We got to bed at 3 am this morning!
After a week's visit from Joe-- our grandson, with his parents & his other Granny (she's Granny Rosbif, and I'm Granny Frog's-legs) we each pinched 20 Euros from the kitty and headed off for La Chappelle Baton salle de fete, where the local 'chasse' were holding their end of season dinner dance.
The 2009 'regime' -- which had already lost much of the impetus from the start of the year--completely ground to a halt last week. If we weren't eating at a local restaurant (on the terrace overlooking the lake at St Martin L'Ars, or at the Hotel du Commerce in Civray) we were indulging in buying up all the locally produced wines and cheeses and pates at Civray & Ruffec markets-- and then having picnics. So having completely lost the dietry plot, I thought we might as well finish the week with a typical French celebratory 6 course supper!
We've been going to dancing classes at la Chappelle Baton every Tuesday night for the last month. It's a great cheapo evening out--2 Euros each & take your own refreshment! Although Gill & Mike, who take the class, are English--and the class is held in a sort of English -Franglais, it is well supported by the local French --who love to dance, as well as numerous English, who can't , but want to join in at local festivities. ( That's us!)
So last night was our first chance to put our lessons to the test.
Geoff & I are happy freestyle dancers--occasionally complimenting each other on the floor. The minute we have to hold on to each other, the brain & the feet loose contact--and sadly, last night was no exception.
As elderly Frenchmen & their partners spin round & around, doing the Viennese waltz, or the pasa doble, we waited to hear a gentle waltz.
We could have attempted the tango--but find cornering difficult--and the floor was very crowded.
The 'madison' though was attempted-- the steps of this changes according to which village you live in. Gill had done lots of research and taught us the 'La Chappele Baton' madison--- only to find a much simpler ( Thank heavens!) version being danced last night ( at La Chappelle Baton!!) The madison tends to be danced only by girls--and men who join in have their own versions of the steps--which they happily dance, whilst the girls keep in unison. This can be confusing.
The meal was great.
Glasses of rose wine ( ie--pink, not made from roses--I've not got accents on my keyboard!) were handed out on arrival-- at about 8-8.30ish. We mingled and chatted for about an hour & then found seats at the table.
A glass of kir was then give as an 'aperatif '-- and baskets of bread for those who couldn't wait any longer!
A local pate with cornichons was followed by quiche-- interspersed with dancing.
The 'chasse' wives were responsible for serving--so it was quite slow as the were all keen dancers. Mostly with each other--- mainly as their husbands were manning the barbecues.
Eventually 'trous' came round. This was a small apple sorbet doused in brandy. In spite of the salle de fete heaving with over 200 party- goers, portions were generous. Seconds of the trou followed the first.
By that time we were all up & dancing.
The next course was 'steak and frites'-- very large, and amazingly they were rare rather than raw as seems to be the norm in a lot of French restaurants.
It was well after midnight when a bowl of lettuce and cheese was handed round. We'd consumed all the free wine and resorted to the 5 euros a bottle stuff by now. ( Water is always available--and very necessary--to the unlucky person who draws the short straw & is the driver!)
About 1.30am we saw the profiteroles-- one strawberry, coffee and chocolate each-- followed a bit later by seconds for all those who could manage it!
Meals in France usually finish with coffee and brandy-- but the dance floor was full and our table had been taken over by French Manchester United supporters ( heaven forbid!) who wanted to talk football with the Englishmen on our table ( 1 Man U, 2 Chelsea & 1 rugby fan !)--it's amazing how a few drinks and they all understand each other, regardless of whatever language is being spoken!
Anyhow, another hour passed-- people with children ( there were at least a dozen!) started to drift away ( although 2 babies were asleep in prams, 1 child slept on the table, and 2 more slept on mattresses in the corner of the room!). There wasn't a coffee cup in sight--so Geoff and I decided it was time for us to leave.
I've since learned that coffee and cognac appeared at 3 am--when at least 100 stalwarts were still boogeying. They've got some stamina these French!
My one regret is that I forgot to take the camera--so sorry, no pictures!
Sunday 17 May 2009
Tuesday 5 May 2009
May goings-on!
The sun is shining , there's masses of gardening to be done--and I'm stuck indoors on the computer.
I'm creating a brochure. I was rather pleased with the map--which I'd poached from my neighbour's brochure for 'Centre de Beauregard'--- but having re-drawn it on my computer it doesn't want to be 'inserted' from 'word'--and the scanner's having a wobbly. So that's all gone on hold.
Meanwhile I've had a baking session for next week's visitors, which has gone quite well alongside sorting out e-mails.
I'm not a fan of 'facebook'--but it's one way of knowing where my wayward nomadic son has got to. I understand he's on a bus to Buenos Aries.......... and then the flight back to Taiwan, where he's lived for the last few years. He spent all the 'SARS' outbreak in Taiwan--where there were plenty of outbreaks. The last 5 months have been spent travelling all over S America. A couple of weeks ago he said he was scuba diving off the coast of Columbia. Since then he's been working on a pig farm in order to earn enough to get back for his flight from BA as he'd been robbed & was a bit short of cash.
I haven't needed to mention 'swine flu'.................. everybody else on his facebook has already done so!
This week-end saw Jacki hold her 4th 'Cross country & show-jumping fun day'--I helped Mrs T with the teas. It was a lovely day, but not a very good turn-out. We put this down to other events taking place over the May holiday.
Geoff was thrilled to be put on the water-jump where he spent a happy couple of hours watching kingfishers on the River Charente!
Charroux Tourist Office sent me a brochure this morning......................
20-24 mai 2009 is their 'Festival de la randonnee'--- it's their 3rd year of this event which includes:-
Saturday 16th at 16hrs....the official inauguration of the Festival, the 'lancement' of the tourist season followed by an opening 'spectacle' and an 'aperatif'!!!!
Wednesday 20th mai ( this is franglais at its worst) there's a 'folk ball' ( ie--evening dress unlikely to be seen!) 6 euros
Thursday 21st mai 8.30am Randonnee 'la Terre de nos Ancetres'
This means that there is a guided ramble up to the pre-historic grottoes at Chauffaud...where there will be entertainments.
This is followed in the evening at 8.30pm with a cine-debate on the theme of 'joys & pains of rural life over the last 50 years' ( in French!)
Friday 22 mai at 9am is a randonnee around Charroux.
Saturday 22nd has a big multi-randonnee--bikes, push-chairs, horses & foot-soldiers! with lunch en-route sur reservation for 12 euros. In the evening there's a soiree musicale, in the parc du chateau de Rochemeau.(7 euros)
Sunday 24th May is the final day--again a randonnee in the morning and at 2pm a'baladoreve' to be held in the garden of la 'Grande Maison' --culminating in the 'pot de cloture' still in the garden of the big house at 6pm.
It all sounds a bit dry--but is really a bit of a get together & a wander round and a chat to one and all..before eating & drinking!
The wild flowers are in full bloom along the chemin around Maureville now. The early orchids are nearly over, as are the cowslips and bluebells. I haven't seen a coypu in ages......the chasse culled them quite ruthlessly this winter. Geoff found a yellow and black Fire salamander in the woods----in perfect condition, but dead.
Walking along the chemin at the back of the house two days ago, was a 3 foot grass snake, which had been cut in two by the tractor.
The swallows, sparrows and numerous blus and great tits are nesting quite openly around the house and garden. I saw a hoopoe a month ago--but not since.Geoff fears the same of his wheatear. The kestral has a nest in the back of the house like last year.
The black redstarts are here, nesting in the barn again. Nightingales and chiffchaffs and blackbirds have nests around and about--and are making a lot of noise. At night the owls are really noisy. The little owl can be seen regularly, but others are more discreet--and think we are deaf!
So that's about all for now--back to the gardening whilst the sun is shining methinks!
I'm creating a brochure. I was rather pleased with the map--which I'd poached from my neighbour's brochure for 'Centre de Beauregard'--- but having re-drawn it on my computer it doesn't want to be 'inserted' from 'word'--and the scanner's having a wobbly. So that's all gone on hold.
Meanwhile I've had a baking session for next week's visitors, which has gone quite well alongside sorting out e-mails.
I'm not a fan of 'facebook'--but it's one way of knowing where my wayward nomadic son has got to. I understand he's on a bus to Buenos Aries.......... and then the flight back to Taiwan, where he's lived for the last few years. He spent all the 'SARS' outbreak in Taiwan--where there were plenty of outbreaks. The last 5 months have been spent travelling all over S America. A couple of weeks ago he said he was scuba diving off the coast of Columbia. Since then he's been working on a pig farm in order to earn enough to get back for his flight from BA as he'd been robbed & was a bit short of cash.
I haven't needed to mention 'swine flu'.................. everybody else on his facebook has already done so!
This week-end saw Jacki hold her 4th 'Cross country & show-jumping fun day'--I helped Mrs T with the teas. It was a lovely day, but not a very good turn-out. We put this down to other events taking place over the May holiday.
Geoff was thrilled to be put on the water-jump where he spent a happy couple of hours watching kingfishers on the River Charente!
Charroux Tourist Office sent me a brochure this morning......................
20-24 mai 2009 is their 'Festival de la randonnee'--- it's their 3rd year of this event which includes:-
Saturday 16th at 16hrs....the official inauguration of the Festival, the 'lancement' of the tourist season followed by an opening 'spectacle' and an 'aperatif'!!!!
Wednesday 20th mai ( this is franglais at its worst) there's a 'folk ball' ( ie--evening dress unlikely to be seen!) 6 euros
Thursday 21st mai 8.30am Randonnee 'la Terre de nos Ancetres'
This means that there is a guided ramble up to the pre-historic grottoes at Chauffaud...where there will be entertainments.
This is followed in the evening at 8.30pm with a cine-debate on the theme of 'joys & pains of rural life over the last 50 years' ( in French!)
Friday 22 mai at 9am is a randonnee around Charroux.
Saturday 22nd has a big multi-randonnee--bikes, push-chairs, horses & foot-soldiers! with lunch en-route sur reservation for 12 euros. In the evening there's a soiree musicale, in the parc du chateau de Rochemeau.(7 euros)
Sunday 24th May is the final day--again a randonnee in the morning and at 2pm a'baladoreve' to be held in the garden of la 'Grande Maison' --culminating in the 'pot de cloture' still in the garden of the big house at 6pm.
It all sounds a bit dry--but is really a bit of a get together & a wander round and a chat to one and all..before eating & drinking!
The wild flowers are in full bloom along the chemin around Maureville now. The early orchids are nearly over, as are the cowslips and bluebells. I haven't seen a coypu in ages......the chasse culled them quite ruthlessly this winter. Geoff found a yellow and black Fire salamander in the woods----in perfect condition, but dead.
Walking along the chemin at the back of the house two days ago, was a 3 foot grass snake, which had been cut in two by the tractor.
The swallows, sparrows and numerous blus and great tits are nesting quite openly around the house and garden. I saw a hoopoe a month ago--but not since.Geoff fears the same of his wheatear. The kestral has a nest in the back of the house like last year.
The black redstarts are here, nesting in the barn again. Nightingales and chiffchaffs and blackbirds have nests around and about--and are making a lot of noise. At night the owls are really noisy. The little owl can be seen regularly, but others are more discreet--and think we are deaf!
So that's about all for now--back to the gardening whilst the sun is shining methinks!
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