A Low Key but fairly busy run up to the Festive Season

December 2022

I'm finally getting around to filling in the gap for this month on Chitchat on 4th May 2023. It will be an abridged version without any of the trivia of day to day life and only the rare anecdotes. Take it as read that there were rendez-vous at the café, meals with friends at theirs, at mine and at restaurants. There was also weekly  English conversation with Lisa. Sorry, can't resist this anecdote . . . I finally managed to bring Lisa, who is Japanese and Daniel who is American/Japanese together. What are the chances of two such people living in a small village at the tail end of France? It was a real pleasure to see them talking ninety to the dozen. 

The most importnat event on the village calendar in December is the annual Téléthon fund raiser for research into rare genetic diseases. By not involving myself this year in the Association's 2nd hand gift and accessories stall, I couldn't say "no" to helping with the "British" tearoom. My stint making tea came towards the end of the afternoon so the only thing I could do was to stay and help clear up; amazing how folk just melt away.

No chance to lie long the next day to rest my weary bones as Jean & Françoise were offering Linde & I a run down to Port Vendres to see the replica of the Nao Victoria, the Spanish galleon that in 1519 was the first to sail around the world. Interesting. Coffee in the sun with Jean & Françoise's daughter, Lucille and family and a wine tasting in the wine vaults next door.

A day out in Perpignan with Nicole, taking the early (well, 9am) bus. Stopped for a coffee at Café Catalogne, had lunch at Le Devil, menu up by 3€ and not as good, tea later in a very pleasant tearoom that was as good as the last time that we went. Not very Christmassy looking, is it?

Sorry, I feel another anecdote coming on again but it does show how molehills become mountains when you're on you're own. 😟 The electricity went off in the living area of the house and despite looking at the fuse box, I couldn’t see anything that had tripped. Faffed around for ages and finally went to bed but was so anxious about an electrical fault fire breaking out that I went back down and slept on the settee! JJ, who’d obviously been to spec savers found that indeed the switch had tripped, so with the push of a button all was restored. What a dummy, am I? I should have climbed onto a stool for a closer look. You live and learn.

By mid month the village was acknowledging that the festive season was on it's way. The Christmas market was well attended both by visitors and stallholders, the Seniors' Christmas box was being distributed, decorations were going up and Kevin organised music and a "Secret Santa" at the bar. Funny to think that the first Xmas market in the village was organised by Flo (who has long since left) and myself in 2007.

On a smaller scale, a bunch of us neighbours met up for a festive apéro on the square.

Thank goodness Françoise winkled me out for a walk up from the village. Canigou was as majestic as ever.

The last few days were busier. An apéro chez moi for Nicole and Mathilde, an very long lunch chez Jacques, carols at Chris and Jo's with a predominately Anglophone crowd and a pot luck apéro. .Sadly the mulled wine ran out; just what you don't want on a chilly evening outdoors. At least I went, which means I can body swerve the event for the next few years. 

The shortest night came a day early chez moi! Mark, Rachel and their friend Debbie came for dinner which was an hilarious affair. By the time we got to liquers, I was passed serving so as they were all on something different, each had their own bottle to hand. Finally made it to bed at 4h10 after putting the well dented bottles back in the cupboard. Yawn, yawn! 😴

Last but not least, Linde's daughter Eve, her husband Geoff, their two sons and some friends over from the States gave a short concert outside the bar. Flute, ukelele, keyboard, guitar and very funny songs written by Geoff with nary a word about Christmas.

The only thing left to do was scatter a few cards (fewer every year) and decs (no tree) around , pour a glass of wine (large) and watch Mary Berry with her hand up a turkey's bum! (Not much help when you're eating venison!)

Weather: A few cold days when temperatures went down to8° but it was dry and sunny, rising to 20° on 23rd. Fabulous sunsets along the way.