The bell tolls…
Living next to a church comes with some baggage. The bells toll every hour and half-hour.. Thank heavens they don’t use the 24 hour clock. Even so, you just get one bong on the half, so if you are having trouble sleeping, you wait until the hour chimes in.
It is most annoying at 7 (morning or evening) because at five after there are more bells to summon us in from the fields. And then more after that.
Today, rather dismal bells just after 10:00 AM. There was a funeral, and they toll for a long and melancholy time. The hearse was parked n front of the church. Maurice respectfully kept his distance. Most of the folk were locals because they were walking home after..
Just gives one pause.
Winding down
This week has probably been Judy’s best of the last six. Her mobility has improved along with her outlook. We are packing a lot into the last few days. Yesterday, October 25, we lunched with the Groovers at Baragnas in Saint-Siffret. Their food is consistently good. It is owned by a young (parenting) couple, but parenthood, along with a dwindling clientele, has forced the decision to close and sell. Too bad. It is in a converted school and has a great atmosphere. But that’s business. They will rise up, likely in Uzes where there is more traffic (and competition).
Today we ventured to Chateauneuf for a final seasonal lunch hosted by Max and Véro. I finally figured out how to park in the free lot right under the restaurant
It only took about four years. Tourists would never find it as there is no signage, but it has space for about twenty cars. Best kept secret in the village, so don’t blab, please?
As usual, the food was outstanding. Judy opted for the house burger, rare, with fries. I splurged on the Ann Fertuck special, steak with gnocchi, topped with morels and foie gras’. I have sinned big time. Along with a bottle of Chateau de Cosme, a terrific Gigondas from a vineyard dating back to the fifteenth century..
Tonight, tartine, or toast with melted cheese and ham. Good sub from pizza. We found a bakery in a town on the way to Chateauneuf, and her bread is astounding. We may have to move there.
Or, maybe just potato chips. It was a big lunch.
Promised Land
Well, that’s what Serge calls it. He and Patrizia have been bugging us for a few years to sell our garden (generous title) plot under the chestnut trees. We never go there, and nothing will grow except chestnut trees. Which are dirty and disgusting.
So tomorrow we’re off to Bagnols in the afternoon to meet with the notaire to get the deal rolling. We will still have the right to go through the property to access our parking. Which we never use.
Serge calls it the promised land. To me it’s just a place to rake chestnut leaves and the grenades! (Chestnuts).
While we are in Bagnols, there may be some shoe shopping and looking for eyeglass frames. Not much in the way of retail support this time around!
Grignan
It’s a nice drive, with lots of lavender fields. Unfortunately, lavender season is reserved for those who can take the summer heat. The town is small and pretty touristy, but worth a visit for lunch. There is also a good wine shop but gosh, we don’t need any!
We usually go to l”étable for lunch, because they offer some traditional Provençal dishes that we haven’t seen elsewhere.
Grignan cancelled
Well, they didn’t. We did. Judy decided that another field trip was not necessary. So I did some shopping at Intermarche and stocked up on cat food to help Aka over the winter. Maurice is having no trouble scrounging meals, and I do believe he is porking up.
He looks a lot smaller from the top of the stairs.
Time change
Oct 29 at 3 AM we turn the clocks back an hour in France. So, Tuesday morning in Marseille, we sort of get a bit of a sleep in.We have been super lazy in terms of getting up, but Oct 31 we will be off to the airport at about 8:00 AM The good news for us is that it only a ten minute shuttle. Then drag the bags and encourage Judy! She hates this part.
It’s been fun chatting with you all this fall.. But not really looking forward to leaving this! Enjoy the rest of 2023. Yikes!
Tresquenadiens 