a funeral to go to; on a brighter note, the snow capped Canigou is looking splendid!

Weather: 14° - 19°, a day of heavy rain, chilly winds 

16th - 21st November: This week brought more socialising.

• Lunch at Jacques'
• Coffee, vegan biscuits and an earful of the house repairs saga at Jeanne's 

• Jointly hosted a dinner for Lynne & Rémi chez Jacques which was followed by a session of "Name that Tune" up in his music room where hundreds of vinyls fill the shelves. Needless to say, I was well pleased by their generous gift

• Dinner chez Gérard & Anna to organise the neighbourhood's "open doors" event. Also present were Nicole, Jean and Marcelle
• Nicole S. for tea at mine

 Did get out of the village as well. Went with Jean and Françoise to Collioure. Had a laugh on the way down as some bright spark had placed a huge palm branch infront of a radar to obscure the lens and on the other side of the road there was a toilet sitting on a  mobile radar emplacement.! Whizzed around the market and had a leisurely coffee opposite the château with Lulu and Erwan. Walking along the sea front walkway en route back to the car, we spotted a small octopus swimming in the water and a bit farther on  there was a small shoal of anchovies frolicking near the surface. Drove around the coast through Port Vendres to the Château Valmy where JJ was helping on an alternative energy stand. 

 

Normally, closed for winter, the park was open which proved to be a real treat. Fountains, tree sculptures, benches in shady spots. A visit in spring is definitely on the agenda.

The time in between all the activity was filled making some fig chutney using the frozen figs inherited from Laura's freezer when they left after their time here, keeping up with the papers, catching up with October's "Chitchat" and knitting while watching tv.

Weather: 17° max, 13° min; rain, sunny spells, feeling chillier 

22nd - 30th November: A Disappointment

Should have gone to Narbonne with Rowena for an overnight stay and to explore the town but there were storm warnings out for the area so we thought it prudent to cancel. Filled the unexpected time not by catching up with admin stuff but with watching some films. "Parasite", the Korean Oscar winner which was both amusing and shocking; "Passing" with it's multuilayered view of Black/ White attitudes in Prohibition America and a sloppy film that I'm too embarrassed to give a name to! 

There were fewer meals:

• Our meal at the re-opening of the restaurant was postponed as the Patronne had broken her foot. Talk about bad timing after several months of being closed. 
• JJ came for supper before we watchrd "Passing".

• Apéro and French Onion Soup (delicious) chez Jean & Françoise in the company of  Joan & Thérèse. Arrived back to find ourselves invited in to Jacques for a nightcap .... non alcoholic as these last couple of weeks are starting to tell the tale.
  
• I really must do some inviting back.... I really must do ... I really must ...
  

Other activities included: oldies gym,

a walk over to Maggie's for a cuppa and to take her some reading material; a trip to Décatholon with Françoise to buy some winter walking trousers in case I get around to venturing out; 

making Delia's Carribean Christmas cake as is my custom and practice; and the highlight of the week was ... hold your breath .... you'll never guess  .... I sat unravelling a waistcoat that I'd knitted for Christian that he'd only worn once. My guess is that it was more out of politeness than anything else. Started knitting an Arran cardigan for myself which hopefully will be worthy of being seen out in.

And so November came to an inglorious end.

Weather: 9° - 14°, dull, cold, rain (amber alert one day), a glimmer of sun