We continue to bear in mind the difficulties and cost restraints following the financial crisis. We too feel the changes but have decided to absorb cost increases for another year as best as we can. If you have a look at our new Season 2014 Rental Costs Page you will see that we have made no changes except that we have decided to open for April too. We are also planning to instal a heat pump for the swimming pool which should mean that it will be open for use from the lst June instead of the lst July and stay swimmable into October! depending of course on the weather. Please continue to read our blog page so that you keep up to date with how we are getting on.
Criterium Cycle Race at Quillan
Every summer there is a Criterium Cycle Race round & round one of our local towns called Quillan. This race is credited as being the first ever of its type so apart from being interesting as an event it is also a re-run of an historic event. This year is the first time we have managed to find time to go and we were very pleased that we had done so. We were able to mingle with the competitors who represented major teams from all over the world – the race had a sprinkling of established stars but the majority were youngsters starting out on their international careers. Some of them will obviously feature in future major events and it will have been interesting and exciting to see them in such an intimate fashion. They were all, established stars too, very willing to talk to fans and sign autographs in an informal and easy setting.
Mirepoix Market in Summer
I go to Mirepoix Market most Mondays throughout the year, but summer – by which I mean April through to mid October – is not only special for the additional number of interesting stalls carrying crafts, jewellry & clothes from all over the world, but also because we are visited by what you could call real stolling minstrels. Actually these are usually musicians or performers of some kind who travel France performing at the most interesting markets. They generally only appear for a couple of week and then they are off somewhere else. I now have a new camera which will take a reasonable clip of film as well as good quality photos and I try to take it with me everywhere I go. Over the next few months I will be posting a new photo or film that has been taken during summer 2013 which I hope our visitors to this site will find interesting along with some relevant comments about our own activities, such as the lambing 2014 which should start next February, our gardening exploits, visits we make and things we might do. I hope anyone who reads this will be entertained.
Unusual wildflowers in the valley
Patches of Ixia, more blue than the sky and Honesty, both of which of course I have never seen growing wild before we came to live here.
You nearly always see interesting people at Mirepoix!
There I was, thinking about buying vegetable plants, and who did I see – The God Pan – playing his pipes, the legs & feet of a goat but a beautiful young man above.
April 2013 – The wildflowers are spectacular this year
Flowers at the Butterfly Cottage
Planted up the corner trough yesterday, primroses & pansies. Very cheerful as you drive up!
Cyclo-Montagnard
Cycling afficianados might be interested to know that because the Tour de France is not coming through Limoux, our local town, this year the Limoux Cycling Club has decided to run another Pyrenean Race itself. This will be the 15th time this opportunity to win this certificate of endurance. If you know a keen road cyclist who might be interested please forward this information.
Lambs
More lambs, thankfully without any problems at the moment. 3 sets of twins in 48 hours – very encouraging. One extremely cute looks like a puppy not a lamb.
Sunshine
It is not raining or snowing!!! Another boy lamb yesterday afternoon – the rest of the girls are looking like galleons! Never know might get a few sets of twins. Making up seed boxes to start the sowing season later today. Mike & Bella in the sun last summer.