July 2022
The start of the holidays is evident with the numbers of unknown faces on the terrace at the café. To keep them entertained the bar laid on a couple of concerts a week; on a larger scale, the Comité des Fêtes did their bit with a bar, meal and dancing at the recreation ground every weekend plus the Festa Major (annual village fête); the Mairie organised the 14th July celebrations which I missed out on prefering a trip over the border.
Needless to say, my activities revolved mostly around meals, apéritifs or coffees with friends especially as Nancy, a willing partner in crime, arrived from the States for six weeks. Rather than a blow by blow account just a selection of photos follows.
Dinner up in the Mountains
In La Jonquera
Lunch at the Restaurant in the Village
Apéros at the Café
Dinner Chez des Amis
Chez Moi
I, also found myself in the kitchen. Firstly, there was an apéritif dinatoire for 11 of us and then family arrived for a couple of weeks bringing a whole new set of household management skills into play . When we first moved here, the grandchildren were just wee; now they are coming with their partners! With six extra people coming and going, the house was lively but even though the time varied, the evening always started with a get together over apéritifs.
Moving away from eating and drinking, there were two photo exhibitions. One, inside featuring the sky
and one outside in front of the Mairie on the theme of the village carnaval. Imagine my surprise to see myself in glorious technicolour!
Two sad events hit the British community within a couple of days of each other. The daughter of friends who were here in their holiday home, heard that their daughter who was living in Bali had unexpectedly died aged 38 and Maggie, a good friend to me, who founded the Association, died at home. One was expected, one was not; both were incredibly sad amid all the buzz of summer.
The excessively hot, dry days (hitting 41° at one point) meant that I wasn't very energetic. The treadmill went by the wayside as my time was taken up with domestic matters. I did however, manage a couple of early morning walks with Valérie.
I also started an weekly English conversation session with Lisa. For a 16 year old whose first language is Spanish and her second, French, she's very good. She's also introduced me to the Korean boy band BTS. Who'd have thought it!
Didn't find time for the treadmill but did for the film "Downton Abbey 2" and the "Cane Field Killings" on the small screen. Well, I needed to occupy myself behind closed shutters.
Did manage to get out of the village though, before the traffic across the border becomes too snarled up. On the first day of the month, JJ and I picked up David and Laura for their first "thank you for having us in Scotland" day out. It's been over 10 years since I'd made the trip up to the Santuari de la Mare de Deu del Mont at 1057m. With a 360° panorama, it'still as spectacular as ever (if you ignore the communication antenna).
The Sant Llorenç de Sous monestery on the way up has had some major restoration work done making it even more impressive.
Zig-zagged our way down to Beuda where we stopped for a quick look at the restaurant and church. Had to keep a sharp look out fr the turning to take us to "El Claustre de Palera" the restaurant that I'd intended to go to. Found it ok but it was closed for a few days so back we went to the Restaurant Montserrat in Beuda. A cheap, cheerful, family run place which while not serving such sophisticated food as the other, was fine.
I also had a couple of trips to the market in Figueres with Michel followed by a beer at the café alongside it, followed by lunch at 9 Suprem. A pleasing ritual that I never pass up if I can help it.
And so July comes to an end with worries about the lack of rain, complaints about the rise in the cost of petrol (not as steep as in Uk) but little about energy costs. There's also less about Ukraine but some curiosity about the ousting of Boris and the ensuing Tory leadership contest. What we can be sure of, however, is that there are more very hot days to come.
