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.