Easter

Easter gift from Bob - the elephant being erm an ancient tradition that has so far escaped me - 

and last night, our now traditional pascal lamb with Danish friends Gert and Elsbeth, Kat and Roland. Lovely evening!!

Kat, Roland and Gert

Elsbeth taking a break from cooking our dinner -

Next year it is really our turn :)

 

Fairly quiet

Love-lorn Rico donated a feather to Brunos hat... 

 

Friends in kitchen

awful lot to be said for having French friends who've been restaurateurs...here is Brunos' expertise on the lunch table. He can come again.

 It's freezing here and looks like snow, though on the plus side the bone-chilling wind has dropped.

Sundays excitements

 The market was freezing. One day its 30 degrees but yesterday was too cold to stay out.

Rapid gallop through the frip; a vintage plastic mayonnaise maker which has filled my heart with joy. Lovely piece of classic design. Haven't tried it yet.

For anyone wondering where the shags have gone, so are the shags; the powers-that-be have seen fit to cut down the tree they hunt from.

It is not impossible that this is connected with the fisherpersons outcry about the cormorants eating their fish. Though that much co-ordinated thinking seems unlikely. 

Here are sad the remains....

Rico has fallen for Bruno, who is spending the week with us. He followed him into the dining room last night, totally 

bewitched. He is calling for him now...

Catherine who is also with us came and joined in last nights' supper - Rubens curry plus left-overs - good evening! Here's to many more -

Friends and family

Louise, Fran and Norbert last night - and Fran and Don, fixing the pudding which they donated to the feast!! It was the high spot, as it turned out, since I variously burnt or undercooked the other courses. 

Great evening though. It's been said before but bears repeating; this area attracts all the right people.

My nephew Paddy Beer, whom many of you have asked after since he was nearly killed by GBS (Guillain- Barre Syndrome), is now so totally recovered that he played a gig last night in York with his band Eugene Gorgeous. He's now exhausted!! And I believe in miracles.

At the end of November he was paralysed, bar one eye and a bit of mouth; dependant on machines to sustain his life. His recovery has been amazing. Thanks to all for prayers and whatever healing you sent his way.

Other news: the hat museum has a new site! https://musee-chapellerie.fr

 

Balmy and warm here

 Forgot to take photos at Kat and Rolands' last night, where Gert and Elsbeth, Bob and I were dined in  style. Those two do food so well - 

here's a substitute picture taken today, specifically to annoy friends and family in the UK.

slash and burn

Here are the dates for the Vox Vallis' performances in April - get them in your diary now :) 

and here is one of the fires of the cleared riverbank, where all the natural habitat was destroyed by the authorities; and then some. Much grinding of teeth here.

On a happier note, Steve tells me that when he starts his rotovator the birds appear and queue up for him to finish the job.