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

05/03/2017 A couple of updated photos. The remainder are from our South African holiday.

Maximum temperature 13C, minimum 2C.  45km/h NW wind. 16 mm of rain measured this morning.

Last nights menu at the local repas.

I was honoured and delighted to find myself sitting next to our mayor.

09/02/17 - 1. Whitish with orange wingtip near front of picture - male Common Orange Tip (Colotis evenina) underside of wing.

2. Yellow with open wings and black border around wings - male Broad-bordered grass yellow (Eurema brigitta)

3. Yellow with closed wings with small dots on them - female of 2

4. Pale yellow at the back with black wingtip and black stripe next to it - hard to tell, but looks like it might be Lemon Tip (Colotis subfasciatiatus)

Thanks once again to Joan for identification.

10/02/17 - A white springbok, this is caused by selective breeding on some ranches.  See the black springbok yesterday.  Leopard Park, North-West Province of South Africa.

18/02/17 What I believe to be a Garden Locust (Acanthacris ruficornis). KwaZulu-Natal

18/02/17 A family of Warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus).   KwaZulu-Natal.

18/02/17  African Harrier-Hawk.  (Polyboroides typus). KwaZulu-Natal

18/02/17 The Spotted thick-knee (Burhinus capensis) also known as the Spotted Dikkop.  KwaZulu-Natal

18/02/17 A White Rhino wallowing in the mud. KwaZulu-Natal.

18/02/17 Not the best photo of a tortoise! KwaZulu-Natal

26/04/2015 Pensioners annual luncheon - Repas

Maximum temperature 19C minimum 11C. 37 km/h s wind. 3mm rain

Plenty of wine followed by champagne.  A crowd came back to the house with some more champagne which is why this posting is more than a little late!!!

18 and 19/01/2015 Ran out of time yesterday so two posts together.

Maximum weather today 6C and minimum 2C. A little rain not measured yet.

19/01/2015

A more sombre affair, the funeral of our last mayor Alain Compin

 R.I.P.

06/02/2014 A few odd photos mostly in the house - I do not like wind. Nigel planted the last of the laurels. Goodbye drinks with the Mayor tonight.

Maximum temperature supposedly 16C but feels like 8C. It was very windy though.  3 mm of rain overnight.
All photos taken with the little Samsung L201