Last day of 2015

I know its amazingly uncool to blog pictures of your food, but hey - at the Cathar Gormand they present everything so beautifully it would be rude not to :)

We wanted a quiet lunch to celebrate the year and Claudinne and Jean joined in. Too old and too jaded to do the new years eve parties but heres wishing all our friends a great evening and a magical 2016. Good health, love and joy to all.

Twilight in Esperaza

 Town lights this evening... still warm as the sun goes down.

While I was snapping this I looked in Helene Martys window - our local estate agent - and there it is, our house. Its official then. The house was our first home here 15 years ago and now Ryan and Alecia have left it to return to the USA we have decided to sell it.

Very nostalgic. Have spent much happy time there as have many of our friends. Hope whoever buys it will be lovely...

post xmas

 Been in Cerbere and had a wonderful time being lazy. Stayed at Kates place which is unhestitatingly recommended for anyone wanting to escape anything. See http://cerbereapartmentbraque.blogspot.fr/

Its an odd town. It was the freedom route for those escaping Franco and the fascists not so long ago - 70  years - the entry point into France.
Here in Esperaza many refugees arrived and were assimilated into the community, which was just as well - without the many Pozo family descendents we probably wouldn't have a fire brigade :)

Within a few hours of getting home the news on the street is mixed; very interesting.

Refugees are by their nature without papers and therefore illegals.There is no central organisation or responsible body. Groups and aid are passed between sympathisers, powered by the internet and word-of-mouth, perforce under the radar.

Some refugees have arrived in Esperaza and others are expected.

Our Mayor has said, in a public place and in front of Sudanese refugees, that we must be careful because they may have killed people with machetes. Was he joking? Let us hope so... he also said at the same occasion that the 4 euros a day that is donated for food is really for pleasure and that actual food is given by the refugees association.

This is not the case -

The organisation he refered to is 3 vounteer women who hassle about to get the 4 euros a day (=30 euros a month) per person and have no time to get food to anyone, even if they had any.

I'm reminded of what a previous mayor (of Couiza) said in the face of the then refugee invasion, 70 years ago: "We are all Gods children".

Anyone who thinks that a shared humanity is significant and wants to help with food, clothes or money can drop it off at the Restos du Coeur (the local food bank), by Radio Ballade

Thursday night splendor

Laura gave her first Esperaza dinner last night, with Tristan's help - Dave and Dee, Nel and Pete and me and Bob were spolit rotten and are looking forward to many more :) Welcome to the tribe, Laura...

On a practical level the evening was especially welcome as the night before was something of a damp squib. Bob and I decided, late, to go to the Creperie and alas, it was full. TyRex was closed. The takeaway opposite Linares is shut down, as is the Fey Tartine by the footbridge. l'Authentique was closed on Wednesdays and St Gobain was in darkness. Quelle horreur!

We ate sandwiches in front of the tele and enjoyed it thoroughly, actually - but still would rather sit round a table with friends, hearing about their lives and sharing a bottle or two.

Other news; The Purple Patisserie owners have birthed their first child, Margo - all well and shes already sleeping through the night. Kat has gone off to Marseille with Roland, back after Xmas; lots of folk are away for the festivities, including me and Bob.

keep on smiling

Kat is missing Roland and Jon is missing Sue; Bob and I are missing Ryan, Alecia and Etienne and Andy and Lou are having a night without James. How brave we all are :)

666

My 666th post and its a Sunday.... here is the market on a beautiful if cold day. Thats not cloud floating about, its mist - all cleared up by noon.
Today's also the final day of voting for the conseil général, our middle layer of governance. The first votes of last weekend came out heavily in favour of the extreme right; we are assured (by an inside man in the town hall) that today the left are mobilised and all be will well.
The Brits have no right to vote in this one.

After tthe fog

 The day cleared up beautifully - sunshine and smiles all round:) Here are Steve and Lesley in the Cafe-in-the-square this morning, about the market time. They are leaving us soon for Blighty's cold shores  but expect to be back in the Spring.

And tonight, Skyping with Alecia and Etienne:) They send love to all.

 Ryan has work and their families are very happy that they are all together, sniff. 

The journey back to the US of A was not without its challenges, it seems , the weirdest bit ( I thought) being that the dog Leroy got all the way from France by plane but wasn't allowed on the airport navette to the carhire company. Many cold, frustrating and scarey delays ensued. All well though; they are getting used to people speaking english and the vast amounts of choice in the supermarkets. Missing them terribly. Sniff.

Esperaza sheds

...in the mist this morning - a fairly random selection of garden sheds.

Raining Kats and dogs

 Voila! Our Kat this morning with Lily, in the rain, in the square...and below two dryish rabbits, bored.

Goodbye Claudinne

Claudinne left today. Inexplicably I forgot my camera so no farewell shot - instead here is a baffling and completely inappropriate picture of me and friends in a hologram made some thirty years ago. You obviously don't get 3D reproduction off a snap of a hologam but the photo has something of the spookiness implicit.

Nice to know that large gatherings, good conversations and strange events continue to this day. It was made by Vina Orr at Richmond Holographic where the parties were unforgettable :) I saw her in November and the tradition continues.

Yesterday old friend and ex-Esperazannaise Ellie Clements underwent major surgery. Too early to hear from her yet but all the doc stuff was most positive. Its hard for her, so soon after Johns death but she dosen't face this alone-  she knows we are all rooting for her.

Snaps in the market

 Irresistable little chap :) - lives with the plant sellers by the church.

Market in fine fettle, not crowed, rather tranquil and a greater pleasure for that. Sadly, Margaret and John have left us for Ireland but will be back in January.



Below is Gert and Elizabeths neighbour, Madame Llena, beaming hello at them. She only comes into the market when the sunshines so like a barometer you know its a nice day if shes out.

Here is the frip at the back of the school - where we are encouraged to dress our own Xmas trees. Take your baubbles to the square for the good of all the citizens!

Apropos, Bob and I are in revolt and having nothing to do with Xmas. Still love you but no cards, no pressies. Enough.

Its for your own good.

saturday paella

Before embarking on the cooking of the saturday night paella, I went to chivvy the hens - not enough eggs - and noticed that the light enhanced the ossified dragons teeth that suround Rennes les Chateau, as can clearly seen from our garden. Nice.

 Apero provided by Claudinne and Jean - seen here with Roland - thank you :)
and here we see Lily seducing Jean, who hasn't been around long enough to know how dangerous she is...

Seen in the distance are Tristan and Laura, fronted by Margaret and John - and later, in the warm house, Roland, Margaret and Laura. Dunno how our Kat escaped being snapped but she was there .. 

Market tomorrow ! yeah,what with being away and being ill, Ive missed it.

Beautiful Thursday

Admitedly I'm still on a high by simply being here - but it WAS a beautiful Thursday!                                                                                                                                                     The sun was strong after an icy night and our little market blossomed. Someone was selling oysters so me and Kelly had them for lunch, which is when we realised that normally girls are presented with a mouth-ready mollusc and neither of us had ever opened them before.                                                                                                                                                You Tube to the rescue - experts within a few mins., and deliciousness a gogo :)                                                                                                                                                              Mind you, six each was enough. We were exhausted after that,

En route to visit Andree afterwards I found a council worker putting up another information panel, in the place Gen Lafite opposite the school. It seems that there will be another in the square and yet another by the stade.  What with the one on the bridge (see below) we will be 'bien informe', the worker said, deadpan.

Andree is not particularly well - the back persists in being nasty - but her spirit shines. Dosen't she deserve a miracle? Anyone know where you get them?

In the meantime , Mary C writes that she is  looking for someone who would like a bargain room at Ibis Centre ( budget ) Toulouse. Saturday 19th December  , 28€ For the room. -she's overbooked and a room is going begging. Central, cheap, what a great idea; give yourself a holiday in the big city. Will happily put you in touch.

Five years old already

 Seems like yesterday that James was the first baby to be born to our happy band of weirdo's. Now he speaks French better than any of us. Here he is with a solar powered light up Santa.

Below, assembling a balsa wood helicopter with Kelly and Louise - and below that. Andy - who was up at 5.30 to help his chocolate-cake fuelled boy celebrate.

 Claudinne and I are attoning for last night by having a salad and an early night tonight. Its possible - though unlikely - we will attend the geriatric gym class tomorrow. Please note our smart electronic noticeboard; its on the new bridge.

Can't think of a caption...

 ...tonights feast was at St Gobains, where Claudinnes new beau Jean met and dealt with the team. He handled it well. So here are Cathy (visiting John and Margaret from Northern Ireland) and husband John, John, Margaret (and dear Jennifer) Claudinne and Jean.

 And at last a man who isnt called John - Robin, whose qualities as a host need no re-iteration :) Great evening. Chef goes from strength to strength.

 Thought everyone would like to know that Esperaza post office has a hot line to Santa Claus. If Father Christmas is waiting to hear from you, the post office will deliver your letter.

Allenna was held up three and a half hours in Paris - presumably security for the climate change summit - and when last heard from was still en route to Zurich.
Claudinne is staying about a week, hurrah; New Kelly goes tomorrow, as do Cathy and John. We have Margaret and John till Sunday. Tomorrow young James Rafferty is five years old. He hasn't invited me to his party but I will just pop in to make sure all is well, about tea time :)Louise does a mean cake and we need to know that its up to scratch.

travellers all -

 

Allenna has gone, seen here waving from the Carcassonne bus... this will take her to Carcassonne station where she will take a train to Toulouse, where she will join the Paris train in a couchette for a decent rest; after which she has two hours to get her next train to Zurich.What can possibly go wrong?

Very sad to see her go; but fortunately New Kelly had invited me to dinner, where Jo and Roy and Laura were also being entertained. My heartache was eased.

New Kelly is a fabulous cook - fois gras, devilled kidneys, mango-and-creme like syllabub thang. She has upped the ante for us all. Not that this is a competition, of course.
I snapped this below in the mirror so you get the back of Laura's head and no sign of Roy, dunno why not. Perhaps he's a vampire.

Extremely good night. Wide ranging, informative and erudite conversation. Laura has moved in next door to Bobs house so is a neighbour and is a most welcome addition to our rag-bag hotch-potch riff-raff creative types.
Not that she falls into any of these catagories, of course:)

Life goes on

Last night in the crowded creperie - Allenna, Kat, John and Margaret. 

Did some speed gossip some of which is printable; the fire in Mikes workshop, ouch! mercifully no-on was hurt which is the main thing. Lots of kit lost including Mikes motorbike - the special circumstances of the fire meant that the insurance wasn't adequate, alas. One of the lessons learnt is that we should all address the beastly small print of our policies.

Our  mayor has clawed his way back from the abyss by finding a candidate to take the place of the dissenters, so we won't be having an election. A Good Thing for the community, in that we won't have the expense. He has agreed to been re-trained in democratic processes; also a Good Thing.

Its raining. Allenna  and  I, still in the grip of colds, will be catching up on admin today. oh joy.

Home again home again

 I'm back, with Allenna - and a ferocious cold.

Such a relief to be home! We took the Megabus from Victoria to Toulouse which is far nicer than it sounds.
Effectivly, 9 hours to a 2 hour break in Paris then 9 hours to dawn in Toulouse where the 6.45 Carcassonne train awaited us. The bus was 25 quid; the train slightly over 12 euros. Go figure.


Bob met us and brought us home, then left for the airport and a gruelling fortnight in grey and dismal London, poor chap.




Here, the river is high and the sun is shining.

 Laughing Anna is out doing the christmas windows... here she is painting the new butchers and here is the new butchers new house, undergoing a spot of radical surgery.

The chemists is flying the flag as are several other places and the rabbits have taken to sitting under a bomb- proof trolley - apropos, when we were in Paris our resturateur told us that the Parisiens are not coming out anymore, they stay indoors with their familes and are afraid. Not like us in the days of the IRA but perhaps we have no imagination.... In SE London French flags are flying half-mast which I thought remarkable but my French friends have accepted as a just tribute; and rightly so.