Happy New Year

 Not wanting to break with tradition, Bob and I were in bed by 10.00.pm last night. Hope you had a good party, wherever you are!

I shouldn't have boasted about the weather. It's turned. But its not raining and we are not being flooded.

ending the year

 Beautiful weather here - the last couple of days have been a treat. We've been running hither and yon doing domestix, paperworky stuff, nothing fun; sunshine a great help.

Kells is still with us though rarely spotted due to cute granddaughter!

Boxing day

Many friends evaded my camera last night, or I was too busy ladling out mulled wine to get organised. Below is Jo sitting with the parrots and the many mince pies which made our french friends suspicious (Sweet? Salty?)

Liked this of John Morley, Janet was there somewhere - and here's Pierre (Anne-Marie not too well so she wasn't there) with Katerine
 

and Karim, Jem being there somewhere...

several apologies due to seasonal exhaustion and malaise, alas - rest up y'all - and many thanks for the gifts and conversations and extra mince pies.

New life

Kells and grandchild... altogether now, ahhhhhhh

 

Christmas greetings

 

christmas eve

 Here is Katrine, the hero of last nights party. She hosted the groups' christmas eve with her extremely special skills, principally cooking of the wild boar casserole; magic!!

She managed us all (a dozen assorted foreigners) with her calm aplomb. 

Here's a rare shot of me and the captain together... he's much better, thanks all, and we were touched to get a call from the emergency services doing a follow-up call after his recent collapse (see previous posting). 

Here's Janet, having just delivered a ridiculous joke to the delight of all...

and Rose, looking frisky-

Love this of Norbert and Louise

and here are Tim and Yvonne pulling an (excellent) cracker 

Tim!!! Always the best xxx

The only blight on the evening was the non-appearance of  Alain. Since Gillies death he's been relocated to the Maison de retraite but was expecting to join us for the party. Alas, just before his lift arrived, he took a tumble. Staff thought it was too much for him to go out without medical supervision -

we toasted him and are hoping for better news as he settles in.

This year we toasted many absent friends. 

There's a lot to be said for the joy of old mates and easy companionship. Really enjoyed the evening.

white christmas

A lot of France is in trouble with flooding, but not Esperaza - as you can see, despite much rain, the mighty Aude is still having a break.

We get our excitements elsewhere.

 

Yesterday morning, last min christmas panicking, we went to Leclerc where Bob turned white and fainted. The staff were wonderful. Several helped plus one medical passer-by did the recovery stuff. They called the pompiers who put him in an ambulance and tested his heart and after a while said he was ok. Which was as well. I don't drive and we were a long way from home with a bunch of shopping.

A little tense, nonetheless.

Just back from seeing Dr Levys young helper who was most encouraging. Interested in the pile of drugs Bob is on and ordered some bloods - very encouraging and unfearful about it all, without being dismissive.

So, lessons learnt; carry a list of the drugs you/yours are on. I had absolutely no idea while the emergency workers were trying to help and needed to know. From now on the list is on my phone. 

Plus, carry water and possibly chocolate. 

Every day another challenge :)

 

lunch at the creperie

Its been a while... the fact is, I was in London for two weeks and spent that time in bed with the vicious UK 'flu, toying with the notion of death. Had the hospitals not been overwhelmed I'd have gone there for help but was too ill to sort it.

Clearly I'm OK now - and learnt some vital things. When flying from Stanstead, mask up; and ask for help. There is a desk at the entrance where a team of sweet people will look after you - wheelchair you through all the formalities and deliver you to your gate where more sweet people will get you up those stairs. Couldn't have done it without them.

Getting back just in time for Gillies funeral was a shocker. Being beset by aggrieved French agriculturalists another.

But here we are, alive and getting stronger day by day. Feeling insubstantial - and so Bob took me to lunch at the Creperie, a treat after a long break.

Crepes with creamed leeks and noix St Jacques - magic!

Don't forget Michael's tribute show tomorrow. Not practical for me to go but Bob and other friends will be there... 

Diary date

Barbara has sent this poster - rather poorly treated by me and my dreadful tech skills -  and writes that all Michael's friends and many admirers are welcome to a little vernissage at 3.00 pm on the 21st.

See y'all there, health permitting...

 

RIP Gillie Loft 30 May 1949 - 12 December 2025

 

Gillies cancer first made itself known during covid which presented a range of challenges in itself - because she was a nurse she knew what was going on and was heroic in her fight. Not for herself but for Alain her husband, to whom she was devoted. Her many friends watched in awe as she went round  after round of treatment - with a wicked good humour and many flashes of naughtiness.

Her funeral yesterday was marred by the road blockages of the French agricultural workers. Not everyone was able to get to the crematorium, some sitting in traffic as the ceremony commenced without them. Many complaints sent heavenward where Gillie could (allegedly)  be heard to snigger...

Afterwards Alain, James and Fiona hosted a wake at Tout-la, where Norbert, Roy and Clare performed for us. An amazing tribute. 

Alain will be living in the Maison de Retreat where I'm sure he'll be visited regularly - FYI its open for visitors after 11.00am .

Much love and bonne courage to the family - Gillies memory will linger in Esperaza.

absent

 No prizes for guessing - I'm in London. Sigh. Horribly wet. Back ASAP

galloping rhume

 Snivelly cold is now full blown so no kissing again today - a great market anyway though depleted by rain and chilly weather. Lovely for the determined locals. Spent most of the morning sitting in the plastic bag that the Argentinians have put over their outside tables, bless'em, with les Rushtons. 

Bumped into Will of Rennes les Bains who tells me that his restaurant(s) are open Thurs., Fri. and Sat until April. Good to know...

Captain and I got taken to Ax les thermes by Jo, aided by Charlotte, on Friday for 'the treatment' . Simply wonderful. Long mountain drive featuring snow, then two hours of hot soaking in various pools. We ended up outside looking at the view whilst toasting in steaming clear water. Surely hot mineral water can only be good for you - and along with everyone else we had the sort of idiot smiles that children draw with wax crayons on pictures of their families- but afterwards we were knackered. Slept well, for sure. Can't wait to do it all again.

Taken from the car  -

Historic day today as Msr and Mdm Linares close up their shutters after 28 years of toil. They're off to play with their grandchildren. 

The gap in the market will be absorbed by Erika in the 8a8 - no idea what, if anything, will happen to the store in Rue Gambetta.

Caught and caged...

...the towns' christmas tree safely installed.

 

The lights are up too, much as ever though pretty nonetheless. 

Lunched with Siggy at le Pont today - she pointed out how creative the chef is there nowadays. Plat du Jour; ducks hearts, salsify, salad. 

Strong sun caused interesting shadows -

Here's the captain sternly confronting his chocolate pudding.

A man has to do what a man has to do, bien sur.

Paucity of market...

 ...and none of the promised snow. Only us locals about; nice. I'm developing a streaming cold so forbore to kiss my friends.

Here's the big event. Msr and Madame Linares really are retiring - thought they may have changed their minds, but no - and their business will move to the 8a8. They'll miss us.

 

metropolis Esperaza

 Here are Lizzie Jackson and Barbara Darling, both eating at the Chapaire for the first time - imagine! It was a success, grilled salmon followed by a lemon coupe. Despite the fullness of the place we were able to sit and chatter quietly - 

It's cold; despite the gloom of the neighbours, no snow. Yet.

Jamsie de St Ferriol

 

In a collection of terrible photos from last night, I thought this was rather eloquent - birthday boy Jamsie in his chateau, ponderin' - below, just about to tuck into Suzannas steak pie, which was followed by bread-and-butter pudding. Wren was dancing attendance, great team.

We were there with Di Dunn and Ole-Bendick, Cleopatra and Masha. Ill-health (Bob's) called for an early retirement but I'm sure the party frisked on without us...

This week -

Forgot and missed a lot this week but a spot of bird watching yesterday reminded me I hadn't posted for an age. Photos at best inept. I've ringed these two dippers so you are spared having to wonder whats going on. 

Whilst watching them - amoung my favorite birds - I remembered a sighting last year when a kingfisher flew to inspect two of them. Wonderful sight, blue streak between two black and white birds... and just then the kingfisher shot out of the water, wings fully extended, very wet, most gorgeous - snapped him on the branch he came to rest on. 

Apart from this excitement, went to Carcassonne and had lunch at Chez Fred with Lizzie. 

Both wonderful.

Bobs been away for the last few days seeing his London specialists so I've been on parrot watch.

He's back! So off to market-

 

Glorious Dead, Glorious days

 Today being the 11th November is Remembrance Day. In the past I've joined in with the ceremony at the war memorial but can never manage it without crying so nowadays I do my own remembering when the town have all gone. Here it is, at the going down of the sun...

Apart from ones own family losses and wounded, the names on the memorial are heart-breaking. All those families and so many of them...

***********

Forgot to mention that Sunday had a 'creative' market at the MJC which turned out not to be too embarrassingly bad - or have my goal posts shifted? - here is a sweet horse that took kids trotting around our mean streets.

Then on Monday the sweet Captain took me to the airport to sort out some mad bookings I'd made in major incompetent mode. Happening a lot nowadays.

The Ryan Air staff, whilst puzzled, did a decent job of sorting me out.

So celebration called for - lunch at Wok Land, as gloriously glutinous as ever :) They've got robot waiters now. One delivered a birthday cake to the table next to is whilst singing Joyeuse Anniversaire. 

Life generally rather nice, in short.

brief summary

Here is Guillaume sporting a splendid shiner - allegedly slid onto something whilst swabbing the floor. Other stories abound. 

He'd only let me take a pic if it was a shared selfie... you think this one is bad?? Haha

Margaret is back and we were eating - very well - at the Chapaire. In the excitement forgot to snap her but will have other opportunities, I trust. She is well. John, however, has covid and remains in Ireland. Much missed. 

In the morning, spotted Kay at the PMU. On fine form but only here for a few days before flying back to Australia to join Maryann.

Other than that, Bob and I ran some errands in Limoux and lunched at Leclerc where I ate venison. 

For us Brits that place is a miracle.

AND the rubbish that has been sitting in the Rue St Saens for a year has gone (almost) I facebooked it to the mayor and the very next morning most of it went, then more the next day - only a pile of rubble heaped at the side of our kitchen remains. Impressed by his rapid response.

 

Latest

 

The autumn commences with the traditional massacre of the tress, shrubs and habitat in the yard. Forlorn birds are sitting about looking for breakfast, whilst I'm trying hard not to anthropomorphise all this, especially as our friends are working so very hard to achieve it. 

On a very much happier note, sort-of,  Graham and Angela are here. They have the unenviable task of cleaning out Ians house. 

Dinner at the creperie a welcome break.

Other news; Vincent, our fisherman friend, was not impressed with my photo of the crayfish. Common as muck, it seems. 

healthy river Aude

Guessing that to support this crayfish the mighty Aude must be in good nick. We have Dippers and Kingfishers, Otters and Herons all of whom live off the river. And the Shags are back.

So s/he has very decent camouflage though when its moving the white spots on the claws were a giveaway. Can't find out anything about it except there are many many species of crayfish -

Good market day, bit drizzly and not many folk about but what there was was fun :) 

 

Terror strikes in Esperaza

... nightmare city!!

Missed the procession of small horrors as I took the day off to go to Carcassonne, where other small horrors were processing and many adults were done up. Bats, one and all-

Buses still deranged as stop in Limoux altered and ditto in Carcassonne. All this means is hanging about at new bus stops, where new people are willing to chat and moan about it all. 
 

Roaming free

The Thursday market... charming as ever. Was surprised en route by how many of our labyrinthine streets are closed off; when I went to photograph the latter snap a big SAUR worker charged up to shout at me that photos are forbidden. I showed him the picture and asked, why?  He just repeated that it was prohibited.

If you enlarge the picture and zoom in you can see him, should you want to. Can't imagine what SAUR have against random pix. 

In the meantime, at the maison de retrait, noisy sheep roam wild.

Life is weird innit.