Beamish and me

Running out of time

imaoptimist — Wed, 1 Oct 2014 23:20:00 GMT

Strange that when you go on holiday, sometimes even 2 weeks is too long, now it's only 3 weeks left. September weather has is a way been better than August, able to top up my tan in the past week, but nights are now cold, and its back to the duvet. For the first time I am wearing long sleeves to work in!! Had more rain than the 5mm that Wales had, but not the half annual rainfall that fell in 3 hours , that Montpellier had! Now one can understand the reason behind storm drains big enough to stand up in. Montpellier even though nearly a 3 hour drive is the regional headquarters for a lot of government srvices. The local river is still clear but getting a lot more runoff, even though there was very little rain here.

Hasit been worth it? Definitely... hospitality is hard work, frustrating, with people arriving late at night and not leaving until afternoon, the mystery of the disappearing, teaspoons, wineglasses, even a pair of pillows has walked... by mistake, and she has offered to pay, the excitement of becoming grandparents obviously affected them! Less is certainly better, an i think my ideal would be a couple of camp beds under cover, food from a barbi , solar showers, and a compost loo..at least then no one would complain that they cant get the subtitles off the tv. A couple locally who have the gite/appartment/ chambre d'ote business of many northern europeans, have got it right I think ; with exposed stonework, which doesn't show up the cobwebs, underfloor heating, so no dust trap radiators, and wet rooms, with flying toilets, for a quick mop out of the bathrooms, They have had repeat clients to this remote area for , almost the lenght of time they have been doing this. They go to lenghts for their visitors but also charge an arm and a leg for the privilege...so their own next break is the garden route in south africa followed by a safari...nice Being dutch most of their visitors are too, one couple of ex paying guests even comes to house sit for them twice a year do they can take a break without worrying about the donkeys, geese, dogs, cats etc.

Well train tickets booked, mychauffeur who picked me up from the airport, will have driven back to the UK by then, FGM also flown back to UK a week before. So its reliant on the TGV as long as it isn't cancelled due to floods en route. But the really anoying thing is that the last 100 miles from Bristol to Pembs will be the most expensive. Thats British Rail for you

And what I will do when I get there?..

Wild life jitters

imaoptimist — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 03:07:00 GMT

Met my 3rd snake yesterday, an adder curled up sunbathing on the road, nearly stepped on it , but obviously didn't cos it just uncurled and slithered into a hole at the roadside, today though I ve been paying penance for my trips out, by strimming the grass, (rather long because its been nearly 6 weeks and augusts rain kept it growing). Needless to say been rather twitchy at anything moving round my feet.

Latest trip was 15 km away as the crow flies but took over 2 hours by car as up the next valley, to the town where tje yellow train goes from. This time it was a drive up and a walk to one of the beacons on the hill tops, the road was rather terrifying with rock wall one side and steep drop on the other but luckily nothing was met...not a road with central lines! The most interesting wildlife up there were these cricket types that flew a few feet, boring grey in colour , when you could catch a glimpse of their wings they were bright red or blueI

Thereis a spa town there that puts La Preste to shame, looking like a 5 star complex, no doubt treats something more glamorous than urinary problems!I they have an old municipal laundry there, it did look rather rough about 40 concrete sinks in 4 rows with continuous warm running water, 2 people (young..ish) were washing their sheets, not sure what happened next as no visible spinners or washing lines.

A tour of the train town Villefranche was reallyinteresting . The town is still contained in the old walls that you can walk inside ..just like Cardiff castle, and the fort overlooks from the hill. Very touristy shops as you might expect, but an interesting exhibition of mushrooms, including samples of the ones that kill, they were under glass. And they have this thing about witches, lots of full size ones, and shops full of witch dolls, never got to the bottom of that, because that was all they sold so what do they sell after halloween.

Lots of Catalans up for weekends, all of them seem very pro their indepence, some not even speeking Spanish, dont know if they would take the French Catalans with them, but I believe the French side feels excluded by Paris anyhow. Just have to wait and see.

No karoke this weekend, maybe hes lost his voice!!

music?

imaoptimist — Sun, 7 Sep 2014 01:23:00 GMT

Sitting here listening to the worst singing possible...a group called the tenerifes... sounded good the first time I heard them but things have changed. Still its qes free entertainment on a saturday afternoon. The classical music finished last weekend with a classical guitarist good music but no preformer in the church. 20 people came to listen and another 20 wandered in an , eft again after a quick look at the church, He cant have been part of the official scene, considering he had no intro duction or was even on the official programme. Unfortunately he was also a bit drowned out by the regular karoke guy outside oneof the bars a hundred yards away The night before it was a section of strings from various orchestras around France, and it was amazing the volume 2 violins, cellos, and violas produce, their version of the Pastoral had a standing ovation in a nearly full church, complete with an introduction by the head of the tourist office, for the local entertainment director and he then introduced the musicians. One other I went to was obviously for the plebs, again a string section of 10 this time from an orchestra in Barcelona, who had a completely irreverent and very funny programme of popular piece's , of course they included a sardana and got a standing ovation for their efforts. Organ recitals are on often on the organ which has a date of 17 something on it...need I say more, tried one never again! All in all the town puts on a fair variety of entertainment, .Artisans in national dress somehow were invisible yesterday.

Temps have hit the heights agian this week, 41 in the car from Perpignan, and in the 30's on the pharmacy, good days of sunshine,...typical for return to school time.Flights now booked and have to start thinking about whats next? Lots of fantasys but.... have I the gumption? At least the bank bbalance hasn't depleted too much, but no sign of the house selling, so it may be wise to add a few more pennies before the next trip??

Will she wont she?

imaoptimist — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 01:13:00 GMT

Pat haslived here for 11 years, and so far she has never needed to use the tumble drier, but that could all change! They had an end of summer festival on the 15th, comple

te with usual music and dancing, held outdoors this time... and it seems the summer weather has left to, forecast today is thunder showers until late on Saturday. No wonder i feel a bit headachey. A couple left after 3 days of having, and the only bedding that could be identified as unused was the top bunk in the appartment that sleeps 8! All that washing, and somehow they managed to leave all the saucepans dirty and drips in the fridge as well! Not my favourite clean ...especially as they were french as well

Still got a full house but bookings are slowing down. now but with high season over the curists are coming back. The couple who rent 2 appartments for 6 weeks over the summer are back to Perpignan next week end.

Out and about meant another trip to the beach at Argeles, still not impressed with the sand, a bit of culture at Ceret museum, where they have a permanent Picasso collection, but also had a bullfighting theme exhibition including some videos. I know they dont kill the bulls here but it still seems cruel. Saw a poster for bull against rugby player which could be interesting IF it was one on one. Off to Gerona tomorrow for another toilet, and visit to a ceramic place slighlty closer to the coast... it was put off from Tuesday as the forecast then was a bit iffy, if not perhaps another cloud walk...

No she didn't

imaoptimist — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 01:13:00 GMT

The tumble drier is all set up now but still hasn't been used, as no same day change overs, the last load of washing from the weekend went in this morning,...

after all only got a domestic sized clothes line.! Monday forecast was 28 so off to the sea again. On my travels saw some grape pickers out picking, luckily for them even though it was blue sky and sun shining, but somehow the heat got left out, cardi got left on all day, and the warmest i felt was on getting back here, never mind made up for it yesterday..getting my top up of vit d. Looks like a good week ahead so its a shame yhat tbe kids couldn't take up Pats offer of free accommodation, and a touch of sun, , nice to know they have a reasonable work ethic!

Now with some space

I've moved back out into tne upgrade which overlooks the street, there are some sort of martins (birds), that swoop and tumble all over the place skimming the pavement by 6 ins before heading back to the rooftops, and after a shower they go way high... must account for the relatively low nuisance of flies. on the whole and touch wood, apart from a nip from an angry ant in the garden, no nasty biting bugs. Lots of little lizards sunning themselves on the walls and rocks, but they are friendly!

There are 4 Catalan tv chanels including a sports one, so had high hopes of settling down to watch the tour of Spain, but what was on...some britsh guy in a 4 x4 getting stuck on a muddy course... so disappointing, French tv covers it but on a subscription chanel... no scenic tour of Spain for me!

Escape!!

imaoptimist — Sat, 9 Aug 2014 05:16:00 GMT

Good news since the cancellation the appartment has been filled with lots of short stays...more work,! And I am still en famille, nice not having to think about meals though. All the recent 3 weekers are going this weekend. It means the loss of the professional guitarist, it was really lovely sitting in tne garden and hearing him play... even if he was only practising his scales! But I did have 3 days off last week, so took the opportunity to head for the beach, so I queued for 40 mins to get my train ticket and headed off, Collioure is a bit St Ives idh, lots of artist studios, a pretty little place, nice warm sea but rubbish sand... then found the 1 € bus runs every hour in the summer, typical. Stopped over in Perpignan to get an early start for the yellow train, the next day, and was very grateful for the aircon in the hotel... don't need it up the valley. The train was exactly as described, wooden bench seats, 4 small coaches and an open air one. The train was about 3/4 full I suppose, not the most comfortable ride, but spectacular views of the gorges on the way up, then it opened out into fields...hay cutting time there, and ski station in the winter. The weather actually seemed better at the top, and there is some sort of solar station there, but I didn't investigate. Amazing number of butterfly's flitting about, big ones but they all seemed to be white or dark brown. The 1 € bus also covers this route, but takes even longer than the train... 8 appartments to clean the next 3 days so better save my energy.

music

imaoptimist — Sun, 3 Aug 2014 04:55:00 GMT

Still a musical theme going on, groups appearing sponsored by the bars on odd nights, a tensome singing at lunch time today, even went to an organ recital but the least said about that the better!

Place is full again, so I've moved in with the owners but maybe not for long! Had some insight into the running of the business when a groupnturned up for a one bedroom appartment max occupancy 6, but they were 8, but they wznted to cancel as they didn't like the mountains , the road was so windy, they felt seasick, and they wanted to be by the seaside, so despite being offered an upgrade tomorrow they left, causing a loss of 1000 € for the fortnight and hassles with booking .com...the joys of working for a living !, Back to the weather another mammoth hail shower this afternoon, the neighbours tomat plants are now wrapped in fleece for protection, but the forecast is sun fot next week, so I'm off exploring, might even get to the seaside , but the aim is to go on the yellow train. This train links the french and spanish tracks... different gauges.. over the pyrenees, linking Toulouse and Barcelona

I. Itvruns all year but in summer it is more a tourist attraction, as some of the coaches are open.absolutely no facilites on board, and of course it runs in the next vslley, so its a 4 hour trip to get there....and then there is no guarantee of boarding as you cannot book ahead and coach trips seem to have priority!!! Will let you know what happens

Havent yet tried the local pool, as the hours are not convenient and it shuts in the rain. Some odd rules, everyone have to wear caps, males hsve to wear speedos ,shorts not allowed. FGM has had a load of trouble with her pool trying to get it clear, for her kids (rather grown up ones) that are visiting next week. She herself reckons it's too cold to go in except at night. Another couple have had the opposite problem when there un heated but covered pool reached 29C...too hot to swim in. Generally it seems pools are a very expensive, and tRoublesome, but Iif someome wanted to give me an endless one I wouldn't object!

Bands night

imaoptimist — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 08:38:00 GMT

Bands night , they say is the best night of the year. Basically different bands from all over come parade through the town , then alternate at various places Round the town. There were 7 bands from a very good ska band, to a mick jagger impersonator who sang through a mega phone! Most of the bands had a sousaphone , one had a double base. Weird hearing dancing queen by abba played on guitar sousaphone and drums.! And even though there was catalan music not one national anthem. Aftrr a couple of circuits the bands then retired to the square and the fair, till the small hours....thoroughly entertainig.. Earlier this week I made it to Carcassone lovely town with its castle canal and mini london eye.much smaller than I'd thought it would be.The trip there was very interesting, but so long...the penance for being a cheap skate. 2 hours to perpignan, an hours wait then off to st paul de fenoullet, stopped there for an hour rather than wait 2 hours in perpignan. ? Makes there own unique biscuits, and of course can only be sold there, but as it was lunch time all shops..not many there..were shut. Then another hour on the but to Quillan bit more of a happening place and back to the gorges, strange one sided tunnels where the rock has only been cut back enough for traffic to go through. Another bus for 30 mins to Limoux and finally train to Carcassone which lies on an open plain like Perpignan but instead of fruit trees and vines it was sunflowersand wheat. Return journey was bus all the way carcassone to Quillan hour wait, bus to Perpignan and then ever so lucky fairy godmother was in town and I got a lift back saving a 2 hour wait and 2 hour bus journey.It might have only cost6 € return but a car would have been so much easier!

Bastille day

imaoptimist — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 02:14:00 GMT

First let me correct the illusion that it rains all the time. I n fact it hasn't rained for a week now, mornings have been 98% sunny but come knocking off time at noon the clouds have usually built up, so its more like british summer rather than unbroken blue skies. Temperatures alzo seem a bit down at the moment, but the gardens still need watering every night to keep things green.

14 JulyBastille day, started noon on th 13th with cannon fire echoing down the valley. That evening accompanied by a band and a flag, the mayor led a procession of people holding lanters and flames around the town, the national anthem was played before and after each stage, and culminated in a spectacular firework display, the echoes of the bangs sounding like a train. Next day in the morning the mayor had another wander with his band around town this time accompanied by the firemen, councillors, and others, syarting of course with the national anthem, this was repeated after the walk, and in between each persons speech, before and after the sardana and by the time I left at onepm, I'd heard it 6 times. Evidently the firemen let kid run riot over their machines and took some for a short ride ( more like red transits rather than big things with ladders), some fair stalls were set up , political spouting and the most dreadful singing band ever.Went with Pat and Alan to fairy godmothers for very nice meal so escaped the rest of the evening, which was more sardanas and the terrible music till after midnight.

They certainly make much more of things than any of the saints days or the 12th of July, but definitely heavy on the Marseilles

.Escaping off to Carcassone on Thursday, about 5

0 miles due north, 125 miles by road, and on my cheap fare journey will take about6-7 hours to get there. On e way of seeing the countryside, and may even have unbroken blue skies in the afternoon, shame I'll be on the bus, all that time to sleep in a strange bed and have 6 hours sightseeing...must be mad!!

silly thoughts

imaoptimist — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 02:10:00 GMT

If your favourite wine comes from languedoc stock up now. For the 3rd day they are still lamenting the loss of grapes , sunflowers and fruit following the thunderstorms. In the Aude they had hailstones the size if marbles!. The rhubarb leaves got shredded in the garden here and some locals cars got an extra dent in but , notuing like there.Meanwhile catalan farmers are dumping fruit and veggies, presumably complaining about subsidies

I always thought the french were supposed to have an innat

e fashion sense, after seeing 2 tv presenters wearing hoodies on air, one for a game show the other a news reporter, a 70+ gent in a sky blue and purple shell suit, topped off with a red cap, a 40+woman going for a walk up the mountain in bikini top and shorts, and mini skirts over saggy knees, sort of changed my mind....

I need a new prescription so went to the doctors , either make an appointment or sit and be seen in a gap. All the Gp's seem to speak perfect english which is very convenient . I know they aren't paid as much as in Gb, they don't have receptionist, and most seem to be sole practitioners, but in a 90 minute surgery she saw 4 people, I don't think I could keep my Gp's attention for half an hour....But maybe that it's 23 € to see a doctor in surgery and the prices are higher for a home visit , double that overnight, maybe the system is not abused as much , and people dont turn up with runny noses. At a guess the girl in front of me was a twisted ankle, she left with an xray form and left the chemists with a bag of medicine.......maybe not! One thing I think is good is that it is the individuals responibility to look after their own notes etc and x rays snd scans are reported on before leaving the appointment....but then maybe not... I'm sure they have their fair share of people who mislay everything...

Final cost of getting a months prescription €100....×the number of months I'm stopping ... think I might just try drug free especially as they aren't the same ones....why couldnt the GB GP give more than a months supply, as I reclaim costs anyway ( or hope I can)

Ceret had the cherries Riversates has the apricots...apricot stone spitting contest hasn't got quite the same ring ...wonder what they did instead

walking is good for you?

imaoptimist — Sun, 6 Jul 2014 22:36:00 GMT

For most of June my walking was limited and was reduced to using 2 sticks for any ghing more than 10 minutes-didn't stop me from doing things, just getting there. The sticks have been great , letting me go further without getting knee pain, but did a bit of self defibrillation when accidently leant them against an electric fence and the leant against them! But survived and last week my knee was so good , Saturday was so lovely, that I headed out, new boots on feet with my sticks to conquer a 8k walk. I'd tried this walk before and took 2 1/2 hours to do half of it, and that is the time for the full walk, anyway did first 15 mins and got a blister- thought it was too warm to wear the proper socks!!! Today I succeeded and did the walk in 4 hours, mind you did an hours detour following the directions of the tourist offic rather than looking at the map, so climbed 700m rather than just the 400 of the walk. Pen y fan will be a piece of cake now! Not quite unscathed though as while I am now sitting watching la tour of Yorkshire on french tv my calf is doing a little dance alll by itself. Give me another month and it will be the longer walk to the Col du Miracle, and it will be if I make it!

in search of sun, sea and sand

imaoptimist — Sun, 6 Jul 2014 03:11:00 GMT

After a horrendous thunderstorm right overhead yesterday, with hail that sounded like gunshots on the rooft and we could hear it like a strong wind for a minute before it arrived, I decided to head for the beach. It was bus to Perpignan then train, the 8 o clock bus, left 30mins before the train, rather than the 7 oclock when there was an hour wait. So after a lazy start, into the Dali inspired train station to find none of the ticket machines took cash, and the queue for tickets was out the door. Feeling optimistic I joined it and 30 minutes later about 3 people had been served. They all seemed to be holding tickeys-probably wanting refunds from the earlier strike!....So no beach for me, back to the bus station -conveniently in the same building, and instead I took a bus to Prades, about the same distance from Perpignan, but it only took half the time to arrive....via duel carrriageway. According to my source there was a road over Caingou to it more or less direct from Prats to Prades, but there are protected vulture type birds in that area so the guy in charge of the protection blew up the road!!! so there would be less passing traffic! Believe it if you will.Prades looks a bit sad, but there was a lively market in the square, and plenty of cheerful restaurants for lunch.As I had come the fast way it was going back by all the little villages and a break of journey as Ille sur Tet, which was a much more chic looking place complete with old town. There were signs that I translated to being the route of the Compostella but was obviously wrong as it is much too far over. Next week end is the big summer fete.. what ever that involves, but evidently fireworks are set off from the church roof... health and safety has slightly different meaning over here.

Rain and more rain

imaoptimist — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 04:46:00 GMT

While you've all been enjoying your summer its been the worst week here yet. Thunderstorms and torrential rain on Mon and Tues afternoons, saw the demise of my'waterproof' walking boots, which started letting in water, Wed rained most of the day and started , again at lunch time today ...even more forecast for the weekend. My fairy godmother came to my rescue in that she needed some white grout and had to go to Perpignan for it. So naturally I offered to accompany her, and we detoured to get some more boots ...they say they are waterproof too, just need a walk in long grass after a deluge to try these ones out...Then another detour to the 'bun' store for a taste from the chocolatier...yum yum. The car temp reading went from 17 here up to 37 down there, but once it clouded over and they had some specs of rain it dropped to about 30. All in a difference of about 25 miles!

La feux de la saint jean

imaoptimist — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 06:53:00 GMT

I suppose it equates to midsummer dawn dances. Post war some madcap climbed the summit of the local mountain Caingou, and lit a fire at the peak. In the 60's someone else did the same on his birthday thus the tradition developed. I suppose it helps on all the hill tops around here is an old stone lookout where years back they used to light beacons in times of danger. Amyway now each village has a bonfire lit by 'runners' who have come down from the peak (local kids) a local band playing and of course the sardana, about 5 versions of it only 2 men this time all the rest were women and of course the more complicated dancing on the spot.Unfortunately each tune sounded the same. A young boy and girl both pre school were giving it their all, while the older kids just played chase around the square.be fun getting them up in the morningAnd to finance it all little bouquets of magic herbs were sold -most of which ended on the bonfire!.... Just thinking down the valley at Amelie les bain.. the bonfire was set up on a stony island in the middle of the river.... well today, the thunderstorm was accompanied by an hours torrential rain... and where would the dancers dance?

Spanish toilets

imaoptimist — Sun, 22 Jun 2014 04:56:00 GMT

Spanish toilets are superior to the French, according to Patricia, the Irish lady. So when she needed one I offered to keep her company down to Girona. A bad weather day was forecast as we headed over the hillsand after a visit to Decathalon, and Currys we went to B&Q- or the spanish version, toilet on the back seat it waa out with the satnav and into the center of town via a shopping mall and hot chocolate that you could stand the spoon up straight in. Girona center is not bad ye olde worlde cobbles , lots of gelateries, and a magnificent cathedral. An exhibition of priestly robes all lace and embroidery, from the C10th led to some interesting thoughts being expressed about gender bending. After a pleasant lunch we headed back a different way, via La Jonquerra. As well as being able to grow 5 pot plants per person in Spain, prostitution is legal. As the north west of the country is the main entry/ exit to the rest of europe ; around there are massive truck stops with brothels on their doorsteps. Not many individuals plying their wares on the road side, maybe the black thunderous clouds had something to do with it. There's a supermarket there and 'discount'shopa, making the whole place rather seedy. Prices are more or less the same though evidently Spain is best for toiletries, shoes, and terracotta. It was splish splash all the way back, and the next day or two. Seems to be a pattern of thunder and wet mid week with it dry at the weekend! I have't got wet on one of the bus trips yet, but must start venturing further a field now that the train strike appears to be over.There are new event in Perpignan each week end, but ots not the same when you know where you are going! Bands and giants this week with stages set up in every square, a couple were doing the sardana properly with a lot of fancy footwork with other rings of amateurs surrounding, so my previous description was not quite right-still pretty tame though.Ran across a break dancing competition and a beetle/vw camper van rally the week before-some of those appeard to be rust on wheels, obviously work in progress, but engine good even if the body isn't

BOOM BOOM!

imaoptimist — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 04:03:00 GMT

They do a good thunderstorm here, the other day down in Perpignan local temp had it at 39.5 here only 36, but the thunder rumbled for a good 4 hours, shame it wasn't night to see the lightening. But very little rain -drops the size of pennies but not enough tso join up the dots, odd grumble since but the temps are back to low 20's. It's been a bit quiet here . A

s I said most of those staying are the 3 week curists, and short stays are filled through booking. com, but they evidently cancelled all potential bookings for here when told not to make any for July and August! But the system is up and running again so much so that I'll be kicked out of my appartment next weekend due to a full house!.The French tourists have an odd way, they pay extra for linen, but that only means sheets and towels-so the duvet covers and pillow cases still need washing, the curists are also supposed to clean after themselves, but it's amazing how much dirt is left after they've been pushing a mop around for an hour. Some have even forgotten to wash their cutlery-before going back in the drawer- and so far dna evidence has been found in every appartment after it has been cleaned, they do take their rubbish away though. I've come to the conclusionthat this curist lark is a fiddle. La Preste is known for it's 'cures 'for urinary problems, a lady last week has been comming for 30 years! Her husband walks the hills each day- So it's like a government sponsored holiday to remote regions without any other income. My current neighbour has come for joint pain- went on a 4 hour hike on the first week, and out horse riding today.... not ideal for someone with bad joints! Wonder if the NHS would cough up, as treatment anywhere is supposed to be an option now?.?

summers here

imaoptimist — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 05:10:00 GMT

I never thought l'd say it but the bells are not so noticable now, sometimes I miss them altogether. Not so good when using them as an alarm. Today as well the cow bells at the other, other side of town sounded almost like a babbling brook, quite restful when I was strimming away in the 36 degree heat . They measure that in direct sunlight here, but there was a nice breeze and no skin buring so can't have been that hot. Looks set to be reasonable week, after all rainy may is now over. Yesterday was the only June bank holiday, the pentecost. Celebrated locally by a pilgrimage to a hermitage near the border. 8k of near vertical walking, via footpath so I took the bus... the last 4 k by road took 10 mins,. A service, a picnic and the traditional dance of solidarity, la sardana, which was evidently so theatening to Franco that he banned it. I was expecting something inflammatory, but it is a group of men, this time aged 20-80 holding hands., walk to the right, hop, skip, jump, walk to the left and repeat with a twirl at the end. Rather a strange place, a church and restaurant with accomodation. Open all year, but in winter the road is closed often because of snow so how do you get to it then?

fair trade

imaoptimist — Sat, 7 Jun 2014 03:52:00 GMT

Prats has its fair share of incommers seeking a better climate. One of these is Patricia who moved here when about my age snd has spent the last 13 years or so doing up the children's home that she bought. It is still a work in progress as she tends to get distracted by inconsequentials like tennis on the telly. Very kindly she has offered to show me the sites of interest off the beaten track as it were. At one time there was a large espadrille factory in Prats, now long since closed. Espradilles are still made in the region in a village called St Laurent de Cerdens so she took me for a visit, fantastic colours o n the fabric and by the metre very good value, but when converted into napkins, bags and spectacle cases the price goes through the roof. E.g 30 €/ metre but 10 € for a napkin and 150 € for a bag. After that it was a wander round the next village down the road-Coustouges, over the border when the road suddenly changes from a pothole infested and no road markings to a well defined road with hard shoulders. On then to Tapis, a favourite restaurant of said incommers , who go for the basic spanish food which is not only very nice but also cheap. It has prospered , and developed into a lonely hotel in the middle of nowhere. The next call was at Macenet, for a walk down the single car width high street and a refuelling stop at the local bar, so the fancy local architecture could be admired. The final stop was at the roadside to pick up some rockfall to be used in the garden!.

That 4 hour trip has been exchanged for 2hours of strimming her grass patch, did not quite clear the 1/4 acre plot in that time....but she's already devising the next jaunt...by the way she has her own pool...think I could suggest a dip after all that hard work??

Had 2 lovely sunny days- Temp displayed outside the chemist was 31 but reckon that was a good 5-6degrees out, still like a good summers day, not too hot and the noight stuggle to getinto double figures so very pleasant. No raging temps to send your way... sorryI

cherry fest

imaoptimist — Sun, 1 Jun 2014 01:06:00 GMT

It's not been the best week for the weath

er. Rain every afternoon with at least two layers of clothing needed when not occupied. It had snowed again on the tops as well but the new layer didn't last long, though the hard core snow is still hanging on. Shopping wise there are 2 major deficits not found here or in Spain. Squash.. you know that stuff that makes water taste better, and drinking chocolate. They do have forms of fruit juice for diluting, lime they reckon should be diluted 1:3, and there is a syrup of grenadine, mint or forest fruits, that looks like it should go on ice cream, even dilutuing that twice the recommended still seems like syrup. Hot chocolate is also sickly sweet, being of the nesquick type, or even just nesquick. No good cadburys bournville to be had. But I'm surviving without- probably just get fatter.....but saying that no sweets yet eaten . Now they seem really expensive. The place is a veggies dream though, with veggies of all shapes and sizes, about 10 different types of tomatoes, unwaxed oranges with their leaves still on, and almost too juicy to peel. Even asparagus comes in blanched or unblanched, and of course the cherries are now in high season, but they are picked right up until July. All the normal traders were kicked off the town square in Ceret today for the cherry festival , their places wete taken with stall after stall of cherries and some derivatives, can fridge magents and cherry shaped jewelry count? One clever woman had her car covered in fridge magnets , with ladybirds climbing up the edges of the windscreen. There was obvious collusion on the price as every where it was 4 €/kg unless the packaging was fancy. More crafts as well in the market itself and of course all the galleries ans artisan places were open and enticing you in wiyhh a help yourself bowl of cherries. I am afraid I did not wait around for the cherry stoning, and cherry stone spitting contests so cannot comment on their value as spectator sports! All in all I think Perpignan and it flea market offers better entertainment as a weekend trip, as well as better weather.

fled the country but came back

imaoptimist — Mon, 26 May 2014 01:28:00 GMT

Just popped over to Spain for Sunday lunch in a restaurant run by italians. Lovely run over the mountains following the route that the Spanish took to escape Franco, and then the French took to escape the Germans. ( gr83). Camprodon was the name of the place we went to- when the Barcelonians go for the weekend, Evidently mid week the place is dead, and the is a big campsite a few miles up where those that want to be in the in crowd but dont quite have the cash stay . This country gets more complex the more I find out. WW2 did not make it into the history books, until about 30 years after, and for all their formal politeness, evidently as a nation the seem to take geat delight in dobbing in their neighbour. The workmanship is consideted poor by Spanish (Catalan) stsndards, but even though rates are high, local services are very good. Perpignan is 2 hours away by bus, but a 1 euro ticket can be used as many times as you want in those 2 hours. I haven't been able to translate the 1 e train journeys yet, but would have to go to Perpignan for that anyway. The train station there has a work by Dali on the roof , and the gallery in Ceret has loads of Picasso works. Ceret as I said before is cherry capital. They have a cherry festival next week end, l found a lovely blog when I looked it up on the internet, includes cherry stone spitting contest!!!. Only trouble is next Sat is the 5th bank holiday this month, and buses are limited to leaving here at 8am and no bus back until 8 pm.Rather a long time to fill with cherry orientated behaviour. The prices of the cherries are heading down though to what the locals consider reasonable 3k for 10 € has been best price I've seen yet.

Weather wise the wind isn't quite so cold and I've moved up to factor 20. Even though half the days may be mainly cloudy, the heavy rain seems to stay in the wee dark hours-probably to replace the noise of the silenced clock!I

My hosts are being very kind...is it bribery as next month there's a same day change over required?

despite using vpn , facebook messaging is 'not available in your country', but I can still get them.