« I’m late, I’m late for a very important date » yes here we are Sunday evening and I am just now finding time to tell you about my week.
The Paris-Troyes cycle race was in the area, and actually came along the road outside my home! I went outside with my trusty little stool (no not the one Ian and I carried around all day at the Tour de France in Paris, that’s another story) and settled myself to see the cyclists pass by. This was the peloton, and we eagerly awaited the rest of the riders. When I watched the news in the evening, it turned out a young Yorkshireman, Richard Scott, had won the race.
It was also the week of the annual “Repas du Benevole” at the restaurant school in Troyes. What a wonderful time it was, I sat opposite a lady who was born in Cairo and came to live in Troyes with her French husband. I was very interested in her life as she was in mine. The food, was absolutely amazing, I said I would like to eat there once a week (but then it wouldn’t be special would it?)
On my return home, I received a message from Pauline telling me she had tested positive for Covid…… oh my goodness I had steered clear of it for 2 years and now I had been in contact with someone who had tested positive. I rang and spoke to the pharmacist who said to purchase a test and to do it on the fifth day after contact, which I did and fortunately it was negative.
Then it has been another busy weekend! There has been “Germaine en fête” which I visited on the free bus from town. There wasn’t much on sale to tempt me, but the views from the top of that hill were really something. I saw my house, you could see as far as the Cross of Lorraine which is at the Memorial to General De Gaule some 15kms from town.
This morning I set off early (for me) to a vide grenier in a village nearby. It was not well signposted at all, so I pulled up opposite a friends house. She had opened her front door even before I had the car door open and was saying what a lovely surprise it was to see me. I was invited in for coffee on the terrace and I had an enjoyable time, staying for well over an hour. As I was leaving she gave me a small wooden tomato box and directions to her orchard where she said I was to help myself to the cherries there. What a wonderful friend. I wandered off to the vide grenier, just looking for something to add interest in my garden. I found a Tunisian pottery item and speaking to the lady at the stall she told me her husband was Tunisian. He came over and we all had a nice chat. As I wandered back I noticed a guéridon and stopped to purchase it. Something to stand a plant on to give a bit of height in the garden. The pottery was the top of a lamp and it now has a solar lamp inside and is “glowing “ in the garden.
I went back to the car to deposit my purchases, pick up the box for the cherries and made my way into the orchard, where I picked these “little beauties”. Then before I knew it, it was time for the “mammoth”telephone call with my friends from Bristol. I sat outside in the garden and we chatted for two hours, after which it was time to prepare my dinner which included homegrown broad beans.
The grandchildren and their parents are back home after their holiday. It has been a wonderful week for them but now it’s time to return to their normal routine.
“The Paralegal” has had a break from work, which proved to be quite stressful. He went out to meet friends and found himself miles from home with a puncture. Then the following morning he was awakened very early with stomach pains, which lasted almost two days! It’s back to work for him tomorrow too, so fingers crossed he is feeling 100%. As for me, so far this week is free apart from my usual knitting workshop with the refugees, well I am sure I can find something to keep me busy.