one year on - 5 years on

we had to wait until the next day for our furniture to arrive

5 years ago today we were sat in the notaires office completing the purchase of Segala.

The only downside was that the vendors were distraught, we had waited over an hour for them to arrive and when they did the husband of the pair had tears in his eyes.

We so understood how they felt - they had put their beloved Segala  on the market thinking it could take 5 years or more to sell and we came along - the first to view and cash buyers in a hurry. They could not risk losing the sale, and looking at how the housing market here has gone they certainly made the right decision, and so Segala became ours.

We have had a wonderful 5 years here, making Segala our own, and look forward to many more.

This time last year I set out to write a daily blog - it was of course never going to happen. I did quite well at first except for breaks in internet connection but when family crisis hit in January I got out of the habit and it was hard to get started again. I can truthfully say that almost every day the blog post is "written" in my head but, oh so often, that's as far as it gets. I shan't be losing any sleep though, often the reason is because I'm busy having fun and have no time to sit writing about it and it's not as if there is a big readership hanging on my every word.

Anyway, I do still like it here so aici sen pla will continue as a blog as frequently or otherwise as I feel motivated, as a personal diary to be shared with any who are interested.

completion day

Its finished - my first full size quilt to be completely quilted and finished off ( my first top is still waiting to be quilted). Feeling very pleased with my efforts.

Its always very satisfying to finish a project - this has been a while coming. I started piecing in April 2014. The quilting was always going to be the big test as this was the new skill for me. My first quilt top is still unfinished because I have kept putting off quilting it - no excuse now, must get on with it .

Jardin Noble Val

We were pleased to see a dry morning today as I always look forward to the Jardin Noble Val plant fairs and the spring event this year had been a very soggy affair.

We went searching for an apricot tree ( the one we bought 5 years back fruited this year but has reverted to its wild plum rootstock - it had to go), and an orange rose. Mission was accomplished, apricot tree and orange rose plus a few extras for luck and this afternoon we have been busy planting.

the rural idyll

The rural idyll- Trevor spent the morning shovelling sheep poo and transporting it home in the trailer where we both shovelled until we had our own smelly pile waiting to be dug into the veg patch .

BUT I also picked lovely small courgettes, some aubergines and lots of chillis just to remind me it will be worth the effort!

Also having spent the morning outside with the "aroma" we were able to eat lunch outside without noticing the fragrant air after our farmer neighbour's two days of work muck spreading on the field around our garden.

we thought they'd forgotten us

They came to say goodbye after all

sunshine, sea air and seafood

A lovely couple of days of Mediterranean sunshine in beautiful Collioure- what a good idea that was!

We were last in Collioure in the summer of 2010 after we had moved from England to France but were waiting for Segala to be ours. It was lovely to go back 5 years later.

well preserved

Not me you understand  - but with the daily veg collection only just easing off it's been a busy few weeks trying to get all of my hard won produce used and safely stored for the winter.

The jam cupboard is full, the freezer likewise, we also have jars and jars of dried cherry tomatoes in olive oil in the fridge and some boozy warming tipples for the winter months. Feeling fairly satisfied that very little has gone to waste but its been somewhat relentless work.

Looking forward to a couple of days at the seaside as a reward! Off to Collioure tomorrow for some sea air and seafood.

what happened to the birds?

Looking through old photos I was reminded that this is the time of year we normally watch the parting of the swallows after the summer. The electricity wires which cross the garden fill with thousands of birds who depart en masse after giving us a final spectacular air display. It's a sight which made a lasting impression on my mother, she memory problems now but still talks about seeing this. This year though - no swallows! We saw plenty at the beginning of the summer, watched some courtship displays on the wires but then no more.







The same happened with the sparrows. Our house is built of stone and is unpointed. Normally it is home to hundreds of house sparrows. Again the summer started normally enough, lots of activity, lots of nest building and the sound of scurrying in the walls ( we have to tell guests not to worry - it's not mice in the bedroom) but then nothing. Normally we watch the baby birds being fed and eat our own meals outside to the noise of a veritable sparrow city. It can be VERY noisy but I've really missed it this year.


Did it get too hot? We did have several weeks of "canicule" so maybe. We will just have to wait and see what happens next year.

the last grapes

I have spent most of the week making grape jelly to make use of our grape harvest. This is the first year we have had a big crop of usable grapes and I do hate seeing fruit or veg go to waste. Had enough of jamming for the moment though and the cupboard is full so it was time for a different approach.

Today we have picked those that were left and squashed them for juice - a reminder of our days in England where we used to make apple juice every year from our huge apple crop.

The hens have been keen to watch for dropped fruit!

insurance

After the last storms which left many without electricity for several days we decided to buy a generator to keep our freezer safe in future power cuts.

Had some trouble finding one - seems there might have been a bit of a run on them in the shops. But got one today so now feel we have insurance!

grape harvest

Busy, busy day.

Another nice summery day, not the "scorcher" we were promised but probably just as well.

We went to the market this morning as usual, but more for the fun than to buy - we have so much of our own produce to use we didn't need much.

This afternoon its been all about preserving. 

Our grapevine is really loaded this year - far too many to eat and we are not about to start making our own wine again. There's not room in the freezer to store juice so have tried grape jelly for the first time. It is a really pretty colour and tasty too - could be a christmas gift idea if I make enough. 

Our chilli crop is also superb - I hope I can dry some to hang up in the kitchen but today I have made chilli jam  - also a first, and it too is very pretty.

Now for a late season barbecue - just to prove we know how to live à deux.

été indien

Even gardening magazines have an extra season (été indien) here, September always seems to reward us with lots of sunny summery ( English summer that is) days. True the days are getting shorter, early mornings are decidedly chilly and the water temperature in the pool is sliding inexorably downwards but there is still sunshine, eating outdoors and lots of colour in the garden



This year it is even more colourful than usual as the flower garden took such a long time to get going in the heatwave - it's now at it's peak when often it is near finishing.














The veg garden, despite its near destruction by a fallen tree last week, is still yielding more everyday than I can use. Today I picked tomatoes, courgettes, chillis, peas and even some strawberries





















We had been considering a trip away this month, but after a very hectic summer ( lots of visits to England plus 8 sets of visitors) we have been enjoying being at home and settling back into "normal life". Its not boring though - loads to do in the garden, still fetes and festivals going on and  even some dancing.

                                            Have I said it before? aiçi sén pla!

quelle orage quelle horreur!

August went out with something of a bang last week - a huge storm swept across the department on Monday night bringing down trees and depriving many of electricity, phones and  internet for days on end. A week later and the roadsides are still littered with branches and all around you can hear the chainsaws at work.

In fact we were relatively lucky as the electricity came back in the night so we had only lost power for a few hours. No internet all week though but that gave us more time to deal with the aftermath in the garden.

A couple of small trees were brought down in the orchard - not too bad we thought - but then we spotted the potager.

Basically the vegetable patch was half buried by a fallen tree.

Luckily a branch had impaled itself into the ground and was supporting lots of the weight so the tomato plants were battered but not annihilated .

Lots of work to do clearing up but at least we didn't lose the contents of the freezer like many people we know! 

Note to selves : must definitely buy a generator. 

Folk'n'jazz for charity

Over the summer months our acoustic music "gathering" Folk ' n' jazz takes to the road and uses outdoor venues. This year, for the first time, we have used it as an opportunity to raise money for charitable causes (chosen by the venue hosts).

Last month was held in the beautiful Jardins de Quercy, we had a record breaking audience of 110 people and raised and grand total of 500 euros for Toutes A l'ecole ( schooling for girls in Cambodia). Last night it was a Music Hall themed night and we raised 300euros for médecins sans frontieres.

It was a really fun evening - everyone performing, French and English,  really entered into the spirit of the Music Hall and we had many memorable moments of merriment.

Let's all go mad

Brahn boots

Le tango Corse

Le cabaret de la dernier chance

La diva d l'empire

                        

Not forgetting a truly unforgettable rendering of the gladiator song 

By the way .............

Obviously my "daily blog" idea was always a non starter - too much living to do especially in the summer - and with the first real interruption earlier in the year it was all too easy to get out of the routine.




So much goes on there is never a shortage of things to record if time permitted, then there are visitors. We love having visitors and sharing our good luck at living here but again that leaves less time for blogging.

Tomatoes are sundrying in the greenhouse

Not to mention the garden - every day I harvest our produce, a hot back breaking half hour or more, and then have to work out ways of using/preserving. Even with visitors there is always more than I can use and the freezer is groaning - may have to consider buying a steriliser so I can bottle some.

jam cupboard is full and I haven't picked any blackberries yet!

Today is a "what needs using up / empty the fridge" day as one set of visitors leave and we prepare  for the next arriving tomorrow. 

Do need to think about reducing the veg mountain in the kitchen though!

The daily harvest continues  - tomatoes of all sizes,
courgettes, cucumbers, beans , aubergines, chillis, 

In the company of cheerful ladies

(borrowing the title of the Alexander McCall Smith book I'm reading)





Monday afternoon is patchwork time but the club does not meet during July and August. A few of us still meet up in one another's houses to chat and sew - It's a great time for practising my French conversation skills.

This afternoon I was hostess - a small number came as lots of people are away or doing Granny duties - but it was a lovely afternoon anyway.






The "gouter" ( ie cake break) is always very important to the French ladies . Today I introduced them to a west country speciality - scones with cream and strawberry jam - they went down very well thank goodness. ( I even got asked for the recipe)

making our own entertainment

There's no shortage of things going on around here at the moment - the height of summer and its fêtes, festivals, concerts, special markets and  and marchés gourmandes in villages large or small all around us. It's impossible to fit everything in but it didn't stop Trevor suggesting getting together with the other musicians at Salles to organise a "petit bal" during the summer break in the usual dance workshops.

So last night off to Salles we went and there was a great turnout and an enjoyable evening of traditional music and dance was had by all - bon idée TC

air conditioning

Some serious thunderstorms and a cooler day meant we could leave the doors and windows open - our house has been thoroughly "air conditioned".

The storm brought down trugloads of plums so had to make jam, but also managed to spend some time in my den making progress with my next "stained glass" patchwork panel.

Internet speed requiring dredging of reserves of patience at the moment.
Time to return to the good life!