Early in the month, we joined friends to go to a small restaurant near Lamalou, up in the hills, where we passed a very pleasant evening over a meal. There was a set menu with wine included.
This was the first course, artichoke.
The restaurant is small and tucked away in the hills. If it were more accessible, we would expect significantly higher prices for the quality of the meal we are.
The following day was bright and sunny and so Pat dragged John away from his laptop and we walked to the next village, Cornheillon. The first signs of autumn were evident with yellow and red leaves. The grapes have all been harvested, but some small bunches that escaped the machines are looking more like raisins.
This butterfly was sunning itself
A view of the village
Later in the week, we went north towards St Chinian in search of wine to top up our cellar. We called into one of our regular suppliers where we saw a perfect rainbow straddling their duck pond.
On the following day, Wednesday, we joined other members of the UNRPA (the National Union for the retired and the old) on a bus trip to Spain. This is an annual event, the main focus being to top up with alcohol and tobacco for Christmas.
The bus leaves at 8am, which means that our doorbell rang a 7.15 as a neighbour headed down to the meeting point a hundred yards away. Naturally, one has to greet (kiss, kiss) every other person on the bus and check on their well being (ça va?).
After an hour, we stop for breakfast and then continue to the first outing. This year we were going to a village in the Pyrenees where they make espadrilles, the rope soled shoes.
This is the village, St Laurent de Cerdans
A tour of the factory
A view of the Pyrenees from St Laurent
The bus then took us on to La Jonquera, through small villages along the French Spanish border in the Pyrenees, for lunch. There was an extensive 3 course menu at a very reasonable fixed price, including wine. We took a couple of hours over lunch, then it was time to shop. The bus drove us to a new shopping complex and before long, the storage space in the bus was full. We returned to the village at 7.30 pm.
Our next event was the armistice day ceremony. As usual, we gather in the village square, buy our cornflower which we wear next to our poppy and at the appointed time, process to the war memorial 50m away for the ceremony. Children lay flowers at the memorial and there are readings by a couple of children, the mayor and others. When we have all done our duty, we adjourn to the Foyer Rural (village hall) for apéros where our poppies are admired and we explain their significance to those interested.
In the evening there was a loto (bingo) session in aid of the old soldiers. We went along to practise our numbers and Pat won a leg of lamb, which is now sitting in our freezer.
On Wednesday, John had an appointment in Beziers, so we took the bus into town and looked in at a monument historique, the Chapelle des Penitents Bleus which is just off the main drag, Avenue Paul Riqet. The 'altar' is a trompe d'oeil, a painting on the wall.
The following day was a packing and sorting day before our next trip to Spain to eat at the world's number 1 restaurant.
Pat and John on tour