Fête, Fête, Fête

Yep it’s that time of the year again when the whole of France goes in to party mode and one thing’s for sure they certainly know how to do it. This year in particular we seem to have attended either a fête or party every other night since we got back from the UK. It all started back in July on Bastille Day, as I mentioned in the last blog, and comes to a crescendo this weekend with the Najac festival on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd. In between there’s been a couple of large fêtes one of which had as the nights entertainment a karaoke disco. I had considered doing my rendition of the classic Eagles track Lyin’ Eyes but at 6 minutes 12 seconds I thought the French weren’t quite prepared for such a long introduction to my lack of singing talent. Having said that I’m not quite sure they were ready for Barbara’s dancing but she went for it anyway...

The entertainment at the fêtes varies dramatically from French country music as above to major French rock bands like Froidjouer. Chris Martin better watch out.

The night markets have also been in full swing in Najac with the final one of the year being held last week. These are great events where along with the normal ‘market’ items, cheap sunglasses, clothes & jewellery, you have the opportunity to sample some of the local delicacies. A very popular product this year is the locally reared Ostrich which is great if you manage to get some of the breast but no so good if you’re left with a leg.

Despite all the partying we have had the opportunity to source a few more items for our Ebay enterprise. This poor chap caught Barbara’s eye but as his hat was missing she decided he could be left on the scrap heap. You have to be ruthless when you’re building a multi-million pound business! It was at the same event in Villefranche de Rouergue that we witnessed the French version of meals on wheels. Better than the normal burger van found at British cat boot sales.

Who wants to be a millionaire?

At last we’ve found it, a business that’s going to make us millions! I’ve been in two minds as to whether I should put details of our latest enterprise in writing but felt that it would very churlish not to share our good fortune with all my thousands of readers. So here it is... buy some chairs in France, clean them up, advertise them on Ebay and sell them for four times what you paid for them. Sounds good doesn’t it? Only problem is finding enough chairs and getting them back to the UK at a reasonable cost. This time we were lucky as we’d already booked a return trip and as luck would have it the winning bidder lived only six miles from Matthew’s. Bolstered by our success we’ve spent the last few weekends tracking down local vide greniers and brocantes looking for bargains. Unfortunately it would appear that we’re not the only ones who have had this money making idea, bargains are few and far between. Still it gives us something to do and keeps us out of mischief until we find something that will actually make us a million or two. In the meantime you can always browse, or better still buy, our items on Ebay by clicking here.

Life in Lagarrigue hasn’t been without a little drama. Guilbert, our retired neighbour, decided that his chimney needed sweeping and that the best way to do it would be to drop a stone tied to a rope down the chimney. All went well until he got his foot stuck in the ladder and couldn’t climb down. After much deliberation it was decided that the pompiers had to be called and after a twenty minute wait there was great relief all round when three vans turned up. However it wasn’t long before the relief turned to frustration as they hadn’t brought a ladder with them! Fortunately and with the help of our neighbours, P & P, Barbara rushed back to the house and brought ours over. Guilbert was down in a flash and his two hour ordeal stuck up a ladder was over. Although a little shaken it didn’t appear to have put him off cleaning the chimney as the day after the ladder was back up against the house. I should add that I was away during this minor crisis and I’m sure had I been there I’d have been up that ladder giving him a fireman’s lift to safety. And if you believe that you didn’t see me climbing up the scaffold when we pointed the outside of the barn.

The night markets are once again in full swing in Najac and we were lucky enough to have great weather on the night that Jane & Derek were here. They weren’t the only celebrity visitors to the event. When a blue police box suddenly materialised in the middle of the village square Barbara got all excited at the thought of the David Tennant emerging in his flowing coat and trainers. Alas it wasn’t to be and she had to be content with the seventh incarnation of The Doctor, Sylvester McCoy.

Once again it’s the party season and we attended one of the best events in Najac on Bastille day. The local football club organise a meal which, dependent on the weather, is held in the village square or the salle de fête. There was obviously no bad feelings about the performance of the French national team in the recent World Cup as the bands opening number was a celebration of everything Spanish. This year with a thunderstorm forecast it was an indoor event but that doesn’t put a damper on the festivities. As usual the wine flowed and although the food can best be described as basic the quality is fantastic. Escallop of veal with Truffade. This is fantastic potato dish and there are several variations of the dish in rural France. Here’s one that best re-creates the local Averyon dish.

Ingredients (serves 4)

6-8 large potatoes

250g Tomme or Cantal cheese

100g smoked lardons

Four fat garlic cloves

Half a large onion

Mixed herbs

50g butter

Salt and pepper

Method

Slice the potatoes to the thickness of a pound coin and par-boil in salted water for six minutes. While this is boiling melt half the butter in the pan and add the lardon, herbs, garlic and then the onion. Sweat on a low heat for a few minutes, until the onions are soft. Drain the potatoes and add them to the frying pan, breaking them up ever so slightly with a wooden spoon. Add the rest of the butter and the Tomme or Cantal and cook for another ten to fifteen minutes, stirring the mixture together and scraping the bits that stick to the bottom into the middle. Season generously with salt and pepper and serve with a juicy steak and a green salad. Sorted!!!!!!!!

And where are we now? Back in Blackpool for a couple of weeks enjoying the sun, sea and sand of the Lancashire Rivera. There’s lots of sea and sand but there’s been a distinct lack of sun. It feels like it’s rained everyday since we’ve been back and it’s hard to understand why there’s a hosepipe ban in place!

A Pearl of a weekend

It's tempting to use the phrase 'they said it wouldn't last' but it has. We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary on Monday 28th with a weekend in London with Rebecca, Matthew & Jill. We were blessed with great weather and despite the abysmal performance of the England football team we had a great time. Watching the game on Sunday afternoon in a French restaurant in Spittalfields Market was a bit like taking coals to Newcastle but I suppose there was no better place to share our disappointment and bond with our Gallic friends two teams with so much in common; they were crap!

The hotel we stayed at was great although our busy schedule left no time for us to take advantage of the excellent leisure facilities on offer. Perhaps next time. Barbara enjoyed a full day shopping with the help of Rebecca on the Saturday and managed to track down a couple of outfits for forthcoming weddings. The only thing I'd planned to pick up turned out to be in very short supply. Barbara's anniversary present was to be an iPad (honestly it's not for me) but it turns out there are one or two other people after them. Should have reserved one as Mme Hill suggested! Still we're back in the UK again in three weeks so hopefully we'll have more success then.

Back in France we've lost an old member of the family, the Lightweight has gone. I'd had a phone call a couple of weeks ago from someone who was interested enough to send a €500 deposit, a good sign I thought. After a few phone calls a meeting was arranged for Sunday which happened to be fathers day. I think this was a little more than coincidence as when he turned up he was accompanied by his wife and two little girls. I could see dad getting a good Fathers Day present this year. After a quick test drive the deal was done and off they went in a puff of diesel fumes.

We've also been busy with visitors, Ann & John, Barbara's sister, have been with us for a week. The weather could have been better but I think they enjoyed a good relaxing week with the obligatory visits to Cordes-sur-Ciel, VDR market and the Bar de le Plage for coffee. Next week Jane & Derek are here for a few days so it's fingers crossed the current spell of hot weather stays with us.

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