Contents of article "15. July 2006"
Sunday 9th June
Monday 10th June
Sunday 23rd July
Sunday 9th June
Just on my way out to yet another night of Céret feria. It’s going to take me weeks to recover from this weekend. Will tell you all about it tomorrow but for those of you who know Céret but don’t know the feria - have you ever seen it this crowded?
Monday 10th June
The weather is absolutely glorious! Once Summer comes to the PO, it’s just day after day of infinite blue skies and wall to wall sunshine. This year has been particularly dry and the fire risk is high. On our morning walk around the vines yesterday, we were shocked to see some quite large areas of vines and ’garrigue’, stripped, barren and blackened by fire.
We know that we live in a fire risk area but it is something that only happens in films - not in real life and certainly not to us! When you see fire damage so close to your home, you have to ask yourself what would happen if a fire wasn’t spotted quickly enough, during the night for example, and spread out of control? A sobering and frightening thought, not to be entertained without a large glass of something strong!
Oh what a link! Talking about a glass of something strong.... the feria! Jerome, wherever you are, I so hope you survived - it was like entering hell! How people who live there or holiday there survive that weekend, I really don’t know! We actually quite enjoyed it as we went with friends and found chairs in the relatively quiet bits and did some ’people watching’..... and believe me there were plenty of people to watch! Olivier was very disappointed when we returned to the car and set off home as he has never been breathalised and wanted to have a go! We had to discourage him from driving round twice, in the hope that they’d stop him the second time. There were quite a few gendarmes at the fete and most of them seemed to be drinking! I suppose they would be the only ones who could be sure of not being breathalised!
Last night I hit Céret again with next door neighbour Evelyne. I have to admit, I wasn’t really up for it as two nights in a row is a little over the top for me these days, but Lulu wanted to go, and Sunday is the quietest night - apart from the football of course! Crowds were gathered around every television on every bodega, a giant screen boomed out in the square, and after a couple of hours of hooting, chanting, booing and hissing, it was over, France had lost, and nothing happened! By this I mean that I, being a Leeds lass, expected the supporters to go on the rampage and break a few shop windows, smash a couple of bottles over a head or two - but no. Nothing. They just turned away - a few heads in hands and disappointed French ’moues’... and carried on with whatever they had been doing before the match started. Unnatural behaviour in my experience. Nevertheless, I was quite glad to have persuaded Lulu to leave his Union Jack at home!
Now to birdie business. Boy, am I in trouble. I think I have looked after our feathered friends a little too well. The babies flew the nest recently, and just as I was pulling the pressure washer out of the garage to spray away the latest and last volley of bird ploppings, what did I see? Yes, the beginnings of another nest on the other side of our front door! Word has obviously got round - pitch tent chez Kate and not only do you get fed and watered but you get to poo in her eye with no fear of repercussion! I know I have to get rid of it but I just feel so mean. I’d hate to get a reputation for cruelty amongst the feathered fraternity.
Sunflowers are blooming all the way down our driveway. They are absolutely beautiful - such hopeful flowers, bright and smiling. The extension is coming along but slowly. The end of June deadline has been and gone and we are still living on a building site with limited light at the end of the tunnel - but we’re getting there. Lulu is now on holiday and spends time between trampoline, pool and scooter. I tried on his helmet yesterday - it is perfect for disguising double chins and I think I will wear it more regularly in the future!
Sunday 23rd July
I know I have been a little remiss in updating my PO life recently but there is just so much to do, see, hear, eat drink and visit that I never seem to find the time at the moment!
The weather continues to be fantastic - very warm but with a slight breeze to combat the heat and the occasional fluffy white cloud scurrying across a bright blue canvas. The surrounding countryside however is very dry and yellowing due to the lack of rain, in contrast to last year when there was still a fair amount of greenery around.
Gardens are struggling to survive, despite the automatic watering systems operating everywhere (often fed by the ’canal d’arrosage’ which passes through the towns and villages.) Swimming pools are ’turning’ much more quickly (meaning they become cloudy or greenish) due to the heat and need more regular checks and cleans.
The side of the motorway into Spain is black and barren-looking after a recent fire but greenery is already sneaking through the wreckage, proving that there is no stopping nature. The figs and ripening vines add a superb spash of colour to the arid countryside - looks like it could be a good year for wine!
There are also plenty of bugs around! This one was spotted hanging around my front door and looks to me like a locust snapped through an x ray machine! I believe that they are a delicacy in certain countries - get that BBQ on Olivier!
ugly bug-ger
Yummy, yummy!
Have you seen the new 24hour supermarkets in Perpignan? They may not actually be new, but they are to me. They are completely automatic. All that you do is select your product, pay by credit card or cash, and whatever you have ordered just drops out. Fascinating but honestly, it’s just like living in America!
Well, it’s apéro time. Olivier’s got out the backgammon and is sitting outside on the building site waiting to be thrashed yet again. (We’re talking strictly backgammon of course!)We won’t be sitting on our present patio for much longer I hope as the work is coming along quite well but they don’t half leave a mess.
Broken tiles, bent nails and bits of brick everywhere - but we will survive - I am very aware how lucky we are to be able to extend our house in the first place. The doors and windows went in on Friday and I will post all the new photos in PO Life tomorrow.
