Since I go rather early to the market, I'm not sure what happens later... but early on, it was c o l d and as you can see from the snap, few people about.
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| Le Relais Occitan |
Been swimming today. Indoors, heated, we are not crazy. This is the life :)
Ever so-slightly surreal evening at La Chapaire with Claudine... it was the third year of their being a fully functioning restaurant, so celebrations were abounding!
Congratulations to Guillaume and all involved.
All good here, from my point of view anyway - Bob is OK according to his UK team, for his age (!) so will be back Tuesday and about time too. Sends love to all who've wished him well.
Thursday market charming as ever. Met with Claudinne, then Rushton hove up back from Japan. Japan one of the few places I'd leave Esperaza for and since I have a nephew teaching there it may not be impossible... will find out more.
On Thursdays there is a market in the square - a fraction of the Sunday extravaganza- where fresh vedg are sold, some meat, new baked bread, that sort of thing. Robust clothes for women of a certain age, occasionally books, the wonderful cordonnier for fixing your shoes and cutting your keys. Very laid back and peopled with the gentle elderly, pottering about and gossiping.
Today the sun was shining and it boded well. But Linares, the newsagent, was closed. According to the sign this was due to an electricity cut.
Most of the inhabitants of Esperaza knew Francis. He was kindly and charming and thoughtful and on the brink of retirement... heart-breaking, that after a life of hard work, back-breaking work, his life should end so suddenly.
Francis was found in his field trapped under a tractor late Sunday night. The local papers say that his injuries were too severe to be survived.
I'independent says he was known for his kindness and helpfulness and indeed he was. We first knew him when he was quite new here, some 20 years ago; I didn't have much building French and neither did he, being Portuguese, but his English wasn't bad. He was a mason; having trained as an engineer/architect in Portugal he was incredibly useful. Looking at my home I see evidence of his work everywhere.
He was also a lover of parrots.
Profound condolences to his family and to all those that mourn him.
Toussaint being a public holiday was fairly noisy here, many children painted up to look ghastly and being marched about. Today much more pleasant. The captain and I have booked our christmas lunch at a table in Couiza, delighted with the notion... and for the moment we will live on lettuce.
Roland was out on his bike but goes into hospital today to have his shoulder re-built; he says I may photograph him when he can lift his arm again.
M had a call last night from G who said that A had disappeared from his hospital in Quillan, in the pouring rain; M went off to find him. The hospital took their time responding to the emergency button he had to press to gain access and then told him A was not missing, not at all (just refusing his meds.) On his way back to Esperaza in the rain, M saw a fast car swerving and avoided him, to find that the big red rock at the entrance to Esperaza was tumbling into the main road... M heroically stopped, put up the hazard signs and started to lift large boulders to the side. Fortunately there was only one other car on the road and he stopped to help. The gendarmes were subsequently informed - though at the hour I was out no-one and been up there to see what was happening.
Saw O-B looking great!!
And some young women tritt-trotting in from yoga. All good.
Myself, I managed to get a human on the number my doc told me to ring to make an appointment with a specialist. They can't see me for 9 months!! Fortunately I'm rather well.
There's loads more but you get the gist. Old people continue to triumph: as Didier said on Sunday, we take what pleasures we may in the face of approaching doom.
Unaccustomed silence for the last week as I've been away with Margo at her new home just outside Manosque, which is somewhere between Aix and Marseille. It's an unspoilt medieval town, only partially reconstructed; full of historical delights and a Chinese eat-all-you-can buffet of great nosh. Fun to see her and Theophile - who has grown even taller - their new-build home is taking shape, elegantly. Got back late last night due to hold up on the train line. Missed the last Limoux train and of course no buses so soppy kisses to Gracie and Bob for bringing me safely home. xxxxx.
Regina makes her own oatcakes!!!
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| Bob, Kat, Max, Andy, Clare, Pete, Di |
John and Jean leave us today for Ollerton. Had a final and splendid meal at La Gallerie, Quillan, last night. Was obliged to have starter and pud., due to excessive living. Mind you, it was brilliant and more than enough so no complaints.
Baked Alaska, here called Omelette Norvegiene. No, no idea why. Will ask Ole-Bendik tonight.
Gave dinner to Gert and Elsbeth last night and forgot to photograph anyone, which is a shame as everyone was gorgeous. Unlike dinner, which veered on the only-slightly-edible side. Jean and John have one more night with us and then hit the UK route; they will be much missed (John is unblocking a drain as I write...)
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| John, Jean and Andy |
Bobs brother John is with us with his partner Jean - who doesn't photograph well :) - so we are gadding about. Yesterday was St Pierre de Mer and a fave restro., le Baline Bleu which is extraordinary by any standard! Beautiful balmy day, calming sea soundtrack , all perfect.
If the link posted yesterday isn't effective, try this one - my techie skills are not getting any better. But either should work.
Needless to say, today is filled with thoughts of Leo.
Toby has sent the info about Leos funeral. We are all invited to watch the streaming - and Toby says, if there's too much Dutch we can log out and log back in later!
Rose and Kat are en route to Amsterdam to be physically present and are already held up by the mist in Carcassonne. Flight is followed by trains and buses so fingers crossed that the connections aren't too critical - its a long days travel anyway.
Here's all you need for Weds at 2.30....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Tobys letter~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you want to join us during the ceremony just login using tinyurl.com/LvLierop
Went looking for fungi - don't ask - and in the course of my wandering discovered that the Evocation de Verdun had gone from its ancient spot under the panel on the new bridge, to a new location by the fountain.
Mysterious! Why ? What will squat on its old plinth? -watch this space.
What with one thing and another, forgot snaps of last nights meal at Gert and Elsebeths... shared with Roland and Kat and very nice too!!
However, I finally managed to remember to photograph Mr Steve Hall, denizen of these parts in the distant past. He and Iain (RIP) arrived here in the days of General Lafittes mayorship, which dates them; and they left erm about 15 years ago. We're all hazy.
Such fun to catch up. Steve is still working hard in Edinburgh so unlikely to join us again soon. He leaves today. > sniff<
It is with the heaviest of hearts that l have to report Leos death.
Toby wrote yesterday: ' Leo died last night, peacefully asleep; no pain or anxiety. Just the way he wanted it. We are very sad but also relieved he dosnt have to wait...'
Leo had Leukaemia and had been doing very well under treatment, when the treatment became ineffective and was withdrawn. It was a question then of pain management and time.
Here's a selection of tender memories....
