Nicky, Glyn, Bryony and Morgan came for their first visit at the end of September. It was great to see them here en famille as the last time Nicky was here was to help Chris after Judy fell off her ladder back in June 2012. Anyway, did a few touristy bits which is one of the good things about having visitors, including a visit to a deer and boar farm. The weather was kind except the first day when there was an event in the village, but we did manage to eat!
The second week in October saw Chris in Cardiff as he'd been invited for a couple of days' work. Enjoyable though it was, we are finding that bits of work get in the way of more important things so that is definitely the last!
Then our friend Keith arrived for a few days. He and Julia had helped us with the house a couple of times, first starting the external insulation and then felling trees. No work this time - just eating, drinking and a bit of "aimless meandering" around the Gers. More chances to play tourist.
La Flamme d'Armagnac was the weekend of 19/20 November so it was noses to the grindstone. The programme below gives you an idea.
So we helped mark the two walking circuits on the Wednesday, put out tables on Thursday, Chris helped mark the cycling circuit on Friday morning and we set the tables on Friday night. Saturday saw Judy as back marker for the shorter walk while Chris was the "lanterne rouge" for the cyclists. The evening saw us helping to serve a 5-course meal to 550 people. Finished the clearing up at 3:30 in the morning. Sunday lunch was only 3 courses for 250 people! Then sleep.
Anyway, as we hadn't been on holiday for ages(?!?) we spotted a cheap flight to Venice at the end of November. Chris had never been and Judy was there longer ago than she would admit. So we rented an apartment about 100m from the Rialto Bridge so we could walk everywhere and had a generally great time, especially as there weren't many tourists. As well as all the touristy things, on the first night we managed to get into the opening night of a jazz festival at the university. The music was a bit "experimental" at times but good, and the apero afterwards made up for the weird bits of music - and all for free. The next night we paid for a super concert of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" in a Baroque church - brilliant!
Off to the UK for Xmas and other parties.
