Back again
Today, 16 septembre, marks the first day when Judy felt well for more than a few hours. Back pains give way to other ailments. Just now she is reading her Kobo and enjoying a glass of Panery wine.
In a few weeks we will celebrate our tenth anniversary as homeowners and taxpayers in France. Where did that time go? Of course, like us, you are ten years older, and maybe feeling a tad slower. Or perhaps you are on the ascending part of the curve. If so, good for you, and, please, take us along for the ride.
We have been subjected to the Mistral during the last few days. I just learned that it merits a“M”, and that it comes in a few flavours. In case you missed a previous note, the Mistral is a wind which typically blasts from a high pressure area in the north to low pressure zones in the south, such as the Mediterranean or North Africa. It truly blows.
(Speaking of flavours, I prefer the « u » in words such as neighbour, rather than the American abbreviated version. This all started with the famous lexicographer, Noah Webster, who assumed the role of language cop for America. Not content with the Tea Party or Revolution, he wanted to use spelling to further the linguistic distance across the Atlantic. More on this subject later, in the book section.)
Today (Monday) was Bistro de Montcaud, which is always a winner. They have a “market menu” during the week, simple but delicious.
There is a narrow path between the church and the stairs to our front door, and when there is a mighty wind you hold onto whatever you can. Or whomever..
During the last week, we have enjoyed two meals out. Le Grain de Soleil was our target Saturday, the first big Mistral day. Judy’s appetite ain’t what it used to be, and she only had half of her entrecôte and same for her fries.
Fast forward to…
Friday, 20 septembre
We have been extraordinarily lazy, and getting full value from our comfortable beds. Judy is an inspiration when it comes to not doing anything.
I did set up the ironing board, and we will see what that inspires. To put it all in perspective, it took ten days to empty her suitcase. But we are heading to Le-Grau-du-Roi next Wednesday so I will have to do a partial pack again.
For the first week, our appetites were peckish, but things have picked up.
In Orange, there is a wonderful restaurant in the city centre (Canadian spelling), Au Petit Patio. (Serge corrected our pronunciation – Pasio). It receives rave reviews, fully deserved in the Clarkson Guide. A recommended main dish was quail breast skewers grilled and served on a bed of roughly mashed potatoes with onion confit. It is topped with a gravy of soya and citrus. Pinch me!
I am trying to abstain from posting photos of food so you will have to use your (spelled with a « u ») imagination, or else just gaga Google it.
Yesterday we met Peggy and Bob at a relatively new restaurant, not far from Uzes. Le Pt’it Mercier (abbreviations of petit seem to be in fashion) was reborn a few months ago and gets consistently good reviews. Judy and Peggy raved about their lotte which is also called monkfish, the poor man’s lobster. Maybe Bob had that too? My memory is failing and I did not take pictures, remember?
I had filet mignon which, you should either recall or know, is not a beef steak. It is pork tenderloin. The French know this. Many others do not. Mercier, however large or small it may be, is a repeat destination.
Flora – Laurence et Audrey
You met Audrey last spring, when she was sprouting somewhat grotesque growths. Audrey was named for the man-eating succulent in Little Shop of Horrors.
Here she is, then and now.
I do believe she may be getting too much Vitamin D.
Laurence, if you haven’t guessed already, is an olivier. Get it? We have had Larry for about nine years, and this is the first time he has come through with a bumper crop of olives. Judy tried one a few years ago but just about gagged.
He (or she) is really putting out this year!
Literary corner
Judy loves to read, and so do I. She likes books with plots. I prefer to open a book and read randomly. Dictionaries are good, as are books of quotations, short stories or poems, and anything that can reside on the toilet tank.
Judy just finished The Good German, a novel about the concentration camps and a sympathizer (hence the name). It was a movie with George Clooney and Kate Winslet, if you would rather watch it.
Now she is reading The Golden Doves, same subject except after the war. Two women search for survivors. I guess it’s not really a book because she is reading it on her Kobo.
My latest random read is Dreyer’s English, by Benjamin Dreyer, who coincidentally is or was the copy editor of Random House Books. According to Dreyer, copyeditor is one word. Either is acceptable. He taught me about Noah Webster, and is very big on the correct spelling of all sorts of words. Dangling participles leave him dangling. He is quite fussy about punctuation, and now I realize I should have packed my copy before coming to France.
So if you have nothing to do and lots of time to do it, any of these tomes should help you to sleep.
Off to buy wine tomorrow!!
Tresquenadiens 