Back out to France

For some bizarre reason everything that l had posted over the past week has disappeared in to the dark hole of the www. So quickly re adding the photos and perhaps if l get time l will put in the comments.

We drove back to France on the Thursday morning 23rd January and managed to get pushed onto an early crossing. Weather was great at the beginning, but it soon deteriorated to driving rain. Nevertheless, we continued down to Chatignac in the  Charente, hoping that we would find better weather further south.

To while away the time we listened to a talking book, 6 hours of gripping dialog.
STOLEN LIVES  a true story about twenty years in a dessert jail.
It surrounds the life of Malika Oufkir who was the eldest daughter of General Oufkir who tried to overthrow the King of Morocco.
It was truly fascinating and totally heartbreaking. You couldn't imagine that such things could happen in a modern civilisation. But well worth the read.

Anyway it enabled the eight hour journey to fly by. Unfortunately the rain persisted incessantly. Ans as of today's date Wednesday 29th, nearly a week later it is still raining.

So much so, that we have started to rust.

Fortunately, we have been keeping ourselves busy, visiting friends, reading and going out for dinner with friends.

On Friday we were invited to a murder mystery dinner over in La Roche Chalias. It was amazing. Claudia had gone to so much trouble to dress the place up, as did all the other guests, as you can see from the photos below.

 The Parkers Alias Cayenne Pepper The DuPre family chef and an aspiring TV star.  & Melissa F DuPre Pierre DuPre’s new wife from Las Vegas. A Flashy tart in a  feather boa

 Murder at Mardi Gras
A Masked Murderer
Unveiled
There’s mystery afoot in the Big Easy
–
the Krewe of the Midas King, Pierre DuPre, has been murdered. Strangled with a set of Mardi Gras beads. It’s time for all party revellers to put down their Hurricane drinks and discover the truth about his demise.
Pierre was always suspicious of those looking to sink their claws into his fortune. Was it the greed of those around him that put old Pierre in the grave?
His beloved family members, friends and neighbours have now become suspects in this Garden District murder!
Get your sleuthing mind ready, it’s time to unveil a murderer!

 Thought it may have been the daughter, scheming bitch - but l was wrong

Another day and another soaking. The wind has got up and its blowing the rain horizontally.
Nevertheless, l am up early and its five dozen oysters from our favourite stall in Brossac. As usual we get extras. So l wake Judith from her slumbers and we drive down to see our Monnet to get the news. As usual, in rural Charente, not a great deal has happened other than the breaking news about the Presidents infidelity. We have a great chat and she tells us about the couple who bought Roberts house. From all accounts they have already spent the equivalent of the purchase price to make it liveable. Doesn't surprise us.
 
By the way its Saturday so it's  Burns Night, off out again, this time to our Scottish contingent. Great night, pipes, haggis, lashings of whisky. 
A fantastic evening amongst the Scottish fraternity.
With the up and coming Yes or No vote on most peoples minds.  Not the independence issue, just whether to have whisky on the haggis or not.

 A definite yes to the haggis

 But then again maybe a yes to the whisky in the glass

 Mike doing his speech, addressing the haggis

Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Great food, wine , whisky and crack.

I would like to say that the sun is out, but its Sunday and the rain is still falling. The river through Chalais is about to burst its banks.

Out for a light snack of oysters, smoked salmon and champagne round at Ruth's along with some other friends.
It doesn't matter about the rain outside when you are wet with champagne bubbles on the inside.

Spent a very enjoyable lunch and afternoon before having to quickly change for another Burns Supper. Fortunately this was within walking distance.

Slightly smaller, more intimate, once again the hosts had gone to some lengths to ensure an authentic burns evening and some. A fantastic time was had by all. We staggered home in the rain and collapsed into bed. And slept like Rip van winkle to awake rather later than anticipated to sun shine.
Not really its still raining.




Expect Chalais to once again look like this if the rain keeps up. Presently in Bills wood shed building our saviour.




Perhaps not quite as big as this.

Out again this evening, this time for our film evening. 

Had a glorious dinner followed by a 1933 black and white classic, 42nd Street a musical by Busby Berkeley. The songs were written by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics), and included     "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me", "Young and Healthy" and of course     "Forty-Second Street" – sung and danced by Ruby Keeler, and sung by Dick Powell.

The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1934, and in 1998 it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". In 2006 this film ranked 13th on the American Film Institute's list of best musicals.