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

23/06/2018 Join us on a drive and a meal at a new (to us) restaurant in Rochechouart in the Haute-Vienne department.

Maximum temperature today 24C, minimum 12C.   Dry; 19 km/h North Easterly chilly winds with up to 44 km/h gusts.  

Because we went to get fuel first, we were running a little late, so instead of the usual country roads, we decided to take the main road.  Seems like the tourists have arrived,  Caravans and campervans, plus trucks slowed us down, but we still arrived with a couple of minutes to spare!

Despite the busy road, the scenery was still interesting.  The farmers are all very busy.

Nearly at our destination.

L'Oree des Vallees where we had booked for lunch. The surprise was it is owned by English people!

It used to be an old hotel see the photo above.

Great value, four courses, plus wine and expresso for €13.00

The menu, sorry not easy to read but......

We both picked the crevettes (shrimps) for starters...

I had the Salade de Chevre Chaud.  Salad with hot goats cheese, delicious...

Nigel had the chicken with mushroom sauce, served with rice and a salad...

We both had the cheese course, 3 good size pieces each, and I forgot the photo of the chocolate mousse!

This house was just down the road from the restaurant !!!!!!.....

and I guess they did not use this door or the steps!!!!!!  Each to their own!

Leaving we passed the Rochechouart chateau

and drove home through the country.

Driving through Les Salles Lavauguyon past the church.  For those who have often asked me to take photos inside the churches, we have visited here before and this church is particularly interesting, see HERE

N.B. My bird blog is updated  HERE 

Part 14 of the birds seen in Africa.

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.