Last night of the night markets

So summer ends... not with a bang but with a party. Below is the chap who has been feeding us baked potatoes and interesting fillings all this time, being awarded a trophy for being nice. He was indeed; as were the other assiduous stall-holders. 

Much talk of Jim, whose death has been a shock to our loose-knit tribe of foreigners. He was super intelligent, having begun his university life as a mathematician (at St Andrews University) and - following in the footsteps of Issac Newton - taking a second degree in theology. After that he went to Hornsey art school where he learnt his craft as a painter. Somewhere along the line he became a champion Go player, travelling a great deal to compete in international competitions. 

In the UK he worked in I.T.,  taking early retirement and selling his north London house to come to live in  Esperaza.  His esoteric studies took him to America to learn about the Mexican Indian cults under the care of Carlos Castaneda himself, author of many illuminating books. 

Later in life his esoteric interests convinced him he was a Nagual, a leader and teacher of the other-world insights. Despite his best efforts he never found the group of students he searched for and he became more inward-looking, eventually simply not acknowledging the existence of anyone else. He just withdrew from us all.

But it has been a very special experience knowing him...

 

Jim Barty RIP

I am already given to the power that rules my fate 

And I cling to nothing, so I will have nothing to defend.

I have no thoughts, so I will see.

I fear nothing, so I will remember myself.

Detached and at ease, I will dart past the eagle to be free.

*

 This was pinned to Jims wall. Went round there after the mayor told me that he'd died in hospital, hoping to find his sisters phone number. Which we failed to do.... anyone know it?

Was glad to find the above though. It shows clearly that he was ready to submit to fate; we are told that he died of 'natural causes' so he was aware that his end was near.

We all of us have Jim stories. He was hyper-extraordinary with a mix of wisdom and off-world pottiness, kind - always kind - and anxious to enlighten the world. 

Which on some level I'm sure he is now doing.

Health Hazard in Esperaza

 Love this photo of Silvia Nogales watch a colleague perform at last nights classical guitar concert. One reason to like it is that she was the only one in a mask, apart from me and the Harris boys.

The final performer gave a rousing speech about how music should be free, not restricted to those who have been vaccinated against Covid 19. Everyone cheered and clapped. 

The fact that children were everywhere, being good - only loud whispers and stealthy tippy toes - plus the evident health risk, made for rather a mixed evening. Shan't be returning to the DoJo in a hurry.

Esperaza scenes

Spotted, ahem, by the river - and the mighty Aude herself, turning into a bit of a stream. Below is the bar, closed; a mix of drain problems and difficulties with the new restrictions re: pass sanitaire. 

Esperaza is pretty quiet as the young return to their colleges, the kids to school, the tourists to their homes and the exhausted grandparents to their beds.

 

cataracts at carcassonne

 

I'm done! One of them, anyway. Stop me and I'II tell you all about it... for hours...

Thanks to all who have wished me well, you did the trick :)

Mondays market

Here's Chiara, staying with us whilst working on a project - delighted with the night market. Which seemed to have all the known world in attendance, possibly with us foreigner's here outnumbering the french. Only one more to go before the end of the season, sniff.

 but look at what else is on offer - pretty impressive.

market news

 Ambling about the market, spotted some rarely seen friends - here's Aileen, in very fine form - and below, Antonia who is only here for a week and having to deal with paperwork... also spotted Suzie from Fa who looked great, having had a bout of covid and survived. She is being treated for the fatigue and finds the prescribed drugs very effective. 

The digeridoo players are back :) 

After the market the Captain and I headed out to Lieurac, 45 mins away from Esperaza, to see le Jardin Extraordinaire. The day was overcast, but pleasant - and the place was packed, full of smiling people pointing at little treasures. It closes at the end of this month so it'll be a year before we visit again; looking forward to it.