Reflections of six months of Le Petit Chou Café and other things:

Well, it’s been a while but it’s also been a tough stretch.

The family is well and we are definitely starting to settle in to French life if not yet fluent in the language, Some of us better than others (i.e. the kids). Both kids are doing really well at school although our son has to calm down and be more organised and neater and he has a tough term ahead as it is not certain that he will proceed to college yet. Improvement in these areas may make all the difference. (News just in, is that he WILL proceed to college, I hope they are ready for the whirlwind that he is!)

Snowy St Paul

The café did ok over the winter although February was a disaster and not worth opening the doors. Not helped by closing for the school holidays, although I doubt that would have made much difference. It’s was really hard to remain positive when demand was so low.  Paying our first taxes (double lot) in January did not help morale either.  But we survived and we are still here, March was an improvement and I am very pleased to stay April has started with a bang, long may it last and please let the wind be calm and the sun keep shining and then we will have a chance of having a great season.

Although we bought our house in November not much has happened since then. We have had various builders/workmen/consultants looking at it and guiding us on what needs to be done (EVERYTHING) but no progress has been made except storing some of our belongings.  When we got some of the first quotes in, there was a lot of buyer’s remorse as some of these were just for the roof and that was costing more than

The many roofs of the house

the purchase price.  This is not good news to get on a cold, blustery winter’s day.  However, I still love the place, leaky roof and all and I am excited about what we can achieve there it is just going to take a lot of patience and money, more than we expected on both counts.

Simon’s little rescue adventure added a little colour to our winter blues, not sure which colour I think mine was, possibly mainly red, we are still awaiting the rescue bill and  we are wondering if they have taken pity on the ‘fou anglais’.  Let’s hope so.

Port Vendres harbour

I certainly enjoyed our small restorative break 

by the sea it was great to be in a different and beautiful place for a bit and it made me  appreciate our stunning region all the more.  We are surrounded by such magnificent natural beauty, with mountains and sea.  I know it sounds silly but just to be able to ‘pop’ to Spain still gives me a real thrill.  I had a day to myself by the sea and it helped give me some perspective on our lives and gave some ‘mojo’ back as I had begun to feel demotivated by the lack of business and of course I still question my culinary skills, I will never stop doing this, but as long as the plates keep coming back clean, I have to believe I do have the ability to do this.

Easter was a blast with old and new friends coming into the cafe, a baking foray into Hot Cross buns and other Easter delights made it feel more like home (where ever that may be).  The kids of course received far too much chocolate but it’s only Easter once a year so they say, somehow our kids seem to have endless supplies of chocolate all year round.  Simon?

So looking ahead to the rest of spring and summer, Le Petit Chou will be launching our tasting menus of local regional dishes with the local wines, and holding tutored wine appreciation afternoons.  We are hoping one of our very dear friends will be holding an informal summer concert here too.  So lots to look forward to.

The family also intend to go camping, not glamping, very much camping which will be a first for the four of us together.  This should prove to be interesting and could be incredibly bonding or the other? We shall see.  In spite of not been thrilled by the idea even though it was mine, I am really looking forward to spending some time up in the ‘real’ mountains and away from it all.  Hopefully we will see loads of birds and my French can improve in that area too, one of the few books I will take with me will be my much beloved book of birds in French.

So to be living in the house by Christmas will be a long shot and possibly always was, hopefully we will still be able to have good party there, as there is lots of space.  I have read about a couple who pitched their tent inside their house while they restored it; I don’t think we are quite there yet but maybe not far off.

In the meantime we will continue to enjoy our very cosy apartment and enjoy the terrace at the café, with its almost constant sunshine.  We look forward to a great season and returning family and friends, both personal and business ones.  May the sun shine wherever you are, whatever the season and if it’s your autumn may the winter be a good time to reflect and restore on what is needed in your life.

Le Petit Chou's Catalan Nicoise

I am now going to go and enjoy lunch on our terrace with the family,  and appreciate my work place!

A bientôt!