Food, glorious food!

Sandra took us to Le Parc for lunch on Saturday as a thank you for her week here in Carcassonne. Le Parc has a Michelin star and a growing reputation which is well-deserved.

We sat on the terrace under the shade of the massive sail-like awnings and had a most delicious and flavoursome lunch. Each time I visit I think I enjoy it even more than the last time. We all opted for a fixed price four course lunch but, with the various amuse-bouches and pre-desserts and petit fours, we had at least ten courses which made it all exceptional value for money.

There was a problem though. We all just wanted to go home and sleep and not have to think about anything else for the rest of the day - but we were scheduled to prepare and enjoy a four course dinner with our guests back at 42rvh - and I accurately predicted that it was going to be a long evening with much consumption of wine!

Sandra bowed out half way through and I don't blame her. Debrah wasn't that interested but did a sterling job of not only preparing most of the dinner and doing most of the clearing up but also getting the life history and other personal infornation (outstanding mortgage etc) from each and every one of our four guests - and they all had a story to tell, which is all I am going to say here, which will of course disappoint a few readers.

It's definitely time to call a halt when the guests start going to their own room and bringing their un-opened bottles of complimentary wine or when two guests start arm wrestling on the dining room table (man v woman - he was so competitive it was unbelievable)

In fact, Debrah and Sandra went out for lunch on Friday as well, with Nathalie. They went to a new restaurant / art gallery called 'Le Jardin en Ville' which combines healthy home-grown garden produce with art exhibitions. Sandra even considered buying a couple of pieces and shipping them back to Stockholm but I think the costs might be too high.

After finishing the tidying-up and taking Sandra to the train station and sorting out the breakfasts this morning, I spent all day helping Chris put some of the finishing touches to Denis' apartment. We still haven't finished, despite us all sacrificing our Sunday, but we are very close and it all looks wonderfully so much better than it did before we started. Well done everyone.