Friday 25 November 2016

** out of season

most towns have market day
but my village only has a night market
in the summer months
so we visit Mirepoix on Mondays
their market is all year round
with it's stalls of produce
fresh ingredients
seasonal goodies
artisans
and shops
Mirepoix is a pretty medieval town
with 13th century houses 
supported on beautifully carved pillars
giving a covered arcade beneath
we recommend the coffee at 
Cafe Castigniolles and people watching 

Tuesday 15 November 2016

"" changing rooms

 how's the decorating going?
lots have asked
slowly is the answer
the stripped walls have been sanded
but are still incredibly lumpy and bumpy
you can't buy lining paper in France
stuck in the 80's when it comes to
all things interior design
yep anaglypta and something called
toile de verre are the wallpaper choices
we have been told to use this
stuff on our walls to cover the cracks
meanwhile the ceiling has been painted
after we borrowed a tower to reach it!
12ft is a long way up
we've used up this massive tin of paint already
paint here is expensive and not very good
you can buy Dulux but at a premium
so it's a challenge indeed

Tuesday 8 November 2016

✦✧ village life

every Tuesday morning 
three men arrive in La Place
outside my house
 this chap sells grapes and vegetables 
he has grown 
this man makes a huge paella
from scratch and sells it
for €9 a portion
by midday he has sold it all
then there is the knife sharpening man
this is him yesterday in Mirepoix Market

on Friday nights a little Pizza van arrives
a good sized pizza freshly cooked for €6
I like how people rock up, set up and sell things
in the Summer months 
there is a night market in La Place
with music and stalls
something to look forward to

Thursday 3 November 2016

:: history

there isn't much I know about this house
despite it's age

La Famille Jammy
lived here for many generations until
fairly recently
a little story I was told
when GrandPere Jammy died
they held a wake in the dining room
all the family gathered in the room
to say goodbye
then they heard one of the hall stairs creak
since then it is called "Grandpere's stair"

Tuesday 1 November 2016

}}{{ no back breaking

in the distance you can see 
my house to the left
and the covered square
la Place, to the right
this bridge goes over the river L'Hers
and over that bridge
is this gate
and behind that gate is my potager
well the land is mine
but it is worked by Pierre and Albert
who live in the village
they have chickens for laying 
and poulet for eating
a shed for their boxes and tools
a place for the onions to dry
there's a covered area for the chickens feed
and lots of green veg growing in neat rows
there is an arrangement with Pierre and Albert
which I have continued
in return for the use of the land
I get free vegetables and eggs
what a win!