Bargains Galore

17.1.17:
A hard day's shopping in Figueres with Pauline and Penny. Coffee and a catch up first, shopping, lunch on the ramblas, more shopping, tea, some last gasp shopping and home for 8h45! So many bargains on offer. That's what I call shopping till you drop!

Me Again!

It's been a very slow moving day today with a late start but at least I've begun to update the blog from 20th December. In between a long lie-in and some TV catch up (Sherlock), there hasn't been much time to get very far but do check in every now and then. I'll be doing my best but I have quite a lot on this week starting with an apérobio this evening.Thanks for your patience. (Written before I deleted my notes; you should already know that I like to keep the record straight).
Weather:
9°, Cloudy, Windy, Showery

Chez des Amis

15.1.17:
Nothing special, just the usual trip for coffee and a bite to eat at the bar
 
14.1.17:

Out of the blue, Françoise invited me to go with her to Figueres; she had a Christmas present to change. Wouldn't you know it she forgot to take it! All was not lost, however, as I was going back on Tuesday and could do it then. Had a hot chocolate as the weather was cold and windy, a look around the food market and bought a jacket in the sale.
Didn't stay for lunch but was invited back to her house where Philippe had prepared a good meal.
Was invited for dinner at JJ's as his friends Alain and Dominique were there for a few days. A pleasant evening as you can well imagine from what you know of JJ. He's such a supportive friend and with no strings attached either. What more could a woman want?
Just look at the kind of sunsets we've been having of late. This one was snapped from the top of the house.

More Flowers, More Wishes and Another Galette

13.1.17:

Sorted out the stuff that was left over from the Téléthon and Christmas market
Carnival lunch followed by flower making
Tea, cava and 'galette des rois' chez Hans and Marie-Madeleine. By chance, Hans found the lucky charm in the galette without breaking a tooth and was crowned king.

12.1.17:
Language exchange followed by a drink at the bar
Flower making

11.1.17:
Michel came for lunch
This evening the Maire presented his New Year's wishes. There seemed to be less people than usual even though there was a very good apéritif laid on.

10.1.17:
Spanish group
Flower making
Decided not to go to the soirée guitares at the bar.

I Wish it were Warmer!

9.1.17:

A meeting this morning with Mike who leads the intermediate English group and Kathy, a TEFL teacher who's worked for the BBC World Service, about filling the gap that Mike will leave when he returns to UK.
This evening was the President presented the Association's New Year wishes to its members in the village hall. Oh yes, there was an aperitif and nibbles to follow. As you can see, it wasn't warm enough to linger too long.

8.1.17:
Coffee in the bar this morning but didn't stay for lunch. Too much to do for this evening to prepare for an apéritif dinatoire in front of the fire with Nicole V, her Bolivian husband, Federico, Ann and Terry.

Market, Music, Meal and a Monument

Market with Michel in the morning.
Later a large group of us made our way over the border for an Epiphany concert in our twinned village. An action replay of one we had here and that I missed before Christmas
A late lunch chez Conxita in La Vajol with Jean-Jacques, Colin and Lynn leaving enough time to show them the Retirada monument before we took our places in the church.
Of course we ran across other villagers who'd eaten elsewhere and were filling in time in various ways before the concert. It was freezing cold in the church and we seriously outnumbered the locals. Still, we'd made an effort and the music was good too.

Brightening My Life with Colour

6.1.17:

Hairdressers in the afternoon; long overdue cut and colour

Vernissage in Christian’s room later and quite by chance I was dressed in red and black which caused a few comments. 

Participants were short on the ground which was a shame for the artist whose work merits more attention that it got.

Of course a couple of us retired to the bar next door at the end.

Abridged Version Follows

Posts from here to the 30th of January will be skimpy as I've managed to delete my notes and as they weren't backed up, I can't retreive them. That'll teach me!🤔 

5.1.17:

Committee Meeting followed by the Language Exchanged followed by a coffee at the bar.

Flower making.

Tea at Josette’s, an elderly lady who looks kindly on me. Of course as it's that time of year, 'galette des rois' complete with ceramic lucky charm was on offer. Even had a bit to bring home.

4.1.17:

Flower making for this year's carnival which is on the theme of "Casino Royale"

3.1.17:

Coffee in the bar this morning. 

Jean-Jacques and Michel this evening for a bite to eat.

No Place Like Home

 Jill collected me from Mum's yesterday afternoon and I spent the rest of the day with my Little Sis and John getting to grips with the new toy in my computer stable. John, bless him, had bought a chromecast and a tablet for me and set it up with some interesting apps. Jill had negotiated a free cover.
On going to bed at midnight I fired off a New Year email to Martine C and learnt that she'd be at Barcelona airport collecting her car, a long no-need-to-know story. We managed to set up a rendez-vous and for me to warn Nicole P that I wouldn't need a lift from Figueres after all.
It was a cold, frosty and early start for the airport in the company of John and Tony. Even at 7h30 it was busy and we could only feel sorry for the folk in shorts and skimpy teeshirts coming off the Jamaica flight.
My flight went without a hitch and Martine was there waiting for me. (Photo taken from the plane.)
After UK's cold, dull weather, the drive back in sunshine was a delight  and Martine got us back without making too many other drivers irate! No need to elaborate.
Needless to say, the fridge was empty so Martine, Nicole P and I met for a bite to eat at the bar and reconted our various doings over the holiday period.Good as it is to see family and friends, it's good to be home.

Happy 2017 to You All

I hope that 2017 will bring us all Peace, Happiness and the Resolve to

"Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often and Leave Good Memories."