Esperaza Sunday

The market was winter-sparse but non-the-worse for that. Spent time meeting and chatting with mates; all concerned that there are no restaurants in town. Home entertainments begin to loom.

Met Eddie who was good enough to propose a name for the cocktail I invented on Saturday night. He suggests Jilly Jones in honour of the current chaos caused by those who are anti the carbon tax. Works for me :)

THE JILLY JONES;
Half a flute of Blanquette de Limoux, Brut, (or champagne if you can't get the real thing)
a finger of Creme de Cassis, (min 15%)
Two fingers of Cointreau

the Mighty Aude at Alet-les-Bains

Headed to Alet-les-Bains for the Vide Grenier in aid of those who suffered in the recent flooding and found it worthy but lack-lustre - non of the happy shambles of the outdoor events of the summer. Managed to find lots to buy though. They had books.












Back home again took an evening prowl by the river. Twilight on a Sunday night; all calm. Was surprised to see a huge dog in the undergrowth when there had been no sign of an owner and besides, a dog that size would be known to me. Was rather rueful at the disturbance.
Then the beast started to run. Looked now more like a bear, one of those small Slovenian ones that have been imported to replace the Pyreneean bear that got extincted. As it charged nearer it morphed into a wild boar - a big old boy, obviously scared. Scared Sanglier are notoriously dangerous if cornered so naturally l did my best to look harmless and kept very still. He charged off down the path towards town... the way home. I had to follow (slowly) hoping he wouldn't turn round and charge back. No sign of him.
As I neared the bridge I saw a geezer wandering towards me so I told him to watch out, there was a boar about. He's just seen him! The boar had come straight at him, made eye contact and leapt into the river, swam over and thundered off on the other side, back the way he'd come -
Guessing that the hunt had chased him down from the mountain.