Hat factory: living history

 497 women and 317 children were imprisoned at the Montazels-Couiza concentration camp on the 8th February 1939.

The camp was closed on the 8th May 1940.
Spanish refugees in France were sent to build roads in the Aude region, to work in the gold mine at Salsignes, north of Carcassonne, or to Nazi extermination camps.

I knew nothing of this until after last nights' play, On the Cut, when we had a brief talk on the subject. Sitting in the same space where these poor women had been imprisoned, with less care than we give to dogs, was harrowing. 

The play was a challenge too, dealing with class issues, racism, the poverty of the workers in wartime. It was set on the canals in England and masqueraded as a radio play being performed in front of us - so two women sat in front of microphones with scripts while the BBC chappie read out what was happening and others did sounds off.

It was so well done!! AND it was funny. Beautifully written and produced and presented.

Couple of hundred Brits there and a token scattering of French friends... many congratulations to all involved, especially of course animateurs and producers James and Alex (who are become the major cultural force in Esperaza.)

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Norbert and Louise and I came out hungry and saw there was a tiny space in La Chapaire. There were many friends there. Sally! Who was beginning her birthday celebrations in preparation for today

Like this picture of Guillame photographing some of the fun :) Better than any of mine. 

Goings. And squirrels.

 Can't believe that Gert and Elsebeth are off again - how the last two months have flown! They gave me and Kat a farewell apero last night and will be back in September. 

Safe journey dear ones xxx

We had some decent weather, briefly, this morning. Saw a red squirrel by the river down by our garden. Nice neighbour said there are three there which is good to know - not seen even one for years.

yesterday...

 ...lunch wasn't all that festive on account of Petes' family having suffered a major loss: but one must eat, so Pete and Di and Jasmine and l went to the Pont where pintard (guinea fowl)  was the plat du jour, much to everyones approval.

(The person sitting behind Jasmime was a stranger so she is here ineptly rubbed out, hence odd object in background)

All sorry to have cancelled Petes birthday party but it would have been no fun - another time, he says.

Weather here dismal. Says <11 degrees and feels like 7>  on my app, but having just been out I'd say it feels more like 4.

Despite this; a baby nuthatch appeared this morning!! Chubby and fluffy and ravenous. Feathers in tufts. Sensationally lovely.

I bear bad news from Jean-Luc though. An a Vendre sign has appeared above his door - and its true, he will leave us when the building is sold. There are enquiries already but he will go at the end of the year anyway. Too expensive, he says - so Tout l'apero will no longer be a feature for us foreigners and indeed, for the many French folk who have espoused it. Will try and get there tonight, see if we can make him change his mind. 

Esperaza dawn

Dramatic dawn... not sure what it portends. Will wait and see...

and here's yesterdays demo in the market, all five protestors.  Attracted a large police presence but as far as I know there were no Israelis claiming god-knows-what against them. 

Impressed that the young people are bearing witness.

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Small and select and jolly soiree last night, largely fuelled - literally and figuratively - by Margaret and Wee Ann, who brought most of the food. And Jamsie is back!!

 

testing

 Here we are again, testing the bistro des amis (think that is what its called nowadays) in Rennes le Chateau - David Baileys place, anyway. Excellent. Lunch enjoyed by all :) Ann wanting to get home for a rest.

Attention party goers; those many people who were going to Peter Dunns birthday party tomorrow will probably know by now  -  its been cancelled. Very sad news for the family, who have all decamped to the UK to be together at a tragic time.

Love, strength, courage to them.

Busy town

Look who turned up this morning! Joy and delight; Peter and Annie, as I live and breathe. Though Annie is off tomorrow and Pete will only be here a couple more days (and with Gus, apparently. )

Yesterdays arrival was Toby, at last - here for 5 weeks, awaiting the appearance of the rest of the family.  Hoping to spend time with her soon xxxx                       

 

A departure... and Jean-Luc is away so Tout l'apero closed. Sigh.

speed gossip

Wee Ann said we look as if we are waiting for our carers to collect us.

Great soiree at the ex-creperie, now le marin d'eau douce but generally known as Kevins. 

*Tobys flight was cancelled yesterday - weather stuff - but we expect her today. 

*Took tea with Karin and Jem at their new gaff in Couiza on Monday - no photos but lovely place and they are pleased and happy. Working hard to create an on site gite, of which more anon.

Grey and cold. Out of the frying pan, into the fridge. Bah.

 

Hot and heady with the Vox Vallis

 I'd thought since so many friends were actually in the choir, there would be lots of seating for those of use who are not - but the MJC was packed -

extra seating was called for but there were still people standing. I got there early but if dear Claudine hadn't saved me a seat, I'd have been hanging from the roof :)

Vox Vallis are very good and the fact they can pull crowds is evidence.... see www.voxvallis.com 

Congratulations to all involved! Alex and James for the organisation and the choir for the rest. Keep up the good work everyone.

Bad planning on my part meant I had to skip the apero afterwards. The parrots had to be exercised before nightfall and generally cleaned and fed - being market day I hadn't done them at their normal time. Like I say, bad planning...

Keep cool out there. Forecast says temps are dropping soon.

on the razzle

 Wee Ann is visiting, hurrah! -  and John is in Ireland, Roland in the Ariege, Bob in London. The four of us hoofed it to Le Healthy and behaved in a decorous fashion. 

Met Pete in the market, also abandoned by his partner. Nel is in Amsterdam. We had coffee at tout l'ap and addressed some global issues.

It was calm and cool in there, unlike everywhere else. Market packed and hot. 

This evening, 5.00, don't forget! Vox Vallis at the MJC. See you there.

ESPERAZA IN THE 30'S...

That's yesterdays temperature, not nostalgia for past decades.

 Look what was looking at me this morning! Its on Tobys' windowsill, opposite my new bedroom. It's about the size of my hand. Ain't nature marvellous.

Cafe du Pont and MJC dates...

Nice idea!! And another for the diary.

Don't forget the 14th, Sunday, at 5.00 in the MJC where our own Vox Vallis are singing fit to bust :) 

 

April Saturday

Had lunch in St Hilaire yesterday, what an amazing little village - unchanged since the medieval days. Dear Lizzie Jackson fed us with local fare ( globe artichokes,  salmon and asparagus,  strawberries) fab AND healthy!

Evening in Esperaza was Samba...

Here are Nick and Barbara beating the bejazus out of it, pounding Rue Gambetta into shape -

congrats to all and to John-Luc at Tout l'Apero who loves a challenge -

Off to market now so more anon :)

La vie en rose in Esperaza

Yesterdays lunch with Dougie and Regina - wonderful food (=soup of carrot, plus magic: tortilla; a vegan trifle ) wonderful conversation and a fair amount of hilarity. Hot sun and bird song. Life is pretty damn good.

Don't forget! The stage is up for Saturday nights' samba

 

Great Craik at La Serpent

 

Love this picture!! Cen and Pete at lunch at their home in La Serpent yesterday, for which many thanks to Clare: whose photo, alas, isn't up to publication. The one of Annette ain't great either.

 Annette and Cen had been out lambing, another set of twins for the flock.

We ate lentils :) and spinach tart and roast spuds and home-crafted humous. Brownies with raspberry coulis and strawberries.  

Easter monday

 Beautiful spring day - here is Phil sporting the debris of his v successful operation, getting better daily - 

Forgot to photograph Barbara and Nick, who ate here last night (carrot and ginger soup, cauliflower steaks, plum tart) Conversation engrossing and engaging :)

It was such a beautiful day I went a-walking. Interesting clouds;

and sure enough, the storm broke while I was floating about.

Don't mind getting wet and enjoy thunder and lightening but hail?? Hail HURTS!

Lets hope the young vines are OK.