bonjour from au petit bonheur: the big bang

beautiful signage, does the job, i love it!

Monday 15th , woke in foetal position clutching my alarm clock, put it off successfully at six-thirty still asleep at well gone seven, i was supposed to be in Larroque at seven thirty and it wasn't going to happen. three point five km mainly plain sailing apart from the last one and a half. We had had quite a weekend, and i decided to use two feet instead of two wheels.

today our school was at Philippe's place in the evening, he has been missing for three weeks due to his daughter getting married, tonight we had a song and a glass of champagne to celebrate Bastille day (yesterday) and the wake of hiss daughters wedding.

At the beginning of the week we went for a walk locally to us but completely uncharted territory for us, we were unaware of the beauty the height and the varied woodland. We also happened on a particular forest clearing which at the the weekend was going to become the Chasse cooking venue for three hundred people, it was difficult to get a mental picture

on how it would all pan out.

empty space, nice view

At eleven thirty we set off for Monleon, we all met up at Judith and Nick's first for a couple of glasses of limoux

before heading out to the Chasse on the edge of the forest. At the entrance we were met by Michel who took our twelve euros each and a young french lad (my hero of the day)to prove that you had paid, bit like a nightclub, after that you can eat and drink until satisfied or you fall over.

We were a little late arriving so there was no room for our party of eight, Marc and Nick took charge and stole a table top and some legs from somewhere and promptly put us in the middle of the throng, and in shade as it was one very very hot day. Aperitifs were next on the agenda, mines a pastis, but also rum or whisky or all three if you want, then back to your s seat for the arrival of food, until there are bums on seats they don't serve you, so i was busy trying to encourage our lot to sit down. First the loaf of bread, followed by a tasty bowl of rice mixed with tuna peppers, olives and tomatoes. Then follows tray full after tray full of sanglier(wild boar) couple of haunches of deer, lamb and some ordinary pork for the faint hearted. The young lad (my hero) who had been stamping everyone at the beginning then scanned all the tables for the next six hours putting down and replacing like for like one point five litre bottles of ice cold water and cold red wine. This was no mean feat as there were, we were told after over three hundred people.

After food followed eau de vie (NOT for the faint hearted) and Armangnac, followed by a nectarine to cleanse the system??!!, followed by cafe.

Then there was much congratulating of the chasse who had worked so hard, and then the dancing began, all in all a cracking afternoon. A couple of people including Michel, who didn't want his photograph taken, are after my photos as i was merrily snapping away all afternoon.

We also met some more interesting and new people, which continue to come out of the woodwork. Nigel and Hilary were also there and our neighbours from Castelnau, with her family.

Then it was back to Judith's at seven, after a long session left at eight for some bonding with the kittens and bed.