Spring time in the Aude

The countryside is looking beautiful at the moment with a fantastic range of colours. Here are a few photographs taken this week whilst walking around the footpaths and lanes.

Another Repas

This weekend, the Randonneurs’ Club organized yet another lunch. This meal was based on cassoulet. As we have learned by experience, we took plates, glasses, and cutlery. We arrived at 12 o’clock for apéros (bien sûr), which consisted of the usual wine, pastis, cassis and nibbles. The wine had been specially labeled for the group. (Note the screwy top – rather unusual here).

Whilst we were having the apéros there was a “pop”. At first we thought that it was a bottle that had exploded, but on closer examination it proved to be a rifle shot that had come through the window. (Fortunately no-one was hurt). André Gol, the former Marie, was at the meal and immediately rang the appropriate people. Within 20 minutes, whilst we were eating our salad, the local Gendarme had arrived to assess the situation. We were very impressed considering it was Sunday lunchtime.

By the time the cassoulet was served, the SOCO had arrived. It was quite interesting watching them at work. Even Jean Claude Pistre, the new Marie arrived to see what had happened.

Cheese was next, either camembert or chèvre with honey. Finally, a variety of gateaux were served with the local Blanquette. We had a lovely meal and met even more people from the village.

Opening the Pool

As summer is on its way we are opening the pool ready for the warmer weather. It also makes the garden more attractive.

The winter cover

Yuk - dirty green water

M. Herbet at work

Amazing - after 1 hour

The end result! However, with the temperature of the water at a dizzy 11.5 degrees, I don't think that we will be rushing in to the pool in the near future.

Vide Grenier

It seems compulsory for all French villages large or small to have at least one vide grenier (which is similar to a car boot sale) a year. It was ours today.

Some stalls have a theme.

Others sell "tat" obviously clearing out things that have been in their attics for years. If they don't go today, they will come out again at the next vide grenier.

It is lovely seeing the village come to life and meeting friends and neighbours.

A Few Days Away

We had planned to visit friends who had moved to Spain a year ago. Unfortunately the cattery, Chateau Miaou, was busy and could only fit Tabby in for a couple of nights, so our ideas had to change. Tina and Kevin, we will see you later in the year.

We decided to visit Sommières, a town that we had heard much about. We booked a couple of nights at Hôtel de l’Orange which we had found by looking at recommendations on Alastair Sawday’s web page. We have stayed at several of his suggestions and haven’t been disappointed yet.

We had a lovely journey over the Montagne Noire. The weather wasn’t the best but we spent the time traveling around the area, visiting places that had been mentioned in a variety of Languedoc blogs.

We went to Uzès which was a delightful town. We were amazed at the choice of restaurants and bars. Before we left on Saturday morning, we wandered down to Sommières market looking at the wide variety of stalls. We didn’t see anyone famous!

On the way home we headed down to the coast and had a lovely meal in Sète in the sunshine. It is a lively, bustling port, great for people watching and well worth a visit.

By the way, when we got home there was a letter from CPAM informing that we were now back in the French Health system, bravo!

It's amazing what you see in Carcassonne!

We went for a peaceful walk this morning along the banks of the River Aude in Carcassonne. As well as numerous joggers and children on bikes we saw an enclosure with llamas, alpacas and donkeys. This wasn't the sort of thing we were expecting to see, but they were lovely.

April Showers

We have been having April showers or as they are called here, giboulées de mars. We have had our hedge cut, so now we can see the Malpère hills and " the end of the rainbow"