Table turning

 It may not seem like much in  a global context but the arrival of a new table in our home is pretty major for us, our friends and our parrots.

Rose and Toby

the table

Big thanks are due to Toby, Rose and Norbert (out of shot -)for the dismantling and reassembling of this beautifully crafted bit of kit. We are thrilled.

Katherine and I had lunch on it today so its been inaugurated. 

I've been lax lately but am finally freed from that which ailed me, so will remember to snap mates when they next occur. Missed doing Mr and Mrs Rushton on Sunday and indeed the many lovely friends in the market and hanging about the impasse. Toby is the attraction; she's off tomorrow, but will be back.

Changes in Espe

 I'm still fairly sluggish after la rheum but tottered over to Tobys to bid farewell to the setting of many a happy time. As everyone knows, the house previously known as The Dutch House has been sold, about to become a French House again; we won't loose Leo and Toby who will still visit, just not in this mansion.

Impossible to forget the last 20-odd years of japes! 

Other news; 'our' Tibetans have bought a restaurant in Quillan  (next to The Terminus) and have sold on their Esperaza branch to another Tibetan family. Full report to follow :)

Traditional Wednesday

 

Wednesday evenings have evolved into a pattern - anyone with a beard goes to Tout l'Ap for an hour or to and  those less favoured pick them up at a convenient time to go and recharge at le healthy. 

At this time of year with sporadic customers it's pot luck, really - Bob and I shared a pizza and Di ate a burger thang. Then we came back home for some music and a gentle catch up... lovely evening!

Still coughing here but getting better. Very warm, apparently we have June temperatures. 

Tuesday night

 

Dear Claudine instigated a night at Tout l'Apero, bless her - just what the doctor ordered.  

We ate deep fried battered prawns with a mysterious mayo and drank fruit juice. Actually Claudine drank beer. Bob and I are too enfeebled to cope with alcohol. 

Various friends materialised - David Bailey from Rennes le Chateau and his team, including Sally. A treat.

Daresay we'll be back :) 

Packed market in the sun

 If it weren't so cold, it would feel like spring, brilliant blue sky and strong sun. By the end of the market some folk were in t shirts -  the young hardy ones.

You can spot the Captain and I inside the café, having hot chocolate. We'd been to Carcassonne on a reckie and were knocked out by the beauty of this place, snow on the mountains and all. Feeling better, though not recovered. Hope my fellow sufferers are doing OK> Reuben merrily told me about two mates who'd just about shaken it, then came down with covid. 

Cheers, Reuben.

January in the haute Vallee

 The most beautiful Thursday in Esperaza - 18 degrees at its peak - though its downhill for the weekend, they say.

Didn't think to photograph the beauty of the day till it was over. Then it got a bit weird.

Blood thirsty Quillan

Strange old Quillan this morning, where there's a lab that tests bloods to prove that you are not malingering (:I'm not)

Bumped into old friends heading for sun and sand by public transport starting with the Perpignan bus. In the café Terminus -where most pre-dawn life can be found- uncovered a host of French friends, quelle plaisir, including a neighbour from 2 doors down in Esperaza. 

Having been a long time in bed, it was thrilling to be out among people.

Back to bed now though, enough excitement.

If you too have this virus - go back to bed.
 

laid low by lurgy

 The news is late as I've been flattened by whatever bug it is that doing the rounds.  However....

here is Oona with joyful news!

 We welcome Zachary, all 4.5 kgs of him, to our little world. 

And I tested for Covid -negative- before going out to dinner with Barbara and Michael on Saturday night, a treat we'd so been looking forward to. The others loved it all and I'm sure I will too. Because of this virus l didn't get the full benefit, which means we must go back. 

We were at a table in Couiza

All the good things you've heard about it are true. 

Creative cooking, no musak, good service, bit cramped but it would be, wouldn't it!! 

christmas gone

 Esperazas street decorations came down yesterday, confirming what we'd suspected; fun season over. Sigh.

 Mikes funeral is on the 16th January at 9.30, at the crem in Trebes. If anyone from here is going and has space for another, please get in touch. 

I promise not to be maudlin.

Mike Hinc RIP

 

Mikes life and career were often shocking but todays shock is overwhelming. 

He took ill over christmas, apparently, and died on the 9th Jan.

Mike was an artist which was how I knew him. So it was a surprise to be in his studio (on the road to Quillan) and see gold records on the walls. They were for Rough Trade, a record company, which one of my brothers had been signed to. Turned out Mike was my brothers agent. 

I put them back in touch but within minutes they were fighting again. Seems this is normal with musicians and their representatives.

He had stories!! And knew all the big boys.

I really can't do his career justice, I'm expecting that the music press will do a decent report. His was a very rock'n'roll life, which he quit in order not to die young following a heart attack.

He retrained as an artist in Herefordshire. His work was challenging and amusing and often technically amazing. Lets hope that the family can fix an exhibition of his work as part of the celebration of his life.

MIKE HINC, RIP - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL

New Years calm

 Unusual silence due to absence. Went to Toulouse which was multifaceted; some lovely memories, some less so. Very glad to be home despite the rain - I mean, the market today was slight, to say the least.

Time to hunker down with a good book and wait for it to pass.

Movements of Andy and Lou and local bus stop.

Went a-visiting yesterday and caught these two at home, before their pre-dawn departure today. They come and go like ships in the night - never time to catch up properly. 

Lou and James got in some skiing while Andy was laid up with Le Bug. Lot of it about. Take care out there.

STOP PRESS for anyone travelling by public transport today, tomorrow or Friday; the bus stop is closed and relocated temporarily to the Ave Andre Malraux. Which is over the river, opposite the Cafe du Pont. Where the irritating road and bankside works are, which makes catching a bus there really challenging. 

Apparently the changes are to accommodate the road works in  the village; of which there is no sign.