bygone days.

 Here are Rosine and Bruno, snapped at Tout-la and now en route to their various homes... not before they took me out for the day yesterday, to the Chateau de Villerouge-Termenes. It's on our coastal route and I've always wanted to stop and visit; it's lovely, not disneyfied nor indeed, particularly comfortable - a sign of authenticity, for sure.

questions were raised about the authenticity of the medieval feast that served as lunch - though it was good and great fun. Other people dressed up but we spoil-sports refused that level of engagement. They danced!!

Bruno and his sister did the tour of the place but I noted the heights, the stairs and the complete lack of lifts and sat in the sunshine instead. They loved it but were tired out.

Got home in time to welcome Lizzie, who is here for the Toques et Clochers , our local wine festival. (I've stopped going post-covid, when they stopped the art exhibitions.) Guessing that the random Trump Tariffs will have an impact this year - we'll find out. 

Shoot the polluters

wonderful gateau for OB's birthday event, in the rue Gambetta by tout-la.... brownies from Louise gorgeous too.

I have many photos of the crowd chomping and quaffing but you can take it as read :) Unfortunately many were smoking and there's only so much Ventolin an asthmatic can take so at least I got an early night.
 

Going to have to find a way of dealing with the breathing issues before  the summer, when the great outdoors becomes the worlds ashtray. There's extra drugs, masks or hibernation. Perhaps I'II carry a water pistol and just shoot the smokers!!

Birthday geriatric

I thought I knew O-B's age but he's changed it so lets just go with ancient of days... here he is at breakfast, cafe du Pont, with Father Matthews who turned up recently.

 

Here is a youth!! To prove that we know one. James is here this week, enormously grown again, with his gorgeous parents. 

And the frog, managing the insect life of the garden with the help of a gecko or two.

Hope all my local mates have got Saturday morning firmly in their dairies... this is for the SIGNING OF THE BOOKS when Aileen and I will be flogging our literary efforts at the English Library in Quillan. From 11.30 till 1.00. By the Pink Palace. Please come.

in hiding

 Bruno and I shared pre-dinner oysters last night, the other guests being in hiding. We had Chez Charlie Lasagne, yum, salad and strawberries all with a dry muscadet. Worked well :)

Sunshining for the market... so far -

more abomination of d.

 Scene of former glories, The TyRex is gently rotting away. Sigh.

Since I'd collated all my tax figures yesterday and was insisting on a celebration lunch, we had to go to Quillan - where of course we visited our Tibetan friends. 

They seem to be doing well, barely an empty table. Really enjoyed our meal which was enlivened by the children playing in the street outside; a reminder of how simple life used to be. 

Apart from the exciting news about our frog - clearly finished with hibernation - and that me and our guest are preparing beds for the next wave of visitors, thats it!

Tout-la

 Great Tout-la Wednesday, featuring O-B's family in from Norway to check on him -  and him still blossoming. Plus Peter G turned up as well as the usual suspects. And new boy Richard, new persons Deidre and Russell and others... Missed Roy who was away collecting Jo from the airport so no Alan who is usually wheeled round by the ferociously fit Roy. Pete and Claire left for blighty so also absent. 

Victoria

Olle

Justin 

Spot the Madso tribe!!!

the abomination of desolation

 

Here's le Healthy's terrace this morning... truly dismantled. Sad that another of Esperazas little treats has been lost - it looks very like TyRex today - 

Other news: The roof of the ex-Scottish Daves house is being redone.

Half of Esperazas glitterati are in Dublin for Kennys exhibition. The portrait of Mike, much admired, has been sold!