Out of the frying pan into the fridge

 We continue to freeze!! Not unpleasant, if you can remember where you put your winter clothes...

the river bank is stuffed with fruits - figs, almonds, blackberries, quince - if it weren't so cold it would be time to harvest a few and make exotic puddings.

Brrr

 Stop Press; tonights night market cancelled till next  week - its cold and wet and no way to party. Committee have decreed that the last night will be another night.

In the meantime... the family party that has closed l'Apero will be over soon and they re-open tomorrow, phew -

 and if you have been collecting corks for no apparent reason, you can release them into the wild  in the foyer of the town hall where they will be put to good use.

Saw another kingfisher today, what would you call a glut of kingfishers?? Apart from dazzling.

Tris and Laura

Old friends and ex-neighbours Tristram and Laura turned up last night and we legged it to le Jardin d'Ines on the corner opposite the school - very good meal indeed. I had tuna tartar with ginger and salad, a marmite of fish (giant prawns, mussels, tuna, bits of fish in a rich tomato/fish sauce) and a tiramisu of blueberries. The others ate other stuff and were also pleased. We drank heartily to friendship and old age and the joys of Armagnac. 

AND it rained in the night!! Glorious, lying in a cool bed listening to the gutters gurgling. 

Not much of a market today, still the odd shower - many traders haven't come out. 

 

Lonely in Esperaza

The tribe have gone - not Phil and Ziggi, obvs., since they live here - young William, Hannah, Lynne and Richard are currently driving back to l'isle de Brexit.  Much sadness and sense of loss.

Spent our last evening together at La Chapaire. En route, spotted this little snake in the road - looks like the heat got him. Apropos, its so cool here now, under 30 degrees and forecast to be that cool for at least a week - maybe it'll rain!!  

coping with heat

The family again a table - here also with Gnasher, Jamsie and Guillaume. Hilarious evening centred around Zombie movies. The creperie continue to impress, consistency and reliability their watchwords.

 

Keeping cool -

Here are Charlie and Hannah in GiFi where we went for fun and aircon.  Below is the stretch of river where I missed photographing 5 - FIVE! - kingfishers. 

 It is hot - this may have been mentioned - and we are being eaten by flying things. Not all mossies, to judge by the bites. Nice to know we are supporting some life forms.

Hannah Harris Star

 Here's our own Michel Aubenas who was performing last night at the Healthy Life, on the terrace outside the restro. 

When I told Yann (the boss at l'ealthy)that Hannah was a singer, he set up a spot with Michel - and it was wonderful!! She did three numbers with him, to much acclaim - complete strangers were videoing her - and she had enthusiastic applause.

The cafe want to book her and Michel wants to stay in touch....

Very proud of Bobs family!!! And foresee a great future for young Hannah.

I'm very handicapped by not being able to hang around smokers so didn't pop into the wine festival that was happening simultaneously at the Rue Gambas round the corner. Despite the heat (which is still high at night) Esperaza knows how to have fun! 

Hotness high

It's hot in Esperaza today... did the market quickly, spent most of the day reading in the bath.

 Between times; Eric, above, who popped by to see Robin but got stuck with me while the family watched the womens footter and below, Madame Lena who is anticipating the arrival of her neighbours, as are we all :)

 Last nights fun... we went to the Poulet en Velo where Sebastian put us in the tent above the lake. Foolishly I thought this meant a no-smoking area. Ha!

Without wishing to be obsessively dull... I have a medical condition that can't tolerate cigarette smoke. So when the adjacent table was suddenly packed with smokers, I had to leave the family and go - BUT what luck!! Saveria was staffing the little rock store so I got to spend some quality time with her, a rare treat. Esperazas most glamourous granny...

More Harris's

The first excitement of yesterday was a surprise visit from our own dear Kelly, here with Jo...

wonderful to see them both but especially Kells, who hasn't been here for a year. She continues to blossom.

Then young Charlie arrived to join her siblings and parents and much rejoicing was enjoyed. She has just aced her first year at art school focusing on graphic design.

When I was at college doing fine art, the story was that you could only do graphics if you could keep the paper clean. So never a choice for me...

Here's Lynne playing with a parrot and here are the team at dinner - cassoulet, with a bit of wild boar from St Hilaire (thanks Lizzie J!)

 

celebrations

We heard yesterday that young Hannah has an armlong list of class A A  levels - much rejoicing in the Harris household last night. Ole-Bendik who has a nose for these things turned up and joined in with the goddess Cleopatra. Lovely night. 

In case he should feel left out here is a snap from yesterday of William, Hannahs brother. His time will come.

Who is responsible for cleaning the seat at the bus stop, anyone know?? It's unusable and I haven't  got time to get down there with a bucket and scraper. Might make an interesting family outing. 

Another Harris arrives today.

 

Monday in Esperaza

Night market shared the evening with the first night vide grenier... it was hot and I didn't last long!! The family arrived, hurrah,  Richard (Bobs nephew) and wife Lynne, son William, daughter Hannah - another due to get here soon - plus Phil, Ziggy and two of Ziggys sprogs plus a partner, so a fair crowd.

Today hotter still, fam at the lake. News of a fire at Argeles, do hope all safe....

 

sat nite sun morning

Quite proud of this pretty picture of the frip in hot sunshine... and soooo delighted to see Cathy, here below, with Kenny and Samuel in the market. They are with us for a little while longer. Jim and family have gone as has Steve though Antonia remains. Some of our friends are busted by the 90 day rule, surely an abomination unto the lord.

The market was the most crowded ever, massive good-natured crowd of holiday makers.

Our friends were out in force and of course all the talk was of last nights' party. Rose and Roland had a joint event. The consensus this morning was that it was the best party they have hosted!!Voila, Sally and Alan... Tim

 and that scourge of the seas, our own Viking Ole-Bendik . (Dreadful photo but you get the idea)

The quality of the photos deteriorates but that wasn't the booze, it was the night descending. The big excitement was seeing the star train, Elon Musks' line of satellites trundling across the sky. 

They are how you are seeing this. Weird, eh. Weird that one bloke controls all our communications. Better watch out at the back there.

Latest ...

Margo and Theophile arrived safely - and Anne joined us from far-flung Couiza. Then it transpired that Katherine was around so Theophile got to share a girls night.

Margo and loving Rico

Theophile now hugely tall and thin -

Lovely Ann being obscured by Theophile

Katherine, coping

We ate at Le Healthy, pizzas being Theophiles preference - and finished up with ice-cream at home, since its the only place in town to get sheeps' milk ice cream flavoured with liquorice. 

The guests have gone to the lake for the morning... its not too hot yet.

Visitorstide

 This old house was enlivened drastically yesterday by the arrival of Marie, Anna, Jonny and Jamie - the adults being old friends, the young ones newly introduced. Jamie and Anna have left their home in Dublin and moved to Catalonia where they are settling. Only a few hours from us so they can expect visitors :)

We ate at the Creperie, (now called the Marine Bleu of course) to the delight of the children who disappeared into the pirate ship and engaged with the locals. Afterwards we sent them off to the night market since the children were far from exhausted; Bob and I hit our pillows pretty sharpish.

Now awaiting Margo and Theophile :) Love this season. 

A Table

Cen 

The Rushtons and the Harriss  were given lunch yesterday by Pete and Claire and Annette and Cen and Ceryis, and enjoyed every little bit of it all - the food, the company, the view -!-, the conversation...

somewhat startled to discover that Clare is turning into a very able artist. She and Pete have back-to-back easels where they are addressing the monster huge landscape. Lovely work.

Rushton

Pete

 

Thriving

 

Despite autumns early arrival, the town continues to thrive.

The market is packed as ever and lo! a new store is opening  by the footbridge. Aromatic herbs, teas and CBD products.

 

Autumn in Esperaza

 -- its cold!! Many happy residents here, who remember being roasted this time last year. 

Finally caught up with Andy and Lou and James, blossoming as you can see -

They are off back to blighty soon - bah.

Life goes on though. Me and Kat went with Katherine to Le Chapaire last night, which was fun and rather over-nourishing (in my case)

Anyone selling a house that would suit Katherine? 

She's an artist, needs space and security. Garden also good.

We've been out looking and things are either too big or too small. Her new home must be here somewhere!!

Here's a snap of her dealing with moules frites - and Kat having a virtuous salad.

Mondays delights and Proof of Life

 Lovely day yesterday - morning spent with Katherine who is back here house-hunting.  A catch-up and chattery and sight-seeing idle time, marvellous. 

Thence to Samuels with Gracie, Louise and Bob for tea and French conversation.

Forgot photos... but in the evening I gripped my phone/camera purposefully and managed to snap our hosts, Barbara and Micheal. Here they are, very relaxed:

They are such good cooks! 

Blinis with crudites and nice things, salmon and mash and beans, summer pudding.

Back in Esperaza it was Karaoke night at the marche nocturne. Despite not being there, it could be heard all over town...

*If you get a British pension paid directly into a bank here, you may receive a Proof of Life certificate. This is a bit of paper you have to get stamped and signed and witnessed by someone respectable to prove you are not dead. Since few respectable people here read English they don't know what they are signing and are baffled by the idea of not-being-dead. I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better, well, firstly for the brits to issue the official paper in French - -- and otherwise could I not send a photo holding todays newspaper showing the date,  or perhaps a video singing something suitable underneath the date on the towns information panel?

Oh well, I go back this afternoon when with luck the mayor will have agreed I am still extant.

************PS

The town hall rang me, I scampered round and the lady on the desk dealt with it all impeccably, trusting me to translate the thing and filling it in as requested. Life can go on :)