Off adventuring

Been meaning to say for ages, that the British Library in Quillan is not ramshackle!! I regret calling it that many posts ago. I have been challenged on the point often. There are schedules of events there that are really really good - pop on and ask them if you are from these parts. (alright for that drink now Steve?)

The other thing I've been forgetting is that any artists from hereabouts who will be doing the OFF for the Artistes a Suivre (you know who you are) might like to go to the meeting at the MJC on the 12th Jan at 2.30 where all the info pertaining to the AaS will be handed out. Make yourselves known as the rebel fringe :)


Here is the sadly deserted TyRex which according to Yves is looking for a new boss. Why not come and run a small French restaurant? It has good parking and is next to the station - which according to the latest SNCF plan will be open again in 5 years.

The Creperie is closed until 23rd Jan. but will re-open then...

Other news; Ole-Bendik is back from Norway, Kat is back from the Ariege; Hilary is in hospital while Mike is in Tenerife. And from tomorrow me and the Captain will be missing - India, for a month. Ian is parrot-sitting.

The weather here is lovely, chilly but bright. Here's the view from the station this  morning. Back soon.

Blue skies

Lunched yesterday at the cafe du Pont with Claudinne and Jean - seen here on the eponymous bridge- another success. Since Le Captn and I were feeling overfed, they made us a mushroom omelette though Claudinne and Jean braved the full menu. Really enjoy that place but hesitate to recommend as its so small; don't want it spoiled. Local word-of-mouth quite sufficient. Shhh.

The Cathar Gormand, another lunch-time fave, has decided to close its doors until June. This means they pay less tax. Taxes here privilege the seasonal workers. Maybe Macrons reforms will address this issue...


We are off to Carcassonne this morning as specialised shopping is needed. Another cold, crisp blue day :)

a-trespassing we will go -

Jim Hankinson, Matty and Theo came trespassing with me yesterday when we looked over Max Johnsons' new house from the outside. It all looks great, Max!!

we had lunched at the Pont - all impressed - 

Ian

 in the evening, it being Bobs turn to cook, the Rushtons, Ian and I were treated to a splendiferous meal.


We drank the Tokay that Eva and Richard had been good enough to give me, the first I've tasted since my father allowed me a sip in 1964. He said I couldn't have more because women didn't have palates; he was in fact trying to protect his stash. It was fabulous, never forgotten the taste - many thanks to Richard and Eva darlings xxxx

Today is cold but brilliant blue-bright. Maybe take a walk before the next meal...

Clare

J.R.

New Years day

For some years now we have gone to the coast on the first day and feeling that we should no longer be bound by tradition - and no longer having a dog, alas - we set off to Ax-les-Thermes. Saw no cars on the mountain route, just snow in the distance and brilliant blue skies. Quite stunning.

Ax is a weird little place, built around the sulphorous waters that steam and smell away in the middle of the town. Like all French spa towns it  has a casino so we ate our sandwiches in front of it and pondered. 

Since we can't remember anything, I looked up past christmas's on this blog and discovered that with Esperaza Follies and its predecessor Tilling-sur-Aude ( http://tilling-sur-aude.blogspot.com/) I've been doing this for a decade.

Apropos; I have found a typewritten manuscript in a skip which I'm slowly translating. It is a record of the walks a particular group of friends made round Esperaza in 1989. It is effectively their blog. And like this one, it gets rather samey... though, ahem, charming.

Will  publish in some form when I finish the translations. Had hoped to have them done by now but there are too many distractions. Is there a New Years' resolution calling??

New Years Eve asleep

No prizes for guessing where we were last night.... here's Luc in his bar, minding the mix of Brits and French and his own family. He firmly closes up around 10.00pm so our lot went on elsewhere - except for the elderly and infirm and partied-out, i.e. me and Bob, who went to bed.

 Random selection of snaps has missed out Louise and Norbert who were happily there - ditto Tim, Ivan, Gillie, Rose, Mike -

 I have a video of our French friends singing but not sure about copyright and all that so here they are, silently... though at the time they were very good. We, les etrangers, were embarrassed that we couldn't even decide on a reciprocal song let alone remember all the words. Will do better next year.

So HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!! 

May 2019 finally give us the silver suits and jet packs we were promised in the 1950's....