No Smoking

Yesterday on the way back from Castelnaudary to buy a more efficient rodent catcher, we decided to call in and order some oil for the central heating. As I walked into the office I happened to notice that there was no no-smoking sign on the door. Surely this was an oversight on their part. Probably not, as inside there was an ashtray with some cigarette ends in and the air was heavy with cigarette smoke. I personally don’t like cigarette smoke but if those people who work there are happy about it, then that’s fine by me. The reason I was surprised about allowing smoking is that the office is part of the petrol station.

No comment!

Wee Furry Beasties!

We know that we have little furry creatures around the garden, the cat has brought some in and we have heard them chomping nuts in the hedges. We have even heard nuts rolling in the guttering, but in the last week or so, they have been more obvious. When the house is all quiet and especially at night, we have heard little footsteps scampering above us in the attic. As it was particularly noisy 2 nights ago Richard decided to have a closer look. He thought that he saw little piles of “poo” and what looks like a nest in the insulation so we decided that something drastic had to be done. Not too drastic. Someone suggested putting Tabby up there for a couple of days but I think that she would be more frightened than our little guest. We don’t want to kill them if possible, so we bought a humane trap. We have duly baited it and are now waiting for the results. So far nothing has been tempted. We think that the animal might be a Lérot (a garden dormouse) which are very sweet but we don’t want our wires and pipes eaten.

We will keep you posted.

What a Cracking Game!

What a cracking game!

This was the first match we had been to this season as most of the home games don’t start until 7:30 and we prefer to settle down for dinner at that time. This match began at 5:00 against the local rivals, Limoux. Carcassonne finished the first half just behind 6-8. They had obviously had had a good talking to during the break because they all came out fighting (not literally). There were tries for both teams and with 2 minutes to go Limoux were ahead 32-28. Carcassonne then scored a try to tie the scores 32-32. Could Banquet convert it? It was a hard kick. The spectators stood with bated breath. IT WENT OVER!! The whistle went.

Carcassonne had won 34-32.

Grey Skies

Yesterday it poured with rain for most of the day. It started in the night with a crack of thunder and continued throughout Sunday. I know that we need the rain but it really was a very dull and depressing day. When it the rain finally stopped, we went for a walk around the village to get a bit of fresh air. As Saturday was Toussaint, a jour férié in France when people remember family members who have died, we decided to visit the graveyards. In spite of the grey skies, the brightly coloured pots of chrysanthemums and cyclamen seemed to brighten the cemetery.

Some people think that I have a morbid fascination with graveyards but I find walking around them very interesting and one can learn so much history about the village and the people who live there. Many years ago, whilst we were spending a holiday in St. Tropez, we saw Brigitte Bardot placing flowers on a grave. It was beautiful seeing the colourful flowers around tombs with a backdrop of clear sky and the blue Mediterranean Sea behind.

As our boulangerie is changing hands, we are going to be without it for a week whilst the new proprietors move in. Bonne chance et au revoir to Brigitte and Alain Moles who are moving to Toulouse and welcome to Norbert and Nathalie de Nadaï.