With two breakfasts out of the way fairly early on and no new guests arriving until Thursday, I decided to have a bit of a 'me' day and leave the ironing and cleaning until tomorrow. Having said that I was still up at 6.30am and didn't get to please myself until after 11.00am, which is a proper half day of work I suppose.
I am counting today's bike ride as pleasing myself, although it was a 20km cycle including rather a lot of hills. My normal ride is getting a bit boring and to be honest a bit easy. It will be fine for a bit of daily exercise when I don't have much time but I really need to push myself a bit harder to lose more weight and really feel the benefit - hence the longer and more challenging route today. Actually, it was Ok but my legs have felt a little heavy ever since without really hurting - I might regret saying that in the morning.
This afternoon I drove out to Chateau Saint Jacques d'Albas, which can be found in the middle of a beautiful valley in the Minervois between Villarzel and Laure-Minervois. The domaine is owned by an Englishman with the excellent name of Graham Nutter. I have tasted his mid-range red before and really liked it and wanted to go and taste the rest of their production and hopefully introduce myself.
Sadly Mr Nutter wasn't there but his wines were and a very helpful French lady took me through them all starting with the rosé and working through the reds to the top of the range 'La Chapelle'. Most of the wines have won awards and there is a new range of whites to come soon.
The other excellent bit of news was that as the owner of a 'chambre d'hôte', I qualified for the trade price list which offered a significant reduction on retail - so naturally I bought some to use at 42rvh for our weekend packages.
Finally this evening I played a couple of games of boules with David and Bob, down by the river in front of Patrick's house. Instead of the ten minute walk I used my bike to get down there - downhill to the river, slowly uphill back from it with heavy legs.
Everyone laughs when I say this but I always find a couple of games of boules quite tiring. I guess it's a bit of fresh air, a bit of exercise and a bit of tension as we always take it quite seriously - well, slightly seriously - someone usually brings along a bottle of wine, the effect of which is to improve the aim of some and drastically diminish that of others. The wine, therefore, becomes part of the tactics and teamwork - it's a very multi-faceted game.
As part of my new found discipline, I declined the pub and came straight home - having the bike and a set of boules with me is always a good excuse to head off. Besides, I am absolutely ready for my bed.
Showing posts with label boules. Show all posts
Showing posts with label boules. Show all posts
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Friday, 3 April 2009
A good day
As I didn't have to worry about client breakfasts this morning, I didn't set the alarm and thought I might have a nice lie-in - so naturally I was wide awake at 7.00am - typical!
Actually it wasn't a bad thing to be up and alert and raring to go. I got up and made myself a pot of coffee and some fruit and yoghurt and went back to bed with my computer and worked out the website re-write that I have trying to get head round for a couple of weeks. It was a productive morning.
By the time I had finished that and showered and dressed, the sun had emerged (at last) - so I wandered down to the square to see what was going on, taking a book with me in case I ended up on my own. The book proved unnecessary as first Cathy and the Patrick joined me for a very pleasant couple of hours.
However, I was determined not to waste another day and so headed back to sort out the Apartment suite for the guests that will arrive on Sunday. On a sudden whim I decided that all the windows needed cleaning too so set about the two sets of double windows that open onto the street plus the two sets of internal double doors with fanlights above and the oval window over the stairwell.
Having got started I couldn't stop and so attacked the dining room windows too as well as giving the dining room and the main living room a good top to bottom clean.
Fortunately Bob called to ask if I wanted to play boules, otherwise I might have ended up cleaning everything. Boules had been planned all week but called off each day due to the weather - being English we are very philosophical about our sport being called off because of the weather - but when the opportunity arises we rush to take advantage.
I jumped on my bike and cycled down to the banks of the River Aude, just in front of Patrick's place, which is the current arena of choice, mainly because no-one else seems to use it. David was already there, ominously practising on his own. We started to play as we waited for Bob to arrive and no matter how good my boules were, David's were better - the score was an embarrassing 12-0 by the time Bob arrived.
Still, it's first to 13 so that game didn't count and we started a new one and suddenly I couldn't do anything wrong and ran out the winner of the first game quite easily and then also the second game with a bit of a late comeback after a slow start. I'm not boasting - it was more luck than judgement - but it was a very enjoyable two hours spent in the harmless pursuit of a bit of friendly competitive sport, with La Cité de Carcassonne as a scenic backdrop, the fast flowing river providing the background soundtrack and the moon and stars and low flying bats above. Bob had thoughtfully brought along a bottle of wine - just in case the exertion made us a bit thirsty!
By the time we had finished the light had virtually disappeared into night and we were in fact hungry, not thirsty. A straightforward steak and chips supper at 'La Magnac' was a perfect end to a very good day.
Actually it wasn't a bad thing to be up and alert and raring to go. I got up and made myself a pot of coffee and some fruit and yoghurt and went back to bed with my computer and worked out the website re-write that I have trying to get head round for a couple of weeks. It was a productive morning.
By the time I had finished that and showered and dressed, the sun had emerged (at last) - so I wandered down to the square to see what was going on, taking a book with me in case I ended up on my own. The book proved unnecessary as first Cathy and the Patrick joined me for a very pleasant couple of hours.
However, I was determined not to waste another day and so headed back to sort out the Apartment suite for the guests that will arrive on Sunday. On a sudden whim I decided that all the windows needed cleaning too so set about the two sets of double windows that open onto the street plus the two sets of internal double doors with fanlights above and the oval window over the stairwell.
Having got started I couldn't stop and so attacked the dining room windows too as well as giving the dining room and the main living room a good top to bottom clean.
Fortunately Bob called to ask if I wanted to play boules, otherwise I might have ended up cleaning everything. Boules had been planned all week but called off each day due to the weather - being English we are very philosophical about our sport being called off because of the weather - but when the opportunity arises we rush to take advantage.
I jumped on my bike and cycled down to the banks of the River Aude, just in front of Patrick's place, which is the current arena of choice, mainly because no-one else seems to use it. David was already there, ominously practising on his own. We started to play as we waited for Bob to arrive and no matter how good my boules were, David's were better - the score was an embarrassing 12-0 by the time Bob arrived.
Still, it's first to 13 so that game didn't count and we started a new one and suddenly I couldn't do anything wrong and ran out the winner of the first game quite easily and then also the second game with a bit of a late comeback after a slow start. I'm not boasting - it was more luck than judgement - but it was a very enjoyable two hours spent in the harmless pursuit of a bit of friendly competitive sport, with La Cité de Carcassonne as a scenic backdrop, the fast flowing river providing the background soundtrack and the moon and stars and low flying bats above. Bob had thoughtfully brought along a bottle of wine - just in case the exertion made us a bit thirsty!
By the time we had finished the light had virtually disappeared into night and we were in fact hungry, not thirsty. A straightforward steak and chips supper at 'La Magnac' was a perfect end to a very good day.
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Pre-London shit
My impending trip to London has caused a couple of problems, one of them my own doing and one of them a result of people depending on me being here.
Lesa looks after a holiday let property for an American couple and last week asked me to handle a 'meet and greet' this Friday and check-out a week later because she has gone off to Australia for three weeks to see her folks. I agreed, because I expected to be here, and then Debrah and I got talking over the weekend, and my clients next week pushed back their arrival by two days, and it made complete sense for me to go to London this week. I have to admit that somebody else's client check-in completely slipped my mind in the intensity of discussions with Debrah about what needed to be done in London and how we are to resolve our living apart dilemma - understandable in the circumstances, I think, but embarrassing nonetheless.
So it is that I have to show Lesa's holiday stand-in, Christian, what is what tomorrow morning and send explaining emails to both owner and client with profuse apologies.
Then, this morning, Brigitte rang my bell to drop off the garage keys for Denis and tell me that the electrician was coming on Friday morning to sort out the outside light problem, fully expecting me to be here to deal with it as she is at work that day.
"Merde", she said, when I told her I had to go to London, thus confirming Debrah's view that for a sophisticated Parisienne she has quite a filthy mouth (see previous blog re 'con') For all her 'allo Peeteer' charm and fluttering eyelids when she wants something, I know where my priorities lie and they are in London this Friday.
We do however need the lights fixed and so I suggested that maybe Christine, who runs the beauty salon below, could give the electrician access to the fusebox, which actually is all that is needed. "Ah, bonne ideé", was the enlightened and non-blasphemous reply to my suggestion. Voila.
This evening I was just getting over the disappointment of finding out that there would be no showing of Champions League football on TF1 when Pierre shouted from the street that a game of boules was imminent and that I really should join them immediately at the grandly named Boulodrome at the top of the hill, conveniently located across the road from the Makhila bar.
So I left my dinner cooking slowly in the oven and went up the road to lose heavily at boules to Bob, who was in inspired form with his balls - and that probably hasn't happened very often. Naturally, we partook of some wine, courtesy of Bob, and Jos and Cathy bought some baguette and saucisse and camembert for an impropmtu picnic.
It's the taking part, apparently. My own boules and much practice will soon be in evidence, I'm sure, if my forced jollity on losing badly is to be sustained. I am English and, therefore, will be a gracious loser, but it doesn't mean I like the experience. Oh dear, I feel a new obsession coming on !
Imagine my frustration when I got back home to find that in the eight Champions League games this evening, 36 goals were scored including 5 by Arsenal, 3 by Man Utd and 5 by Lyon, who I would undoubtedly have been watching if there had been a game on French TV.
'Merde', is all I can say to that.
Lesa looks after a holiday let property for an American couple and last week asked me to handle a 'meet and greet' this Friday and check-out a week later because she has gone off to Australia for three weeks to see her folks. I agreed, because I expected to be here, and then Debrah and I got talking over the weekend, and my clients next week pushed back their arrival by two days, and it made complete sense for me to go to London this week. I have to admit that somebody else's client check-in completely slipped my mind in the intensity of discussions with Debrah about what needed to be done in London and how we are to resolve our living apart dilemma - understandable in the circumstances, I think, but embarrassing nonetheless.
So it is that I have to show Lesa's holiday stand-in, Christian, what is what tomorrow morning and send explaining emails to both owner and client with profuse apologies.
Then, this morning, Brigitte rang my bell to drop off the garage keys for Denis and tell me that the electrician was coming on Friday morning to sort out the outside light problem, fully expecting me to be here to deal with it as she is at work that day.
"Merde", she said, when I told her I had to go to London, thus confirming Debrah's view that for a sophisticated Parisienne she has quite a filthy mouth (see previous blog re 'con') For all her 'allo Peeteer' charm and fluttering eyelids when she wants something, I know where my priorities lie and they are in London this Friday.
We do however need the lights fixed and so I suggested that maybe Christine, who runs the beauty salon below, could give the electrician access to the fusebox, which actually is all that is needed. "Ah, bonne ideé", was the enlightened and non-blasphemous reply to my suggestion. Voila.
This evening I was just getting over the disappointment of finding out that there would be no showing of Champions League football on TF1 when Pierre shouted from the street that a game of boules was imminent and that I really should join them immediately at the grandly named Boulodrome at the top of the hill, conveniently located across the road from the Makhila bar.
So I left my dinner cooking slowly in the oven and went up the road to lose heavily at boules to Bob, who was in inspired form with his balls - and that probably hasn't happened very often. Naturally, we partook of some wine, courtesy of Bob, and Jos and Cathy bought some baguette and saucisse and camembert for an impropmtu picnic.
It's the taking part, apparently. My own boules and much practice will soon be in evidence, I'm sure, if my forced jollity on losing badly is to be sustained. I am English and, therefore, will be a gracious loser, but it doesn't mean I like the experience. Oh dear, I feel a new obsession coming on !
Imagine my frustration when I got back home to find that in the eight Champions League games this evening, 36 goals were scored including 5 by Arsenal, 3 by Man Utd and 5 by Lyon, who I would undoubtedly have been watching if there had been a game on French TV.
'Merde', is all I can say to that.
Friday, 10 October 2008
New girl in town
My early week guests departed on Wednesday and Thursday and a group of four arrived on Thursday morning, thankfully on separate flights, although two of them were on the late running Stansted flight that brought Debrah, and our very good friend Mel, here for the weekend. It was a bit of a squash in the car but we made it back safe and sound.
Mel's arrival has caused a bit of a stir in the local community. During canapés and cocktails with the new guests (who are all policemen and women!), Mel was the first to make an appearance and was assumed to be my wife until Debrah made her grand entrance ten minutes later, which caused some mildly amusing confusion.
Later last night, we wandered up to the Makhila, where Mel was greeted with enthusiasm by the usual crowd - in fact, their reaction to her was slightly astonishing to behold. David went very quiet before making his excuses and departing early to polish his boules, Bob was like an excited puppy dog who couldn't finish one sentence before starting the next, Chris had had a shower and a shave and Pierre went into full on 'Pepe le Peu / aah, cheri' mode whilst telling her about his two donkeys in the Ariege with soft noses whilst simultaneously stroking Mels nose with his forefinger. Blimey! - talk about causing a stir.
As a result we agreed to meet up this evening to play boules, but not before we had enjoyed a varied and lovely day in the Autumn sunshine. We went shopping in Les Halles for our supper and then clothes shopping for Mel (Debrah considers herself to be Mel's personal shopper) and then lunch at Felix in the square before some more shopping, back home for a short nap, some domestic work on the ironing board, trying out a couple of new cocktail mixes and finally our pre-arranged boules match.
I have been trying to meet up with the guys for a game of boules for some time and tonight I finally managed it. David had made some pasties (how very British) and others had bought some wine and sandwiches which we all consumed under the lights at the Boulodrome whilst we played two games well into the evening - and a lot of fun it was too, with everyone producing the odd brilliant shot amongst the fairly average play.
Meanwhile, the race to open the Irish bars continues at a hot pace. It looks like the old Irish bar will get there first, but Patrick and his team won't be far behind with the new bar, to be called The Celt, despite losing Chris and Declan to the USA next week. Personally I just wish they would both hurry up so that we can get some big screen TV sport watching back in town.
Mel's arrival has caused a bit of a stir in the local community. During canapés and cocktails with the new guests (who are all policemen and women!), Mel was the first to make an appearance and was assumed to be my wife until Debrah made her grand entrance ten minutes later, which caused some mildly amusing confusion.
Later last night, we wandered up to the Makhila, where Mel was greeted with enthusiasm by the usual crowd - in fact, their reaction to her was slightly astonishing to behold. David went very quiet before making his excuses and departing early to polish his boules, Bob was like an excited puppy dog who couldn't finish one sentence before starting the next, Chris had had a shower and a shave and Pierre went into full on 'Pepe le Peu / aah, cheri' mode whilst telling her about his two donkeys in the Ariege with soft noses whilst simultaneously stroking Mels nose with his forefinger. Blimey! - talk about causing a stir.
As a result we agreed to meet up this evening to play boules, but not before we had enjoyed a varied and lovely day in the Autumn sunshine. We went shopping in Les Halles for our supper and then clothes shopping for Mel (Debrah considers herself to be Mel's personal shopper) and then lunch at Felix in the square before some more shopping, back home for a short nap, some domestic work on the ironing board, trying out a couple of new cocktail mixes and finally our pre-arranged boules match.
I have been trying to meet up with the guys for a game of boules for some time and tonight I finally managed it. David had made some pasties (how very British) and others had bought some wine and sandwiches which we all consumed under the lights at the Boulodrome whilst we played two games well into the evening - and a lot of fun it was too, with everyone producing the odd brilliant shot amongst the fairly average play.
Meanwhile, the race to open the Irish bars continues at a hot pace. It looks like the old Irish bar will get there first, but Patrick and his team won't be far behind with the new bar, to be called The Celt, despite losing Chris and Declan to the USA next week. Personally I just wish they would both hurry up so that we can get some big screen TV sport watching back in town.
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