It was fortunate that we had the celebratory lunch to organise and keep us busy for the first couple of weeks of September as we really have had a bad case of “end of season” blues. It was very sad realising that all our summer visitors were now gone and the gite is empty once again. We really must try and get more visitors here in September and October. The annoying thing is that the weather is really nice now and the countryside looks wonderful as autumn sets in. People are really missing out on all this. We are still eating lunch in the garden most days although it gets quite chilly when the sun goes down and we have been lighting the fire in the evenings. Also because nearly all of the holidaymakers have gone the roads are so quiet. It is truly idyllic – so where are you all????
Enough of the moans and groans and on to more interesting stuff! The lull in business has meant that we have had a bit more time to get out and about. We had a really good day at the big Foire d` Auvergne at Clermont Ferrand once again. This is the annual show which is a sort of Ideal Homes/ Good food/ Motor/Agricultural show all in one! It was good to look around but I have to say that one leather sofa looks very much like the next leather sofa and we really were not tempted to buy anything!
On a smaller scale we also went to the Fete in Sauxillanges. It proved to be its usual mixture of fairground rides and stalls and a strange cabaret type show performed in the open air during the afternoon. This year we were treated to a song and dance troupe who had an odd affinity for pink feather headdresses and strange sparkly costumes – and that was just the two fellas! The girls had some very skimpy outfits, so much so that we did get a bit worried that our friend Phillipe would have some problems settling down his residents at the Maison de Retraite!
Last weekend was the national weekend de patromonie in France when a lot of the local attractions and heritage sites are opened free of charge to the public. We spent a very pleasant afternoon visiting a few of these sites in the neighbourhood. One of these was a lovely old church in a tiny village near here which has the most amazing wall frescoes dating from the 12th century. The young girl who explained them to us was very good and we enjoyed the opportunity to see them as the church is not always open. We also visited our big local chateau where there was a “tasty” exhibition of local food products. Yummy! Finally we ended our tour with a visit to the exhibition of local talents in the village where I go to my art class. Some of my paintings were in this exhibition and I felt proud to be part of this French national day!
I am pleased to say that the anniversary lunch went off very well and that all my worries were totally unfounded. I can hear Geoff saying “told you” as I type! We had a super day. We were fortunate to have our friends, John and Elizabeth, staying with us and also our friends Marc and Michelle, from Paris, came to stay for the weekend too. All of this was just as well as we would have struggled with all the furniture moving had we been on our own! We are really lucky to have the luxury of two houses and enough furniture for three when it comes to doing something like this! By putting three dining tables together down the middle of the gite we were able to sit all our guests down to a four course meal with ease. Geoff had asked a friend from the village (who is a retired restaurant owner and likes to do a bit of catering for friends now and again) to cook the main course and with the invaluable help of our visiting friends I did the starter, cheese course and one of the desserts – the others being supplied by some of the other guests. The meal was very good and got the thumbs up from all the French guests who I am sure are still wary of English cooking! The champagne flowed (well not to me of course – sparkling grape juice only!) and I even managed to make a speech – in French too – much to Geoff’s amazement as he had expected to have to translate! I had spent a very interesting afternoon in the attic and had managed to find my wedding dress, veil, wedding photos and some of the “good luck” stuff we had been given on the big day, and this little display caused much merriment! No-one could believe that Geoff had such lovely long curly dark hair! Or that I looked so young!! I must look really ancient now I think! Anyway a good time was had by all. I must say a big thank you to everyone who sent us cards, presents and messages – and special thanks to J,E,M&M for all your help on the day. If anyone had told me we would have been able to do something like this two years ago I would never have believed them.
As part of the preparations for the meal we made a trip to the big professional catering cash and carry outlet near Clermont with our caterer friend. What a place! My eyes were on stalks at all the goodies on offer. We realised that having a card for this place would be great for the B&B and gite supplies, as at the moment we have no way of really separating provisions for the business from our normal shopping, and therefore have no real way of claiming back any expenditure we incur. However it is not to be, as we are just not big enough to be able to get a card. Shame.
Talking of provisions, the good old jam pan has been working overtime again! We have a bumper harvest of blackberries and other fruit here at the moment and the jam cupboard is overflowing yet again! The vegetable garden is going mad too – courgettes and tomatoes galore so the freezer is filling up with soup and ratatouille. I just hope and pray we don’t get any power cuts now!
Finally, another first for us, here, in France. Geoff has made his first visit to the doctor! He had a bit of a pain in his side which was bothering him (he is a bloke after all!) so off he went to the local doc in Sauxillanges. Apparently the doctor had heard all about us (?) and the two of them spent a lot of time chatting about what we were doing here etc, etc! However Geoff came back with a bagful of pills and lotions – much to my horror! All for a little muscle strain! It did mean that we were able to test our medical cover though and we were pleased to discover that all the medicaments were “free” and half of the consultation fee was reimbursed. So we can go again….or maybe not in my case!