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| View from our rooftops |
Well its been a long
while, in fact so long I am not sure I know how to write one of these
anymore.
Firstly we as a family
and Le Petit Chou have had an amazing summer and it continues
to be so, we are definitely having an Indian summer and we are still busy, at least at lunch time. The best news is that it is mainly
locals or repeat business keeping us busy. Long may it continue.
In fact I am scared I
am running out of inspiration for menus as I am so dog tired and cannot seem
to 'catch up' on myself which is frustrating and annoying all in one.
Being autumn the weather is also so changeable and it's hard to get it
right. However in the main we continue to have happy customers.
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Vendanges au Domaine d'Esperet |
We have made some big
decisions about Le Petit Chou Cafe and it's future from November to
Easter we will be open only 3 days a week namely Thursday, Friday and
Saturday. The aim is to have a themed cuisine each week so a lot of
the expats can get their fix of fish and chips, curry etc. and we can slowly
convert the French to another way of eating.... some of my French
locals loved our bangers and mash last Friday with onion gravy!!
A porc a porc ; as they say here.
As to the doubters that
Le Petit Chou would even survive this long, well here we are still
standing, even if it is by our finger nails. I think I have finally
nailed the French administration which is HUGE and only those who have
been through it all can fully understand, how huge that is. Le Petit
Chou is holding it's own financially (as we are not paying in money
into it anymore, long may that last too).
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| Stressed out boys |
The kids have settled
back into their school routine and in the main seem to be happy and
coping. Of course this is the last year that Jess is at home with us
as it will be all change next academic year. She is starting to catch
the bus to Perpignan on her own to get into the swing of things.
James continues to be James and has launched into his first big
romance this summer!! Fortunately she and her family are delightful
so we do not mind arranging to spend time with them, as they live up the
valley 3 towns away. He continues to play both codes of rugby and has
also joined the climbing club this year.
On the home front Eloise is still holding her own and has become a 'darling' of the town, she definitely has her own fan club as I get introduced as Eloise's owner!! The boy cats are doing very well and both are very large,we are sure Oscar has ambitions to be be more round than Charlie (the Devon cat). Still so many wild cats in the garden that continue to reproduce but our doors are firmly closed as the next pet will definitely be of the canine variety.
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| temporary scaffolding |
The BIG NEWS is that
work has began once again on the house and we hope for some rapid
movement there. Simon has been working long and hard hours with our 'macon' David, plus he is still doing the washing up at Le Petit Chou
and still doing his work at Shilton. So a lot on his plate; but he
comes into the cafe looking a mess (especially after plastering) with
a huge grin on his face and he looks relaxed and sometimes very
handsome...well now! Work continues on the 6th and final
roof at the moment, a long way to go.
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| Our handsome builder |
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| Final roof to be repaired |
So not much has changed
and yet it feels like everything has in some moments, like the
vendage this year ; a mixed report as some vignerons say its
great quality year and others say it's really bad. So like in life
it's just about holding onto the good bunches and leaving the bad
behind.
I still love the fact
that we live here and I can look to the mountains and see eagles soar
above my head, it does not get much better than this.
A bientôt.
