Life post-covid

Guess who's back in town! Delighted to see Toby - and to note that she's not taking chances with us recently-ex'd covid folk. Leo is very vulnerable and she will be returning to him in a week, so masks are being worn.

And here is Masha, our guest for the day. She was upset to be left here and the second the front door was opened she was out of it, like a rocket. I limped along behind shouting platitudes. 

Fortunately Louise was driving past, spotted what was happening and pulled over to help.  

Masha had legged it over the old bridge and was heading for St Ferriol (her home). Bob and Louise were forced to leap into the middle of the main road to catch and subdue her... which they did with finesse. 

She scared herself badly and is now attached to Bob, her saviour. 

The local policeman had also leapt into the search and found another dog... much french-farcery over the phone followed on, explaining that the one he'd got was not ours as that had (by then) been found.

Huge big thanks to Louise for prompt and appropriate action -

and whilst thanks are being rolled round, massive gratitude due to Micheal and Barbara who waited for yesterdays late plane to bring in the Captain. He would have missed the last bus and been forced into who-knows-what contortions to survive Carcassonne. They too are just post-covid and correspondingly tired. Heroes!!!

 

Home again

 Aix-en-provence is a charming town, if you like towns, and awash with culture. We were there for the Max Earnst exhibition and it was well worth the trip. 

We visited Cezannes studio and were touched and humbled...

and we saw the Jean Planque collection and were thrilled.

Here's Kat, being thrilled. Jean Planque collected art in the days when it was possible - he schmoozed Picasso, for example - and as he worked in the wonderful world of galleries he met the great and the good and did deals. His collection is generally described as eclectic but that's only because it doesn't map onto an existing format. His taste - and guile and cunning- shines throughout. None of it what's called first rate (ie not major sale room priced) but all of it informative and alive. Heartily recommended.

I'd write more, lots to say - but of the group I alone have come back with covid. My first time (and fully vaxxed) It's not too bad in conjunction with fever-controlling drugs, but it knocks out the stuffing. 

Others hereabouts have it too. Mask up, wash up, don't hang out with too many people. I'm in isolation for the foreseeable...

Success

 Here is the less-than-mighty Aude this morning, alarmingly low though merry enough... and here are Jem and Karim who have been staying with us as they house hunt. Bingo!! Yesterday they agreed to buy a home in Couzia - celebrated last night chez nous. Most excited for them.

Me and Bob and Roland and Kat are off to Aix-en-Province this morning for a few days culture...
 

Secret Info

 The new bus timetable - good until 31/08/2024. Courtesy the nice lady in the town hall.  

Weds are great

Here's Fran!! We had a drink with several friends last night and it was a joyful evening, featuring some Australian rugger-followers who are passing through in support of their game, whom I promised not to blog. As is customary, the conversations were wide-ranging and informative. 

Still a little too hot and the river is looking tragic; no rain forecast for the foreseeable. 

 
 

New in town

 Charming addition to the Sunday market - saw him hug someone but ducked it myself.

Lunch was at Rennes le Chateau in the Jardin de Marie where we haven't been for years. Met Tris and Laura there and loved it - packed, really, every table full, lucky Laura booked - food interesting and excessive. They send love to their old mates in Esperaza -

No decent photos of Laura so here is a man in a weird hat, ahem,  and Tristram.

Nice to see that RlC is still full of treasure seekers and spiritual questers. Urs Zimmermans sculptures are still gracing the place; well tarted since the days of Henry Lincolns arrival. Time they named a road for him.

warm conviviality

 It's warm again (certainly not hot -) and we seized the moment, firstly to lunch at the Poulet en velo with Richard and Alison - still our friends after 50- odd years. They were enchanted by the surprising lake and the quality (and quantity) of the nosh.

We overdid everything, of course, and were subsequently late for Janet and Johns party. 

Which resulted in Bob and I testing their security. It's good. In the end we just shouted, a lot, until they let us in...

...gorgeous evening. Balmy and suitable for swimming though me and Kat were the only nymphs. Ahem.

Janet and John have the most photographic garden in the world, complimented by our friends sitting round little tables, eating and nattering. 

Big thanks to J and J and all who made it such a smashing night!!