Weds

 Barged in on Richard and Eva at tea time; here they are in their beautiful new house, a moody portrait because the un-moody ones were inept. Here is Richard trying to get his arms around the trunk of the wisteria which graces the front garden...

 Got home to find the rabbit having an identity crisis...

wanderings

Wandered down to La Cazals yesterday to see Sammy and Angela - who seemed to me to be doing very well after her recent illness. This lovely weather is a delight :) John left us this morning, Yuri will go this afternoon. We passed a splendid evening in the Authentique where we bumped into Max and Andrea which made it even better... below is the new sign for the new parking space for the old dinosaur museum.

Secular Sunday

 The market was as lovely as ever - Heres Ole-Bendik buying his customary oyster breakfast - and the vide grenier was vast and bulbous. The stained glass panel below is now mine :)

all out of focus

Last nights' photos were particularly bad so here's a photo of the moon a couple of mornings ago... Yuri arrived yesterday, later than expected - plane late, train gone - and we had expected to meet  up somewhere that was closed and eventually ended up at the creperie, which was gracious enough to take us all in tranches.' All' being Jamsie of St Ferriol, Gracie, Bob and John, and Max - back in town, hurrah- his family Andrea and Lindsey plus Toby and Leo. There we found everyone else installed; Richard and Eva, Gillie and her family and others. No wonder the photos were bad, it was overwhelming.
Then we stayed up late talking.

Ole-Bendik triumph

 Ole-Bendik 's private view was last night. The tribe gathered in Mirepoix to celebrate. And packed and joyous it was too :)  Many friends there; below is O-B with Didier and below them the rarely-spotted Mat Hilton.

Mat has married and given up etching since we last met; his creative energy now pouring into opera (writing of) and video installation.

Didier Bourdon and O-B

Mat Hilton

 Another delight was to catch up with Jean-Noel Cuenot, above with Aileen - both flourishing.
Here is a random crowd shot featuring Kats' back -

 and the hero of the evening, Roland. He drove me and Bob and John and Kat to the gig and booked the restaurant where we ate afterwards:) Smashing choice and they were only a bit cross with us for being an hour late. Recommended. l'Autre Jardin, 28 cours du Colonel Petitpied.

Note that the expo is open on Monday morning, should you be visiting the market. Other times too, afternoon Friday, Sat and Sun. Well worth the trip.

Season of mists...

 ...its that lovely time when the mornings are thick mist and clears onto crisp sunshiney days. Lovely. Neighbours bought us mushrooms which will be served in large omelette tonight, for brother-in-law John who arrived yesterday. Naturally we ate in the Creperie :)

1 euro train

 In Carcassonne yesterday bumped into Sue and John - Sue had never been on the one euro train so I took these photos on the way home to show her. It is efficient, clean and above all, cheap. The station is a classic of its kind... sometimes the train bifurcates and becomes a bus at Limoux (see timetable) but that's fun too. The trip is amazing, the most beautiful countryside crisscrossing the Aude.

 Back in Esperaza the cobbles in the yard have been exposed prior to being cemented over (floor for new conservatory) The rabbit is finding it ideal for camouflage, little minx.