Bruno's Adventures

On Wednesday, by the time I usually give our cats their tea, there was no sign of Bruno. We hadn’t seen him since the morning but that was nothing new. As he still hadn’t arrived by bed time, I was getting a little concerned. I thought that he might come in during the night and jump on the bed as usual. As he still wasn’t there in the morning all sorts of ideas were going through my mind. We made some “Chat Perdu” flyers and stuck them on the bins, posted them in letter boxes on our road and put them in the boulangerie and tabac. We walked, cycled and drove around the lanes looking for him, with no success.

Our neighbour, Denis, came round just before dinner and said he thought he had heard something in his house. We went round armed with torch and cat biscuits but with no luck. We really thought that Bruno’s luck had run out.

Five o’clock this morning, Denis, rang our door bell. He had definitely seen him this time. After a further search, we found him hiding between a stack of boxes.

We brought him home and he trotted round the house unaware of the problem he had caused for the last two days.

That wasn’t enough for him. About 2 hours later, he had found a snake, (which had bitten his ear) and he and Mimi were playing with it on the grass. We hope that the snake wasn’t venomous. In spite of this he seems none the worse for his adventures.

Palm Trres

The winter hasn’t been very kind to our palm trees and by the beginning of May all the branches were brown and obviously dead. We had been debating whether to cut them all off but were unsure as we had heard conflicting advice. Gradually as the weather has got warmer (relatively) tell-tale signs of new grow was beginning to peep out of the top. So biting the bullet and machete in hand, Richard has cut all the unsightly growth off. After numerous trips to the déchetterie the task is complete.

They now look like enormous paint brushes with green bristles!

By the way, does anyone know when Summer is going to start?

Cherry-time

It's cherry time again!

There is something very satisfying than free food and today we picked a beautiful bowl of cherries from trees on our lane.

Snow in May

This time last week we were swimming and sitting by the pool with temperatures in the high 20's. Today the thermometer on the car read -1 degree and it is sleeting here and snow is sticking on the hills! We have the fire on and having a roast for dinner. Please can we have our Summer back!

And the Beginning of Another

As one season ends, another begins and Friday was the first night of the 2010 Pétanque season. We had succumbed to all the persuasion and joined this year. We provided the joining fee, Medical Certificates and photographs and duly turned up at 8:30. We handed over 4€ each and were given our number for the evening. Just like Fléchettes, at 9 o’clock we were allocated our teams.

Both Richard and I were with experienced players. It is all very well being told where to place the boule, but actually placing it there is quite different with divots, sand and stones to contend with!

During the course of the evening, we played 4 games. We hadn’t realised that there is prize money! For every game that one wins, you receive 2€, so it is possible to double your money in the evening. At half past twelve I took home 2€.

In spite of having a late night on Friday, I had to be up early Saturday morning as I was joining 10 other ladies to play in a boules competition. 1st May is Fête du Travail, or Labour Day, and the Comité Aude had organised a Journée de la Femme for ladies boules players.

My partner, Dany, and I were put with 4 other pairs and we began by having a skills test which were marked accordingly. Next we were asked questions on the rules of Pétanque. There was no way I was able answer these questions, so I left that to Dany. I only just knew the basic rudiments of the game not details of the rules.

Apéros and lunch was made and served by husbands and male committee members. After lunch we played 2 matches and the day finished by the prize giving to the winners Finally, everyone was given a sprig of Muget or Lily of the Valley, a flower that is given on 1st May and a small fridge magnet as a memento of the day.

The End of a Season

Saturday was the last day of the 2009-2010 season of Les Fléchettes de la Malepère and to celebrate this, there was a tournament in the afternoon and a meal in the evening. Le tournoi was open to everyone, not just club members, and 32 people with ages ranging from 10 to 90 competed!

Gradually as the games progressed, players were eliminated and a winner was found. Albane Montagné beat the othe 3 finalists with a fantastic 2 dart finish.

The evening began with the presentation of trophies. Finalists and semi-finalists of the afternoon's tournament, all received a trophy and so did the winners of the regular club-night
season.

Gérard Baidal received his trophy for winning the most points this season. Albane won the most points for the ladies this year.

The repas began with the usual apéritif with dancing to a wide range of music between the courses. It is lovely to see the older children looking after the little ones, all having a lovely time.

I would like to thank Thierry Strittmatter and his team for organgising a super day to finish the season.

Roll on the Petanque season......

Soggy Moggy

Just as we were going to bed last night, a very wet cat came in (and it wan't raining). Bruno had fallen in the pool! We don't know what happened but we could trace the evidence from the pool to the house.

I do hope he won't try it again once we put the pool cover on today.