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.