25/03/2019 OAP Local Commune Luncheon

Maximum temperature today 12C, minimum 4C.  Dry. 21 km/h North-easterly, very cold winds with gusts up to 47 km/h.

The temperatures drop more again tomorrow with a possible frost.

Yesterday we had our annual free lunch the commune puts on for its pensioners.  Always a good meal, and a great atmosphere.  The sun was shining and it was a perfect day.

We started off with snacks and an aperitif outside enjoying the warmer weather.

We then made our way back into the hall where we sat down to eat our way slowly through the menu...

Our mayor greeting us all...

and a short chat.  Such a nice person, a pharmacist by trade.

I did not take a photo of the soup, not really interesting, but tasty and seconds if we wanted it.  This is the assiette fois gras, something I do not eat out of choice simply because I do not like how the birds are force-fed, but I have to say I enjoy it when it is there to be eaten.

There was as much red, rose or white wine as one wanted to drink

Following was the pear sorbet with liqueur of course, again no photo.  This was the main course of a large thick slice of very tender lamb leg with mashed potatoes, tomato and beans.

This was followed by 3 kinds of cheese and salad and this course I did forgot the photo!

Dessert was Dôme Mangue with fruit and chocolate which was quite delicious.  Nigel had coffee which I seldom drink, and this was then followed by a glass of champagne.

At the end of the meal, each lady was given a primula plant to take home,...

mine was a deep burgundy colour and it has lots of buds.

We arrived home just before sunset and what a sunset it was.

See also my Bird blog 

and My life In the Charente

11/11/2018 We shall not forget them

Maximum temperature today 15C, minimum 10C.  2mm of rain measured this morning and still raining; 15km/h south-easterly winds gusting up to 38 km/h. 

The wreath is laid at our local village war memorial.

A minute's silence, before all the names on the memorial are read out.

In the village hall, one of our local residents has his display of WW1 memorabilia.

as above...

As above...

As above.  The articles on the wall give a brief but excellent year by year summary of the Great War and I have put them on a separate page HERE for those of you who speak French and might like to read further.

The service was followed by a repas (meal) that was cooked by the local ladies...

Here is the Maire (mayor), who, apart from his official duties, takes part in all village social affairs, serving up a tray of duck legs which were part of the main course.

I am not very good at selfies, but here I am with a flame lily (for all the Rhodesians) a poppy (for Remembrance) and the cornflower (for the French).

The local church looking pretty good for its age. The first stone was laid in the year 1080.

I have updated my bird blog HERE.

J’ai bien mangé !!

Maximum temperature today 25C, minimum 14C.   Dry; 5 km/h North Westerly winds with up to 26 km/h gusts.

Some rain expected tomorrow and the temperatures start to drop a bit again.

J’ai bien mangé (I have eaten well).  We had the annual local village pensioners' lunch today, which is free to all locals over 60. Think this now my 10th year of enjoying the French hospitality; I missed a few when we first moved here before I got to know the locals!

The menu of the day.

We were lucky to have a warm day and we enjoyed the aperitifs and snacks outside on the new covered terrace enjoying the shaded sunlight...

As above...

There were plenty of seats also for those who had trouble standing.  The mayor is on the right looking towards the camera.

Back inside the hall.  The two people at the end of the front table looking at me are our neighbours.

This was taken while waiting for the potage, which I forgot to photograph, BUT soup is soup!

Wow, the entree was huge, but thankfully quite light; I was already starting to feel full!

I did take a photo of the grapefruit sorbet which was really yummy, but it was a bit blurred so you do not get to see that.  Sorry!

Then came the duck leg, and I must day cooked to perfection with mushroom sauce.  Served with sweet chestnuts and gratin girolles.

Of course, the French cannot do without their salad and cheese course.  Must find out what that cheese was in the centre; it had a delightfully nutty flavour.

The pièce de résistance.  Wow, what can I say about the dessert, other than so tasty!

Each lady was given a kalanchoe plant to take home.  Luckily I had yellow this year, as I have two red ones at home!

N.B. My new bird blog is HERE 

Part 4 of the birds I saw last year in Africa.

08/04/2018 Now I am running two days late!!

Maximum temperature today 15C, minimum 9C.   1 mm of rain measured over the last two mornings; 21 km/h South Westerly winds with up to 56 km/h gusts. 

Total rainfall so far this year now 421 mm.

On Friday we had a club luncheon at Montemboeuf we parked near to the church.

Église de Saint-Sixte (Church of St. Sixtus)

The menu.

Everyone trying to find a place to sit!

Amuse bouche served with a cherry kir. Latter not photographed.

Pumpkin soup.

Prawns in a pancake shaped like a basket.

Duck breast with French green beans and chips

Take your choice from the cheese selection.

Dessert. 4 in 1.

Our friend Alan, cheers.  It was good to see him out and about, he has not been well after a bad fall from a ladder.

The Montemboef war memorial.

Back home I saw that the Mirabelle plum tree was in blossom.

Sunset, photo taken from the back door.

21/03/2018 Out for a drive and lunch with friends.

Maximum temperature today 9C, minimum -1C.   Dry; 16 km/h North Easterly winds with up to 45 km/h gusts.  Still bitterly cold winds, despite blue skies. 

Passing by La Rochefoucald and the chateau...

On the road towards Montbron...

The Mairie in Montbron....

and the building next door which I do not know what it is.  

A 1965 Panhard in the car park where we all met.

Back on the road passing ploughed fields...

A very large wood pile - maybe expecting an even colder winter next year!....

Driving through Varaignes - Each November they hold a turkey fair in the town, where after a great meal, plus wine, the locals get up on a stage to compete in the traditional 'who can make the best turkey noise'.  It must be an hilarious event!

also driving through Varaignes...

and driving out the other side.

A very brave man in front, driving an MG with the roof down!!! Brrrrr.

A mid morning stop in Saint-Estèphe for a morning coffee.

Back on the road; passing stables...

Hoping that we do not meet a car coming the other way...

A natural tunnel...

Crossing a river - I do not know which one it was...

The church at Bussiere-Badil; Church Notre-Dame de la Nativité.

Twenty two of us enjoying lunch at Roussines.

Back home, the first cowslips of the year are appearing by the roadside.

I have a new blog entirely committed to our feathered friends.

https://myafricanbirds.blogspot.com