4 Public Holidays and 2 Traditional Days

May 2026: 

 

 I recognise the Sink but not the Outfit!

 

 

 May kicked off as usual with tradition (gifts of lily of the valley) and a public holiday (May Day) on the 1st. Other public holidays followed with V.E. Day on the 8th, Ascension on the 14th, and Whit Monday on 25th. Two Fridays and a Monday giving workers a long weekend and a Thursday when companies and individuals ofter take a "pont" (bridge) thus prolonging the weekend.

Not everyone's idea of an enticing meal, five of us went off to Reynes for a "Cargolade", i.e., snails cooked on the bbq. On the other hand, they're much appreciated by the Catalans who even have a Brotherhood in the tradition of winemakers.

Twinning Visit: Eat, drink and be merry!

The main village event of the month was the 3 day visit from our Normandy twin town. Copious communal meals, visits to local places of interest, an official exchange of warm words and gifts all contributed to an atmosphere of conviviality. Enjoyed having Bruno, Christine and Agnès, who I've known since the resurrection of the twinning association, to stay. Our turn to visit them next year. 

The First "Café Rencontre" off to a Good Start

Was pleased that my idea for an informal monthly get together over a coffee was taken on board  by Cyrielle, the part time community worker. The café being closed on a Wednesday, the owners were happy to let us use their tables and chairs. Besides the folk above, there were others who dropped in including some cyclists on the green cycle route that passes through the village. Coffee, teas, juices are provided and participants bring something sweet (optional).

May's Exhibition

 

Open Mike at the Bar

 

Geneviève's Farewell BBQ in the Midday Heat of Jacques' Terrace

 

Yet another depart from the village, we said goodbye to Geneviève who is going to live near her son in Brittany.

  

  

 Just a couple of Get Togethers with Friends at the Bar

 

There were of course a number of others chez des amis especially as Michel had a series of house guests to entertain. 

 

My dessert for Lunch chez Jacques 

 

A Day out in Perpignan with Suzanne and Liz 

 

Yes, we really did go on the Little Train around the town. Not just the  tourist sites but also the Quartier St Jacques which in Medieval times was the Jewish Quarter now its the "quartier gitan." We had coffee at the Café Catalogne and lunch at the Figuier over which we caught up with all our respective plans and remininced about happy times in Scotland. 

  

 Ready for a Picnic over the Border

 

Une belle Surprise!

 

On arriving in La Jonquera to go for a cheap and cheerful lunch, we fell upon these old cars that had been on a rally. I didn't bother taking a photo of more than one of the several modern "luxury" cars. They just don't cut it!

 

 Another Lovely Surprise!

 

After endless complaints, the Mairie was finanlly forced to deal with the lamentable state of our street after a low slung car tore up two access covers and surrounding tarmac. At least the humps, bumps and pot holes have gone but it's only been resurfaced with tar and gravel rather than tarmac which is sheduled way down the road (sorry!).  And it would be churlish to complain about all the loose chippings that come into the house, wouldn't it?

 

 

Cherries, Cherries Everywhere. 'Tis the Season! 

 

 Nature Notes:

 

Full Moon instead of a Sunset this Month 

Weather: Daytime Max 38°, Min 18°   Night Time Max 22°, Min 8°

P.S. The second traditional day? If you've been counting, is Mothering Sunday. That's right, another thing that Britain does differently; 

Tradition never Changes

April 2026

I spent such a long time on the last post that I wondered why on earth I was keeping this up especially as I'm running out of steam. Even though there's plenty going on, it's a pretty routine life I live, doing much of the same every month. So, being reluctant to abandon "Chitchat" completely, it's time to scale back; a few photos and the odd comment here and there should do it.

 1st: Poisson Avril/April Fool's Day

Stick a fish on the back of some unsuspecting person. Our street just stuck fish on our doors like we do every year. 

 

 

 

Goigs and Pascal Omelette

A Catalan tradition that's kept alive in the village. 470 eggs and other provisions were collected for the Easter omelette during the time that the group sang it's way around the village. Donors were invited to dine on Easter Monday.

23rd April Sant Jordi/George in Figueres, Patron Saint of Catalunya & England. 

Tradition specifies that you give a book or a rose and of course tell children the story of George and the Dragon.

Fête de  Sant Jordi in the Village

 

 

A Concert Followed 

It included Catalan songs from two Catalans and a Frenchman. Pilar, by the way, is the woman that I have an English/Spanish language exchange.

 

This Month's Exhibition 

Joseph Maureso's Exhibition in Bages. All a bit strange.  

A Day Trip to Barcelona  with Michel, Kob and their friends Emon & Thierry from Amiens 

A Successful "English" Breakfast with Four French People  

 

 One of the Month's Restaurant Meals with JJ, Michèle & Henri at the Jardin de Céret

 

One of the Month's Apéros with Patrick, Florence, Thierry, Emon, Michel & Éric at the Figueres Market Café 

 

One of the Month's "Chez des Amis" (Michel) ; JJ, Jacques aka The Three Musketeers 

The Old Cork Oak in the Guinness Book of Records

Driven by neighbour Nicole and guided by Michel we found the tree situated in the Commune of Reynes. It's 21m high with a circumference of  5m. 

Odds and Ends: 

Michel and Kob arrived from Thailand, Eve from Chicago was in the village complete with her flute, Françoise had a bad fall, I'm still doing an English session with Lisa, a Spanish/English exchange with Pilar and not getting enough exercise!  

Nature in April:

 

 Chez Moi

 

In the Village  

In Vallespir

In Figueres

 

A Post is Never Complete  without a Sunset

Weather:

Daytime Max: 30°, :Min: 11° 

Night Time Max: 18°, Min: 7° 

Showers  

February 2026 and the Days are getting Longer

1.2.26: No comment!

 

The Galettes des Rois are forgotten until January next year having been replaced by crêpes. You wouldn't know that Lent started in the middle of the month; no sign of abstinence here. Gone are days when I was a kid and gave up chocolate. 

In recognition of a bit of cultural balance, the Chinese New Year of the Horse fell 17th. Both the café and restaurant reopened and is our tradition, JJ, Martine, Jacques & Suzette were there for the latter.

I won't bother you with the usual round of meal, apéros and coffees with friends but here are other meals of note: 

  

Ann's 80th 

Chinese Meal followed by Champagne for Michèle's Birthday

 

 

 

 

Delicious Chicken & King Prawns at the Village Hall to raise Funds for the forthcoming Twinning Visit

 

There were 7 of us at our table with the remaining 3 being filled by the man standing in opposition to the Maire, and his Mum ( I've studiously ignored her until now for a remark she was said to have made about Christian 17 years ago; mon dieu!) and a woman who's not unpleasant but presents as wishy washy and uninteresting even though she volunteers at a food bank and charity store. Nothing for it but to concentrate on our copious meal and the bottles of wine that kept coming while trying not to become embroiled in the political swiping.   

Yes, municipal elections are upon us after 6 years of the current Maire's term of office. Leaflets, candidates on the stump, political meetings watching who's in a huddle with whom and bated breathes to see who's on the 3 lists (of 23 people that must respect male/female parity) to join battle for the Mairie for the next 6 years.

 

Good timing. The Municipal Library (open for 2h Wed am, 2h Thurs after school hours and 3h on a Sat am) was inaugurated at the end of the month giving the Maire the chance to meet prospective voters. With the President of the Communité des Communes and two members of the Conseil Départemental in support, he was able to tell those in attendance, what a good job he's been doing. An apéritif  (or two) on offer, there was a respectable turnout.

 

  

There's more to village life than political manoeuvringsI've been involved in the EvS (Éspace de Vie Sociale). It aims to increase social integration and reduce isolation through workshops, networking and other activities. First off a small group of us with the help of a co ordinator, shared 50:50 with Céret, worked on a Charter for users and those offering activities. Here's hoping it will take off. Already there are sewing and knitting groups, both of which have as their base an action to benefit others. Of course, there's help with personal projects if need be a cuppa, biscuits and plenty of chat as well. 

 

As well as continuing a weekly English conversation session with my Japanese friend, Lisa, I've now started a Spanish/English exchange with Pilar.  Feminist, singer/guitarist she already speaks English quite well and is ready to come from Céret to mine on a weekly basis. Not only that, Pilar speaks Catalan, Spanish, French and German as well which she used to teach until she retired. It's not hard to see who's getting the better deal!!uess who's getting the best deal!

 

 All's well, on the health front; just some dental work and haven't put on any weight. Downside is, I haven't lost any despite needing to.

One screen or another is ever present in my life. Having abandoned my original cloud storage provider as too expensive, for Microsofr 365, I soon realised it had not been a good move. Couldn't get to grips with it and found Copilot trying to take over my life. But where else to go? 

The computer bunny burrowed its way into my brain and took me down, the "I must clear my phone of so many photos as google keeps telling me that I'm maxing out my free storage allowance, rabbit hole". It was a very deep rabbit hole and the hours spent hardly made a dent. Once again, I had to go for broke by tagging, editing, collaging and organising. OTT to say the least.

I need to try and keep a rein on my obsessive behavior. Too many very late nights bingeing on box sets can be added to the list. Even my neighbour opposite as commented on the light being on when she gets up in the middle of the night. 

 

I did watch "Hamnet" and Bill Nighy in "Hope Gap" (known as "Goodbye" in France) which were several steps up from my usual fare. I should add I didn't watch Hope Gap in either German or French but of course, in English.

 

 As for the weather. There have been wild swings of temperature with very little rain. It was colder at the end of the month (11°H, 6°L) than at the beginning (16°H, 9°L) having reached the dizzy heights of 24° and the lowest nighttime temperature of 4°. 

But there are signs of better things to come.

Nature Notes: 

Two Turtle Doves

 

  

So, all that remains is for me to leave you with a couple of anecdotes:

1. 1st February is National Yorkshire Pudding Day. Who knew that?

2. 27th February Neil Sedaka died aged 86. Who remembers him?