We spent a day at Jazz in Marciac - world famous but we weren't too impressed - they all seemed a bit serious. But then a day at a folkie fest in Pau was entirely different and had a much better atmosphere despite the rain. Oh, yes, it has not been a good summer for the weather in France - exceptional(ly bad) they say. But we walked 7km (and back) to Lagraulet to eat unlimited wild boar which was delicious, all in glorious sunshine. We also spent a day at the races, never been before here. It was trotting races and quite exciting. Not sure we're up to betting yet though.
We had 24 people for dinner at the end of August - the group who go around each others' houses about once a month and bring food to eat and wine to drink.
We tried to make it an organic food evening as there are quite a few who like it that way, mostly vegetarians we have to say, so we cooked some naturally-reared beef that went down well with the omnivores.
Our bit of Montreal got renamed as 'Quartier du Quebec' rather than 'Au Pont' so our address has officially changed, but I'm not sure what La Poste would do if you tried it.
September brought in the real summer and it has been really hot all month. Chris did a couple of days' work back in Plymouth and what with the GMC and all, we haven't managed to get away. The shutters, which are one of the finishing touches to the house, arrived early in September ahead of schedule (amazing). They are there to keep the house cool in summer and provide privacy in winter. We never had curtains in Yelverton so we're used to sleeping through the dawn. So being stuck at home forced Judy to set to work painting the shutters: they came under-coated but to match the windows is a special colour. It looks more like a French house every day.
It also gave us time to do the decking terrace at the back (south side) of the house, so when Jill and Andy arrived for a few days we actually had somewhere to sit. Just need to put the ends on now.
A German friend of Chris arrived at the end of September to continue his walk along the Chemin Saint Jacques (Camino de Compostella) as he had finished here last year. We had invited an Australian couple (who have a second home here) around for dinner and what with Udo's train being delayed it was a very late finish. Other friends of Chris (his former boss at British Antarctic Survey) arrived next day with other friends and two dogs and two camper-vans, so more self-inflicted headaches in the morning. Fortunately Udo didn't want an early start.
Judy went to stay with Nicky as she was supposed to be having her tonsils out and it wasn't clear if Glyn would be back in time to hold the fort - baby, horses dogs etc. Glyn has now finally been put in charge as captain - well done him! - and he did make it back in time, just before the operation got cancelled (twice). Nicky was really cross, the worse thing being that she had to go back to work!!
Chris took the opportunity to do a cycle tour of the Gers - there are six sites to collect - which took him 3 days: 280km and 14h 12mins cycling according to his computer, all in good weather. The rain arrived the day after he got back. He slept in pilgrim accommodation at 12euros the night for bed and shower, like this little tower in Marciac.
The Gers is quite hilly so he was really grateful for the low gears. And only another 88 departments to go!
After the two days of rain, October has also been amazingly warm, just shorts and T-shirt weather. Spent the weekend of 17-20th October in the town of Lauzerte in Tarn et Garonne. Very pretty but as we sat outside the bar on the friday evening, most voices were English!
The next plan is to finish the last remaining room - the utility room which was our long-term camp kitchen before December (hmm..). Strange that when we put things in there all that time ago they're now in the wrong place! C'est la vie.
Now off to Blighty for 10 days, Judy in Exmouth, Chris spending time between Leeds (work) and Holywell (baby-sitting, dog walking, horse poo picking, etc.).
