Farewell darling Gracie

A small farewell to Gracie last night, further improved by Louises' pudding which was not poached eggs but pears in frangipane. Yum.

 And Gracie moves on... sniff. 

Other than that, France is hosting small pockets of resistance to the authorities - some rampant racailles who are efficient at leading urban crowds into trouble and assumed to be deeply left wing, some opportunist looters, some gilet jeunes politicos and some perfectly peaceful protesters worried about the rubbish education system (under funded, under staffed)

In Carcassonne the  protest was large but amiable, young people with banners of cardboard and crayon - clearly untroubled by professional rioters. 

Curfew has been announced and the fun is over ...

The fear is that with the media emphasis on the left-wing problems, the French will choose to vote for the right and allow Marine Le Pen and her robotic sidekick into power. No-one knows what this might mean for the Brits here; depends on how fiscally astute the right are and this we don't know since this particular lot haven't held power. (Though herself has been tried and found guilty of misusing EU funds)  Village life will be ended if the foreigners' are expelled. We literally stop the houses falling down. 

 My Great British Cold has left me, finally. 

missing the action

 Keep missing the Big Moments... when Gert and Elizbeth left I was too busy to make a farewell portrait (they're back in March -) and just now, had beautiful Gracie to share supper and didn't snap that either. But

here's brunch! At Couiza, excellent. A treat from the Captain who has returned to the fold. They've started doing Friday night moules frites at La Ravito and the owner was describing the 50-odd bookings last night, plus takeaways; lucky the staff are energetic.

Its a bit drizzly here, not enough but pleasant for all that. Hope its nice where you are.

perfect morning in Esperaza

Breakfast at the Pont, re-opened since closing for Julies wedding. Radiant is the word. Alain isn't the husband, BYW; he wasn't around, presumably beavering away in the kitchen. They're doing lunches again. No evening meals till June.

the fruit n vedg market was soured for me by the number of smokers - I thought it was illegal to smoke in a public space? 

Esperaza has its own laws. Managed to  shop without an asthma crisis, phew.

The Rue Gambeta has sprouted pink trees,  charmingly. I asked Mike what that was about but he'd forgotten.

 

collapsamundo

 Many friends know about the disaster of our simple London home. (Google Woodland Terrace collapse if interested) A bad time emotionally to have a hole knocked into a solid wall in my study, though when commissioned it seemed like a good idea.

It'll be a marvel when done. The team have already dealt with some challenges and that was just to get the scaffold up-

(In the meantime, the London house is entering the realms of nightmare fantasy.) 

A cheerier note; two of the breakfast mates this morning, Yvonne and Rose.

Good place to hide from building works - see you'all tomorrow!

weather, not

 I swore during the heatwave that I'd never again complain about the cold and the wet.

I'm not moaning at all, in fact the lack of crowds with no need to queue is a pleasure  :)

Breakfast at the Argentinean café was shared with Bob on Whats App....

 To Chez Charlie next, where as usual l requested (and got) advice on the cooking of tonights meal. Son of Charlie recommended that he didn't chop it now but that I cut the meat after cooking. I suggested he came round and did it. He didn't blink, just gave me his phone number.

Who would live anywhere else :)

early supper, with help

 Here's an oddly uninformative photo of last nights supper - spag bol - attended by Pete and Nel, Jamsie, Ren and Guillame.

If Ren hadn't taken charge of the spaghetti, which she can cook perfectly, and bought the pudding - a pear crumble of St Ferriol chateau pears - it would have been dreadful. As she did all of these things, the evening was a great success :)

Not starving in Esperaza

 Last nights dinner with Gert and Elisbeth was glorious fun.  Gazpacho, well garlic'd; ratatouille with entrecote; cheese; apple tart. Each with its own wine. Concluding with liqueurs. Company en forme, much laughter and joy (though Bob is in blighty and was missed)

Rather a nice snap of Gert... who took the preceding photo which is why he isn't in it. 

I had no idea that the street lights went out at some point in time. Pitch black, not even starlight, when we left the dinner. Mercifully Roland and Kat offered to walk me home by the light of their mobiles, so there was no falling giggling into gutters.

My turn to do lunch today! John and Claire Rushton and Gracie came and ate my experimental chicken with mangos. Then we had christmas pudding. 

Here's Gracie and her doubt of custard

Actually todays big news is RAIN. Not heavy and not for long but enough for wet wear and a truncated market. Very cozy...