Unseasonably Cold.

Friday and Saturday the 16th and 17th November were very cold for the time of year and this part of the world. Lowest overnight temperature was -9, compensated slightly by the bright blue skies and sun during the day.

Friday saw the arrival of Sjef and Leonoor, visiting us from Ariege. It was so good to see them again. Just before they arrived N came back from "school" and brought in a couple he had met there. Richard and Karen from Totnes and now living in Hontanx just up the road from here. I made a cup of tea for everyone and served some Christmas cake with it which went down very well. Richard and Karen left and we had lunch then went down to have a look round Eugenie les Bains. Didn't stay too long as it was so cold. Back home, fire lit, heating turned up and we had a good evening chatting and eating.

Next morning we took Sjef and Leonoor into Mont de Marsan, had a brief look around town and at the sculptures before adjourning to the warmth of Ghandis Indian restaurant for lunch. They left early afternoon for the drive back to Ariege. So good to be with old friends for a day or so.

Next day we set off to go to the mountains. Had lunch in Pau then changed plans and decided to visit Lourdes as we were quite nearby. I think we picked a good day to go as it was relatively quiet and most of the tatty souvenir shops were closed. Once into the area of the grotto it is very beautiful and I have to admit that standing in front of the grotto I felt a sense of peace and serenity. I can understand why so many want to visit there. Photos were forbidden although there was a family taking photos. I felt it wasn't right to take a photo though so I had to content myself with taking a photo of the street outside and buying a couple of postcards of the grotto.

Back to normal

After a trip away and managing to string out my birthday for 3 days back to normal now. Scrabble has changed to Wednesday afternoons for this month so that makes it easier. Can now revise and relax for strenuous, as far as brain is concerned, bridge session on Tuesday evenings. N has started "school", he goes for French lessons all day Thursday and Friday mornings. The weather is very autumnal but no rain for a long time. Some crisp mornings and beautiful blue skies and sunshine. Occasionally some mist in the mornings and just the odd dull day. Most of the maize has been harvested so the landscape has changed considerably. Now, when I go out with the dogs I can see far into the distance, before it was like walking through a tunnel of maize. Yesterday Nigel went over, with the wheelbarrow, to collect some horse manure from our neighbour Alain. Wheelbarrow was dispensed with as Alain kindly brought over 3 loads of manure in the link box of his tractor. We gave him a beer, had a chat and he then pruned the vines for us! On leaving he said if we ever need any help to give him a shout as he is usually at home. What a nice neighbour. So good to have a muck heap again! After having horses and or other animals over the last 30 years or so it felt strange not to have any manure for the garden.

A day at the seaside.

Decided to go to Cap Breton for the day and introduce the dogs to the sea. An easy trip there, took about 1 hour 20, trees on the way were beautiful so many different colours at this time of year.

The dogs weren't too sure about the sea, Luna did approach it with some trepidation but Rambo kept well away! They did enjoy running on the sand though. Had lunch in a beachside cafe, no problem about us having the dogs with us.

Catching up

No sooner had we got the central heating than I was off!. I went over to Ariege on the following day. I stayed with Leonoor, Sjef was away so we had a good "girlie" chat and caught up with things since we moved. The next day I picked up Jik and we went up to Andorra. A longish trip as it seemed that half of France was going there, I had forgotten that it was half term holidays. Anyway it took us 21/2 hours to get there. Had lunch then we split up for a while. Somehow missed our rendezvous and spent an hour looking for each other. Did a quick shop before going back to the car. It took us an hour to get out of the car park and other hour to get down to the customs post, so many people leaving at that time. Eventually got back to Jiks' at 8.30. Back to Leonoors for supper, Sjef just arrived back from Holland. Next morning picked up some more of our belongings from Jez' and then came back home. It was my birthday so opened cards and pressies when I got back. Went out for lunch the next day to celebrate my birthday. A nice day.