Blue Monday

Apparently, today is the day of the year that the most people feel down; Christmas is gone, spent out at the sales and spring seems a long way off. Well not in this house, folks. The only thing blue is the sky. At lunch time we played guinea pig as Françoise tried out a new recipe for a tagine which was delicious. I'll let the arrangement of the bottles on the photo pass without comment!

Sunny Sunday

Lovely blue skies and it feels warmer but loads of ironing that has been lurking around since way before Christmas has taken precedence and of course catching up with the blog. Time has gone so quickly since the last post - the language exchange on Thursday, Perpignan on Friday morning for my annual check up (all continues to be well), Philippe, Danielle and Nancy for dinner in the evening and the market yesterday where we met Jean and Françoise for a drink. So life continues much as normal as we go into a new week.

A Wee Find

As Christian spent all day and evening at the Mairie yesterday, we made good our escape for a day out. A wander around Figueres in the sunshine full of hope that might find some bargains in the sales. We didn't find anything to buy but on our way back to the car we noticed some publicity for a new restaurant and when we found it we weren't disappointed. Imaginative food which was well presented, pleasant surroundings with a verandah that over looks the river and all for 18€ including wine.

No excuses!

Harry has done it again. What on earth does he have for a brain? Almost as sickening were the interviews with the BBC's royal reporter Fitzwilliams and some woman who's written a book about the princes. So sychophantic it made me want to throw up. Just good fun, bah humbug!

As you can see by the time evening came spirits have lifted. An apéritif dinatoire chez Jean-

Jacques and Michelle was enjoyed by all. If you look carefully you can see the third galette des Rois that we've eaten in less than a week. Funny how the blokes all ended up on one side and the women on another.

Deposed!

At last today there are blue skies but we've no great desire to venture forth into the outside world. We did that yesterday with a visit to the supermarket (boring), to the auberge for lunch ( the lazy option) and to Juste and Joséphine's (not boring) to eat more "Galette de Rois". This time it was Philippe who was king and I've returned to being a mere pleb. Ah well, it was ever thus. Joséphineinvited some of us who'd supported her during the Téléthon - Philippe and Françoise, Joëlle and Michel, Nicole, Katy and Martine. I can assure you that I had a better time than the photo would suggest! Arrived home at 9.30pm as the galette was followed by pizza.

This week Andy and Maureen introduced us to the delights of "Skype" but so far we've only managed to speak to them and my sister Jill. It's great fun to see the other person as long as you don't mind them seeing you looking dishevelled. Does anyone else use Skype????

Once again Christian went into the breach. He'd just cut off the water and taken a tap apart when there was an urgent call for him to stand in for the Maire at an AGM of an Association. Off he went and said a few well chosen words off the cuff. He's definitely getting into politician mode!

Beware Husbands Bearing Gifts!

If you need a bit of liver, a new kidney or bone marrow, if it comes from your husband just make sure that he doesn't want it back or be compensated if you divorce. No surprises that the story comes from the States. No surprises either that with this cold weather people are dying on the streets or that events in Gaza are reaching an all time low in the inhumanity stakes.
Chez nous life is banal in comparison and i feel almost ashamed to write about it.
It's cold here and trying to snow, Christian has been at the Mairie all day yesterday and this morning and I've been to have tea with Nancy who's over from the States, been to the Language Exchange and had Rowena here for dinner, ( a bit of an exaggeration we had soup, albeit a substantial one!) bed and breakfast. The fridge is empty again but the supermarket can wait until tomorrow

Three Wise (?) Men

So far this week there have been three meetings for Christian, two social engagements and one day of snow. Monday evening we braved the cold to go to Brian and Danièle's for mulled wine and English conversation then Tuesday we braved the snow to go to Joëlle's for a slice of "Galette de Rois" and a glass of cava or cup of tea. This tart of almond paste is traditionally eaten at the Epiphany and who ever finds the charm in their slice becomes king/queen for the day. Start tugging your forelocks and bending your knees it was me! Joëlle invited several elderly neighbours so we were 6 women ( Andrée, Germaine, Juliette, Conchita) and appropriately enough, 3 men ( Geronomi, Christian, Michel) and the camels were abandoned in favour of huskies and sledges. Should we be starting to worry that we're being included with the old folk?

Just call me Rudolph!

Picked up the threads of normality with a visit to a much reduced market and much needed visit to the hairdressers for a double booking. In the evening we were invited to Jean and Françoise's along with Linde, for an apéritif; I don't know whether it was the punch or the still burning embers of Christmas spirit but Christian and Françoise gave us all a real laugh. Jean refused to put on the antlers feeling that his monster slippers with red claws were enough while Linde and I could only look on and wonder!

Révillon

30th Dec - 2nd Jan:

Loaded up the car putting in a couple of rugs in case we should get caught in blizzards but it was a prcaution too far; the skies were blue and there were no problems on the road to St Gaudens, 2h.30 from here. Found Pascale's ( Christian's 2nd cousin) house easily enough and were made welcome by Janine (Christian's 1st cousin with whom he grew up for the first five years of his life) and Pierre and Laurie (Pascale's kids). On the 31st we went into the neighbouring village for a walk around and lunch at the local Logis de France. Then it was home to organise for the evening meal which was shared with Marie and her daughter Celia. By chance it was a rerun of Christmas with oysters, smoked salmon, foie gras and turkey!

New Year's day was spent quietly especially by me as I took to my bed with an upset stomach. Came home after lunch on the 2nd and settled in by the fire for a quiet evening.

Bonne Année!

Happy New Year to Everyone where ever you may be. The blog is one year old today and what a lot has happened. We hope that you enjoy reading our ramblings which give an idea of what life is like for us. There's nothing very profound but hey, that's life chez nous. Our invitation to visit stands, don't wait to be asked ..... have a healthy and peaceful 2009 et à bientôt!