May 2025: A Whole Host of Public Holidays
1.5.25:
"Up the Workers Day!" on which it's traditional to give a sprig of lily-of-the-valley. Nowadays, it's more likely to be a virtual one. There was no trip to the market as the 1st is a holiday all through Europe; well that is except for UK where pragmatism makes it the nearest Monday.
Still spent the day with Michel though. Coffee in Céret, an apéro at the village bar, a trip down to Banyuls for a walk and cuppa and finally an apéro dinatoire chez JJ.2.5.25:
Michel has friends Nicole & Daniel here for the weekend and I was included in all that was going on. Coffee at the market followed by an impromptu apéro at mine. I was on apéros again in the evening this time at Michel's; what's more I managed to come up with something different. Didn't stay for moules/frites; not my thing.
Sunday Nicole and Daniel had the pleasure of meeting more of Michel's friends; coffee and croissants at the café in the morning and then in the evening when Michel broke his "only six around the table rule" to seven to accommodate Jacques. A waterproof and wellies came into their own for the walk over.
In between I had a long standing date to meet up with Ann & Terry and Viv and Pepe at the restaurant. The latter used to have a holiday home in the village but sold up just before covid. The meal was excellent as usual.
5.5.25: 4 Musketeers
Coffee with Mark and his Dad (my late friend Maggie's son and husband), supermarket run with Nick and tea with Michel. He's on the go all the time either entertaining or being entertained to full on meals and it's beginning to show.
A great music night at the café with a real variety of music ending with Las Cuerdas (cords in Spanish), real favourites of mine. 6.5.25:
An interesting session at the "oldies" group where there was a presentation about the work of "handi-chiens", an association that trains and provides dogs for assisted living and emotional support in the judicial system. Needless to say, Uffi a beautiful black lab, stole the show.
9.5.25:
We've had some rain these last few days which has renewed the cap of snow on Canigou. Instead of doing our patriotic duty on V.E.Day yesterday by attending the usual wreath laying ceremony, a group of us dodged the showers in Figueres.10.5.25:
Heavy rain all day, meant that Pierre's vernissage was very poorly attended. Shame as his pastels are technically well executed and very pleasing on the eye. As he's a neighbour and part of our social circle when he comes from Belgium, I braved the weather in solidarity. Much to my surprise, I didn't even have a glass of wine as compensation! 10.5.25:
Went to the market with Michel and met up with Patrick for coffee; next an apéro with Michèle & Henri plus the Maire's parents, met a Jimi Hendrix fan on the bus home and went back again in the evening with JJ for an apéritif dinatoire chez Jean & Françoise who had family staying. 11.5.25 A Real Sunday Lunch
Roast pork, all the trimmings, a tasty cheese board and strawberry tiramisu with lashings of cream chez Joyce & Keith, from Yorkshire, who are really friends of Nicole's. During the course of the afternoon there was an almighty storm with large hailstones which meant that we stayed on longer until it was safe to drive. 13.5.25:
Still having rain which provided inspiration for the oldies' group's attempts at Haiku which should include a nature or seasonal theme. Was more pleasing than I would have thought.
15.5.25:
The usual Thursday in Figueres routine; coffee at the Centric bar where the waitress is keen to get Michel and I together, fruit and veg market shopping, apéro at the market bar with the staff turning a blind eye to our "picnic".16.5.25: Yes, it's that time again
JJ came to help with my tax return or should I say returns; there are 3 forms to fill in. We went back and forth until we couldn't face any more and gave up!
18.5.25:
A relatively quiet couple of days but all changed today. 9 of us for the "Kaffeeklatsch" at the bar and then 14 of us on Jacques' rooftop terrace where there was a bbq to mark his and Pierre's birthdays this last week. There was an abundance of hats to protect from the sun, freshly picked cherries, loads of grilled meat to eat and plenty of wine and cava to drink. "All good pals and jolly good company!!" as they say.19.5.25:
2nd attempt at the tax on Monday went ok after some advice from the helpline; well, that is until the very last part when a pop up window said there was a "anomaly". As we couldn't get any farther, we called it a day.
20.5.25:
Oldies chair yoga.
21.5.25:
3rd attempt at the tax return and as before, the way was tortuous; going round in circles, endless false starts and another call to the helpline. Apparently we'd been given the wrong advice the last time and newly equipped with the right information, we managed to get it done. At last! Didn't have any lunch, just coffee and cheesecake at Michel's. Couldn't stay too long as there was an apéritif dinatoire to prepare for six of us this evening.
Managed to be ready dead on the dot of 19h; Pierre arrived five minutes later. Much to my delight he brought me a framed, signed hand painted version of the poster. as usual, I'd done too much but the upside is there'll be a cooking free day tomorrow.
22.5.25:
Michel and I were joined on our trip to Figueres by JJ and Dali. The apéro was more elaborate than usual as it included a couple of sacher torte. still no word of sanction. Stopped off at Dali's on the way back and weren't able to leave until we'd had a drink and agreed to take away two tupperware boxes each of food. Made it to Nicole's on time for the knitting group which had more chat than knitting going on.
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