Rain stopped play -

Sundays vide grenier, and the market, were a wash-out. Huge disappointment all round.

I ran across Jean Torrent, our mayor of some time ago, and l sounded off about voting rights for people who paid taxes here. He agreed - who doesn't? - but laughingly said, why vote anyway, they're all the same. Given todays result, this is a worrying approach.

And now it seems a general election is looming. Sigh.

 

Alone again...

Yuri has gone, having shared his great learning and sense of fun with us for a week. Already missed. But how lucky we have been! He's finished proofing the new edition of his Big Book, The Other God - It's published by Yale so watch out for the reprint.

In the meantime, its election day AND there's a vide grenier by the river. More on all that, later....
 

Soft days

 Despite the mayor, who as written on his Fb page that it is against the law to tamper with election posters, we have a selection of comments:

-though not much of a debate. If you have the right to vote, please do: remember,

Had an evening at Toutla last night, to say goodbye to Catherine who is moving out from our estate today. Her house hunting continues though there are hopeful signs on the horizon... good luck to her!!

Had a brief trip to Rennes le Chateau with Yuri to suss the Sauniere Society and some other Grail and treasure hunters. I was driven away very quickly by the smokers (asthma sufferers will understand) but not before I had counted 13 buzzards circling on a thermal above the village. Ominous or what. Lovely anyway.

 

Healthyish

Excitement last night as Le Healthy became unusable due to water doing weird things inside...nothing daunted we (Bob, Peter D and I)  were served outside, which was wonderful. Food a tad iffy but ambiance great. Came home to a dark house as the electrics had blown, leaving poor Yuri sitting in the shadows. All well it seems, a lamp had blown. Probably parrot damage.

 

Tibetans in town

New Tibetan family have opened the takeaway in Esperaza - the preceding ones opening a restaurant in Quillan today - and we ate their takeaway food last night. If you like Tibetan (Bob doesn't, alas) it's fabulous. Personally I think we are so lucky to have this authentic cuisine in our tiny town.

if that's not enough excitement, look! Another vide grenier on the riverbank, set for Sunday.

AND the beginnings of the towns new public toilet. This is expected to be functional at the end of July and will cost the commune 60,000 euros - including the W.C. - this is according to the Fb page of our mayor and accessible to all . 

Befriend Christian Soula and be in touch with the mayor :) 

on the edge of the square of the 8th May, in front (at the old back) of the school -

 

small news

Couldn't resist photographing the garden flowers - the weather continues to be lovely, warm and not-too-hot. Good weather for graffiti, obvs. It's illegal here to interfere with legitimate election info., though that doesn't seem to stop anyone; these labels are clearly pre-prepared and stuck on in haste.

 

Phils post mortem birthday memorial event

 Had Phil been spared, he'd have been 67 yesterday. We ate at his favourite restro, le chaplaire, and celebrated him.

Peter Dunn and Margaret

John and Jamsie

Siggi and Margaret

Also there; Bob and Yuri, rubbish photos. Fine meal, as ever... very good indeed. For a weird occasion, sorrowful and joyful at the same time, it was good.