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| Cuq tractor fair |
It's already the first week of August and despite very hot weather, today we had an early morning thunderstorm, but by 10am it had already passed overhead and the sun started to warm up the air once more. This week promises 30° to 38° and sunny. The pool is getting a lot of use! We have an English family (5) and French family (7) staying. The ping pong and table football are seeing plenty of matches.
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| Pool at night |
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| Amazing sky |
Philippe a keen photographer, took the photograph of the pool at night, while trying to see shooting stars (just after the Perseids meteor shower).
This week I saw my first rabbit in about eight years. They used to be quite common, until we got cats. I also know there are red-backed shrike in the area, I found a dead youngster on one of the footpaths around La Bastide. The new owners are clearing the area of shrub/brambles etc, ready for fencing as the horses arrive 14th September.
I have decided to have a housewarming party at the Guinguette Las Ribas, which is on the Agout river in Vielmur (not far to walk home). It runs until the end September. Guinguettes' originated in the 17th century and were a popular tavern. I guess these days I would call it a pop up bar. For the Olympics, they had a large outdoor TV, a BBQ and served plates of fromage and charcuterie. I think the French are doing well with medals and are at position three. Paris is not doing as well as a holiday destination as hotels and restaurants put up prices so far, that people are staying away!
Still packing, but have cleared the tool shed, garden shed, wood shed and loft. Just the bike shed and tractor shed to go! Plus what's left in the house!
On Monday we went to the Marchés De Producteurs in Mazamet and met friends. They had a live band, lots of great food and a bar. The beer was good and the boys enjoyed ice tea with their meal. Charlie had a vegetable crêpe and fried potatoes. Tom, acaras and fries. We finished with homemade cookies and canelé. On 15th I attended the Cuq tractor fair and on the same day the Lautrec bread festival. I met friends for a drink and enjoyed seeing the tractors and old immaculate cars.
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| Renault Alpine |
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| Fordson tractor circa 1960 |
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| Tractors! |
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| Porsche tractor |
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| Beautiful condition |
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| VW a favourite |
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| London bus |
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La Chignole crewed by
Goblin soldiers - Orks |
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| All aboard |
The good news is the grass is finally going yellow, which means less mowing. I have two weeks of guests, then friends arrive 22nd and 24th until the end of August. Last month I attended an art exhibition in Aussillon, my friend Felicity was exhibiting. I bought a couple of incredibly detailed boats, my friend Martin took a few photos in his lightbox, here are the results. The boats are the creations of Gérald Sarrazit
The last paying guests have left. Judging by the reviews, they all had a great time. An English couple with five children stayed in the Farmhouse and an Irish family of five the Grange. The badminton, ping pong, table football and outdoor football, all got a lot of use. They took walks in the surrounding countryside with the children and their dog and the pool was used from 9am until dark.
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| Duck, egg and lentil puree |
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| Coeur de boeuf tomato on croute |
My friend of over 30 years arrived with his family, including their Romanian rescue dog Selkie. He had a great time with Lilou after the initial growling over whose turf it was! We enjoyed meals in the Grange, wine and beer and chatted for hours. We visited the Guinguette Las Ribas and had a fun evening by the river, with live music and charcuterie. At the end of the visit they treated me at Le Jardin du Clocher, where we had a fabulous supper, outdoors, under the trees and lights. The wine was a cold Gaillac rose which we enjoyed together.
At the end of the month JP, who has been an absolute star and his son Fausto, helped load the last few van loads of my stuff. I still have to read the meters today. Pick up a car full of tools, used while guests were at La Bastide and then I'm done. The hard work of arranging furniture and emptying boxes begins! I have enough kitchen items to fill three kitchens (the one at La Bastide had a large kitchen with an island).
It's been an adventure for ten years, being gite owners. Days of hard work, painting in the cold, gardening in 30 plus degrees, getting the gites clean and the beds prepared, sorting out issues as they arise. Welcoming guests, having apéros to allow guests to meet. Dealing with website enquiries, Airbnb, VRBO and French bureaucracy. Waking up in the south of France, coffee on the terrace over looking the meadows, views of the Pyrenees, visiting markets, being part of a community, friends French and Les anglais. Visits by guests again (we must have done something right) and being in the countryside where it's quiet, slow, calm and relaxing. I will miss it all.
Thanks to all the visitors, friends, family and guests who have enjoyed a week or two at La Bastide. A special thanks to friends who have visited many times (we always had fun) and helped when asked. Whether dog and cat sitting, digging out the in-ground trampoline (by hand) or generally looking after the place to allow us to visit the UK or take a holiday.
La Bastide will always be in our hearts and will be missed.
This is the final La Bastide blog. I hope you have enjoyed following our adventure. I read the first few blog months and they were pretty short. I realised early on that I needed to spend some time covering the local weather, world events such as Covid, local events such as the tractor fair. Nature, as its all around and I have a keen interest. What we were doing at La Bastide, upgrades, additions such as the ducks and chickens and of course French life, food, and wine. Well that's it, time to retire!
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| View from Bald Hill |
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