The English Paysanne

The weekend just past was a holiday in France today being Pentecost it was also Najac's medieval fair which was probably a wash out on Saturday as it did not stop raining all day. Yesterday was better, cloudy but dry so we popped up to the village before farmer J went farm crazy. It encompased all things based around a past time when there was knights, princesses and people who blew horns. With stalls selling these wears along with big bird displays, jousting, medieval muscicians (who looked exceddingly good for the age) and food, apart from the waffles that were cooked on an open fire as not sure they had waffle mavchins back then. We didn't stay too long but long enough to watch the weird French entertainment of linning up men to run towards soldiers as they catupulted boiled sweets for them to fight over, yes they are a bit strange the French, then dressing up as an old maiden as you serve coffee in the locasl bar could also be seen as b...

Mr Trump and Tempete All ready Waiting My only  firework shot, I know rubbish! Burn Trumpy burn Action shot Never to old for a sparkler Another La Singlarie bonfire night was spent eating, drinking, watching fireworks, lighting sparklers (you are never too old) and seeing Mr Trump go up in flames, he had a bit of a problem with his hair having a flap at the back then sliding off his face, maybe he has a wig in real life? He went up in flames pretty quickly. Thank you Freya for making his papier mache head. A meal of French onion soup, cassoulet and sausages with treacle sponge pudding and creme Anglaise for dessert warmed us up in the gite ready to stand in the damp (or that could of been the mulled wine before hand), thankfully the rain stopped just before. Now for the washing up and tidying away.

With amazing weather that we are lucky to be having at this time of year the annual chestnut fair at Laguepie was heaving with people today with a few chestnuts as well. Autumnal produce was for sale along with a very sad fungi exhibition, usually this is quiet impressive with mushrooms and fungus lined up in their own labelled bowl with a sticker next to their name green for OK moving to black for death, there was a few of each but they all looked a little sad, a sign that it has been a bad year on the mushroom front.

   Yeterday here in France it was Mothers Day.It rained most of the day.  I was spoilt with presents and lunch cooked by Miss F and Master C, even home made rolls, farmer J done a good job of the washing  and clearing up left by his two children.

Thankfully we only have the chocolate kind and a few of the furry wild ones around this Easter. May be a giant grass one would put pay to our furry friends, there is no problem with the chocolate kind that disappear very quickly without trace.

Under construction Bad photos I know Connor, but the sun was in the wrong place and dad wouldn't move the bonfire! Richard, chief stirrer and me French man on the left likes kittens Tempete charming everyone, just as well Anita didn't have a bag or he would of been kitten napped. We had our annual bonfire night celebrations on Friday with the weather unbelievably warm and dry we decided to hold celebrations in the new (re erected after the wind) poly tunnel before farm machinery will  be stored there. Tables and benches borrowed from the Marie made it much easier to put up rather than moving furniture around in the gites. With the spare gas cooker coming out of hiding a make shift kitchen was placed there too for reheating food. With the most people to date a sit down meal of chestnut soup, bangers, mash and onion gravy and apple & peach crumble with custard was served. This could not of been done without my sous chef and chief peeler, A...

Today was the chestnut fair at Laguepie, the day of eating chestnuts. Amazing weather brought everyone out as it was very lively. Restaurants have set menus with chestnuts in each course,rows of  sellers sell chestnuts to take home or you can buy chestnuts roasted in big wire cages. Wire baskets are sold for home roasting along with chestnut products of flour, cakes, breads and conserves. As well as chestnuts there was market stalls selling the regional specialities of saucisson, honey, cheese, wine and walnuts, we brought ours 5 kilo bag from the old guy in the photo which Freya was made to carry around after Farmer J chainsawed our small walnut tree down by accident (it did only have four nuts so wouldn't of lasted long) at least they were lighter than the bags of chestnuts and apples we scrumped yesterday afternoon on our dog walk.

Today France was celebrating Bastille day . All over the country villages, towns and cities will be holding festivities which around these parts usually consits of a meal, dancing and fireworks, Najac also has a yearly brocante that takes over the village throughout the day. An opportunity for locals to empty out their cellars, lofts and barns and sell what they can find, most of which is what we see as rubbish but as they say what one mans rubbish is one mans gold (or something like that). We took the opportunity of a days holiday to have a relax. Its been pretty busy here lately so with only the essential animal husbandry being done we headed off to the village early before it got really busy and hot for a coffee and to ogle at the tat that was on offer this year. Now we  don't usually go just for the three reasons mentioned - tat on offer at stupid prices, too many people and to hot to be wandering around amiss too many people, but feeling a bit farm bound ...