Xmas fervour

Heres our main square, as you can see hardly hopping with Xmas shoppers - lights are pretty in the rain though.

Mixed day for me. Sold my little room in Toulouse which on the one hand means I'm no longer skating on thin ice but on the other, I no longer have a little room in Toulouse.
It was  fun for a while :) Never be able to make my living buying and selling property, I get too attached -

The sweet notaire, probaly sensing my tristesse, took me out to lunch at an Italian resturant in Carcassonne, Del Arte ( its not too far from Tridome, that direction -) Very good. Probably a chain but a nice one, pretty water features, decent service and jolly impeccable food. Been open for three months and packed. Recommended.

xmas looming

 

Laughing Anna - who does the seasonal window painting hereabouts - has been busy. Sure sign of the times. Plus; the Municipalite are inviting all those people in Esperaza who are retired to a knees-up at the MJC on the 16th at 2.30. This year we are to be entertained by a magicien who plays the accordian. Tonight at the monthly meeting of the council, they are discussing the menu...

fete de noel

 The season of merriment is upon us, hohoho - went to St Jean de Paracol yesterday afternoon to their fete, took tea and said hi to the donkeys....

Fourtou

Mary posted this picture on Facebook and I didnt hestitate to nick it - shows her and Angus' place this morning, beautiful indeed.

The market here was quite well stocked and fairly well attended despite frightful cold. No snow, as yet. In the cafe it was told that the snow ploughs are out for the first time. We have been so spoilt that I'd forgotten all this palavar...
Last night Ryan and Alicia let us play with Etienne while they made a divinely stuffed pumpkin and apple cake for Claudine and me and Bob. Drank Blanquette de Limoux so good health is assured.

gloom

Very gloomy yesterday, contemplating the future. The riverbank has been cleared of trees along with the trees by the playground. All that habit destroyed.

On the plus side we would not have been able to hear the warblers over the increased traffic caused by the new road.

Also on the plus side the root system that held the bank together has now gone and since the banks are of sand the whole lot will be washed away in the next flood; with luck that'll stop the traffic.

Sigh.

Did more clay therapy with Edith. That helped.

visitors and Esperaza Emblem

Voila! Claudine is visiting and yesterday, so did Etienne - here they both are.

And below is the town emblem now glorifying the street outside the 8a8. No sign of Micheal or his Dragon, alas.

tuesday; cold but dry -

The rabbit previously known as Princess Alice tete de lion is still wet from two days of rain and not having the sense to get under cover.

 This is the nearly-finished pavement outside the 8a8 - the hole awaits the town motif (St Micheal the Archangel and the dragon), with much anticipation.

 

And this is todays birthday boy - James Rafferty is four :) 

'The struggle continues' (Graham said that).

I gatecrashed the birthday tea and watched the tempo rise with the sugar intake. Brilliant! Andy and Lou gave me cake to take home for Bob, who got in this evening with turkey and crackers. 

Crackers in luggage on Ryan Air, FYI. Possibly illegally but certainly undetected.