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