Blame it on the Bossa Nova

An apéritif at the bar along with Michel, Joëlle, Daniel and Geneviève to the rythms of jazz/bossa nova. After that it was back to theirs for coffee and and a strange Belgian comic film, the title of which I've forgotten. Little did we realise at the time but a storm was brewing that would upset our cosy world.

Reserve Side

Was having a drink in our local bar after the market when Nancy came by with Ian and Anne who she was taking to see the work being done on her house. We were invited along too for a look around and an apéritif. As she'd prepared lunch for another friend who finally didn't come we were invited to eat help eat it up!

Return Match

Tomorrow we can ease up a bit as there's still nothing planned but before that there's a dinner to prepare and host in return for the hospitality that we received earlier this year. Francis and Simone (who's allergic to vinegar) and Bernard and Françoise (Belgians) arrived with flowers, whisky, wine, a tart and little lavander bags; all a bit overwhelming really. Hopefully it wasn't because they were worried that there wouldn't be enough to eat and drink! Rabbit was on the menu and it seemed to go down well. We had a really good evening together up on the terrace and the table legs are still managing to do their job. We really must invest in a new one .....

A Late Dinner

After talking about it for ages we finally made it to the restaurant with Flo and Philippe to celebrate the end of the village forum's second year. It was in a lovely old building serving grills including a "cargolade" or grilled snails to you and me. As Flo works and then had to settle the kids down, we didn't leave here until nearly 9pm - almost bedtime for us! Godd job were made of stern stuff!

No, No and No

In UK hospitals there are signs which say "no parking", " no mobile phones", "no more than 3 visitors at a time" but I saw on a report from Kandahar this morning the signs there say "no weapons". My first reaction was the same as when I first went to Birmingham and saw signs on the buses saying "no spitting" but on second thoughts maybe hospitals in the West could do with giving the same meassge. Certainly sounds as if London football clubs need to do so if last night's Millwall v West Ham "match" is anything to go by.

This evening was busy with an invitation to an apéritif organised in one of the neighbouring streets and then to Jacques and Yaneth's for a meal with them, Carles, Felicia and their children. A meal out tomorrow night, friends at ours on Friday; roll on the weekend when there is nothing arranged! still it's all good fun if you don't weaken.

Waiting for Rain

Thunderstorms have been forecast for today and even though the clouds hang heavy there's no sign of the wet stuff. Also waiting this weekend was a young British tourist who went into a "Hôtel de Ville" thinking that she'd find a bed for the night. First things first, she popped ito the loo and when she came out she found the place locked up. She spent the night rather more uncomfortably than she'd anticipated and was only released when the local pharmacist saw her note (half in English, half in French), stuck on the door. For those of you who don't know, the "Hôtel de Ville" is the town hall. I bet she's not the first person to have made this mistake!

17h.10: It's ben a long time coming and it's not very heavy as yet but at last we have some rain!
17h.18: On no! It's stopped!

Noisier than the Church Bells

Very hot again and before lunch we stopped by at the recreation ground to watch model areoplane enthusiasts doing what model aeroplane enthusiasts do and to watch a helicopter take to the skies with people ready to pay 35€ for a 7 minute flight. Christian said he'd done enough of that kind of thing when he was off-shore. I almost joined the Mayor and his wife but as the helicopter had just been fuelled the pilot only wanted to take two people ... no comments, please! Needless to say the organisers invited us for an apéritif and then we stayed for lunch with some other Mairie people. Another day with no cooking and another report to do for the village website.

No Fasting Here

Ramadan started today and you can only have sympathy for those who have to work a long day in the heat that we're experiencing at the moment. At times like this it's better to be where the weather is cool and the days are short. We met Jean at the bar and learnt that Linde and Françoise were off up in the mountains collecting cow pats! Linde has been disappointed with the results (or lack of them) that the horse manure has produced and is convinced that the garden will do better from cows. After the market it was a trip to the local auberge for lunch which wasn't all together wise as we were invited out to a curry evening. Great food and drink, musical entertainment from the "Sisters" followed by more serious singing from the chorale in which Jo sings. Oh there's nothing like a good curry with all the bits and pieces that go with it. Surprisingly the French, who normally shy away from spicy food tucked in with gusto but we are in France and there was a cheese board for the diehards. There were about 120 of us and we could only marvel at the organisation of it all.

Gate Crasher

The weather reports talk of a drop in temperature but here thermometers are registering over 34°. Still there's more to life than the weather... the news is full of the Athletics in Berlin and the "is she or isn't she a man" saga. The whole circus must be just too awful for an 18 year old to bear. The controversy isn't just about her physique but that apparently this young South African woman has appeared on the scene from nowhere. No track record so to speak. Just as intriguing is the report that the guy who swam to Aung San Suu Kyi's home has had his sentence squashed and has returned to the States. While I'm pleased for him that he's not doing his sentence, it adds to the scepticism about the whole affair. Much more amusing is the latest global internet phenomenon - Crasher the Squirrel who keeps popping up on peoples' holiday snaps. Looking at some of the sites on the net we're obviously a week behind everyone else here but the photo I saw of him perched on the Queen's head is kinda cute. Haven't been able to work out how to do it though so you'll have to make do with the wee fella on his own.

Until Next Year

All good things as they say .... time to pack up the toothbrushes, set the "sat nav" and head for home. A very pleasant interlude among all the routine. The trip home for us was fine, hot of course but we managed to find a nice restaurant for lunch in between Castelnaudary and Carcassonne. Next year the Pays Basque if Jean and Jean can put up with us.

After a wee rest and a pot of tea we called around at Maggie's where an "afternoon tea" as part of the Association's "chez nous" was in progress. Around 25 people (French, Catalan, American, Dutch, British) were there and apparently it had all been a great success. Next up it's a Sicilian lunch followed by our Pub night. Still, don't let's get ahead of ourselves, there's lots going on before then.