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