All's Well that ends Well

10.12.17: Christmas Traditions enlivened by Mulled Wine

Set the alarm for 7am and found that it had rained overnight but was now dry. Luckily, I could hear the Mairie workers setting up the tables so I assumed that even though the sky wasn't visible at this time, the market was on. Made the wine and sold it all and with our other sales we made a respectable sum to go towards "Project Cornemuse". (If you've missed previous posts, it's our plan to bring some pipers over from Comrie near Perth). The treasurer came and it would seem that a line has been drawn under her bruised feelings.
The café was exceptionally busy; so much so, that Nicole and I had to have our lunch sitting at the bar. Would you believe it? There was liver on the menu so of course, I went for that.
The market was a great success; plenty of stalls, Santa with his horse and cart giving the kids a tour around the village, Christmas carols from an Internation choir and from a Catalan choir, sardane and the traditional Catalan "Caga Tio". If you're wondering what this is, if you can be bothered, have a look at last years's post where it's explained.
Having only had an hour to sit down at lunch, 7am - 4pm was a long day to be on one's feet. Didn't want to do anything other than eat my soup (disappointingly, in need of being pepped up) and watch the telly. I'll be honest; that's exactly how I'd have spent the evening even if my feet and legs weren't protesting.
Weather:
12°, cloudy

9.12.17: Much ado about Nothing!

Awoke to a phone call from the Association President who had had an upset treasurer on the phone. Apparently she felt excluded as I'd not invited her to help Maggie and I sort the Xmas market sales. Hadn't realised until that point that I was the organiser! To make matters worse, I'd asked (hold my hand up to that) her when she'd asked me when she should come, to help on the stall in the afternoon when she normally helped set up in the morning! Hadn't realised that it was a trick question. I had to do a lot of back brushing to stop her resigning! Here, I should add that she'd already resigned from another association as she didn't get on with the President. Fragile or what? In the end, I let her know that there were difficult things that I have to deal with too and she started to back peddle. Crickey, life is far too short for this nonesense.
What a relief it was to go to the market with Maggie who is a down to earth, take things in her stride Yorkshire woman.
Bumped into Nicole S who joined us for coffee ; what an age it is since I've seen her.
A quick trip to the supermarket followed but to my disappointment I didn' find any liver which I'd fancied for lunch. Not to worry, I didn't starve as I stopped off at the restaurant for the "plat du jour" which was an entrecôte steak; so, my desire for red meat was satisfied with the added bonus of no dishes to wash.

In the afternoon Maggie and I loaded her van with our wares for the Xmas market (didn't ask the treasurer to join us!) then came home and made some carrot and parsnip soup (a Joyceline Dimbleby recipe) for tomorrow.
Normally, I would have made the mulled wine for tomorrow this evening but the weather forecast is iffy and rather than risk having 20 litres left on my hands, I decided to get up early and do it when it was clear what kind of weather we were in for.
Weather:
11° sun

8.12.17: Telly Dependant?

Coffee at the bar and then another one at Jacques over which we talked about last night's film. In the afternoon I had an impromptu walk around the lake where it was pretty windy with Flo. No other excuse was needed to head off and have a cuppa in the warm afterwards.
As I'd opted for a goodie box rather than the OAP's lunch, Cédric who works at the Mairie next door, delivered mine and Nicole's to the café where we were having a glass of wine.
My social diary being blank this evening, it was a night in front of the telly (again). Do you think that I should be starting to worry about my attachment to the square screen?
Weather:
13°, cloudy with a spell of sunshine at the end of the afternoon

Dining In, Dining Out

17.8.17: Home Alone Again

Emma found another leak this morning; this time in the cave which I guess is coming from the shower on the 1st floor. ****** the air was blue for a short while.
The family left to head home at the end of the morning. It was lovely having them around and I'm so appreciative that they still want to come here.
Again circumstances meant that I gave the language exchange a miss but once I'd waved the family off, I had time for a quick coffee at the bar before getting the bus to Perpignan for my annual mamogram. It's always such a relief when there's nothing abnormal detected. And to my credit, I walked from the bus station to the clinic and back in the heat (15 minutes each way) rather than take the bus.
In the evening Nancy invited, JJ, André and Nany to Céret for dinner. This photo, taken from the car park on our way to the restaurant, is of a sculpture paying hommage to the "cubist", Juan Gris http://www.theartstory.org/artist-gris-juan.htm who stayed in the town in 1913 and 1921.
It was very pleasant sitting under the shade of the plane trees and chatting about international and local politics. Of course the subject of the terrorist attack on the Barcelona Ramblas came up though we hadn't yet heard of the one that came later in Cambrils.
Came back to the village for a last drink at the bar to take advantage of the cool of the night.
Weather:
35°, sun

16.8.17: Friends and Family

There is one less pair of shoes on the stairs as Pierre left after lunch to join his pals in Argelès . Maureen still in a bit of a huff so his departure hasn't helped. This evening Nancy and JJ came for dinner; Michel stopped by to say "hello" and have a glass of water. It was short and sweet as he was expecting friends to arrive and was off alcohol in an effort to fight the calories.
We had a good time though and ended the evening with a drink at the bar.
Weather:
31°, sun

Unseasonal Weather

21.8.14:

Elsa left today for home and the bright lights of Paris. She's no trouble which is surprising for a 19 year old and coped very well with this exceptionally quiet time that we've been having. Christian drove her to the station in Perpignan and after doing a shop on the way back, we had a drink at the bar with the language exchange folk and lunch at the restaurant tête-à-tête. It was a pity that Elsa missed the outdoor Spanish song and dance evening that Christian sponsored as I think, it's something that she would have come to. By the time that the show finished just after 11.30pm, it had become a bit parky but at least the rain held off. By the time that we'd had an after-show supper with the artists and others, it was 2am by the time we made it to bed. There was enough food left over to see us through the next few days, yippee!
Weather:
23° Cloudy

20.8.14:
Rose early this morning to organise Elsa for a hike with folk from the village that she knows but lo and behold she decided at 7.15am that she didn't want go. Having showered and dressed, there was no question of going back to bed. It did mean, though, that I had time to get on with the organising the outstanding Finnish/English/French translations for a photo exhibition.
Jean and Françoise called in briefly.
Christian still breathless and sleeping for at least two ours every afternoon.
Weather:
24° cloud and rain on and off

19.8.14:
Physio this morning and Michel, who sorted my laptop which was running too slowly, for lunch. We'd been given some giant yellow and green courgettes that were just right for stuffing with a spicy chilli.
This evening there was an "apérobio" and Christian and the other blokes came along later. This heavy weather is playing havoc with his breathing so, I was pleased that he was able to make it.
Weather:
26° cloudy

18.8.14:

Today, Elsa and I took advantage of the bus which costs 1€ for any journey within the Département, to go into Perpignan for a bit of shopping. Waited paitently in shops that I wouldn't normally go into while Elsa tried on clothes and melted her plastic card. she wasn't interested in looking at any of the sights and architecture which surprised me for someone who wants to do animation design. Still, our route to the restaurant that I'd earmarked took us passed the Cathederal and Campo Santo, so all was not lost. "Le Figuier" did not disappoint. Reasonably well priced Mediterranean food eaten out on the terrace, shaded by olive trees. My kind of place!
http://www.tripadvisor.fr/Restaurant_Review-g187156-d1141216-Reviews-Le_Figuier-Perpignan_Pyrenees_Orientales_Languedoc_Roussillon.html
Funny how  2 reviews, 2 days apart are so different on Tripadvisor.
Weather:
27° Sun, cloud and a shower of rain

17.8.14:

Coffee at the bar with Jean-Jacques but without Elsa. Fortunately she seems happy enough with her own company doing what ever she does in her room. This afternoon, I did manage to get her out for a walk but she felt that it was too hot, even at 4pm, to walk for more than an hour. still, as you can see, you don't have to go far to get an eyeful of great scenery.
Weather:
27°, sun

Champagne by the Pool

16.8.14:
Valérie et al left this morning for the next stage of their holidays and hoped that they wouldn't get caught up in the endless traffic jams which are an inevitable part of Saturdays during July and August. We, by contrast, only went as far as the market and were lucky enough to get a parking space. Elsa and I wandered around and called in to see Rowena before joining Christian, who, not having found Henri at the café, had been kicking his heels waiting for us.
This afternoon, Elsa and I wandered over to Maggie's again but this time, I didn't go in the pool. Instead, she and I polished off a bottle of champagne for no particular reason, other than it's a very pleasurable thing to do on Saturday afternoon. Walking back with her dogs helped deal with the guilt and extra calories.
Weather:
26°, sun and cloud later

Making Us Proud

Today was a public holiday - the Assumption - funny, that republican, lay France has so many holidays for religious reasons. As usual there was a 10km+ walk and giant paella. Valérie, Hugo, Jean-Jacques, Linda, Elsa and Maureen did the walk, (coming 5th out of 25 teams), while, Christian, Nancy, Nicole, Guilhaume, Emma  and I took the easy option and drove up. On getting back, while the others took it easy, I went off with Roger to Rowena and Cindy's vernissage.
Weather:
26°, overcast

End of a Long Haul

14.8.14:

Took the bus with Elsa, Nancy and Linda to the market. It was pleasant in the sun but there wasn't much to keep us occupied until the bus to go back. It got us back to the village in time for us to go to Michel's for apéritifs with Corinne and Philippe Jean-Jacques, Françoise and Bernard. Once again Elsa gave an invitation a body swerve.
This evening was fun there was an apéritif musicale with a  a really entertaining band from Brest who we're going around small villages with their families, setting up camp and playing for free during the summer holidays. All very travelling circus but without the animals, of course. Not feeling like leaving all the buzz and to celebrate Christian's homecoming, we stayed on at the bar for something to eat.
Weather:
26°, sun and cloud

13.8.14:

A session of physiotherapy then lunch with Nancy by way of a belated birthday treat for me. Christian came home to a warm welcome from Valérie,  having been discharged from Banyuls.
Weather:
24°, rain on and off

12.8.14:
Weather:
26°
Headlines:
Robin Williams committed suicide


11.8.14:

Went for a coffee at the bar this morning on my own as Elsa preferred the company of her tablet to mine. In the afternoon, we walked over to Maggie's for a dip in her pool. Yes, even me! My courage was rewarded by a cool glass of rosé; Elsa was more absteemious. Valérie and family arrived as planned in the early evening. The road had been long and dusty but for the next few days they can take it easy.
Weather:
26°, cloud and sunny spells

En Famille

Took things easy this morning, well that's what you do on a Sunday, isn't it? Christian went for the paper and we then went to the bar for a coffee. We were joined by Martine and she and I had some rosé while Christian stuck to water.
In the afternoon I had to gear up a bit getting organised for the arrival of Christophe et al. Their journey went without problem but after all day in the car, they wanted nothing more than to have a walk after a reviving cuppa.   christian rested and I went with them through the vines. Along the way we came across these friendly creatures which I now know from Maggie who is an expert on all things horsey, are Welsh Cobs.
Dinner and an early night were the only other things on the agenda, so the day ended as it began.
Weather:
26° sunny

Music in the Air

Yesterday was the first day of being a bit more energetic, christian is taking the long way round to collect the paper and I've dusted off the treadmill.
Today, Christian had his evening meeting at the Mairie and I reluctantly attended a meeting for the Congolese education  project. Couldn't wait to get away for the Ist of the season guitar evening in the bar. What would you know, it was warm enough to sit outside!

A Week's Worth

19th August: Rather belatedly, I went for my annual "well woman" check up and all is well except for the weight gain. Called in to see Juste and Joséphine had tea, apéritifs and were invited to stay for something to eat. True to form it was impossible to avoid village politics and true to form discussion was heated but stopped short of a full blown argument. Always, the same rehash  with no change of opinion.  Sadly with élections looming in March next year, it can only get worse! Not sure that my blood pressure will stay as low as it was this afternoon.
20th: Back on the treadmill this morning while listening to "Coffee Break Spanish" and a walk around the village this afternoon. Must keep it up, must keep it up, must, must, must.......
21st: Yes, I did! Just as well as we went to the restaurant for some wine and (very) small plate of tapas. We were still lingering in the cool of the evening with a drop of rosé still in the bottle when the Mayor, his wife and grandaughter arrived and joined us. So, we stayed for something to eat; salad for me and grilled mixed fish for Christian.
22nd: Didn't have time for the treadmill this morning as I had a meeting with the person who's going to be dealing with the membership table on excel. Was she enthusiastic at the prospect? Was she heck as like!!! Christian joined us for a drink in the bar after the language exchange where Terry tried to recruit me for a "Fantasy Football" league. Apparently, you put a team together but not being able to even think of any other name for my hypothetical team than "the No Hopers", he gave up! Result!
23rd: Another funeral at the crematorium this morning and as usual we manged to go all around the
Wreakin to get there. This time it was our friend Josette's sister. Joan (Jean), from the village was there too and he sang two or three songs in Catalan which lightened the mood. Came home and had a rosé at the bar where we were joined by Jean-Jacques. This evening we walked over to André and Jeannine's for dinner. Jean-Jacques had been invited too. It was another international affair with 2 Germans and a Polish/English man who too lives in Germany. Not having much opportunity to speak English, he was delighted to sit opposite me as he didn't speak any French. I walked home with JJ, Christian got a lift. Ended the evening at the bar where there was music and a good atmosphere, it being the Patron's 50th birthday. I remember when he was a lot slimmer and able to climb into our bread oven when he celebrated an earlier birthday in our cave!
24th: For the first time in ages we went to the market as last night Henri had promised us an apéritif.
It wasn't long before we were joined by André, Michelle and the three Germans. They were all due to go to a reception at the Mairie as part of the twinning visit. We resisted André's invitation to join them, prefering to wait for Michel who we hadn't seen for a while.
For the first time in ages, it rained heavily this afternoon though the sun came out again and the communal meal that we were due to go to with some other village folk (not our usual set of friends) to the village that we raised money for after the fires last year wasn't cancelled. One of our number managed to get lost but the rest of us found the tiny hamlet with at least an hour to spare before it was due to start at 9h and it  meant that we could "bag" seats together. By the time that we were served at 9h30 we were well hungry. Still the meal was excellent, chaucuterie, roast chicken, sausage and rabbit in a delicious sauce, dessert, coffee, wine, cava and liquer and all for 12€/head. There were at least 130 people packed into the square. Our presence was toasted and the Mayor was saying that they hope to come to our October Fair, so even though we're not twinned with them, links are being forged. We left at about midnight, leaving the others to the dancing to a live group.
25th: Treadmill, salad lunch and apart from the ironing, we both had a lazy day with not even an apéritif on our terrace at lunch time. Then the new series of "Montalbano" on the French tv ... ahhhhh!

Hot and Busy Days

31st: This evening, the long promised BBQ chez Sandrine and Manu, who both work at the Mairie, arrived. but first of all I went to the restaurant for an "Apérobio".  Nothing other to say about either event  apart from, we ate well and laughed a lot. Oh yes, nearly forgot; next week we're invited to Valerie's who also works at the Mairie, for Round Two. I guess there will be a Round 3 at ours the following week.
1st: There's still wall to wall sunshine and even under the shade of the trees it was warm at the Language Exchange. Had our usual glass of rosé at the bar but came straight home for lunch. This evening we were back at the bar for a musical evening of songs from the 40's and 50's. The terrace was packed with a mostly grey haired audience!
2nd: With so many late nights, the treadmill has gone the way of many good intentions; no, let's say "gone but not forgotten" as I really must get back into action. Christian on the other hand is doing well to keep up his morning walk around the village.
With lovely weather, it was too tempting to stay home so we took ourselves over to the bar for a glass of what else but rosé;  tell a lie, we did start with a coffee. Robert came by and came with us to a local auberge to look at a exhibition of drift wood sculptures done by someone from the village and to have lunch. It's been a long time since we've eaten there and sad to say that the "rapport qualité/prix" is no better than it was when we decided to cross it off our list. Shame, 'cos the people are friendly and as you will have realised, we like to support village establishments.
Spent the afternoon quietly with the fan whirring away until it was time to go to a double vernissage. One in the Mairie and one straight afterwards in the Museum. Met up with Jacques who invited us back for a drink; a nice drop of Balvenie for Christian while he and I polished off the last bottle of Gaillac sparkling wine.

Let the Festivities Begin!

The day was pleasant enough .... Elsa, Frank and Nolwenn went off on an association walk and had to

make do with a picnic lunch. We on the other hand, were able to go over to the bar for an apéritif as Stéphanie made quiche for lunch. Our happy wanderers came back hot and tired but somehow found the energy to go over to the lake for a swim
The village "Festa Major", 3 days of festivities, kicked off this evening but we only went down to see the village's new "Banda" but didn't stay as it was the family's last night and they were planning to be off for 7am. Then it will be a quick turn around for Claudie, Jean-Jacques' sister, tomorrow's overnight visitor.

Summer Skiing

Yesterday was a quiet day apart from feeding 7 of us and then a drink in the bar in the evening. This evening Lone and Jesper organised their 3rd "Danish Challenge" for the association. Being made of stern stuff, we only stopped for 10 minutes when the rain was at its heaviest. potato and spoon race, sack race, three-legged race and summer skiing! Well, there's a dry ski slope in Dubai, so is skiing here any more unlikely? After all the hilarity it was over to the "buvette" for Danish beers. Jean-Jacques had joined us there and came back to eat at the house. Then lo and behold , who should come knocking at the door but Nancy who had just flown in from the States only to find that she didn't have a key to get to her bathroom. so she went in search of the missing key and came back to eat with us.

Sizzling Temeratures

 

Today, was far more interesting, however. Firstly a walk up through the woods with Elsa before it got too hot. She had great fun (trying) to take photos of butterflies that were of course, forever on the move. We were out for over 2 hours and were more than pleased when the bar finally came into view. A long cool drink by the fountain helped as we were both feeling pretty sticky by this point.

Temperatures continue above 30°, so a vernissage in the air - conditioned Mairie allowed us to linger over the apéritif and chat. The expo itself , which wasn't very well attended was pretty ordinary and the artist more like a car salesman in manner than anything else.

Ended the day by going to the restaurant with Michel for a plate of tapas followed by icecream at his house. On the way home we were hijacked by Jacques and his friends and whipped off to a local fiesta which started tonight and goes on until Sunday. Bars, dancing in the streets and lots of good humour. Finally made it to bed at 4am!! Is that anyway for grandparents to behave?



Fresh Mountain Air

Elsa went off with David, Laura and Martine for a day kayaking. She came back exhausted and only had about an hour to snooze before we went up into the mountains for Chritian's surgery. While he was busy (not), we went and saw Annette. A cold drink on her terrace looking out over the wooded mountains was really relaxing and of course, it was cooler than down in the village. Still, beautiful views do not outweigh the isolation of living up a very windy, narrow road, for me. Give me a bar, I mean bakery, within walking distance. Elsa and I then walked back down to the restaurant where we ate heartily without feeling guilty. The menu stays the same, it's just gone up by 50cts which still makes it a great deal. Duck of course for me, Christian had steak and Elsa lamb. Rounded off the evening with a a glass of rosé at the bar then bed before midnight.

Aching Feet

Went out to one of the nearby cafés in the Macarena area for breakfast before going in search of a big open air market. Weather was warm and the road long. Unfortunately as there was a "fun run" on, there were neither buses or taxis to be had. Christian did very well and it was such a relief to see him going farther than for a very long time. By the time we finally found the market which turned out to be a flea market, neither he or Juste were interested in looking around but Joséphine and I did and bought a couple of tops at rock bottom prices. Went into the city centre by taxi as thankfully they were once more available and had lunch not far from the cathedral in a proper restaurant as opposed to a tapas bar.
Our accommodation was less than a 10 minute walk from a huge boulevard surrounded by eating places so the hardest thing we had to do in the evening was to decide which one to choose. Perhaps for Christian it was the walk but he is doing so well and is not complaining.
Well, not out loud anyway!

Home and Away

Yet another public holiday, another long walk and another lunch invitation. This time chez Martine. The last time that we were there, Christian knocked a plate off the wall which broke; this time, he'd not been in the house five minutes when he knocked a plant over! Fortunately there were no breakages. Lunch of Veal Orloff and petites pois with smoked lardons and onions was delicious. The Panne Cotta was great too. Ken and Kathy enjoyed the view from the house, the garden with it's environmentally

friendly pool, Martine's company and of course, the food.

This evening it was my turn to play host. Jean and Françoise, Juste and Joséphine came around for an apéritif dinatoire. Despite some language difficulties, the evening flowed and a good cultural exchange was had by all!

Two of a Kind

After all the gastronomic excess, Ken, Kathy and I finally took a bit of excercise; a Sunday stroll out from the village into the country for a good hour and a half. Lush vegetation, mountain views, a saffran farm, chickens and rain at the end. Not that that mattered, we had indoor plans for the rest of the day. first of all, lunch with Eamon and Liz, Scottish friends who are staying nearby on holiday. What a lunch ... asparagus wrapped in serrano, huge amounts of steak which Christian cooked and .....  huge amounts of wine served by Eamon à la Christian. We were having such a good time, with lots of laughs and a few reminiscences about the people that we used to work with that it was 6pm before we knew it and time to go.

It was then on to James and Beverley's for an apéritif but we didn't stay for too long ... don't let it be said that we can't take a hint!

Welcome Break

Cousins from New Zealand arrive at the end of the week so the past few days I've been trying to get things in order. Yesterday was no exception so it was a welcome change when Jean and Françoise turned up bearing oysters from Arcachon for Christian. The least that we could do was to offer an apéritif and after a moment's hesitation (there are still things to do in the house) we said "yes" to a day out in memory of José, an old anarchist friend, who died a few years ago. It was tradition to go with him to La Bisbal on May Day to wander around the market there and have lunch by the sea.

The weather was with us today which is a public holiday and we spent a most agreeable time first at the market where we didn't buy anything despite looking hard and then had lunh in Llafranc overlooking the sea. Afterwards Françoise and I went for a walk along the coastal walkway which gave lovely views over the sea. Then it was onto Crüells and Monells, two medieval villages which Jean and Françoise had never visited. All in all a pretty good day.

Christmas Morn

Had a late start followed by a walk by the sea. Lunch was all well provisioned seafood platter which kept us going all day.

101 Things to do with a Giant Squash!

It was a bit cold and grey this morning when we set off for a "boules" tournement in the grounds of our favourite restaurant "Mas Salelles". José and Dolores always make us welcome and feed us well and this time even gave a prize. The most enormous squash which lent itself to alot of hilarity but which no doubt will end up as soup. It was a fun day rounded off with a drink at Gaby and Robert's when we drove them home.