Fingers crossed that Chitchat will contine to see the light of day

 2025

As those of you who've dipped in and out of Chitchat over the years know, I'm often looking for a new, more interesting format and always saying that I'm going to keep things up to date . . . and so 2025 starts with no posts since July and another resolution to streamline Chitchat so that I can keep on top of things; starting from now (19th Jan)!

1.1.25:

 

After walking up from the village, 10 of us (including 2 Germans, an Austro/American and a Brit) saw the New Year in chez Linde until 3am.

 

Good to have some fresh air on the walk to Nicole's for lunch with an English and a Dutch couple.

2.1.25:

Entertained Dominique & Marilyse to tea and Christmas Cake

No words necessary

3.1.25:

A fire in the centre of the village left a woman and her child and two single women homeless. Needless to say, the Mairie found accommodation for them and people rallied round with donations of clothes, bedding etc.

 

My first mimosa of the season

4.1.25:

 

A goodly number of us trailed behind the young, knowledgable guide as he put the turn of the 20th century photos displayed in situ, into context. An apéritif followed and the crowd swelled! Sadly, a couple of days later, the main display was minus two photos.

Later: cooked dinner for 5 of us.

5.1.25:

Cavalcade at Figueres celebrating the arrival of the 3 Kings. Bright, colourful, busy and noisy.

6.1.25:

 

JJ, Jacques & Suzette for dinner

Epiphany, the day when the Spanish give gifts and the day  when the French eat a galette des Rois. Find the ceramic token in your slice and get the crown. This time it was JJ.

8.1.24:

The Mayor presented his New Year wishes; that's to say a round up of all the wonderful things the Mairie had done last year and all the wonderful things they'll be doing in the coming year. An apéritif followed with numerous galettes to tickle the taste buds. Mine remained untickled!

9.1.25:

The neighbours came for a long awaited curry evening chez moi. Anna brought dessert . . . a galette fait maison . . . a bit off piste but Geneviève enjoyed being crowned.

10.1.25:

AGM of the twinning association which I left before they could bring out the galettes; dinner at JJ's awaited me. There were 3 desserts and you'd be right if you thought they were galettes; yes, all 3!

Tonight's sunset

11.1.25

Took my kettle along to the newly established monthly "Repair Shop"  but there were no miracles . . . it was kaput! At least I can now dump it with a clear conscience.

 

 

12.1.25:

Impromptu lunch chez Jacques

 

Galettes; there were 2, chez Nicole later on

 

13.1.25:

 

First meeting of the knitting group. So far 4 members; plenty of talking but only me knitting. 

 

 

15.1.25:

Geneviève and Nicole came round for tea and to watch the Netflix film "Emily Perez". Left us with plenty to talk about afterwards.

 17.1.25

 

 Au café with Jean & Françoise

 18.1.25:

 

 

Dinner chez JJ who's starting to get into cooking.

Dessert was a belated Xmas pud (M&S) with a rum butterscotch sauce (me).

 

19.1.25:

Impromptu lunch chez Jacques after our regular Sunday Kaffeeklatsch. 

Who knew I had a smattering of German, eh?

  20.1.25:

 

An afternoon walk under cloudy skies, which happen here, too

 

A light apéro before the dinner I'd prepared for Jacques. Well, I have to show willing from time to time. Even made Cream of Jerusalem Soup to start and tried a new chilli recipe. Enough of both left over to see me through the next couple of days.

21.1.25:

 This afternoon's walk out of the village, which was like the Camps Élysées, reminded me why I prefer the treadmill downstairs. While meeting people and chatting is pleasant, it does interrupt the rhythm and therefore the cardiac benefits. Think I'll need to alternate; fresh air and nature + audio Spanish lesson + interruptions with interior + next episode of the current subtitled series I'm watching and a better workout.

22.1.25:

 

Out of bed early enough to see the sunrise on Canigou

 

25.1.25:

Lunch at Martine's is always something to look forward to. First off, apéros on the terrace. Such a great cook (see the soufflé starter) and an attentive host.  She always includes my favourite "Époisses" on the cheese board when I'm invited, keeps the bottles coming and puts on a good spread. The prunes preserved in Armagnac with the coffee were the finishing touch. 

 

By which time the sun was setting and there was just enough light to set off on the much needed walk home.

27.1.25: 

 

Have taken myself back to Duolingo Spanish; progress is slow but there are moments when I go up through the promotion zone.

31.1.25:

A good lunch chez Michèle & Henri made an agreeable end to the month.

Nature Notes:

Mimosa and broom brought a welcome splash of colour and snow on Canigou reminded us that despite the sunshine, blue skies, no rain to speak of and a clear view of the full "wolf" moon, it was winter. 

 

You'd never know that it's Winter

December 2023: Good News, Good Deeds and plenty of Good Cheer

 

The last calendar image brings you a bonus. Not one but two trips to Egypt. 

 

 

In January 1987 I spotted a bargain long weekend in Cairo in the travel agent's window so MaryKate and I seized the opportunity to have some exoticism in the sunshine and off we went. A visit to the Museum, the Citadel, Giza pyramids and the Sphinx on horseback, the Sakkara stepped pyramid, Khan al - Kalili souk and of course we also checked out some bars and restaurants, trying Ful medames for the first time.

 

 

By way of a pat on the back for starting up the Ra's Gharib plant on time against expectations in 1989, Total offered the team an all expenses paid cruise on the Nile. For us it also included 3 nights in the Cairo Meridien, my flights from Glasgowto Cairo. Merci Total for such a treat. Outstanding sights, great experience, faultless organisation that brought a touch of luxury and a far cry from work and everyday life.

 

1.12.23:

 

First the good news; a routine MRI came back clear of any nasties and I did Wordle in 1 for the first time! According to reddit that's a 1: 150,000 chance. I also won a prize of electronic kitchen scales, a silicone loaf pan, a bottle of avocaat and of sour cherry liquer, chocolate lined wafer dessert cups and some recipes, in the Téléthon raffle. Coals and Newcastle spring to mind but have to admit, winning was nice.

 

Good deeds were centred primarily around the annual Téléthon fundraiser. For pleasure there was a 2.5km walk around the village starting and ending at the Mairie for which there was an entry fee of 3€ or more if you wished. Lovely to see families and adults of all ages and stages participating in a non competitive event and there was coffee and mini croissants at the end. Less pleasurable was helping out serving tea and cakes on the Saturday afternoon. Along with drawing the raffle, the main event was to be a cascade of dominoes which had taken ages to set up by a young man from the next village who is a national champion. Sods law and all that, didn't someone bump into the finished structure and send them flying in all directions five minutes before the "pièce de résistance". The young man kept his cool and we all clapped extra long and hard to make up for the disappointment.

Closer to home, I fed Nicole's cat of 17 years over the Christmas period; she sleeps most of the day. Kept my fingers croseed that nothing untoward would happen; what would I have done with the 

body!!

And so to the cheer which was plentiful. Morning coffees and afternoon teas here, there and every where but the only place there was a log fire to add to the cheer, was here in the village. JJ cried off coming to the "meet the artist" coffee and sweet things afternoon at Michel & Sandrine's to showcase the work of Jean Hellemans. It was very colourful but not a fit for me. Felt awkward at first as there were so few of us and I was way out of my comfort zone but luckly, I managed to join in the conversation before too long. It made up for me missing this month's vernissage in the village.

 

Meals chez Jacques, Anna & Gérard and Jean & Françoise. I did dinner here for Jacques and an apéritif dinatoire for Jean's birthday.

 

There were restaurants, too (when aren't there?) . . . Le V.I.P. in Perpignan with Nicole, Les Trabucayres in the Commune by way of a thank you for hosting the Germans, Les Abeilles with JJ, Daniel and Maud, Cal la Francisqueta in Llers with Nicole, Patrick and Martine and La Source with Pat in Céret. 

Came across this fabulous house in Perpignan as Nicole and I were walking back to get our bus. How I'd love to visit and have a tisane with Monsieur Poirot!

 Christmas, of course, brought its own cheer. A "Secret Santa" evening in the café and the Christmas market with a choir after which there was a samba band that heralded fireworks at the recreation ground. 

 

As usual, there was the pensioners' Christmas box, decorations in the village and I made a last minute Christmas cake on 22nd which was delish; I should know, I ate a good part of it! No more Delia for me. This was every bit as good and it cooked in 1h30! 

 

Martine came round to mine on Christmas Eve for fizz, foie gras, smoked salmon and other canapés; not a peanut or olive to be seen! 

Linde came for an apéritif on Christmas morning before I went over to Ann and Terry's for lunch of Beef Wellington etc, etc.

Boxing Day which doesn't exist here and is a work day, I spent on my own, the highlight of which was lunch in the sun on the terrace and a piece of Christmas cake at tea time.

 

idn't fancy the New Year's Eve bash in the village hall so I was happy to accept Gérard & Anna's invitation to join them. I was on apéros . . . 

• Nigella's Poinsettia Cocktail which looked very festive with the sprig of rosemary garnish

• Beetroot and Goat's Cheese Cream Verrines

• Smoked Salmon Toasts

• Delia's Cheese and Sesame & Poppy Seed Twists

It was an international table where French, English, Catalan and Spanish were spoken between the six of us (+ Nicole, Alvaro and Mercedes), lots of laughs, plenty to drink and more than enough to eat (foie gras, duck, chestnuts, sautéed ceps and potatoes, cheese and fruit salad). In bed for 3h45.

December's Notes of Nature:

And there was the most spectacular sunset. One evening I missed the bus back to the village. But as they say ... every cloud has a silver lining or in this case, a red and golden one. I witnessed a fabulous sunset while I was waiting for the next bus. 

 

 

 Awesome!

 

Weather:

1st Dec: 12° ; 31st 16°. Reached 22° with a damping of rain. storage heater went on on 3rd. Never so late

Hot, Hot, Hot!

 August 2023

Easter Islands; never been nor likely, to! I always remember watching Alan Wicker, decades ago,  doing a series following a super luxury cruise ship on a round the world trip. There were people who said " and we've got Stonehenge" and others who opted out of this part of the trip in favour of staying in Sydney. No accounting .  . ., eh?

"The month of August had turned into a griddle where the days just lay there and sizzle." (Sue Monk Kidd) How right she was! Temperatures reached well over 40° during the day and nights registered at least 25°. Nothing else to do but close the shutters, keep cool and party in the evening.

I'm writing this in the middle of November; it's still unseasonably warm. 23° yesterday. I'm still struggling with trying to find a way to keep Chitchat up to date and keepit interesting. This catch up will give you a snapshot with little detail (do I hear a sigh of relief?) so sorry if it's all a bit two dimensional. 

My only escapes from the village were to La Jonquera to top up on cheaper alcohol, 

to Figueres for the market with Michel who's here outside Dali's birthplace which is due to open soon to visitors. Yes, that is a snail on Dali's

head.

And to Empuriabrava and Gruissan for lunch with friends.

Obviously we've been much taken with the water restrictions so I'm still saving washing up, shower and vegetable water and thankfully I only lost a couple. The jasmine is looking scorched but I'm hopeful that it will come back when I give it a good prune. Not sure that the thousands of tourists are aware or even care about the situation.

 

Of course, cacti around the village have thrived!

 

And amazingly there are other spots of colour, too.

 

The area has also been on high alert of fire risk with outside fire fighters stationed at key points just in case. There was only one major fire which involved 600 fire fighters dealing with a fire around St André raged over 1,500 acres. In solidarity, their German twin town came with a donation of 18,800 Euros to go toward replanting and individual grants for those affected. 

 

How quickly time flies, it's already over a year since Maggie died, so at  Trevor's request, Jo and Chris organised a commemorative meal at their place. Went a bit earlier to lend a hand and stayed on at the end, too to help clear up. About 25 of us including the local who I found had a Scottish mother and was a fan of the gorgeous Jamie Fraser aka Outlander. Now, that was a surprise! Pimms was on offer and with it came another surprise .. it can be bought in La Jonquera and was soon to become my new "go - to" apéro.

 

 

Needless to say, food and drink figured high on the list of this month's activites. Chez des amis, notably at Jacques', Jean and Françoise's, at Michel and Michelle's down in Empuriabrava where of the 8 of us around the table, 50% were called Michel(le)! But most of all, I was at Michel's in the village. too many times to enumerate. Mojito's often kicked off the meal and conversation flowed. 

Now armed with all the ingredients, on occasion, I made Pimm's which, while a pleasant summer drink, was pretty tame in comparison even though I swapped the lemonade for cava.

I, too did some hosting, primarily by way of apéritif dinatoires or a more simple apéritif as a precursor for Michel and his guests before going on to his for dinner.

Not quite so many restaurants. This one in the village with Nancy and JJ, a couple of times at Michel's favourite in Figueres, in Llers and tapas at the bar.

As usual there were a number of village wide organised meals but I gave those a miss apart from the 30th Anniversary meal to celebrate our twinning with Bretteville in Normandy. Far too much to eat and drink but the ambience was lively and I was in such a good mood that I stayed on to help clear up!

Coffees and/or apéros with Nancy who was here from the States for 3 weeks, became almost a daily ritual. There was also an influx of second home owners who gravitated to the café on a regular basis. All ruing the day that Brexit was voted in and some of them had even voted for it. No comment!

Music was on offer often twice a week at the bar and at the weekend down at the recreation ground. The best evening was when Michel appeared with Pierre. They livened up the square with their music (Hendrix, Stones etc) and the loud appreciation of their numurous followers who were there to listen, eat tapas and drink wine.

On the domestic front, my new internet provision was installed without problem and glad to say that, while streaming can have its blips, it is better and cheaper than what I had with Orange. It came with a booster and tv, too.

 

Despite eating out so much, shopping still needed to be done. Just look at the price of British products in a nearby supermarket. Why would anyone spend that much especially as some can be found much, much cheaper over the border.

Talking of over the border and consumerism. What about these chairs at the market café?

It was too hot to go walking so I contented myself with some treadmill sessions. Not enough though, to make up for the time spent on the sofa watching catchup tv and generally foutering around. 

It wasn't all hedonism though. I translated the restaurant's menu into English and had a weekly English conversation session with Lisa. There was no vernissage this month as the current exhibition continued throughout August but there was the summer meeting of the literature group set up by Jacques and Yaneth; I just listened.  And on that note, I'll leave you with some celestial images.