Rain, good for the land -

 These snails are clearly happy with the light intermittent rain that is making it hard to believe that we live in the South of France....   and I post the picture of the nesting Cranes, below, because their absence has been worrying me. Several of us oldies remember when they used to get blown off course and roost over Esperaza for a night - fabulous sight, silently wheeling and peering at us. This couple are in the Camargue, which isn't very far.

I have a theory that its since Effisol was demolished along with the old chimney (where the Alzheimers' home now is) that there is nowhere high enough for them, except the church tower and that's only big enough for four.

Other changes; Bob has gone, back in a fortnight with his brother John; Peter of Pete and Annie has gone, his complex arrangements escape me; Kat is back from Portugal, alive and very well; Andree is safely back from cataract ops and can see clearly, which she regards as a mixed blessing :)

In my absence -

 -the Creperie is beautifully finished and the road by the school is well underway (see below).

I've been gone a while and I don't want to make trouble on my first day back,ahem - but the gossip in the market is that our mayor is asking us to vote on wether we want surviellence cameras in the town, or not. Word is that they'll go up unless we vote against.

Real life resumes

Like most English woman of a certain age, I miss bath cubes. Rejoice, stout daughters of Albion! The French have an equivalent -Paipillote de Galets de Bain Effervescents. You can get them in that nice chemist by the station in Carcassonne, kitty corner from the Hotel Terminus.
Spent some time soaking in them last night on my return from adventuring.

Invite me out and I will tell all.

Today is Vide Grenier and market, photos to follow

Questing

Im not in Esperaza at the moment but Carcassonne - at the Chapel of the Jesuits, working for an American University who are over here looking at the esotericism of the Cathar heresy and the output of the Troubadours. And the Grail stuff.

Here is the lovely ceiling and below is old friend and scholar Yuri Stoyanof, author of the classic book on dualism, The Other God.  He is soooo knowlegeable: over here from his research in Jersualem where he persists in major discoveries.

And last night we had the great good fortune to be introduced to the sound of Occitan songs by our very own Esperaza singing group GESPPE. The American audience loved them! Hugely successful evening (and they gave me a lift back to Esperaza -) Many thanks are due to them - not just from me but from about 80 Questers.

 

They were called into being at the closure of the hat factories to protect the Occitan songs that they were in the habit of singing as they worked.This is not only charming but  of great historical interest - 

Im here for the rest of the week after which Im off to Provence with the team so my silence is not laziness, for once.

Thursdays gossip

 The Creperie stays open during its facelift - and John took me and Bob to eat there last night, where there was much excitement caused by the police helicopter raking the street with its searchlight. The place was full, the food as delicious as ever (discovered a pudding called Le King Kong which I recommend wholeheartedly)
The day had been shaped by police, plain clothed and fancy, hiding behind dustbins with pistols drawn - all very wild west.  No one had a clue what was happening.
 I happened across Pete opening his shutters this morning, see below; all the talk with him and at the market was of the police activity.

Seems there is a band of bad boys robbing people hereabouts, taking petrol from cars and breaking and entering resurants. Luc had a break-in and so did l'Authentic. Annie-the-potter had her petrol tank pierced with a spike and drained, leaving her without transport and jolly cross. Anyway, the police got three of them and the fourth escaped, hence the helicopter.
 

On a different track, here is the new road begining. Sigh.

Flaming June -

Many thanks to Annie and Pete, Micheal, Fran and Clare and Bob for a lovely evening last night. Everyone was nice about my cooking and there was immoderate laughter, slightly hysterical laughter in my case on account of said cooking. Please all come again soon.
I forgot photos - but found this in Quillan yesterday, probably unmissable - and have also managed a copy of the rarest timetable in the aude.

Madness in town

Heres Loes house, being painted pink; Dermot and Kates, being re-roofed; the house opposite the new butchers' being done up by the new butcher - needs cleaning, said his wife - ; and the Creperie!!!

Insane need to change the place, what is going on??

 

Lunch at Annie and Petes at the mill yesterday much saner - with John and Rita - smashing :)