Are we nearly normal yet?

The pictures tell their own story.... Kat and Rose and Roland arranged a barbie for us all -Mike and Hilary, Robin, Norbert, me and Bob... mille mercies!!  

 

Jurassic lark

Love this snap of the morning mist rolling back off Mont Morot... and yesterday, here are dinosaurs rumbling about the museum.

Clearly something is happening by the river though not too beach-like; and featuring a tumulus??

Heard from one of Andree's nephews re: the burnt-out and demolished house on Rue Ellie Sermet. He and his brother played there as kids when it was the home of the director of Effisol.

Any more memories to share, Pierre??

 

Now you see them...

...disappearing building , this was the rather lovely remnant of the Efizol site, burnt out and now demolished. Took this late yesterday before the sun came back

 

It - the sun - back in force today - the market was lively - 28 degrees this evening as I passed the info panel by the station.

And alas for us, Berndt and Jutta are preparing to head to Germany where Jutta's mama is very ill. They are not sure if they'll get in - France has been deemed too dangerous a country to travel from - such a worrying time for them, we all wish them well for sure xxx

 Also leaving us - what's going on?? -are Loes and Cees who suddenly sold their raspberry-pink palace and have found another house, elsewhere. Four hours drive away. 

They have spare rooms. 

There is no escape.

Not till June though, so still time to bother them. Snapped them in Kats kitchen this morning.

Life's a beach

Much gardening going on between the bridges.... which makes me wonder if the ex-mayor Georges' idea of a beach there is going ahead. He had proposed a bit of river sectioned off for swimming, sandy bit for playing, picnic tables etc. Will watch that space.

The other news is that the road to Couiza has reopened, since the burnt out house has been demolished. Wanted to take snaps but persons with asthma don't go near demolition sites... its raining today so the air will be calmer. Might pop down later.
 

Brits at picnic

 The mere fact of cold and cloud would never stop a Brit picnicing -  we had the little island at Alet les Bains pretty much to ourselves.

   Here is Le Capt., Clare and John Rushton flocking about sandwiches and cake. Much chatter and fun - great to get out and get refreshed.

Curfew in Esperaza

Curfew is now at 7.00 pm so its possible to take an evening stroll... here is the mighty Aude, being tranquil. 

And here is todays excitement, the closing of a bit of road while the insulation of a building was accomplished. Philippe responded by rehanging his display of paintings - very nice. 

I'm sure there is plenty to report but I can't remember what. Vaccinations have been resumed - Roy and Jo are done - if you want to be on the list to get it, ring 04 28 28 02 53 - if you are old and ill. Young and healthy have to wait a bit longer.
 

First day of Spring

The fishing season has started - it's cold and the wind is sudden and fierce, which may account for the few fisherpersons' out and about. Here's a token market cat because it's cute, belying its murderous nature

And here is darling Erika, saviour of Sundays - dispensing coffee to the deprived and isolated. On the steps of the Cafe du Pont were Pete'n'Nel, Norbert'n'Louise, Kat, Rose... and below, Katerine, a newcomer to Esperaza. She has come to us from Arles, bought a house beyond the Stadium and is Norwegian in origin. Welcome to her. General view is that she'll fit in nicely :)

 Alas, on the strength of this photo we'll have trouble recognising her again. Please reintroduce yourself next time we are together, Katerine. And let me know how to spell your name.

Other news is both devastating and not. It's NOT devastating because it's all sorted; the malefactor is in the psychiatric hospital in Limoux where it is assumed he will rest a long time. The devastation was unfortunately very real - slashed tyres, broken windscreens, windows axed, statue broken. All occurred on Mont Marot in the little cluster of houses above Esperaza, badly affecting Norbert and Louise and Anton and the other inhabitants of that hitherto paradisiacal hill. The damage occurred over three nights and proved difficult to contain - the police needed proof of the identity of the axe man, although they knew who it was - eventually he was caught in action. And no bones broken. Allelujia.

tea and apero

Since we cannot meet after 6.00 pm - until tomorrow, when the curfew switches to 7.00 (hurrah) - we have to arrange to meet friends early and tea with blanquette is the result. We ate cake and biscuits and chattered a lot.

Here are Jane, Zara and Robin with the invisible photo of Susan.

And tomorrow , as Robin said, we can go clubbing :)
 

Paddys day in Esperaza

Here's Msr Lovely stocking up on Guinness having pre-prepared an Irish stew - and leprechauns Nicholas and Erika in the 8a8 ! Shopping here is so entertaining :)

In traditional fashion, its a fine soft day - i.e. raining like in Ireland - though yesterday was a tad better. Here's the church half an hour before curfew.

 and the pretty impasse, showing all the colours of spring. This curfew is a bummer. Le Captain is champing to get to the garden of an evening and finish planting the potatoes. So I asked at the maire if he could have an exemption certificate from curfew to get on with agricultural work.

Having ascertained that his parents are both dead so he has no excuse to visit them, they suggested he borrow a dog. You are allowed to walk a dog. Apart from that it was agreed by all that it was a pity and his best option was to get up earlier and dig in the mornings.

Covid health warning

 This is in the (closed)  creperie window, snapped a few weeks ago - the window is coated in the Sahara dust that disturbed most of Europe at the time.

Despite that this is a Sunday, there are no current snaps because I've not been out on account of I've had a reaction to The Jab. Flattened yesterday, today upright and merely complaining. Possibly back to normal tomorrow.

The reason I write this is because the vaccine gives you a touch of Covid and the touch I had was frightful. I am so grateful that I don't have to have the full malady.  

Bob had a brief headache so you don't have to be ill afterwards - either way, GET IT DONE.  None of us want this disease. Even if it doesn't kill you it sure feels like it might.

Lay in a stock of Doliprane and get The Jab. Deal with it . Stay safe.

Jabbed

Rico the jabber

 We are done, at least for the first jab. Got a phone call; they wanted us NOW. The Captain missing and not responding to mobile phone. Set out at brisk trot to garden which nowadays is a 20 min walk for me and spied Mike driving past; the sweetie let me leap in, found the captain and got to docs in time, phew.

The only other excitement is the weight-lifters corset that Eddie picked up at Decathalon. Just enough support to keep on keeping on.

Hope everyone else is finding it easy to get the shot. Of course, we may have to do this again next year so better get the hang of it. 

Signs and Portents

Spotted Kat in the little market yesterday and followed her and Mike back to the gallery, where Roland was ensconced and Rose appeared - coffee! Cake!! Gossip!!! Heavily masked, of course.

Later, over the chemists, saw this giant sunbow, which you can only see if the sun itself is occluded. What can it mean???

 

Halcyon days

 Here's Peter G communing with the love-birds,  his own inamorata off doing yoga (on line) with Saveria. He popped in one day - as did Louise, and we went to Ole-Bendik and Nora to talk birthdays and another day Gracie was here and then Bob and I saw Susan and her friend Valerie... its all a bit of a blur and I keep forgetting to take photos. Which being a visual sort is how I remember things. Anyway, the gist is that all is well in our purlieu. As far as I know.

One major excitement; we are in line to be vaccinated. If you are Esperazannaise, ring 0468 28 02 53 and ask for an appointment. A nice man will put you on a list.

monday rubbish

Everyone knows that Monday morning is not the time to hit the recycle bins on account of Sundays market leaving them overflowing. None the less, the weekends recycling has  to be addressed. Started with the bins on the bridge, then behind the church, then Rue des Jardins - meeting friends clutching their recycling en route - finally sourced an empty by the burnt-out house, where the road is still (agreeably) closed.

Surprised to find that Rue des Jardins' pretty little park has been uprooted - every plant and flower gone - all the trees and hedges haircutted with a vengeance. Why, I hear you cry... will try and find out.

 

Here's some nice snails. In the alley by the school.

 

Why Rue Ellie Sermet is closed-

and why traffic is directed past the Maison de Retrait. 

 Large and dramatic fire happened while I was reposing with badback, so I missed it all - also, being next door to the fire station, there were no sirens-

cause of fire; squatters.

So they said in the market anyway.

Makes sense. The place has been empty for 20-plus years so no electricity nor chimney fires.

Weather here is overcast but made much better for the presence of a great many martins and a few swifts. All early but most welcome. Plus the mates who were out - and Eddie, who popped in for tea.

Our home is now flanked by burnt-out buildings. Sinister.

confinement-

-takes us all in different ways! These guys are at the bottom of Fran and Clare and Kieran and Ann's road; a complete jazz band, lovingly made out of old iron. 

Been wandering slowly about the place trying to sort my back ache. Failed and have taken to bed with painkillers, which is better.

Easy to lie in bed and read when the weather is dull.  Mushrooms are back so I guess Spring is having a break.