Goodbye Europe

Phil left this icy morning to get back to Isle de Brexit before cut-off... I expect him back tonight but maybe it'll be March before his return.

 

Rather ominous skies what with the full moon glinting through the clouds and the sunrise at the other end of the street. The French are referring to the Brexit process as Le Divorce. Let us not forget it is the will of the English people that this is happening to us and the our European friends - and learn to get on with it.

We prevail

Seems the machine will let me continue to upload dubious snaps... here is this mornings' bitterly cold dawn. There was black ice on the footbridge. 

Other news; the church clock is wrong. The town noticeboard has stopped telling the temperature. Erm, that's it really... no news is good news in these times.

 

Out of quota

The market today lacked lustre... when I asked friends if they'd had a good christmas the response was inevitably, Beuwf with a shrug. 

I had coffee at Kats gallery with Roland plus Mike, which was a treat; on the way home I ran into Eddie (below)  and when we got back for a little something Louise was there with Bob and Phil - so, thank heavens, a degree of  quality social interactivity

Last night, oh la!! Was well sociable. Douggie and Regina joined us for a little glass of something

I have other  photos especially of  Regina who does take a great picture(despite my poor equipment and skills), but apparently I'm out of something quota  and can't upload anymore. 

This may be goodbye... in which case, happy 2021 and all the best for a very new future.

 

Crimbo chez Rushton

We did distancing :) And we were a bubble of tribal family. Here is Alison sampling some deliciousness... and further random snaps chosen largely because they were in focus. Eric was there of course but my photos of him lack gravitas. Though he's in there with our hostess Clare, as are Bob and Phil and our suave host Msr Rushton.        We will be fasting this week. 

 

Christmas news...

... Chez Charlie is the greatest!

 Scarcely news, I know. All who live in Esperaza and who are omnivores love and respect our local butcher. Last night our current family bubble - Phil, Bob and I - ate with gusto all he had prepared in advance for us, including the lobster mayonnaise seen above.

Today, there are flacons of snow in the air and the French radio is calling the Brexit deal the miracle of Christmas.

Apropos, yesterday I was speaking with a neighbour and complaining about our problems. There are two, I said; Covid and Brexit. 'What's Brexit?' He asked. Never heard of it.

Happy Christmas all! Where ever you are and whatever December 25th means to you. 

Truncated lunch

Pete and Nel are fast movers! They offered us a splendid lunch in the company of Norbert and Louise, what joy - but at the last min Bob was offered an emergency hospital appointment in Carcassonne, so we had to leave early. Bob has been having trouble for some time so it was good to see a specialist - and further, a reassuring one. She says he's healing well. Didn't actually call him a malingerer and indeed wants to see him again - but was most positive.

Lovely picture of him and Louise... and below, Norbert and Phil.

Difficult days, these. Felt sad for the young women working in the hospital who are not getting Christmas with their children. At least its warm, like spring, or my memory of spring.... Bob assures me next week will be freezing.
 

Weekend news

 Yesterdays queue at the bakers was just the most fun :) Really. Here's Anne, back here briefly with Kieran, at the back of the line - and Susan was there, back from Paris till the new year, Robin was out and about, Phil too - 

And today at the market, despite the drizzle, many mates clustered. Msr Lovely is a familiar sight and is missing the bars as are we all. Erika at the Cafe du Pont was not allowed to put his customary slug of brandy in his coffee ('cafe rose') A double espresso with sugar did wonders for me, more than enough -

and here is Nicholas, presiding over the town, seeing who is being naughty or nice possibly. Poor chap is open all the time including Christmas morning. He and his wife must be sick of the whole business but they hide it well, bless 'em. 

Twilight

Twilight from the footbridge last night...

And Phil sweeping up leaves off the terrace. Please note blue skies and happy dove.

 Some very sad news though; Original Kelly has lost her mother after a long and distressing illness. As Kelly has said, she is at peace now. Much love to Kells and wishing her courage at this time - the loss of a  parent is shattering, as most of us geriatrics know.

Christmasiness begins

 Esperazannais who have managed 7 decades or more get offered a congratulatory pressie from the mayor. How kind! If you too are a survivor and of these parts, head off to the Espace Louise Alibert (over the footbridge) where a team of sweethearts from the town hall will clock you. Seems the  rule is if they know your name, you're in. Plan for next year and introduce yourself at the town hall in 2021.

Testing times

Information central - the panel in the square. So, uneasy about that constant cold? Go get tested. 

Old enough to need cheering up? Christmas baskets from the mayor available from the 15th. This is the first year I've been eligible - though I used to help Andree eat the chocolates they gave out in previous years - so I plan to be first in line.

It has stopped raining though the sky threatens more... place is jolly wet. Good news for the earth and the hydro-electrics.

 

Sunday fun

 Highly social Sunday, dutifully spaced and distanced and carefully managed - featuring Pete and Nel, Clare and Rushton, Zara and Jane but not all at the same time of course.

And finally managed to photograph Phil - not very well, but here he is.

Today I continue to wait for the arrival of my passport which was due, they said, on Friday. Effective house arrest in keeping with the confinement. 

two lions...

 Having wandered up Mont Marot for coffee and succour from wonderful Louise, Norbert turned up (naturally, as he lives there) - with terrible tales of Ole-Bendik being carted off to hospital. Darting between showers and clutching encouraging flowers, I dropped in on O-B - and found him in irrepressible good spirits, already with friends and though tired and heavily drugged, doing fine. Another burst of the incipient pneumonia that caused him so much grief a few years back; NOT covid, which was of course suspect. He is much cared for and Nora is in attendance. All will be well.

Cleopatra keeping an eye on things too.

Maybe this endless rain will give us a break for the market tomorrow. See you there :)

Thursday and its raining

Really like this picture of Billy stoically posing outside the 8a8, where we bumped into each other this evening. Fact is, nothing is going on... Bob, Robin, Phil and I have been chasing about trying to get ducks in a row before the Brexit deadline in 21 days - and that's no fun. 

Billy is well as is his family. I don't think he's as bored as I am. My best times are watching the hoover robot - with which I am besotted. Sigh.

Saturday night Sunday morning

Night and day...

The market was a blast ; somewhat wet but therefore not too cold. This rather odd photo shows Ray and Sheila,  Ray miming a chair perhaps. We settled outside the cafe du Pont and drank their coffee, leaning, squatting and sitting where we could. Hence we could catch any friends who strolled past.

The world seem to be in good spirits. Groups of people were singing. Gillie was out, rather delicate and frail and tired with radiotherapy but alive and getting better all the time (hair grown back!) 

Introducing Robin, below, who is our new neighbour and most welcome here. He'll fit in beautifully. 

 

Phil is here too, Bobs brother - avoided the camera so far.

Lunch partner

 Had lunch with Kelly today - she is back in the Aude and has of course been isolating since her return from Isle de Brexit. We sat at opposite ends of the table. It's been months so there was a tremendous amount to discuss; delighted to report that her family are OK.

Esperaza latest

Needs a caption... can't think of one, beyond saying here is Erika enlivening the 8a8. 

And look, we have an old clothes disposal unit behind the church. 

 Been very very quiet except for one morning when by a huge happy stroke of luck THREE friends turned up independently at once.

Naturally we socially distanced.

And it was such a delight, drinking coffee, talking, listening to laughter (ooh I've missed laughter) plotting...

In the meantime it seems my dates are mad and Le Capt and brother are not travelling today but tomorrow. Sad. But Robin, I'm fairly sure, arrives today - he is our first brexitexiteer and will be living pro tem in Chez Francois.

It is freezing here. 

Parrots never forget.

Here Rico is refreshing his memory, ahhhh - Boss back late Thursday, all being well. 

Todays market was rather a shock - got used to the food-only thang and now its full of stuff that in they olden days I'd have called tat but today looked glorious, shiny and valuable and rare. There were many musicians and music and much frolicking. The gendarmes were out in some force and challenged a bare-faced geezer next to me. He said he didn't have to wear a mask, he was the proprietor of the stall. They put him right.

On my way home I met a French friend going in. I said, better put your mask on; he said, no I will not have my personal liberty interfered with. Oh dear...(groan) ... so you'll get fined?? I've already been fined twice, he said proudly, but I don't have to pay. You just write and tell them they are acting against the law and they let you off. 

Third time is prison. Not for him :) Do hope not anyway, nice chap if misguided.

 

The times, they are a-changing...

 The weathers up to something dire... here's Tobys garden from my studio, startlingly bright sunshine and looming dark clouds. Underneath is the beginning of the christmas decorations, thanks to Toby - who with Leo will leave us this weekend. Will be seriously missed.

And from Thursdays market, here is the cobbler in his van, in this instance sewing my wallet up. He does all that cobblers do, on his treadle sewing machine. Cheap and agreeable and efficacious. And in Esperaza on Thursdays.

cocks, cats, computers seeking homes

The mighty Aude is ridiculously low and since our power is largely hydro-electric there is a danger of staged power cuts. We've been told not to waste electricity. As people are at home and its cold - very cold, as it happens - this could turn out to be a challenge.

Here is Roy, keeping an eye on things from his balcony. He and Jo are well. Blossoming, from the looks of it :)

Yesterday the post office closed. I'm renewing my passport by post on the off-chance I may ever be able to travel again; who knows? -So off to stand in line in the cold if it actually opens today. Grr.

 In the meantime, sundry questions for you: 

Isn't it time you had a pair of Cats? Richard and Eva's beasties are charming and well behaved but need new and loving owners. 

And isn't it time you had a new computer??? Trebha bought a new one from Amazon that didn't suit so has bought another, will sell on the unused one for 100e less than list price. Its an Acer Swift SF114-32 14-inch laptop (Intel Pentium N5000, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Full HD Display, Windows 10 in S Mode, black ) He's asking 300 for it and it can be collected at my place.

And finally: Anyone want a cockerel? Pete and Clare will be away a while longer (<sniff>) and Annette and Ken have to go to Blighty. They've homed the hens but the young master is surplus. Get yourself an organic alarm clock!