A Day for Us

Well nearly ... a few things to do for the Association and the web site before we went off to Spain to buy booze, some paint which is much, much cheaper than in France and to have lunch. We ate well overlooking the river and then had a short stroll to look at the ducks and geese. Ah the simple things in life .... This evening Christian has a meeting at the Mairie and then we're invited to Joëlle and Michel's to eat and catch up with cousin Daniel.

Finally!

Those of you who have visited will be pleasantly surprised when you see how the middle cave has finally been done up. I'm just delighted that at last it's presentable, the bric à brac of life is relatively tidy and there's lots less dust. The downside has been that a mamonth clean up after all the work has had to be done in the pub. It's 2/3 complete so all will be spick and span for our first summer visitors. In between times life has ticked over with nothing extrordinary happening.

Flower Power

I just love this time of year. The weather is warm enough to have a glass of wine on the terrace, the swallows are zooming around and the poppies are in full bloom. They're my favourite flower; now, I wonder what that means?
No sooner said than Google can come up with the answer....
The flower symbolism associated with poppies is beauty, magic, consolation, fertility and eternal life. The Egyptians included poppies at funerals and in burial tombs. The Greeks used poppies in the shrines of Demeter, goddess of fertility, and Diana, goddess of the hunt. Poppies denote sleep, rest and repose. In modern times, poppies have been associated with Flanders fields as an emblem of those who died in World War I.
In Chinese Art poppies
represent the loyalty and faith between lovers. Acording to Chinese legend, a beautiful and courageous woman, Lady Yee, was married to Hsiang Yu, a warrior with Herculean strength. When Hsiang led his troops into battle, Lady Yee chose to follow him and stood by his side in every battle.
During a long and arduous war, Hsiang's army was surrounded and defeat is imminent. Lady Yee tried to boost his spirits by dancing with his sword. The petals of the poppy flower reflect her spirit as she dances in the wind with the sword. When this attempt failed, Lady Yee committed suicide. A cluster of poppies sprang in full bloom from her gravesite.
Take your pick !

Cherry Red

Earlier in the week a basket of cherries was sent, as tradition demands, to our esteemed President. We plebs were able to buy them at 4€/kilo in the market. Seems there is an abundance this year, that is if it doesn't rain.

Parades and Serenades

8th of May and another public holiday when parades take place all over France. Today commemorates the end of the 2WW in Europe so it was up to our sister village where the Flame of Liberty shone bright . The gentleman on the left is 88 years old and heavily decorated including the Legion of Honour. He's a real charmer as are many of the "anciens combattants" I've met at these occasions. Speeches, a minute's silence, the Marsaillaise and the Partisans'Song which would bring a lump to anyone's throat, elevenses at the auberge then it was back down again for more of the same. Another apéritif and lunch chez Claude's in the mountains which is where the serenade part comes in. Now at last, the blog is bang smack up to date but for how long that's the question ....

The Usual Stuff

Association committee meeting, the Mairie, the delivery of the isothermic curtains for the Nest, all riveting stuff. feeling pleased that I'm getting on top of my "to do" list and managed to please people with the revamped "home page" of the Associations web site.
7th MayThe language exchange moved outside in view of the better weather and Anne's idea of us taking tapas to the bar afterwards was a good one. Tea chez Jany in the afternoon as I had to return our medieval costumes and then Dominique and Marylise came for an apéritif that lasted until after 11pm.

1st Monday

Another of life's little rituals as we headed up into the mountains for Christian's surgery. Once gain there were only the two of us for dinner and once again I went for the duck.

Slothful Sunday

Tore ourselves away from our respective computers to have a glass of wine at the bar. Joined Kathy and friends of hers on the terrace and just enjoyed the sun. I can't tell you how good it is not to be organising something.

1st Barbeque

Of course it was market day today so Saturday was off to it's usull start. Quite a lot more people in the market with lots of English voices discernable. In the afternoon started to catch up with the backlog of reports for the village web site so my desk is starting to look clearer and the list more managable. i suppose when that's all taken care of I'll need to tackle the ironing.
In the afternoon we had asurprise invitation from Michel to see "Twighlight" with he and Joëlle. Much publicised here, it wouldn't normally have been a film I would have wanted to go and see but I was actually pleased I did and it was in English. Finished off with bbq sausage and red wine.

May Day

A public holiday and we headed off with Jean and Françoise for a day out. Stopped off in Figueres for a coffee where there was a specialist food street market. Lots of chacuterie, honey, cakes etc. much better than the food fair we went to last month. However, our goal was La Bisbal where there's a huge street market. The trip was something of a hommage to our mutual friend José and continued down to Llafranc for lunch by the sea. Just look at how blue it is.