In the meantime, friends to lunch - Richard and Allison and McDo. (Melon and tomato in vinaigrette, coronation chicken with walnuts, Cheddar cheese! -All that was in the house, left from English visitors- and pompette, apple puff delight bought by the guests)
Its still a little bit too warm but we soldier on.
Dropped in on the English Library there, which was a delight! Interesting people talking interesting stuff.
Here is the Captain enjoying breakfast at the Pink Palace, next to the library - warm to hot days, hardly anyone around, calm and pleasant.
Some bad news though. Two of our old friends are in hospital - one in intensive care in Carcassonne (more on her later when I've ascertained if she wants to be blogged) and another in recovery after an op. The latter is Ole-Bendik who managed to be under his disability scooter when it fell. He's now looking at weeks of rehab and will be moved to Limoux when possible.
Where he will no doubt be cherished :)
And this morning, early, David and Celia left for the long drive to Switzerland. We have the remaining family for another day.
We naturally gyrated to La Chapaire and were charmed by the stories and the histories that flowed as two families were united.
David and Celia live in Basel and drove down to Esperaza to meet Ryan, Alicia and Etienne (curiously Peggy also lives there - her who was here last week with Arno -and she drove back in the Morgan, her gift from Phil) (small world)
an evening to remember, for sure...
Poor snap of Peggy and her husband Arno, here from Switzerland to collect Peggys legacy from Phil, of blessed memory; his Morgan. We apero'd at Toutla and lunched at ours yesterday - forgot proper photos - and they drive off today.
Gloriously cool - some say cold - with light drizzle. Last night the glitterati of Espe sat outside Tout-la in the rain. Since Le Healthy and La Chapaire were closed for the long weekend holiday, we (Pete, Clare, Di, Terry - ) stayed put and ate deep fried food. Jean-Luc has taken to calling white wine with lots of ice le piscine blanc which is rather a good name for it; its been thoroughly tested and approved.
Not sure what would be open this morning, it being the feast day of the Assumption (when we celebrate the carrying-up to heaven of the virgin Mary) but the market was there and it was business as usual everywhere in Esperaza. So glad I went to check!! The birds of Rue Gambetta were either taking showers or preparing for the off - fantastic flights of swifts and martins, all plump with mosquitos and ready to fly to Africa and do their bit there. Hoping they won't be leaving us just yet but the locals think the change in the weather will see them on their way.
Other news, which I was too slow to photograph, is that the kingfisher is back, further down river from where his habitat was destroyed last year - lets hope the authorities will give him/her time to train a brood before ripping everything up again.
And behold!! Not only do we have toilets but we can be seen to have toilets!!
Here's a sign on the old bridge.
With great joy we initiated our new dining table last night - inherited from Phil who inherited in his turn from his and Bobs grandfather. Its a solid oak piece that I actually polished before the meal, which was shared with Roland and Katerina and Fran and Clare. Forgot photos. Too busy: own version of coquilles st Jacques, ratatouille, tuna in parcels of pastry with aioli, peach cobbler. We have to thank Kat and Ro for installing the excellent oven without which the table would be bare. Shiny, but bare.
But far more important news in Esperaza. Shock!! Horror!!
Rubbish, I know; lots going on, forgotten to post, no idea what's happening. Some family still here, such a delight - they cook, they clean, they help out!! And they are entertaining :) |Life made much more pleasant by a breeze and a drop in temperatures, so all well.
