edited highlights

Richard and Eva are back and had apero with us - as proved by inadequate photo - after which we gorged at La Perception which was a big success. There was rain late in the day and last night, apparently more due today. Fresh air! 

 Are they perhaps related??

TONIGHT the first of the night markets... see y'all there :)

forgotten

I forgot to snap the family, now including Phil and plus Ian, at the excellent Bob-made dinner in the garden last night. I also forgot to photograph the very beautiful Chateau de Ducs de Joyeuse where wonderful Margaret took me for an apero  - 

Instead here are the new painting racks, wahey! -the first egg from a startled chicken and a nice lemon tree.

Collioure

Lovely day out in the sunshine at Collioure. Went to the Musee d'art moderne there which in the past has delivered some wonderful surprises but at the moment is, erm, slight. It lacks lustre. On the other hand the beautiful building was empty of folk and gave us a nice little rest after our tremendous lunch. It was in one of those fish restros round the back and  though we ate very little we certainly ate enough, so settled on a picnic dinner at home rather than another meal.
And at home we found Phil who'd arrived a day early and been waiting for us all day, poor chap. So that's the three Harris brothers together again ...

Esperaza region

This blog is getting less and less of Esperaza and more of its environs, weird... yesterday was Carcassonne to meet old school chum Maureen and her husband Keith Douglas-Jones - a blast to see them. Maureen and I shared a bedroom in our boarding school and it pleases me no end that we are still friends :)  Chez Fred was picked for lunch and was closed, who wants to eat lunch on a Monday? But the Terminus - also closed - has kept its bistro open. An undistinguished but agreeable lunch (duck in orange sauce) made seriously pleasurable by our constant chatter. 

In the evening star Bob cooked for me and John and Jean and Ian and we ate in the garden and loved it :) Today we are doing the Collioure trip to check out the dead artists haunts. 

DIARY DATE Wonderful Stan is playing at St Gobains on Saturday night.  

armless

spotted in the market 

- nothing else to report beyond more family fun and feasting. I'm off to Carcassonne today to meet old friends. More adventures on public transport to come, no doubt.

Johns birthday dinner

We ate at St Gobains for the first time since the new management... here is Max, the ingenious and able chef. On music nights like last night (Micheal was playing -) there is a fixed menu at 15 euros. We had a bunch of chopped vedg in a slightly garlic'd mousse (cappachio de legumes), chicken in round lumps that looked at first like raw mushrooms, with a sun-dried tomato in the centre and more fresh vedg and a perfect steamed potato, halved and dusted with a little curry powder and an aoli for the chicken and then a chocolate pud with a coulis of small tomatoes, raspberries, strawberries, mint and balsamic vinegar.
It was really really good! Delighted to have spent the evening there. Everyone was lovely, we'll be back asap. They change the menu every day, it seems.
Today John, Jean, Bob and I have agreed to fast. Until tonight, when Bob is cooking for us all, plus Ian.
Off to the fun of the market now. Weather bright but chilly.

johns birthday lunch

  John joined us yesterday with Jean  (why no pic? Ed) and today we celebrated his 75th with Richard and Alison and Jamsie and Guillame (why no pic? Ed) in a languorous and lengthy fashion... salmon, forgot the peas, new pots, salad, toms and mozzarella, cheese, cake and much fizz.
Booked into St Gobain now. The walk will do us good.