Strange days...

 Started off with a luminous mist backlit by the sun, gloriously; thought the day would be beautiful but I was sadly mistaken. By the time my lunch guests arrived it was driving rain and not a bundle of laughs - nevertheless, lunch was a hoot. Thank you, Ladies, for coming. Please lets do it again soon, whatever the weather.
Don't think the donor of the flowers above wants me to credit her since her internet presence is, erm, mysteriously secret. But thanks anyway, you who know-who-you-are. There were many (other) things to toast, chiefly Yvonnes return to Esperaza. She left us a couple of years ago for a pretty mountain retreat and has been much missed. All well and good being in a dinky commune in the middle of nowhere but without a bakers and a cafe and jolly good mates, whats the point? Hope she stays this time, the restless minx.
Much joy also following Kats birthday of yesterday and Lou's impending holiday.
 
Woke to an email cancelling morning coffee with a friend, till another day, followed by a text cancelling Claudines visit this weekend . She will be here in March instead and lets hope the sun will shine on her :)
DON'T FORGET tomorrow night is the vernissage at Cristelles new gallery in the Rue de Republic, just down from Kats. Jean-Noel Cuenots latest film will be showing and of course we are celebrating Cristelles new career.

Below is a photo of the new doorway into Msr Francoises' house. Marvelous thrill, opening spaces that have been built and covered up for 400-odd years. Not that I'm doing the work, mind you. Its hard, hammering and carrying rocks away bucket by bucket. Cheers, Ryan! 
  

John and Clare wed safely

 The Rushtons got done in Chelsea rather than Quillan, very worrying - but all went well. Splendid old Routemaster took the hordes to the Soho afterwards where the splendid old guests reminisced and the next generation cheered us with their youthful ambitions. Lost the plot very early as the snaps indicate.

Now back in the blessed quiet of Esperaza where it is FREEZING. I'm assured the week was in fact lovely and the cold is in some way my fault.

The funeral of the General

MICHEL LAFITTE  22 October 1930 - 14 February 2014

Michel Lafitte was buried today after his funeral mass at our church, St Michel - hardly surprising that there was a vast and tearful crowd. Decency forbade I should snap all and sundry but I got a few outside that showed the level of ceremony and ritual.

On the way in I didn't know whether one just marched into the church or waited for the coffin to arrive and for the army to present arms. Talked to people in the crowd as I loitered undecided- this sort of thing doesn't happen often so no-one really knew. Saw Edith and said, I don't have to go in with my liste do I? (Thats the group of people I'm standing with to support our current Mayor) She said, thoughtfully, no; but they might think it a bit odd you are standing with mine (She is on the liste of Georges, a competitor) Much giggling ensued.

Waited and followed the coffin.

The family read from the lectern and all the young ones wept, heartbreakingly; then the army took over with info about his meteoric career. We all knew he was brilliant but nice to know he'd always been brilliant, not just in his town. The priest was good too, talked about the Generals work on restoring the church ('to the envy of all others').

The queue to leave the church and offer condolences to the widow took a very long time and though there were still wet eyes the townsfolk chattered and offered comfort to one another -  c'est comme ca the refrain.

Hey la. He was a rare one.

Kate and Oscar have another cake fest

 The birthday girl:) Blossoming among the tulips. Oscar shares the birthday but he and his mates disappeared upstairs with cake and I was too late to snap 'em. Oscar has turned into a young man (who still likes cake)

 Sasha was there, a rare treat - with a fast moving friend - and below is Pete after opening the customary blanquette with a little too much panache.

Other friends escaped the camera but it was lovely to see them. And hats off to Kate and Dermot, the Sunday tea ritual is most acceptable; thanks darlingks

The mountain shot got in by accident but its rather nice so I've left it.
The shot of Atmo and Bob needs captioning:)
Ceri still unwell with the 'flu and most of us have colds, sniff.

Also shown is this mornings jam, delicious and nearly 10 years old. I cook to last.

Michel Lafitte, mayor from 1989 to 2008, dies yesterday

 Heres the obit of our much beloved ex-mayor, lifted from La Depeche;  so sad that he has died. He shaped Esperaza. He got us our two museums, amoung other things. The obit calls him our father-figure, with reason.

On a personal note he was a real sweetie - when I arrived here knowing no-one he would smile and wave in the mornings when we passed each other going to work - he later said (when opening a exhibition for a group of us) that he had considered renaming the Rue de la Gare the Prommenade des Anglais.

Funeral at the church on Tuesday at 2.30. There is sure to be a huge turn-out. Heres hoping that there a plans to name something wonderful after him. Perhaps re-name the Rue de la Gare the Rue du General Lafitte:) 

  Michel Lafitte aux côtés de Raymond Courrière, à l'époque secrétaire aux rapatriéset auprès duquel il a achevé sa carrière ./Photo DDM

On le savait très malade depuis plusieurs mois, le général Michel Lafitte a succombé, hier, à des complications consécutives à une intervention chirurgicale. Il avait 84 ans. La nouvelle de sa mort s’est répandue comme une traînée de poudre dans Espéréraza dont il fut le maire durant trois mandats et plus que cela encore, une sorte d’icône entre la figure paternaliste de l’aïeul et celle du sage au-dessus de la mêlée que l’on allait consulter lorsque le besoin s’en faisait sentir. Fils de cette ville solaire de la Haute Vallée, Michel Lafitte, né en 1930, embauche-il à 16 ans comme les jeunes de son âge dans une des unités de production chapelière qui fleurissaient dans la cité. Il ne va pas y rester longtemps, le besoin aventure humaine le titille, et l’armée qui est un des moyens d’y accéder va en être le théâtre. Il s’engage comme simple soldat à Hyères, puis passe par l’école militaire de Strasbourg avant de rejoindre celle de Coetquidan, et Saint Cyr promotion maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny 1952-1954. On le retrouve en tant que sous-officier puis officier en Algérie, Mauritanie, Sénégal ainsi qu’aux Antilles au titre de conseiller militaire d’ambassade. Il achève sa carrière en tant qu’attaché militaire aux côtés de Raymond Courrière, secrétaire d’État aux rapatriés, et rejoint la vie civile au grade de général de réserve. Il s’investit alors dans la vie publique en tant que maire durant trois mandats successifs, de 1989 à 2008. Il fera beaucoup pour sa ville, restée chère à son cœur : les musées, les berges de l’Aude, le stade, le centre de secours, l’extension de la maison de retraite, la restauration de l’église. Humaniste et profondément catholique, Michel Lafitte était officier de la légion d’honneur, Grand commandeur de l’Ordre national du mérite. Sa sépulture aura lieu mardi à 14 h30 en l’église Saint-Michel à Espéraza. Nous adressons à son épouse, à ses enfants, petits enfants arrières petits enfants, à la population d’Espéraza qui perd là une des figures les plus attachantes, l’expression de nos sincères condoléances.

Valentines day

 Oswald reconnects with the world and we head to the hills for Tims party...

spring!!

Oswalds out :) It must be spring. Nothing else happening except the days have been lovely until the rain started just now. Walked up our mountain yesterday and it was glorious, the earth bubbling with little rills and whatnot, frogs croaking, birds singing. 

more celebrations

 The last time we went to the Moderne et Pidgeon was for Bobs 60th. We shared the meal with Annie and Pete and Andree and it was unforgettable. Now he is really gown up we went back, again with Andree and now with Ryan and Alicia - Annie and Pete being elsewhere. Again the chef came out to congratulate the Captain and again we have eschewed excess for another 5 years. It'll take me that long to loose the weight.

 

On a less fattening note here is Jessica trying to eat her length in carrot. 

Below her the first violet Ive seen this year, growing in the wall under my kitchen window.

grown up

 Bob is 65!!! Celebrated with decorum, as is suitable... so, bangers and mash cooked by Ryan, birthday cake of banana and dates cooked by Alecia, all enjoyed by me and Pete and Nel.

theological mystery in Mouthomet

 Bob, Lily and I took a day out to go to the seaside. Despite the heavy rain and the grim forecast we trusted to luck and went over the mountains via Mouthomet.

 At Mouthomet there is a wayside chapel, iron-gated and generally not too accessible but with the camera it was possible to see the statue over the altar. Astonishingly it seems to be St Anne hitting her daughter Mary.
Of course child abuse and the church are well-documented but this image is baffling as Mary was born without sin and therefore could not be naughty.
Couldn't be bad; shouldn't be chastised.

Perhaps it isn't St Anne and the Virgin? In the many images of Anne and Mary - normally Anne teaching her child to read - she has this kind of kit on - plus the child is carrying a book. And who else could it be?
It took a few kilometers before I realised a credible answer.

The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, that says Mary was conceived, born and died without the possibility of sinning - hence without free will, though as far as I recall the doctrine doesn't spell that out - wasn't made dogmatic until 1854. In 1854 therefore it became an obligatory part of catholic belief. Before that, not so. We can assume then that the statue pre-dates 1854; or that there was an heretical group in Mouthamet. Given the Cathar history of the region that wouldn't be a surprise:)

 

It turned out to be a fabulous day. There were layers of mist and rainbows over the mountains. One I'II never forget seemed to come out of the roof of the Chateau at Villerouge and as we saw it an eagle flew through it feet first. Missed the photo, bah.

Temperatures at the med went up to 18 degrees, no-one on the beaches, moules frites and a local thin white wine for lunch. Paradise.

Sunset in Esperaza

 Still nothing going on. Sunset and a lovely day.Thats it really.

All is clear

Kat has explained all re: my photos of yesterday which showed red flags flanking the level crossing. Turns out there are no trains until March 14th - the whole of the Quillan / Carcassonne line is closed for works. But panic not, we are not cut off from the world - the trains are replaced by buses. Theres a new timetable too but the print is too small for me to read - maybe the SNCF website has info.
Catch the bus outside the school opposite the station. Though its raining again, you might do better not to bother.

WHY

the end of the world as we know it

They're pollarding in the square!
         --------nothing else happening.

Not sleeping but working

 

There have been complaints at the lack of posts lately. This is entirely due to the fact that nothing has been going on - at least, nothing I can publish without loosing friends. Plus I've been industrious, churning out more art to an indifferent word, sigh. Apropos of nothing here are six eggs from six assorted hens.

And here is the rainbow over Alet-les-Bains photographed at speed as we brought Bob back from the airport:) Yup, the boss is back in town. The forecast is more rain this week and the possibility of snow -  forecasts don't really apply to Esperaza though.