Halloween

Didn't like to photograph the many trick or treaters that called at  the house tonight. There were some tiny little skeletons, some rather big scary monsters, one wearing the mask of Munchs Scream (above) only in dark blue with glitter. Far more callers than in other years. Luckily I'd been prompted to go and get tooth-rotting stuff for them so was well-prepared.

I'II swear some came back twice, in different masks... they carry knapsacks nowadays for one to pile goodies into and I recognised the same sack, possibly.
All most polite; apologised for disturbing and frightening me. They thanked me prettily as they left. Nice.

Didn't photograph Leigh and Lorraine, Kells, Ian and the other folk I've seen today. Nor Leigh and Lorraines house, which they've re-decorated beautifully. They have two beautiful and lively dogs who will sort that one out :)

The intermittent rain has not altered the river level which in fact is rather low. More forecast. Ou sont les chaleurs d' antan?

Into every life...

Rather a glum sunset, perhaps confirming Bobs prediction for a heavy rainfall this week. .. he has pushed off to England, Ian has moved into the estate to recover his health, I'm avoiding work by typing this.

There's probably loads going on but no-one has told me.

Kellys return

Kelly's back - after a mercy trip to care for Aged P's - she turned up on Thursday but I forgot to post because I was going away on my holidays, yaheey. Back now. Only went to the med for the weekend but the weather was glorious and we had a perfect time. Here are some interesting random snaps;

Recovery time

River yesterday evening, nearly back to normal - today, just a bit busy. Sighs of relief all round - 

Andy and Louise dropped in with their charming child James (he's nine now and delightful) 

His parents are out of focus but also lovely :)

New Kelly dropped in to say goodbye but was too quick for the camera. 

She'll be back, sends love to all.

Also spotted Steve and Antonia, Roy, Jim - we are all knuckling down to Autumn.

 Here's Olivier who has had a run of terrible bad luck with his health. As soon as one thing recovers, another sets in - now something has happened to his leg. He is modelling a marvelous brace-thang.

 ---November is looming and so is the holiday here called  La Toussaints, that is All Saints Day, November 1st. Its a public holiday.  Families will come together to visit the family grave and take chrysanthemums for their dead.  Do not - really, do NOT - take them as a present to anyone. They are for the dead.

If the Brits are not out of the EU by that day, Boris will be asking for your chrysanthemums once you've found his ditch....I was about to post a link to the you tube film of him doing the speech, but it's too depressing. Its there though, in full colour, if you want to check what he said. RIP.

innundating

 Calls and texts from the town hall through the night (=I exaggerate; 3.22am to 5.26 am and points inbetween) eventually saying to urgently move all cars from the banks of the Aude. Now wide-awake I trotted down there. It is very high but the reinforced banks seem ok - which is as well as the usual cars were parked there. Circus was packing up though.

Forecast of more of the same today. Narbonne is water-logged so the mighty Aude can't empty into the sea quickly enough. Take care, y'all.

middle aged spread

Oswald cranking up to go down for the winter.  She's put on weight and I'm not surprised, she is a lettuce monster - fortunately Bob grows lots or we'd be bust.
Phil left this morning and we have bad weather warnings. So far, touch wood, all well.

Esperaza Sunday

 You can never tell who you will meet after the market... the circus is in town! Much enjoyed outside the ring. I'm told that at 13 euros per adult and 8 per kid, it was beyond the reach of many to see what happened inside the tent.

Nice to tour the river banks and see the beasties though. Lovely day - intermittent showers which just made sheltering in cafes more fun.

And here is Peter Gregory, another year older, wiser, cooler and generally on form :)

Another fab dinner

 New Kelly - seen here describing a cooking method - made pasta stuffed with pumpkin and complications and covered in butter and fried sage; then mussels, clams, razorfish with a truffle sauce; raspberry and something (?Balsamic) ice-cream with poached pears and shortbread, all made by her fair hands; suitable accompanying wines... today her guests are contemplating their mortality but are generally very happy.

In the morning yesterday Le Capt and I set out to inspect the new Parchimin, seen here - all rather grand now and though no one would call it expensive the prices are higher than previously.  The outside stuff, the old doors and windows and tiles, will be there in a month or so when the inside has been finished properly.

As if that wasn't enough excitement, we went to get spring water from Alet-les-Bains and found - horrors!!_ the road to the spring closed off for  pipe-laying. We went round the back via the piscine... easy.

autumn arriving

 Here's Wilhelm doing non-librarian things... helping Bob shift enough wood for a very hard winter. Or two. Beautifully stacked now, mille mercis xxxx








And below, the inauguration of the new Parchimin. We went in the hope of getting first dibbs but lost the will to live in the speechifying and came home to shower and change for dinner with Gert and Elsbeth - which  was tremendous - thank you darlings :)

pop pop

Here is New Kelly, renovating her studio; having discovered an ancient rifle. Cor.
Took tea with Margaret yesterday - she is well and I forgot the photo, being in a tizzy after my flu jab. Arm blew up and I was bad-tempered. (All well now, smiley face smiley face.)
Excitement mounts at the thought of the Parchemin inauguration this afternoon (Rows of smiley faces-)

Quietish

Nice pic of a wall in Esperaza...
quiet day yesterday though when Brother-in-law Phil took me to the airport to collect Bob every one we knew was there; Sav and her cousin, Rushton, Max and Frankie, Clare, Diane etc etc - either coming or going or collecting. Today it is COLD, brr, and still quiet.

Unforgettable Tuesday

A lot of my life is unforgettable on account of I have this blog as an aide memoire! Yesterday really took the biscuit though.  Finally finished a painting in the morning and went from studio to lunch with Norbert and Louise to say goodbye to those restless spirits, Max and Andrea...

...who are having interesting travel arrangements due to the closure of Barcelona airport. They had been going from there to Milan and then off to other exotic places but now have to drive to Madrid instead, Grist to Max's mill; Andi probably used to it by now. They are off on Friday, it seems. 

Madness.

Supercharging healthy lunch from Louise, thank heavens, (and many thanks to Louise) as the evening saw me at Chateau Rushton for Johns 70th. The splendor of his party ameliorated his anxieties about age somewhat.

 Twenty - twenty-five? Cant count- family and friends gathered to celebrate the old boys continued presence on planet. Some Esperazannaise; some from further afield, grossly further afield in some cases. Here is Johnny with Frankie, his daughter - who (with his son Max) he had not been expecting. They live in the real world and couldn't get away; but they did, and he had them sprung on him by John and Sue, just before the party. What a birthday treat :)

 We had stuffed peppers; roast lamb with all the bits,; cheese; birthday cake.
Here is Johnny putting out the candles on his cake, hoho.

 The cheesecake was easier - cheeses piled high and stuck with flags commemorating significant events in his life.

 The cake was from Serrannos bakery in Esperaza and again they made it clear why they win major prizes. It was an Omlette Norvegienne, which is a kind of terribly sophisticated ice-cream cake. Then John gave a sweet speech about friendship, family and love and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

 Max and Frankie did a return speech which was hysterical :) After which - fireworks. Much, I'm sure, to the neighbours delight.

As we were about to return to the house, some of us caught sight of the shooting star that the heavens threw at us - magic. Little understated but nice try.

I was in bed just after 2.00am, for me a marathon day. Saw the very full moon with a fierce and vast corona.  Can spend today in recovery, before going to collect Bob from the airport.

Monday night...

... was winter fun as Phil had made cottage pie and New Kelly turned up just in time to entertain us :) I forgot photos but it turns out sherry is very good with English food.
Here's a photo of the street this morning

nicely dramatic after the rain. 

*Got my flu jab and made appointment to be jabbed with it. Can't be too careful.

Sunday - over too soon

 Shots of the market, which was lovely:)

 And upon returning home, my neighbours gave me  HUGE amount of wild mushrooms, the name of which I have forgotten and can't find on line - they are delicious and safe and some have been eaten, some given away, some dried and stored and some preserved in oil (never tried that, thought it might be handy) That took care of the afternoon -

 then the moon came up and Esperaza demanded attention; isn't it so pretty here?

Summers last shout -

Summers lease has all too short a stay, innit

 Bob wanted a Summer survivors party... and so it came to pass. Many folk escaped my camera. Here is a random selection of those who did not:) Thanks to all for coming and making a great evening.

Bernht and Leo

Noa and Olle-Bendik

Aileen and Norbert (in background)

Biz... alas, returning to New Zealand, having sold her palace at Ginoles. 

Conquering hero Tim Sage , Gert and Regina

Bob and Anne

Wahey! Elsbeth is back :)

Lorne, Bieke, Wilhelms back... 

Mamadou

Dermot

Ferren Macintyre - see https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00135155 for fascinating article -

Chris, Annette, Ken, Pete -

Mary and the girls...

Richard, Ann, Evas back

Mike came, went home to ring the hospital and came back with the report we'd all been waiting for on Hilary - who has had her op and recovering well. Dancing slippers await her. xxxx