Home entertainment again

We are so lucky to have such entertaining friends :) Last nights pleasure was caused by Ole-Bendik, Pete, Nel, Aileen, Kat, Sonny, Sally and Megan - mixed range of nationalities and ages which happened to mesh wonderfully.
Sundry salads, paella, then chocolate mousse were served and all the veg were again organically grown by Captain Bob.
Some of Bob's family arrive  today so we expect to eat out tonight - the night market, of course -

Last nights entertainment...

....was provided by Fran and Clare, Kieran and Ann and their daughter Amy and Mr and Mrs Scottish Dave; very good value they were too !!

Fran,Ann,Kieran, Amy

Mrs 'El' Scottish Dave, Clare, Fran

Clare, Kieran, Ell, Bob, Amy, Scottish Dave, Ann

Polycarpe

This little chap was sitting in the Abbey of St Polycarp's door today - perhaps he's there most days, I dunno - I was supposed to be drawing but pretty much overcome by the countryside. Beautiful ancient staircase, no-one around. This area is amazing :)

life goes on...

 Peter and Ruth have left for Paris, alas - hoping they can get back soon - and Bob is working on the garden,which flourishes under his care.

Yesterday was medical stuff in Carcassonne and to my delight the little foyer had this painting by Karim Guerguer of blessed memory. The specialist wasn't bovvered and didn't know where it had come from but it made my day :) He died July 12th 2012.

advance celebration

 Bernt announced last night that he would be moving here full time in about a year, which is a move most approved off by the tribe. Someone has to keep Jutta in order. They gave a vast and splendid feast to me and Bob, Alan and Gillie, Pete and Nel and Pete and Ruth. Took this pic of Ruth at the apero beforehand; the other photos rather too random :) Off to Quillan market now to entertain our visitors.

quelle temps

Nephew Pete and his partner Ruth made it safely to Esperaza and were introduced to the pleasures of the Monday Night Market, despite the uncertain weather.

....It was easy to spot the Brits :)

Rain at last

 The storm broke yesterday and about time... damp and fresh today. The downside is that tonight is the night market where I had planned to take my nephew Peter and his partner. Hope the mayor has put up a tent :) I nicked his portrait of him (Peter) (not the mayor) from FB.


Yesterday we gave lunch to lovely Lizzie Jackson and I forgot to take photos. She is in fine fettle and will remain at St Hiliare another week or two so will see her before she goes back to fight the good fight; an academic in Britain, shudder.

Dinner on the terrace

Gert and Elizabet gave us a wonderful evening  last night - just the job, as Kat and I had been out drawing with Margaret all day and were too tired to do anything other than appreciate good food and wine. I did a great deal of appreciating especially as Bob and  Kat don't drink and someone had to take up the slack.
Our Danish friends are leaving for Copenhagen, a three-day drive - and will be greatly missed. Hope to catch them at the night market tomorrow night for another fond farewell.

More home entertainment

It's a blast, this eating in thing... :) Last night Joel and Pat, Mary, Pete and Clare, Annette, Terry and Di came to lighten our darkness.

We ate salads - orange and beetroot, tomato, melon and ham - then risottos - seafood and veggie - then crumbles - gooseberry and red and white currants. And bad Pat bought her choux pastry stuffed with cream and drizzled with toffee thing. OOOh.

Etienne is 3

Etienne has turned three years old and is growing up fast - mysteriously, Alecia hasn't grown older. Still miss them.
Ryan's brother Brad took the photo which I stole from facebook.

Bob and I ducked the Fete du Vin last night, all partied out. Went to TyRex for super, the other resto's being closed as they were cooking for the Fete du Vin and me too lazy to cook.. Found a couple of groups of friends also taking shelter, mentioning no names :) Thoroughly enjoyed the place, the food was excellent though the service as original as ever. They do try, it must be said.

The other night - I forget when - made it to the creperie where there were two new waitresses, how has that happened??? Subtly different food too - suspect a deal of staff holidays are going on. Will enquire. Place still packed, we were lucky to get a table for two without reserving. As always, excellent.

Only other news I can think of is that Di is running a stall at a vide grenier in Quillan on the 20th August and has asked for donations. Anything going can be taken to her in the morning  of the sale. Worth supporting; its to help sterilise the army of feral cats in the region.

Home entertainment

Finally, done some entertaining; Margaret and John, Mike and Hilary, Kat (Rolands away -) Did onion soup, fish cakes and green beans, gooseberry pie. All except the fish and cheeses the fruit of the captains labours.

High Living

Jamsie invited Bob and me and John and Sue to eat at his Chateau in St Ferriol last night. We forwent the night market of Esperaza and headed up the hill - wonderful! Though the vodka martini first course was in retrospect a mistake. The wine and whiskey were perfect however. Food was too - thanks David, whom Jamsie has magicked out of the air to run his life smoothly and to cook for his friends :)

 Here's one of the views from the chateau, magnifique - and a view from  Pete and Clares of Sundays lunch (sent over by Gert). These panoramas look on each other. Trying to work out how to signal between them as was surely done in they olden days.

Scottish Dave, me, incredible view, Pete -

Market and mountains

 The market was hot and in full summer mode - awful, we all agree. On the plus side Marianne is back - she'd been removed from the old baby school on account of its the new health centre and is now perched on the new baby school in the place 8 Mai. She used to be a trusty terracotta rust colour but has been transformed with a coat of shiny white .

Thence to Pete and Clares for lunch. Place still astonishing.

 Elizabet, Mr and Mrs Scottish Dave and below our hostess... all taking shelter from the sun.

Great lunch and a very happy afternoon - bad luck Kat and those others who got lost and missed out:)
(Sorry  that reads rather smug hehehe)

Celebrating the Republic

As is the custom, France closes down for the day and celebrates in the evening to mark the storming of the Bastille - a rather underpopulated prison - and the event has become the symbol of the creation of the Republic.
Hurrah!
Peter Dunn got  in from England and Gert and Elizabet got back from Leucate in time to join in - the party being a shared meal organised by Charlie of Chez Charlie, admission by pre-bought ticket of 8 euros. A small group of us did pre-apero apero in our garden which meant we were a little late  but Charlies angels, haha, brought out an extra table for us lot...

Large amounts of Kir were followed by red and rose wine from Camus, good stuff though the kir was too sticky for all but the most hardy (me). Baguette, sausage, packet of crisps, serrano ham and melon, camembert. Unlimited wine.



The band were good but we didn't stay for the dancing; guessing that the event went on and on!

There was a strangely strong police presence featuring dogs and their handlers. Assume this is a case of bolting the stable door as after last weekends fete there had been violence in the early hours.

Lack of  fireworks was noted. Variously put down to being too expensive or to not arriving in time.

My random snaps were worse than ever - blame the pre-apero apero - but this of Claudinne and Mike is in focus and so is the one of Moon Mouse, the towns' haikuist - still with us if not in the best possible health. Nice to see him out, greeting mates..

On the subject of health, Andree dropped a bombshell yesterday. She has put her house on the market and is moving to a maison de retrait - in Toulouse :(

Not sure how life will be possible without her.

She has looked after the Brits here for 20 years - translating, explaining, being the guardian angel. Still in shock.

Here's the view from her living room. Most of us here know her house, tout comfort, it'll sell quickly and life will never be the same again. >sniff<

Wahey home

 I'm back - to prove it here are Bob and Andy and Elvira, at dinner last night chez John and Margaret.
Quite wonderful to be there :)

London is big and noisy and smelly and I have a new fear, that of being trampled.

Tonight is the Bastille day celebrations and l shall be rejoicing in the creation of the republic with the best of them.

 Aux armes, citoyens, formez vos bataillons...

coffee and lunch in Esperaza

Coffee in the market this morning, where Claudinne appeared and so did MJ, visiting her old haunts from the USA. Market was frisky and crowded, as befits a rather chilly sunday...good to see old friends.

Thence to lunch at Pete and Clares new gaff. It is sensational. No other word for it. 

 Here they are on the new terrace - one of them - with the gobsmacking view; below the first lunch. Here's to many more.

The car saga is ongoing. Having lost the car keys, the beast was abandoned in the market square with a note for the police explaining why, diligent searching having failed to find a policeman and of course, parking in the market square being forbidden on a Sunday.
They hired another car, one with a key.
After dinner last night they rang to say their car, the non-rental, had gone. Oh dear.

A little later they rang again to say they'd found it, over the old bridge.

We guess that someone found the keys, handed them in and the police did the job - but they still cant find a policeman to verify. Or to get their car back.

My curiosity will have to wait as I'm off to London for a week or so. More anon. Be good, y'all!

breakfast and dinner in Esperaza

 Breakfast at Luc's (I'Oryginal) was an unusually tense affair... some sort of game on the tv. Margaret and Kat and I sat in a corner, whispering - left before whatever was happening was resolved.

Dinner was chez moi, for Kat and Roland, Gert and Elizabeth, Pete and Clare. Darling Kat bought pudding which turned out to be birthday cake - for me :) Its not actually my birthday (yet) but it was delicious and most appreciated.

Keys

Pete and Clare took possession of their new estate yesterday, up in La Serpent; magical place.

 We expected to eat there last night but as their car keys had gone awol decided to stay in Esperaza till they were found. Had a roisterous dinner in l'Authentique instead and will pursue keys today.

Should you happen upon a car key and a length of royal blue ribbon, let Clare know - :)
Above are Bob and Clare picking up the bed and walking - fol de rol.

Weather turned rather nasty. Cold, showers, occasional sun. Seem to have slipped into Autumn.