At a Slower Pace

While Mum and Maureen went to Mass, we went to the bar for a coffee and not wanting to miss out on their daily fix of either Muscat or Banyuls, they came to join us once they'd breakfasted on the croissants that Christian had bought them. No, they weren't a Sunday treat, he's been getting them everyday. No wonder Mum thinks he's a nice guy! Believe it or not, we ate at home this lunch time 'confit de canard'. All this activity meant that a siesta was called for before we could think of going out again. As you can see from the photo, the weather wasn't as bright as it has been so we just went to the lake and had a stroll around, stopping near the restaurant on the way by to watch a tea dance in progress. Another apéro in the bar before eating at home. Please note, that's twice in one day!

Home Grown Tourists

Another crowded market day and after getting our two charges fixed up with fans, Christian and I left them to their own devices. We wandered around the town like tourist's and like tourists we had our photo taken in front of the fountain. Mum and Maureen didn't manage to get lost so arrived at the appointed time at the bar for an apéritif. Weather still warm and sunny so we decided to go the restaurant of a nearby campsite and eat there rather than come home and cook. Another reason was that the Association is having a game of boules and lunch there soon so it meant that I could finalise a few details at the same time. rest in the afternoon and a wee stroll before the inevitable apéro at the bar, completed the day.

A Day Off?

Christian had a day off, well from the Mairie any way, to go out with his household of women. First stop was Capmany to stock up on Cava to take to baby Isla's christening.
From there we stopped off in Vilajuïga for coffee in the tourist centre which always seems to have more staff than visitors. Christian and Maureen bought matching baseball caps and well pleased they were with them too. They weren't quite Queen Mumish enough for Mum but she did borrow Christian's for this photo with St Jacques, the notable pilgrim. There are several pilgrim routes from southern France and Spain that end up in St Jacques de Compostella in NW Spain and Rick Stein featured it recently on his cook's tour of Spain which is more my thing. Stéphane, Christian's son has also done the route from Avignon but he and his friends unlike Rick were not in a VW camper van but with a couple of camels. He's not even a christian but I suppose it was good excercise.
We had our own marvelling to do as we drove through magnificent scenery down to Cadaquez where Dali spent a lot of his time with his wife Gala. The weather being just glorious meant that the town was busy so we carried on to Cap Creus where we had breathtaking views over a beautiful blue sea. There's a restaurant and bar serving simple food so we plonked ourselves down on the terrace and gazed out to the horizon.
It's all a fairly long drive so we stopped on the way back in Llança for a wee stroll along the sea front and rewarded ourselves with some pretty large ice creams.
Once home we unloaded the car, had a short break and wandered around to the bar for an apéritif and some more sunshine.

Check Up

Gave the Association a miss this morning although I did take Mum and Maureen along to the bar to meet up with everyone at lunch time. Christian had an appointment with the cardiologist this afternoon and he was pleased to note that things were better than he'd hoped. The leak has not become any worse and his heart is less enlarged so that was good news.
Had a wander around the town ending up in the bar for coffe for us and ice cream for Mum and Maureen. This evening after feeding them on pizza we left the two of them to their own devices as we were invited to a farewell do for Nickolai at Juste and Joséphine's. Have to say that our meal was a lot more interesting! Another very late night after which our hosts will have to take a trip to the bottle bank.

Double Trouble

Mum and Maureen arrived at Girona airport this afternoon having had a trouble free flight. Did a wee bit of food shopping on the way back as it's not so easy to wing it when there 4 mouths to feed. Toddled along to the bar for an apéritif and to enjoy the evening sun after they'd settled in to their usual rooms. Just hope that they'll be able to deal with the temperatures that are in store for us (30°+)

Sponsors Needed!

Christian had his usual meeting at the Mairie this evening and I went along to a meeting where I started my sponsorship of a young Congolese woman. The aim is to enable 14 young women to get a secondary education because needless to say it's the boys with in the family who normally benefit. just a small way of valourising women and hopefully helping to lay a foundation for the future. We've already had a couple of local and national grants , have direct links with an association in DRC and are sure that the money will go to where it is meant to. Christian put his hand in his pocket too and gave a donation so if any of you, dear readers, feel the same way inclined, please let me know!.

Nature's Glory

Once again it's the first Monday of the month so after a fairly quiet day with only a "go" on the treadmill to liven it up we drove up into the mountains for Christian's surgery. He spent a lonely couple of hours while I went to catch up with Annette and admire the passionflower growing around her front door.
Having eaten in the restaurant yesterday we just headed home afterwards for a snack and a bit of telly.

Milieu Artistique

There was more rain over night so it was a little cooler this morning. As we were to have lunch with a number of others (15) up in the mountains we decided to go a little earlier and have coffee in a little village over the border. Lunch was in honour of Nicholai, the Roumanian artist and there were three other artists in the company. Before lunch there was an apéritif in Eric and Kathy's garden just down the road from the restaurant. There was also the possibilty to look around his studio. Lunch was good, as usual and as usual I had the duck. Then it was back to the house for coffee and petit fours in the garden, accompanied by Jean and Michel on acoustic and electric guitar.
Once home, Christian settled down to a much needed siesta and I watched some catch-up telly interspersed with thoughts of trying a bit harder to lose those 2 kilos that have crept around my middle. Wish me luck!

Hob-Knobbing!

Despite feeling tired after two nights of merrymaking, there was no let up today. The market in the morning after washing up all night's glasses. Met Joséphine and had an apéritif and were persuaded (without much effort) to go back to hers to have a pot luck lunch. It's been really hot and humid and at last some rain came down as we sat on their terrace tucking into pork chops and tomato salad. It didn't last for long but at least it was enought to save watering the plants.
In the evening were invited by our neighbours to join them at a Rugby League match in Perpignan where the Catalan Dragons were playing Hull Kingston Rovers. Sylvie works for the city's Mayor and from time to time gets the chance of complementary tickets for various events. There were 9 of us altogether icluding our Mayor. The weather was perfect, the atmosphere good natured and our seats were the best. The Chairman and main sponsor of the club was next to us as was the President of the Conseil Général. A bit of hob-knobbing for us wee country bumpkins. Pity the Dragons lost 32-30, a better score than we might have expected after the first 15 minutes. I know it's a bit clichéd but the ref made some very odd decisions against the Dragons but we would say that wouldn't we?
After the match we went into the city centre where we had a table reserved for us at the club's official bar on the Quai Vauban. About 300 of us were there for an apéritif followed by a three course meal accompanied by live music. Once again we said to ourselves that we should spend a night in Perpignan every now and then.
On the way home we were stopped by the Gendarmes in a routine alcohol check but thankfully André was not over the limit. Our first experience of Rugby League was a great experience and there's even the promise of the possibility of a Rugby Union match. It just goes to show that it's not who you are, it's who you know.

A Better End to the Week

Oh dear, the computer was down for four days but thank goodness we were able to pick up our messages at the bar which has a wifi connection. Thursday 3 people from the service provider team came out to fix it. Not quite sure what they were all doing but we were told that call outs weren'talways so top heavy.
Spent the afternoon checking over an English translation as a favour for someone that I don't even like. The evening was much more fun as Margaret, Izzy, Richard, David and Laura came around for something to eat. All pretty easy; Margaret brought the starter (serrano wrapped asparagus), Laura brought the dessert (an oh so light "forgotten cake" which I must get the recipe for) and we fired up the barbeque and kept the glasses topped up. It was a late night so the clearing up had to wait.
Friday evening there was a great turn out for the latest vernissage at the museum. The artist came from Roumania especially. Of course there was an apéritif but there was also music. The evening continued chez nous with take-away pizza, more music from Jean, Michel and Pierre on an up turned wooden wine case. Another late night and more bottles for the recycling!