first night market

early at the night market

 The season began with a hugely successful evening... the town turned out in force despite the rather ominous weather. Distant thunder and lowering clouds could not keep the Esperazannaise from their delights:) Toby is back as are the Scottish Daves and all the friends and neighbours came too. Music perfect, one talented bloke and his guitar.
As luck would have it, it was both the solstice and my guest Francis' birthday so much to celebrate.

Here Bernard and Fran sort out the issues while I slide down the table.

The weather cleared and we had a beautiful sunset, so now we get on with coping with the heat :)

Bernard and Francis have just  left for cooler climes but enjoyed meeting y'all... they think that mad people move here so they won't be so noticeable. Hmm. 

Keeping cool

...at Annie and Pete's yesterday in the emerging kitchen - Annie, Bernard, Bob, Mary, Pete, Gracie, Jethro and Frances - all most appreciative of the food and the company in the old mill. And in my case the blanquette which no-one else wanted to drink on account of the heat; madness. It's perfect for the chaleur. As is swimming in the little river Saltz, apparently. Bernard, Francis and I sat on the river bank admiring our friends' fortitude.

newbies

Old chums Bernard and Frances Heslin arrived yesterday - new to Esperaza -  we've not met up for a decade or two so there is much nattering going on.
Tomorrow is the fete de music :) We will be there. It is still hot.

sunday report

 There was a market, there was a vide grenier, it was HOT; too hot for many of us. John has left for the comparative coolness of a Greek island. Here are some flowers grown by the indefatigable Bob in the yard.

 This is a traditional French trick for surviving the heat - soak a towel and hang it over your shutters  at night. Works for me.

RIP Irish Steve

Ian writes; 

We have lost a star here. Steve lived hereabouts for over 30 years in a small caravan, arriving with the so-called new age travellers driven out of Britain in the mid-80s by the Major government, before which he was a stalwart in the Teepee valley in Wales. He was a qualified structural engineer. He was seldom out of work, sending money every year to his 7 (seven) children, and never drew on the RSA for income nor wanted to, saying "It makes you lazy." He was rarely disheartened, never depressed, ever cheerful. An angel at the Resto recently enabled him to entitlement to some land in Montazels. He would have been 60 in December and had everything to live for...

mates reunited

Old friend John Murphy is here - we've not met up for some 16 years (when he and wife moved to Greece) so plenty to catch up on. And where better than in a garden on a balmy evening...

Home again

Back from the wilds of Spain - nice, though hot, hotter than here by some 5 degrees and heaven knows it's hot in Esperaza - Lovely to get back to Bob, Lily, Oswald, Jess, Tango and this sleazy beast which has moved in. Gorgeous. Warty Bliggins, I think he's called.

Some bad news... Irish Steve, whom most of the locals know, has been recovered lifeless from the river in Montazels. May he rest in peace.

Other news, also bizarre but (so far) less fatal - a local Mayor (not ours) has been caught in extreme in flagrante and on you tube. Woops. Looks like the national press may pick it up - it's done the local rounds.

I dunno, turn your back for a minute....