Morning walk by the river

 The dippers are back, flirting with each other - beautiful songs :)

 Beautiful heron

 not sure what this beastie is - yellow wagtail? It flew off before showing off its feathers - and here are some late mushrooms.

obviously, not much is going on :) Bob back in England for a few days. I'm avoiding work.

Esperaza market - again

 Every Sunday...as you can see, its not very crowded still a delight for all that. Loads of mates out. Gossip up to speed.

Marys and their views

 Here's Mary C., in hospital in Limoux for re-education for her knee, which has been *done*. Three weeks worth of gym ,exercise and hospital diet and she'll be dancing in the street:) Here is the view from her hospital window... marvelous

 Here is Mary R., who gave us tea today - and the view from her place in Montazels. Can't believe how lucky we are to live here. Great people, great health care, great beauty abounds.

under the gooseberry bush

 Bought this lovely cabbage on my way to coffee in the square. Surprised to be asked in the cafe if it had a baby in it and was it a boy? - lighthearted banter followed. Afterwards I wondered if the French think that babies come in cabbages as we believe them to be delivered by the stork or found under  bushes... I've no idea.Perhaps it was just random madness.

Like Tango, below, who had a bit of a go at the eye of my parrot jumper but then he likes any buttons.

Esperaza Tuesday

...was our day off, so we took the Quillan bus at 7.50 to Perpignan - one euro to the center of the world, not bad :) Miserable day though, patchy weather, rainy and not exciting, so we took the 12.20 home again - back through the vineyards and the gorges, surly the most spectacular trip possible without endangering your health. 

 Back home, they were putting up the crimbo lights though not yet plugging them in.

after a suitable rest, we dined with Margaret and John at l'Authentique. The legendary bacon burger was devoured. All is well with the world.

Sunday in Esperaza

 The market was lovely, if cold - and I made a killing on the fripperie* in the form of three hand-knitted jumpers, at least one of which features parrots :)

Then we got to Skype Ryan and Alecia and Etienne who send love and are aiming to be back here in October 2017

*Fripperie= one of the many French words for rags, in this case from the second-hand clothes stall. Which is where all us locals meet to chatter and replenish our wardrobes.

lunch in Limoux

Here is patient Tristram, enduring my camera :) and Laura his Mama enjoying lunch - l'Odalisque is amazing. I had heard tell how good it was and indeed it is, def a new hang-out. Its a terrible trap though. It has a range of menus, from cheapish to jolly pricey and naturally we are in the cheapish end. Then you start to buy wine... but here is Bob, the teetotaler, smiling -

returning heros

 John and Margaret back though only here for a paltry week; Roland, though hes off to Tunisia any minute; Kat though shes going to Barcelona in a couple of days... Mike and Hilary I hope are staying around as Bob will be off to the UK soon :(

Its not THAT cold. In fact, its hardly at all cold. Dunno whats wrong with them all.

 And here's Gracie, helping Bob with the housework xxxx

Rovers' Return

Kat and Roland are back :) 

after their epic voyage taking in Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Paris. 

Here they are getting off the 8.00am bus, having taken the coach from London to Paris, train to Toulouse and then Carcassonne - looking very fresh if a bit dazed 

Another day out...

 Having failed to get to Andorra last week, for this weeks' day out we hopped over to Spain to the insalubrious shopping centre on the border, La Jonquera, which had the merit of being practically deserted. Now have enough spirits to brighten any xmas.
Nice day though and a pleasure to see snow and not be in it

Stopped at  Estagel for tea on the way home and snapped this decaying mural which looks interesting enough to restore - its dated 1990 and shouldn't be falling apart yet -

 and once home, out to l'authentique for the classy Big Bacon Burger, a family favorite. They  have a new menu and it is translated into English, with the usual hilarious results :)

Rainday...

Market somewhat wet... was forced to take my coffee alone. How am I supposed to keep abreast of the gossip if everyone stays indoors??

Seriously quiet -

dinner and planning session at Gracies

Dinner at Gracies was actually cooked by Francis and much enjoyed by me, Bob and Christopher - Christopher and Francis are planning their onward journey, hence maps and goggle came into play.

The window of the toilet is providing lots of photo opportunities :)

 Hugely enjoyable evening, swapping tales and insights. Thanks all.

Seasons' changes

 Leaf management here takes the form of two guys blowing leaves into a pile, with noisy machines, which are collected by lorry. That's all that's going on really. Thursday market today was only a couple of vans.
Tango the parrot has been put in a draught-free space for the winter.
Had to move the etching and woodblock presses out to make room for him.
        We like a quiet life, sometimes.

Failed shoppers

Clever us, set out for Andorra to get the duty-free stuff in ahead of the game - but too late, didn't even make it to Aix-les-Thermes before the snow and wind kicked in. Could probably have pressed on but probably wouldn't have got back today, so turned round and scampered home. All very lovely up there.

all change -

Hysterical (and very good) dinner with Andy and Lou tonight. Sue and Jon were there and the most excellent news is that Sue is through her treatment and cured of all her horrid illness. While she was hospitalized they sold their place in Fa and are back in Brighton where they continue to blossom and of course to return to us and visit their old haunts.

 Leo and Toby are also back. They got as far as Castelnaudry when the car packed up and they came back to Esperaza where they'll be until the garage informs them about the car.

Difficult place to escape, this...

hellos and goodyes

So, farewell then... Leo and Toby abandon us to the winter. Bah. Roul stays on till December though, being made of sterner stuff.

Below are Gracies' mates Christopher and Francis, visiting our happy corner of the world... enjoy!.

No prizes for recognising the Creperie, without which we'd all be a deal thinner.