The Mayors Evening.

The annual mayors evening was held on the 17^th January in the village hall. It started with a speech from the mayor before aperitifs were served. The evening is open to all people who pay taxes to the village and there were a lot of people there. After aperitifs a cold meal, 4 courses, wine, coffee and Armagnac was served. There were none of our immediate neighbours there so we seated ourselves at one end of one of the trestle tables. When everyone was seated there was a large gap between us and the other people on our table. Were we being ostracised!!?? After the first course one of the ladies at the other end of the table approached us and asked us to go and sit next to them. How kind. I was sitting next to a charming gentleman and his wife was opposite me. Sadly he had MS and was very shaky. He looked very distinguished and he and his wife told me that they had lived abroad for most of his working life. I suspect that he may have had a government job. They had lived in Gabon, Laos, Viet Nam and New Caledonia. New Caledonia is close to New Zealand and they knew that country well. How strange that, in such a small community as Castandet, I should be sitting next to someone who knew the country where Rob lives. They live in Mont de Marsan in the winter and have another house in Castandet not too far from our house. Nigel was sitting next to a very pleasant lady who had spent several years, teaching, in Manchester and spoke very good English. We always find, when we go to occasions in the village, that we meet some very interesting people.