We have lost a friend...

Terrible news from El and Scottish Dave; 

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our dear brother Don Stewart MacGregor.  He came to Esperaza for his last time just a few weeks ago when it was clear to us that all was not well.  He was a very generous man,  always full of fun and mischievous humour and enjoyed many a night at the Creperie with us all and loved nothing more that sharing laughs in the local cafes.  He will be dreadfully missed by us all.

Much love to the family and be assured, he won't be forgotten - least of all for his prowess at chess :) Here's my last photo of him, looking characteristically naughty - adieu Stu x

late news from Dave, just in;

 we are saying our final farewells to Don (aka Stu):

Funeral: Thursday 8th October at 11:30 Clydebank Crematorium, Mountblow Rd, Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire Scotland G81 4SL

All welcome

All the fun of the Fair

Esperaza fete began yesterday, more cause for celebration; so New Kelly, her sister Casey and partner Atol ate supper with me and Bob before braving the fun.

Thursday lovely evening...

The team at the creperie last night, plus a surprise addition in the form of Angus and Mary - what a treat :) Alas, the occasion was the farewell of the Scottish Daves who are heading back to the rigours of the frozen north. 

 -The captain is back - rather unwell but getting better.

The creperie were turning people away as they were full. Poor Nightingale was the sole server and managed with her customary efficency and charm. Long may she remain:)

lovely thursday

Bob arrived last night, still very unwell, alas.  He has perked up just being here - though he can't speak. Literally; his voice has gone. At least here the weather is beautiful (if a little chilly out of the sun).
The fair is in town, the river banks covered in the travellers caravans, the footbridge entrance and exit cluttered with games and paraphinalia, stage up in the square. Nice air of excitement.

close shave

This photo is only there as something to bung up as there is a bit of news - some good, some bad.

The bad is that the pompiers, our brave firefighters, have apparently had some uniforms stolen. The thieves dress as firemen and are ringing doorbells, offering to inspect your smoke detectors. You are subsequently robbed.

Bear in mind that the obligatory smoke detectors are there at the insistence of the insurers...do not allow fake firemen in your home.

The good news is that Carmen, ex- of Arts et Cadres, is alive and well and running the resturant at the Hotel Canal, on the corner from the Chaumiere resturant in Quillan. She still has a space for framing and is continuing to offer that service.

The photo above, BTW, is taken oppposite and down from Kats gallery

fete du vin

Our community is 2,000 strong and 200 of them were in the forecourt of the station last night under the moon at Lucs Fete du Vin... thats ten percent of the population. Which explains the presence of our mayor and his smashing wife (below), Philippe Rivano and his partner plus team and Bernard Laurens and his. Anyone might suppose an election is looming.

I was rather hoping for a public debate but it didn't materialise. Good food did, which with the conviviality of sharing a few bottles with friends ensured a lovely evening.

Here are Edith and Toby and below them are the musicians who played beautifully (and not too loudly) for us

Busy times

As an information service, it must be said that I'm rotten. Forgot to mention that yesterday was the 30th anniversary of  the Fecos, who were in town celebrating; that yesterday was the last chance to buy tickets for tonights fete du vin at Luc's; and that today there is a vide grenier -

Voila, the Fecos driving about prior to a days dancing and playing and singing. No one can remember why they do it - something to do with the plague, bakers and whatnot - but they do it very well.

Many friends were in the Place, gossiping and watching the singing and Ole-Bendik, heroic on his bicycle (just back from Norway and in fine fettle)

Here are some of the Fecos dancing past the bottom of my impasse - as Kelly said, its a bit like an English county fair - but on acid.

and here is Kelly, back from England and moved into her new home off the square. Many friends (Kat and Roland, Leo and Toby, Mr and Mrs S. Dave and their friends Alison and Stuart) ate at the creperie last night and it was Kellys first exposure to a mass feed. She coped well.  

Turned out that the creperie were also hosting the farewell to Pascall, known to us from the glory days at the Cafe du Pont. He and his family are - wait for it - moving to England!

His wifes family have a resturant outside Bristol where they serve a mix of French and English cuisine. He'll be joining them and his little boy will be schooled in Blighty. So next time we meet he'll be able to speak English...

They were setting up the vide grenier early - packed at 7.30 this morning - so Im off there now to make sure its a good one :)

oysters and moules frites

 Toby, above, and Leo gave us a rip-roaring soiree last night which you can see from the snaps we enjoyed... big thanks to them:)

 Mr and Mrs Scottish Dave having a laugh - Kat and Roland ditto - and this is me lost in the Escher-like stairwell of Leo and Toby's gaff (photo by Roland, who it turns out can open oysters efficiently too)

Below is Leo. erm... a work in progress :)

Terrible news

Many ex-pat residents knew John Clemens when he and his wife Ellie lived in Esperaza.

Ellie has written that he died yesterday morning, in Bergerac hospital, of a severe heart attack.

Difficult to imagine that dry, drole wit being silenced... everyone will join me, I know, in a virtual hug for Ellie, plus the courage to cope with the huge hole he will leave in her life.

John was one of the NASA team that put a man on the moon. He kept trying to throw out the certificate that recorded the vote of thanks from congress. Ellie would bring it in again. We were so proud of having a rocket scientist in Esperaza! He used to fix our computers; how generous he was with his time and talents.

He was wise and wicked and funny, with a take on events  that was always original, insightful. It came as no surprise to discover that he was a descendant of Mark Twain.

Very sad that he's gone. Many glasses will be raised to his memory over this weekend and beyond.

Thursday frolics

 Been terribly and industiously quiet lately but made up for it last night. Roland, Annie, Kat, Anya and Pete joined me for dinner; Ryan,  Alicia and Etienne came for apero beforehand.

Heres Etienne taking up the tambourine
and discovering basketball.

Thoughly good evening - wonderful to have Annie and Pete back (for about a month) and to get to know Roland, Kats friend and Anya, Pete and Annies mate. And to see Ryan and Alicia socialising with their little star :)

blessed esperaza

 The TV has been announcing Orange Alert and telling us to watch out for flooding; other parts of the south are in terrible distress with 'apocalyptic' burst banks, swept away cars, houses ruined and emergency beds set up. Esperaza persists in being blessed with sunshine. Feel slightly guilty.

Heres Anne, visiting from Couiza:

 Toby, back in the fold:

 Kate being super-colourful against Kats banner:

Nice young men, one singing Jaques Brel and one making and selling steam-punk hats

 I did the entire weeks washing up (actually packed the dishwasher) so can see the sink. Feeling in need of reward and voila! a pig with my name on it.

Upon asking Pili why it had my initial on it (Napolean??) and she said it didn't, it was just a squiggle.

saturday and alls well

The river is low and the rain much forecast hasn't arrived; the bridge has got giant kisses on it. Perhaps its intended to land a helicopter in an emergency? Im sure the mayor has a perfectly sensible reason for them.

Nothing else to add except that a giant bat was in Bobs room last night - and that the Creperie has reopened. Off there tonight to make sure that standards are being maintained :)

Near Esperaza

...Ive been staying with friends the other side of Carcassonne, Fanjeux way - lovely time in what is really quite different countryside. You can see our mountains in the distance but their landscape is flowing and gentle. They have different beasties there - here is a bird I dont recognise and a pretty little deer testing the vines. 

Swam, lazed, ate and drank too much and should be ready to get back to work now. 

party time

Mrs 'El' Scottish Dave was a perfect hostess last night as she and Dave threw a party to welcome Stuart back to the fold. Here he is, dapper as ever; below, Fran, Leo and Mike. Underneath is 'Duckface' Kate. 

The other photos deteriorated in relation to the amount of blanquette consumed.

Kisses to all and thanks for a tremendous evening:)