Simplicissimus

The concert last night by Odysseus was in the church at Esperaza.
An idiot savant, Simplicissimus, talked us through a journey of the 30yrs war, with music from both sides. Ingeniously put together and thoroughly enjoyed by a full church load.
They and their agendas are here:
http://ensemble-odysseus-limoux.blogspot.com/

Here's a sample of what was played, though in this instance by someone else.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8hzcpkoh24

Thursday overcast but marvellous

Yesterday began with a gastronomic theme when the neighbours brought a basket of Cepes, some of which went into the evening omelette -  didn't know the mushroom season began so soon in the year or is it later than l think? Ulp.








Since John is leaving he took us to a thank-you lunch at Le Cathar Gormande where the crazy chef continues his arts. You should book as he opens by appointment but if you catch him open and there's room he  might take you... below is chicken something with courgettery, Bobs choice.

John at Cathar Gormande

Bernht

beautiful Jutta

After a restful siesta John and I went to visit Andree who is marvellous and sends love to all. Still hates been photographed :)

sa m'enerve

 The roofers came to address the storm damage and laid it all on the roots of this pretty plant, happily growing over my bedroom and preventing the flow of the deluge - which had no choice but to get into bed with me.

Fun though it was another episode would be unwelcome.




Below is a poster for a  concert tonight. containing the magic words Eglise d'Esperaza and Entree Libre . See you there !

MJC on form

Last nights' entertainment was provided by the MJC, the Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture. (You know, next to the Creperie). They host the local activities like life drawing, yoga, French classes - and last nights' meeting was for the group of associations to identify each other. There is also theatrical training for kids, who performed for us all and  caused great good humour. Their tutors must be very pleased today- congratulations to all.

Spent the afternoon at the Lake at Puivert, after all these years my first trip there. Bliss! I'm going to have to learn to drive :(

Back in the flow

Toby and Leo, bless them, hosted dinner last night; for Kat and Roland, the Scottish Daves, me and Bob and Bobs brother John, here on holiday.

My photos are catastrophic, proof of an interesting evening. Nevertheless, here are Leo and Toby and Roland in the garden as the sun starts to set...

Spot the difference

For comparative purposes, here is a London party... Im back.

Waiting for Esperaza to kick in :)

Season kicking in...

 Roland, Rose, Leo and Kat at last nights' dinner Chez Toby and Leo - luvverly :) The tribes are beginning to gather. Somewhat perversely, I'm off to London for a week. Back soon.

Real summer?

It looked like a summer evening yesterday at Fiona and Simons apero...our hostess was sunburnt and most of my snaps show people squinting into the sun. Great :)

Another sunday

 The Vide Grenier was plenty fun :) I positioned myself with Claudinne at the Buvette, to drink coffee and chatter, but soon discovered it was a strategic hot-spot as people entering or leaving the fray had to pass us. Saw most of our friends as a result though the photos I remembered to take are not good.

Here is a blurred photo of my prize buy, 6 euros worth of watercolour signed J. Nielsen. Its old but amazing quality. Whoever J. Nielsen was, s/he could handle watercolour beautifully, terribly impressed. Pity about the frame, will have to save up to have it re-done.

Football fever continues here, not. I was in Lucs at one point  drinking hot chocolate with Jim - the TV showing some world cup match. Not a soul was watching. Esperaza is wedded to rugby.

flagging

 Esperaza is awash with flags...

 ...and in the yard a fledgling has taken up residence with the tortoise.

 The new rabbit has settled and is chasing the old one.

I'm off to the vide grenier.

Cultural exchange

Margaret held a tea party yesterday and invited some French friends... Bernadette, below, sat down, surveyed the table and asked for a petit cafe. It all had to be explained.

Bernadette

Elvira

Elvira got the hang of it quite quickly -
and Kat needs no training.

(Nan couldn't make it and Hilary refuses to be camerafied.)

Kat

 The rabbit epic continues in the yard. They are now joined by this fallen fledgling. Its like the world stage in miniature...

brave foray

 LouLou came out of the conservatory this morning, here being greeted by Oswald - loads of unbearably cute photos which I'II spare you.
Actually they are here because I forgot to take photos last night, which is a pity.  Enjoyed dinner with Mike and Hilary and Nan, featuring lots of Bobs home grown produce. Sadly he missed it all being in London but the garden continues to thrive in muggy rainy conditions.
Though yesterday was sunny enough to dry some sheets. Bout time.

*****Attention Esperaza residents; most of us have received a letter from the mayor explaining the laws pertaining to closing a bit of street, to wit the Place du General Lafite - the parking in front of the station- which will be closed off on Saturday 16th June at 4.00 in order that outside Lotto may be played. Bingo in French, anyone?
And what you may not know (because he never tells anyone) is that Kevin is closing the Creperie from 18 - 23rd June for the annual holiday. Prepare to diet.

LouLou

 Here is Lou Lou, new to the household - a lionheaded angora female companion for Jess and Oswald.
All goes well, in principle. Until Lou Lou refused to come outside and of course Jess won't come in. Hmm.

Now Lou Lou is in the new conservatory, with heater, bedding, food and water, in the hope that she'll get the hang of outsideness, sort-of,  and get ready to take up her role in the community.

Bits of sun today following a deluge. Most of the serious deluge was last night and cascaded through my bedroom roof, causing me to have to change bedrooms. Bedding still soaked.
Imagine my joy when I found a room I'd never slept in with a bed I'd never slept on. By the time I'd got there, with fresh bedding, I was tired enough to sleep in the yard but jolly glad I didn't have to.

Bob and I went out to ex-Ty-Rex to celebrate Lou Lou and I had the plat du jour - prawns done to death with pernod, garlic and parsley, a heap of tagliatelle with seafood whatnots, roasted vedg. That and a carafe of red and life looks manageable :)

Hint of brief sun

 There was enough sunshine this morning to see the shadow of Kats new roof, hurrah! Her building works have closed her street, the Rue de la Republique, to her neighbours, erm, delight -
It'll be done soon :)

 Here is a little garden next to Helene Marties estate agency where people are encouraged to share the vegd that are growing there. Lovely idea. Any one know who's behind it?
Helene is closed (hols) till 18th June, BTW - as is Msr Charlie, see below.

 We can cope, especially as there is another vide grenier to look forward to - they are coming thick and fast this year. Voila!

Its raining again. Sigh.

Porto to Esperaza

Back from Porto - slowly, as you can tell from the Ryan air queue that stood on the tarmac for an hour, in the gentle mist of rain that blew for the few days I was there.
Sometimes it deluged.
That aside, really want to go back - its agreeably shabby and the folk are lovely. Flights from Carcassonne are regular if erratic.

Been hopping about catching up with Esperaza news and so far, there ain't nothing to report - except that on the 18th of June you can go to Narbonne and find out what the Brexiteers have planned for you. Follow the link...
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/british-embassy-outreach-aude-narbonne-tickets-44370011900

Its raining in Esperaza too.

Old mates and new voyages

Caught sight of Vic and Mary in Le Creperie and lured them to dinner with us on Monday, whence I forgot photos.
They left the area a decade ago for the Cotswolds where they flourish but miss us and the region.

Great to see them and catch up though my cooking was fairly rough after the previous weeks' exertions... mercifully Allenna is still here and she did most of the prep.

Apropos; she and I (me and her?) are off to Portugal this afternoon. Silence for a week or so.

But if you are here, the Mayor is holding a Reunion de Quartier on the 9th at Centre Alibert (over the footbridge) Salle Maroc, at 10.00am. Go talk to the man and hear what he has to say.

Epic Sunday

 Busy day yesterday. Missed posting a couple of snaps from le Poulet Bicyclette so here are Jon and Jose carrying on on the days' lengthy debates. Markus left us but the rest of the team was intact - though he was missed -

The Lake at Poulet Bicyclette, St Ferriol

 Sunday market was obligatory though Jose, Renata, Karl and Mark had to leave us after a quick visit ( in the course of which we met Mike whose thumb had been relieved of this mighty splinter. Looks like a piece of the true cross to me)

 Bob offered to drive our remaining guests on a tour of the region - here is Will waving from his place in  Rennes-les-Bains where we had brebis ice-cream - and here is an exact copy of Esperaza's St Michelle from the church in Alet-les-Bains.

 The wall paintings showing the emphasis on The Book were good to see, beautiful restoration - and the reliquies and ancient statues are also a treat.

Jon, Angela and Allenna outside the abbey at Alet-les-Bains

 Couldn't resist showing them the lovely little chapel at St Salvayre and then stopping at the Tomb of Mary Magdelene

 -and on arrival at home, found lovely Edith in this beautiful frock - amazing! Made by her sister, BTW. Wonder if she takes commissions.