Gone fishing

On the twenty fifth of June Massimo and Loredana arrived in South West France having driven from Italy the day before. In fact Loredana came to search for me in Castelnau marche, with Mr Cook, where i was stocking up with more of the usual. Wine, cheese, meat and pate for a cold platter lunch, so on completing my tour we went back to ours for lunch and to meet Massimo for the first time. He has very little English and i have no Italian...so that was interesting, over the two weeks we all broke the language barriers in different ways, but it must have been hard work on both sides. The first night we ate melon and ham as a starter and a mushroom risotto at ours after introducing them to Cathe and her beautiful house.

the gorgeous Gorge de Save

On Sunday afternoon after lunch, we took an afternoon stroll down the Save, very picturesque and pretty. We have seen fishermen here but sadly Massimo announced probably no fish! Milou and Massimo have bonded big time...no language barrier, not sure what woof is in Italian?
Loredana cooked a lovely rabbit dish at Cathes followed by strawberries and a special biscotti in the evening.

beautiful rock face with wagtails and rippling water below

another family enjoying a sunday afternoon stroll

butterflies and damselflies along the banks

On Monday Mark went with Massimo and Loredana to Trie to get a fishing licence for the two weeks they are here and i played tennis with my usual crowd. In the afternoon after an Italian lunch at Cathes we headed off for an afternoons walk behind her house to walk off the excess. We ended up in a small village a couple of kilometres away where there was obviously a shin dig going on. I befriended a rather bored young and beautiful pyrenean sheepdog known as a Patou who was not invited to the ongoing procedures.  In fact he tried game fully to attract Milou as his playmate determined to have some fun of his own... she was not having any of it but he still tagged with us for an hours walk, before returning to the salle de fete at kicking out time! Patou in the pyrenees

Mark and Massimo studying the fishing sites on the board

First day of fishing Massimo and Mark have been studying the maps on where and what he can fish. The rules are strict and in some places you can fish but not kill. Massimo has bought various rods and equipment down, including one for me for fly fishing. He does not particularly like to eat fish so the no kill policy does not worry him, he enjoys the sport.

Mark watching Massimo gear up in his water wear

Whilst Massimo wades in, Mark, Loredana, Milou and me walk in the pretty woodland that surrounds the river with an eye out for a potential picnic spot.

potential beau picnic site?

Massimo casting down the river

Mark and Loredana in full discussion over fish for lunch or where to share a baguette?

Massimo still casting in the distance

Meanwhile hot and bothered i decide to go in ...

...whilst Milou guarding my old flip flops is having none of it!

In between the fishing we have played some boules, eaten good meals and got to know each other. Massimo and Loredana have also made a few excursions on their own as i still had a few gardening commitments. Massimo continues to fish, but mostly on his own and Loredana would meet up for lunch and we would either go to Cathes or they would come to ours for supper. The weather for July has been a tad unpredictable not usually so unreliable, which was a shame. We did manage a BBQ at Cathes the following weekend, meat marinated by Bossedana and perfectly cooked by Massimo.

Monday was a tractor lesson for me over at Monleon and a pasta ravioli lesson for Mark, the pasta the following night was gorgeous, probably some of the best i have tasted for a long time.

a lovely meal at Nous de temps, in Castelnau

....not a complete holiday without a selfie!

In the final week Cathe wanted to show us a couple of pretty places close to her heart...in the mountains. Massimo was our driver and Cathe was our tour guide, sadly Milou had to look after the cats. Beautiful, pretty and a lovely bright sunny day, lovely drive and good companionship. Loredana 

got to test out her french with Cathe, and we all admired the scenery.

A day in the mountains with our tour guide, the lovely Cathe

a family heirloom!

A lovely stop for lunch next to beautiful streams and finally some fish that i had so been looking forward too. Not caught by Massimo, even though he had caught thirty two carp in our lac a few days before, but that could have been lost in translation?

Mid week we caught up with Chris for a paella, really kind of him to invite us and the extended family for supper.

Loredana got some godfather time on the tennis court whilst i caught up with other bits and Massimo tried to find supper. Towards the end of the week we took Loredana up to the La cascade d'Esparros just beyond Lannemezan very beautiful.

Friday the heat is picking up just as they are going...as i said earlier very unlike July. 
I am gardening this morning while they have gone for a picnic at Gimont and a swim. I am planning a Friday send off meal at ours as they leave early on Saturday morning.

the one that did not get away, fresh from a stream nearby

amazing mountain scenery

not sure what this was about, but appears to be talking point!

i can never get tired of this scenery personally

Cathe pointing out the mountains and which is which

Cathe's grandfather was an avid mountaineer as was his wife and as well as having walked up and along most of them he has painted them too, so i am guessing that some of this has rubbed off on Cathe . For me they are so magnificent, how could you not fall in love with them?

honey we have lost the kids

I am rather behind in my postings, so hope you will forgive me, for this short retrospective...

My dad and great friend came to stay in the first week of June. As before they are staying with Cathe just down the road from us. We have had some brilliant weather in May so fingers crossed for their week.

Mark did the airport run with moi for assistance. They were out of the highly efficient  airport quickly at five thirty as i had predicted.....all good so far. Lovely to see dad as i have not seen him since October and Shona for a year, both looking fit and well.

With our late arrivals we make it easy for all, so we had prepared a cold platter of meat, bread and cheese at Cathes with obviously a nice glass of something to go with it. Then we left them to unpack in peace.

Cathes beautiful family home

After a trip to the Intermarche on the Friday for some light provisions for their week we all had a chilled day. Marc playing his Parker role in the pink Rolls Royce, picked them up for a risotto at ours with Chris and Annabelle later in the afternoon and very kindly took them home after an enjoyable evening  and repartee at our place.

Saturday i picked them up for the Castelnau marche. In the afternoon we went to the lovely Gertrude and Hannes for their open garden day, the weather was rubbish. This beautiful garden deserves better but sadly the last three years weather wise has been pants! It is the designated weekend that the whole of France open up their special gardens, so their is not so much movement in the dates...but i think once in five years the weather has been good for them.

Later we went to Mirande to the fish restaurant La brasserie des Artes which is very good, Dad and I had a beautiful sea bass, first time in a long time I have had bass. Simply, but beautifully cooked all of us enjoyed the fish, gentle atmosphere and unpretentious but lovely setting. You almost have to come by it in a back street and if you do not know where it is ... it could be possible to that you may miss it.

in between eating we managed a few nice walks

wish i could add more of the colours, the textures and artistry in Hannes and Gertrud's  garden it is amazing 

the iconic sandal could have been cropped out...but it is almost as ancient as these beau barrel  hoops

beautiful poppies in some cases four foot high!

The weather continued to hamper us, in fact all the lunches out proved to be the only good days when we could have walked or gone to another place, a tad frustrating.

On Sunday we invited Jacqueline et Jacque for  lunch with dad and Shona. Mark cooked a 

poulet roule and i did an avocado pesto and cheese starter a new and inspired menu that we had not done for anyone else, plus pud of course. Always nice to have a highly appreciative audience and we certainly had
  

Monday was Pentecost and we had dad and Shona for lunch  and Mark cooked a lovely joint of pork and I helped with a Nigel Slater apple Yorkshire pud, easy and very good. There was of course the full Monty... sounds like we just ate all week...pretty much, with a few gentle strolls in between

On Tuesday we were all invited for drinks and a buffet lunch at Ceciles to say goodbye to Phillippe as he is officially hanging up his teaching gloves...sorry to see him go but cannot say i blame him. 

In the evening we were invited to Cathes and dad cooked for us. Having taken them some inspiration in the morning Dad turned up with a Rick Stein dish from my book that i had never done before...very delicious and one i have repeated often, sometimes replacing the linguine with courgette noodles. Healthier with the latter but not as good as the former! Rick Steins's French Odyssey Provencal fish pasta.

On Wednesday we lost the kids maybe a misunderstanding at all ends. We were due for lunch midi, french terms twelve on the dot. I had tried to put Jacqueline and Jacques off as we were already going to Chris's for supper, but lovely of them to ask. At Midi I rang Jaqueline to say we could not find them, i am worried anything could have happened to them, and it is a forty min drive to Osmets...i had to apologise and say next time. Sadly even though i said before please make it very simple i know she would have gone too a lot of trouble.

We found them around about one they had gone for a long walk in the beautiful woods behind and just lost track of time. I forgot to be cross as i was so was relieved and later we were all able to smile about it as we went out to Chris for an evening meal.

On Thursday I went for my usual stroll with Jan & Taj always good therapy and later took dad and Shona to Toulouse early afternoon for a five-forty departure. Sad to see them go, i think they enjoyed their stay!

 The complete tour!

The italian connection, a roman holiday or the italian job

Lost relative of forty seven years contacted mark on face book on his birthday at the beginning of September last year. Mark has not seen her since she was three months old when he was the grand old age of thirteen. When her family made him, her official godfather, at this point he did not know how things would turn out or even what was expected of him.

After six months on messaging/face book to Mark, she said she would like to come over and meet us. Mark asked if this was ok with me, she sounded nice whenever we had had a brief conversation so i said yes...especially as he had had very little connection all his life with his mothers family and relatives in Italy. More messaging followed, she asked if she could bring a present typical of Sienna, Italy. We both said no, just bring yourself. Later i relented and asked for a small wedge of Parmesan, i do not know what Mark said except that he repeated that we would just like to meet his cocina and she did not need to bring anything!

The date of the first of April got nearer and nearer, bearing in mind we have all been talking to each other only since September. Mark and I have conversations about where our new guest will be most comfortable and where to take her, what to eat, lots of over thinking.
 

a bouquet of flowers from the wonderful Suzanne, in Mirande marche

A busy week, trip to Spain, a big shop and some work for me.... April the first arrives a flurry of getting the house ready, and off to Toulouse for a 5.30pm pick up...interesting because i don't even know what she looks like, a fleeting glimpse of a photo. We wander round the pick up area like two animals on the prowl most of the the flight have been through, we are worried because she did not have a direct flight here, could her baggage be somewhere else? suddenly a slight lady with a huge red suitcase trundles through and mark recognises her big hugs as he realises a long lost cousin or Figlia di Dio. Already i like her, warm and friendly, animated as we leave the airport telling us about her trip. Loredana also has not travelled abroad since her teenage years so quite momentous for her also on top of everything else.

Mark takes care of her case and puts it in the boot, it is very heavy. We talk all the way back to ours which is just under two hours from Toulouse. The weather forecast for the next three days is not good and looks dull and grey, but Loredana seems keen to take in all the countryside. Mark struggles with the case up our stairs, i take it the last two and think silently to myself, what the hell has she bought with her. All is explained an hour later, huge amounts of very very generous and extremely thoughtful gifts, from all kinds of different food from Parmesan, ham and panoforte too name just a few. Chef hats, pasta cutter a photo book and a beautiful sketchbook for me bound in handmade Italian paper, wow.

I did what i do with most of our guests on a first night as Loredana has had a twelve hour journey to get to us which is to make them feel welcome with a glass of something and a cold platter of meat and cheese. There is a lot of catching up to do...but we have ten days. Mark is tired also from the four hour drive.

Sunday it is very overcast and somewhat chilly after the previous week, we decide to take it easy with a light lunch and a walk around the lake in Puydarrieux. Milou is also smitten with our new guest and visa versa.

Monday we decide to take Loredana to a market, Mark and Loredana want to make pasta this week and there is an Italian stall on the market that just might sell 00 flour, a fine grade flour used for making pasta. Sadly they do not sell it but she enjoyed an Italian chat and we came back with tomato sauce and some fresh ravioli, which we had for lunch, they were excellent. We bumped into Jackie, Bill and Elvira and had a brief chat, Loredana swung into german with Elvira, her english is excellent also! In the afternoon a petite promenade of our village.

Tuesday we went to Monlaur bernet, the weather is still partially pants. I drew up the top and then Mark and Loredana walked Milou further whilst i became official family photographer of a group of french people, twenty odd all sizes and shapes who were sharing a picnic. In the afternoon we did a tour of our lac and then made torta rustica to take to A'Belles. Lovely rustica, confit and dancing avec Geoff!
Loredana made her tortica rustica with a base of pate brise (there can obviously be lots of variations on this theme) laid it out on a big quiche tin and pricked all over, soft cheese that melts we used hamburger cheese. Meanwhile cook some spinach as you will need to let it cool and take out the moisture. Back to the tin, ham, salami or prosciutto, we used ham. Final layer spinach (squeezed out but put in a bowl with one mixed egg and a tiny bit of milk. 160 degrees centigrade, 40 mins in the oven or whatever it says on the pastry instructions and we have a Torta Rustica!

comfy before the confit at Annabelle's

Annabelle and Loredana comparing notes/pictures

Lots of dancing good food and company going on, Geoff was fun as always, Annabelle warm and generous as always, then home to warm beds.

Another market, still cold and grey in Boulogne but a pretty walk around the picturesque lake and park and an attractive viaduct. I like this market as well as Mirande and Bagneres, all three are favourites including our very own of course.

A few purchases were made for lunch and the evening meal.

Floredana amongst the Azaleas

Boulogne-sur-Gesse lake

Wednesday afternoon and the mafia are in my kitchen, Bossedana has taken over. It is funny after only a few days Mark and Loredana fight and bicker like old lost friends or even a brother and a sister. They are making artichoke ravioli, M has found a recipe it will then have a truffle cep oil and sliced truffle (kindly supplied for Christmas by my little bro and wife...ok english???truffles) a long process for Loredana, our machine had packed up and we are using AB's  brand new machine straight out of it's box.
Marcobaldo is in his element... (loredana's nickname for her uncle)

the mafiosa in my kitchen? now i am
 scared?

Chefs hats were individually scribed by Loredana, very impressive for any cooking we did together.

Today the pasta!

chef wars and who can take the best selfie, 

sorry about the shot guys... could not get the staff that day

Thursday as it had been raining all day we needed somewhere nice for Milou, her birthday, and of course Loredana to visit. I thought the Gorge de Save would be a beautiful and dryish bet for both. Although it looks cold it was warm in the sunshine. Mark proposed our scooters for Loredana and me which are always good fun and it is just about smooth enough to ride down there.

the gorgeous Gorge de la Save by scooter

old chapel at the start of our walk and scoot

Loredana... in the cliffs are alive mode

the beautiful purple toothwort, found along the riverbanks at this time of the year

Milou on her quatre anniversaire xxxx  Happy birthday Milou

...everything looking so new and fresh

wild hyacinth, different to uk bluebells?

On Thursday evening we had a mini dinner party avec the fresh pasta and Chris Cook to celebrate Milou's 4th birthday, she had rabbit liver...she definitely enjoyed and i think our guest enjoyed homemade ravioli with a cep and truffle dressing with magnificent parmesan cheese, i certainly did!

Friday despite the wind up from the previous night re taking Loredana for fish and chips in France The french love it also) it was a success, there were twelve of us booked at les Arches, we had a warm welcome from both Corinne and Max and the fish and chips were excellent...i however stayed clear of mushy peas, only recently have i been persuaded and like petit pois, but that mushy peas are a very different ballgame. After a very filling meal including wine, starter and pud we needed to unwind with a bit of pitch and putt next to the lake. We managed to persuade Hugo to join us the others had different agendas for the afternoon. It was not pre-planned so that was fair enough but the four of us had a great time. Towards the last few holes Mark did try and take Hugo's head off with an excellent pitch that went awry just missed his head and cleared the hedge to the road.

pitch and putt at Boulogne

Hugo blocking the holes, hoping that Loredana would not notice

Towards the last few days the weather has really perked up, from cold and raining to warm and now hot. After a quick debut of Castelnau marche we decided that a picnic in the mountains was in order. So armed with bread, rose and pizza from the market, i put some salad together and we were set to go.

the beau col d' aspin

Wow what scenery, it was definitely worth a few gasps from me to get to the top, i do not like windy roads that are almost single tracks and with no barriers but what a place to picnic! set up tables and chairs at a most beatific point. 

great scenery

does not get better than this!!!

After our picnic Loredana, Milou and i headed into the mountains for a walk in the still fresh snow. Milou loved it, running up and down in joyful abound, snow ploughing with her nose, true mountain dog. It was very funny to watch sometimes her feet would hardly touch the snow, then she would stop and flatten herself on it too cool down. It was a great day out and we finished it with a quick look around Arreau. 
On Sunday the last day of the holiday mark wanted to take Loredana to a fancy restaurant, i sighed and said she has not had anything typical of our region and we have eaten Italian all week...very nice. Mark booked Thierry La ferme auberge du lac, authentic gascogne food mainly his own produce ie duck. We had a lovely lunch and Loredana insisted on treating us...luckily Mark knew that this fight he was not going to win. After that a mooch around our village and home to pack. I managed to buy a small present from us and install it in her suitcase before the trip to the airport the following day. Sad to see her go.....but she is coming back. Ciao Bella x

Milou loving the snow

just magical

finis of our mountain tour was the picturesque village of Arreau