Last night we were invited to the village hall to celebrate new year with the mayor. The invitation stated that it started at 6.30, but we are a bit wiser now and didn't get there until 7pm. I was quite surprised to see how many people were there before us but there were still plenty who arrived afterwards. A very good turnout, I would think most of the villagers were there. Sophie was there and we had a chat to her and she pointed out various people and introduced us to the mayor. had a chat with people we had met before and then it was time for the mayors speech. He welcomed us all and wished us a Happy and Healthy new Year, "Bonne annee, Bonne Sante". He said that during the year 5 new lots of people had moved into the village and proceeded to name us all, a nice touch I thought. This year it is the municipal elections so he told us who was staying on the coucil and who will be standing for election. After his speech we were all invited to partake of an aperitif. We chose the pastis but many people were drinking whiskey which seems to be a very popular pre-dinner drink in France. A late arrival was the Abbe, the parish priest, and he was introduced to us by Sophie. A very nice chap with a good sense of humour, I would think he must be about 80. One thing we have noticed on meeting local people is how many have come back to their "roots" to retire. Maybe many of them have inherited parents properties and come back for that reason; whatever the reason there is a very strong sense of communtity in the village. We then got into conversation with a retired journalist who told us that he had worked in Paris, Corsica and several other places before coming back to Castandet and working in Mont de Marsan. He turned out to be a fan of "Tauromachie", bullfighting and told us that he had travelled extensively, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, to watch the bullfights there. In the summer he says that he can watch about 5 fights a week in this part of the world. Nearly every town of any size has a series of bullfights when they have their annual fete. He was very surprised when I told him that my friends' (Nadine) niece, Patricia Pellen, is a rejoneador (fights bulls from horseback). He had seen her fight as well as her father Gerard. As well as talking about that he also recommended several good places to eat in the area, so we shall have to check them out at some point!!
After standing around for a couple of hours the time came to sit down and partake of the (free!) meal which we had been told was "grillades" grills?? We were all seated at long tables, all nicely laid out with bread, water and of course red wine. We sat with Sophie and some neighbours who we hadn't met before, Jean-Marc and his wife who have the poultry farm at the edge of the village. Opposite me was a volunteer fireman who was very chatty and had a good sense of humour. The meal was, I think, just an excuse to prolong the evening and was very basic but most welcome by the time it arrived!! Pate and vegetable mayonnaise to start with, the grillades were cooked outside on the BBQ and were sausages and bacon and to finish "creme anglaise" and pastis ( a local cake, very dry). A very pleasant evening and we now know a few more local people.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
La Galette des Rois
Epiphany, the 12th day of Christmas, is celebrated here by a cake known as the Galette des Rois. It is a round confection, almost like a brioche but bigger, and decorated with sugar and crystallised fruit.
We were invited, along with the occupants of the other 3 houses at our end of the village, to our neighbours to celebrate this event. Th hostesses were Cristel and her mother who live in the house above us. We were the first to arrive and were amazed to see a long table laid with a beautiful tablecloth, plates, cutlery, glasses and bottles of champagne. Soon the other neighbours arrived. Sophy and Philippe with their children Anna and Thomas, Alain, Philippes father and his wife, Dominique and Christine and their daughter and (from further away) Phillipes brother, wife and 2 children. We were seated and offered petit fours from a huge tray and the champagne was poured. After we had all eaten our fill of petit fours the galette was served along with more champagne. An extremely pleasant afternoon terminated about 5pm with coffee. A very good occasion to get to know our neighbours who are a very nice bunch. Alain and Nigel get along very well despite the language problem. Alain can manage a few words of English and it is very good for Nigel to have someone with whom he can practise his French.
We were invited, along with the occupants of the other 3 houses at our end of the village, to our neighbours to celebrate this event. Th hostesses were Cristel and her mother who live in the house above us. We were the first to arrive and were amazed to see a long table laid with a beautiful tablecloth, plates, cutlery, glasses and bottles of champagne. Soon the other neighbours arrived. Sophy and Philippe with their children Anna and Thomas, Alain, Philippes father and his wife, Dominique and Christine and their daughter and (from further away) Phillipes brother, wife and 2 children. We were seated and offered petit fours from a huge tray and the champagne was poured. After we had all eaten our fill of petit fours the galette was served along with more champagne. An extremely pleasant afternoon terminated about 5pm with coffee. A very good occasion to get to know our neighbours who are a very nice bunch. Alain and Nigel get along very well despite the language problem. Alain can manage a few words of English and it is very good for Nigel to have someone with whom he can practise his French.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
The next day.
The next day got off to a wonderful start. The pc had been making a noise and we thought that the fan was on its way out. I took it into Mont de Marsan to the repair shop. First surprise was that I was able to park in front of the shop. Second was that they confirmed that it needed a new fan and not only did they have one in stock they replaced it there and then. On the way back I called in at Leclerc, here again all went well, not too busy and no long queues at the till. I arrived back home feeling on top of the world at having such a successful morning.
Martin and Mieke arrived at lunchtime, they had spent Christmas with friends in the Gers and were visiting us for a couple of days. Martin and Nigel went out for a long walk with the dogs whilst Mieke and I chatted!
Saturday we all went into Mont de Marsan, visited the market and the museum area before having lunch at "La Cidrerie" After lunch Mieke and I went to drapers shop where she was able to buy some things she couldn't find in Pamiers. Rain started so back to car and we all went on to Landes Partage, big charity type store on edge of town. Back home for meal and played cards. Said goodbye to them on Sunday morning.
After all the hectic activity of the last week or so we then had a very quiet new year, just the two of us. Peace reigns!!
We had a very quiet New Years Eve, just N and I in front of the fire and a good meal.
A Happy New Year to all of my friends who read this.
Martin and Mieke arrived at lunchtime, they had spent Christmas with friends in the Gers and were visiting us for a couple of days. Martin and Nigel went out for a long walk with the dogs whilst Mieke and I chatted!
Saturday we all went into Mont de Marsan, visited the market and the museum area before having lunch at "La Cidrerie" After lunch Mieke and I went to drapers shop where she was able to buy some things she couldn't find in Pamiers. Rain started so back to car and we all went on to Landes Partage, big charity type store on edge of town. Back home for meal and played cards. Said goodbye to them on Sunday morning.
After all the hectic activity of the last week or so we then had a very quiet new year, just the two of us. Peace reigns!!
We had a very quiet New Years Eve, just N and I in front of the fire and a good meal.
A Happy New Year to all of my friends who read this.
Thursday 27th December.
Sadly the day of the departure. They were up early packing and preparing to leave. Quite a job packing the car with presents, wine, golf clubs and all their stuff. As usual I shed a few tears when they left at about 10am. Still it was wonderful to have them here. After a short break I changed the beds in readiness for our next visitors the following day.
Boxing Day
In France Boxing Day is not celebrated and all is back to normal. I was woken at 8.30 by Steve brandishing the phone and asking me to call the golf course and see if they could have a game. I rang and booked them in for 9.30. We arranged to meet up at the Chinese restaurant in Mont de Marsan at 1pm. A lazy morning for the rest of us and then off into town. The Chinese does a wonderful 4 course buffet, as much as one can eat for 12 euros each. Jason particularly did justice to it and the rest of us did our best! Afterwards Nigel came back home and I went with the others. We went through town and out to the "cave" to fill up the wine container which surprisingly was empty!! 10 litres of vin de table for just under 10 euros. Then on to Leclerc where they wanted to buy wine and supplies to take back with them. On the way back we stopped off at Lily and Arthurs as they wanted to see her garden. Back home about 6 and a lazy evening with only nibbles for supper after the big lunch.
In France Boxing Day is not celebrated and all is back to normal. I was woken at 8.30 by Steve brandishing the phone and asking me to call the golf course and see if they could have a game. I rang and booked them in for 9.30. We arranged to meet up at the Chinese restaurant in Mont de Marsan at 1pm. A lazy morning for the rest of us and then off into town. The Chinese does a wonderful 4 course buffet, as much as one can eat for 12 euros each. Jason particularly did justice to it and the rest of us did our best! Afterwards Nigel came back home and I went with the others. We went through town and out to the "cave" to fill up the wine container which surprisingly was empty!! 10 litres of vin de table for just under 10 euros. Then on to Leclerc where they wanted to buy wine and supplies to take back with them. On the way back we stopped off at Lily and Arthurs as they wanted to see her garden. Back home about 6 and a lazy evening with only nibbles for supper after the big lunch.
Christmas Day.
For the first time in almost 30 years there were no animals or poultry to attend to on Christmas morning. Well the dogs needed letting out but that was all!! What luxury. I lay in bed with tea and toast whilst Steve and Jay cooked breakfast. We got up when it was served and went straight to the table, amazing!! After breakfast we opened our stockings that Sasa had done for us. Then after a short break onto the presents under the tree. N had bought me a French Scrabble dictionary, I had dropped many hints about wanting one. So many nice presents and everyone seemed pleased with what they got. I poured myself a glass of Baileys, my annual Christmas treat, and then hid the bottle in the bedroom as it would have disappeared in a flash!! Then into the kitchen to prepare the capon for the oven. Jason prepared the vegetables and Steve was my right hand man in the kitchen and Sasa did the table. That sounds as if it all happened in a flash but it was about 5 pm when we sat down to eat. After starter and main course we were all too full to eat Christmas pudding so we saved that till later. Once again, after the meal, I thanked my lucky stars for the dishwasher although I did have to wash up the best plates and serving dishes which had their annual outing! Everyone collapsed in front of the TV and I am afraid to say that I fell asleep about 10pm! I woke up after about half and hour and tried to stay awake but in vain, I had to go to bed!! A wonderful, wonderful day. Only sadness is that we weren't able to share it with Rob, Dannielle and Jonny.
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