tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31908923858937347212024-03-05T16:22:06.509+01:00Cormatin, near Taizé & Cluny in South BurgundyIn this blog I will be writing about my life in this beautiful part of Burgundy,<br>
France. We run two gîtes and a camping à la ferme not far from Cluny and <br>
Taizé in a tiny hamlet of Chazelle, Cormatin. Read and enjoy.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.comBlogger400125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-70464552547911181282018-07-17T09:48:00.000+02:002018-07-17T09:48:52.425+02:00New decorations.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9CjZy3Zpf9wDT1ITKJxRTWSIZDuRTRyE9NnEpCzju9RZCNrp2yyuXNTsNjoOjbvoiWhzJKDnmvKVTxD5OrRBLqVHteeb2QOBFgw_HhTefJ6dtdBKpCGj2gpyyrf_XLqirbm9lFQ4IAwW/s1600/orange.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="964" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9CjZy3Zpf9wDT1ITKJxRTWSIZDuRTRyE9NnEpCzju9RZCNrp2yyuXNTsNjoOjbvoiWhzJKDnmvKVTxD5OrRBLqVHteeb2QOBFgw_HhTefJ6dtdBKpCGj2gpyyrf_XLqirbm9lFQ4IAwW/s320/orange.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange sails and chimney candle holders</td></tr>
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During the winter months we always choose one part of La Tuilerie to upgrade, it gives us something to do and makes sure that the gites are always up to scratch. This winter’s jobs were to redo L’Ecurie’s bathroom and passageway walls and to finally sort out our own bathroom. While both jobs were extensive, they are nothing compared to the massive renovation that is ongoing in the Church in Taizé. It was a brave soul that decided to redecorate that building!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCJ1JFO6kMUs2ySJIbRmbwBc7BasmY65spcy6WRv8v8g1o3OLGy-Uvxhggi_Im1FQbtiXIVfVJAZPLgmiCvJRd5rozrfHjdFSSarCOLoPsMriETsK701nUyfIOKhxkBrQ5SvZI552vTl4/s1600/DSC_3238taize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCJ1JFO6kMUs2ySJIbRmbwBc7BasmY65spcy6WRv8v8g1o3OLGy-Uvxhggi_Im1FQbtiXIVfVJAZPLgmiCvJRd5rozrfHjdFSSarCOLoPsMriETsK701nUyfIOKhxkBrQ5SvZI552vTl4/s320/DSC_3238taize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">End of June, no end in sight</td></tr>
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I mentioned a few years ago that under-floor heating had been installed and that the body of the church had been redecorated, but this winter’s job was to thermally insulate the east end of the church.<br />
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To my great surprise, this has been taken as an opportunity to re-think the decorations. The much loved iconic orange sails have gone along with the chimney brick candle “holders” and multi-coloured cloth squares have taken their place. When I went to check it out at about Easter time the change was disturbing, but I heard it was a temporary design.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxOkIpYtZxhiJdzizfoOm5WkvF9P5qJTHCicQCpwVJ5dU4pcjcMUGONYnTBiR_E2X2IRvuUGI6kJoZ_cVpXwGh7xivZTsQn-zD2QY6HJs0WPay6rjuhhlE-pazG5n405Tz3MWAQdwhsV8/s1600/DSC_3554+taize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxOkIpYtZxhiJdzizfoOm5WkvF9P5qJTHCicQCpwVJ5dU4pcjcMUGONYnTBiR_E2X2IRvuUGI6kJoZ_cVpXwGh7xivZTsQn-zD2QY6HJs0WPay6rjuhhlE-pazG5n405Tz3MWAQdwhsV8/s320/DSC_3554+taize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still hard at work</td></tr>
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Things have only got “worse” since. The promise of finished work by Pentecoste never materialised and as of the end of June it was covered in scaffolding. When I went yesterday there was still a lifting platform and someone was busily covering up the new blue and yellow expanses with a white insulating wall. It is looking more finished, but I fear there is still a long way to go.<br />
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Let’s hope the new version will materialise soon, the last few months have been a bit like praying in a building site.<br />
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<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-76823712344881312132018-06-26T17:13:00.002+02:002018-07-17T09:48:43.062+02:00Visiting Uncle Jules<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJ5BLt1yGHl2qEocB5rZjpo4gyI-rCc6HpQTMQAmswmcLLaGxzxsWjNLTaNWQlp0x7a6FtvOIGvQ1waeqdvPbhMEZPjAvsUl2kJ3lriGi0myxz-1-87Jraji9lj1vqdj528ie1DXXcatn/s1600/DSC_2987jules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJ5BLt1yGHl2qEocB5rZjpo4gyI-rCc6HpQTMQAmswmcLLaGxzxsWjNLTaNWQlp0x7a6FtvOIGvQ1waeqdvPbhMEZPjAvsUl2kJ3lriGi0myxz-1-87Jraji9lj1vqdj528ie1DXXcatn/s320/DSC_2987jules.jpg" width="213" /></a>After six months off blogging what better way to come back than to describe the event of the year in Cormatin? The village has been buzzing with excitement ever since it was announced that Café de la Poste was to reopen as a bar, restaurant, brocante, salon de thé. Strange combination as far as I am concerned, but hey each to their own. <br />
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Chez Oncle Jules has been promising to open its doors since about late March and it slowly revealed bits and pieces of its interior and menus, long before the promised opening. Tables have been outside and the workers, finishing off the décor, have been having their cups of coffee along with the owners, giving the impression that they were open for business. Instead of whited out windows, as soon as the interior looked a bit respectable the windows have been open for all to sneak a look. Even when the weather wasn’t too good, the doors were open so that you could have a peer inside on the way to collecting your morning baguette. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg428vtKw8G02qcriJ4PFiB8N9n5mKiwYqF4r4oQhE9h4C9UFxI-XpuA4iajDL0SsBCaT1CJc2ifTceB-mEWyFMxgPtSQLXgAZHj48ShEridoMJV2ck90LDJ0lA1yDcw7z30x5I2gKaHs9e/s1600/DSC_2993jules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg428vtKw8G02qcriJ4PFiB8N9n5mKiwYqF4r4oQhE9h4C9UFxI-XpuA4iajDL0SsBCaT1CJc2ifTceB-mEWyFMxgPtSQLXgAZHj48ShEridoMJV2ck90LDJ0lA1yDcw7z30x5I2gKaHs9e/s320/DSC_2993jules.jpg" width="213" /></a>The proposition of brunch on Sundays with the menu has been posted on the windows and finally the opening date of 30th May was announced. This has been a spectacularly brilliant piece of marketing. Friends who live in other villages around have heard how great the place is and how good the food is – all this, long before the place had opened!<br />
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We have made the mistake of going to restaurants on their opening days (Lazzarella and the re-opening of La Cloitre) neither of which had been a spectacular success, indeed we had no intention of ever going back to either restaurant until we were persuaded to by a friend who knew the waitress in Lazzarrella and it wasn’t bad at all the second time around, although I am not sure if anyone will convince us to try La Cloitre again, but that is another story. So we decided to wait for Oncle Jules to find his feet before we stepped inside.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51HWd1kU8EFv7jd0HJI_PLdqhgY_5DKQnmG2enGyu04xdBExnPkVpq8wx4kTvgE0Tkcin5i6Dag94rZIv1lcf9vGF7hPzHR_0m9JdwoMSkGtHP1XE7DpUgbdrBAbveU_E_DSdZtLWGd23/s1600/DSC_2989jules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51HWd1kU8EFv7jd0HJI_PLdqhgY_5DKQnmG2enGyu04xdBExnPkVpq8wx4kTvgE0Tkcin5i6Dag94rZIv1lcf9vGF7hPzHR_0m9JdwoMSkGtHP1XE7DpUgbdrBAbveU_E_DSdZtLWGd23/s320/DSC_2989jules.jpg" width="213" /></a>The place looks absolutely charming and we have been won over by their marketing strategy and so this week, we gave it a go. We were not disappointed. The food was intended to be local producers, local style, simple and at a reasonable price and it fitted all those criteria. Cees had the plat de jour (braised ham in a Madeira sauce) and I plumped for the Salade de Campagne. Both dishes were excellent. The price was very reasonable as well as the wine. <br />
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So the hype was all worth it – while sitting waiting for our meal, we met some friends from the village who had tried out the first Sunday brunch and they did admit that the staff had been a bit overwhelmed by the number of customers so I am glad we waited a few days and got them when they are settling into their routine. The staff members are super friendly and totally relaxed, they have time to talk to customers without intruding. I expect the efficiency, which was not always present, will improve as they get into their stride and even if it doesn't, they do it all with a smile.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNbfuWSyIfpShqzUWmdIJTpjmyuEOsHKpqe7x0_6wgBJpJxJ4aLkHter34VejEqMhBd9Qq709D-ArDM6uwNDvfQfg2sg9rdow8e2jr3R0dwMYYiccjU1ispdMBLPb_OOMrQaSYUnp0KC4/s1600/DSC_2991jules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNbfuWSyIfpShqzUWmdIJTpjmyuEOsHKpqe7x0_6wgBJpJxJ4aLkHter34VejEqMhBd9Qq709D-ArDM6uwNDvfQfg2sg9rdow8e2jr3R0dwMYYiccjU1ispdMBLPb_OOMrQaSYUnp0KC4/s320/DSC_2991jules.jpg" width="320" /></a>We will definitely be recommending this restaurant to our clients, it is a cut above the alternatives in the village and if they keep up the standard they have set, they will win hands down over local competition.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-27113058357764896642017-12-24T13:00:00.000+01:002017-12-24T15:29:28.273+01:00Let the music play<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3WV6rUcdpM0KPYskszgEuOjoH68AhR6RnYZypJm8UEsFN1er8-_2RDmVpJhrd0Q3tApcN4vBAGOXBh5DxwLGHHbAg9OX0W5II9N_054Ll97OsAhbtkvPHRzy4JcyJyOlROGGQrVuOPma/s1600/DSC_8028chazelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3WV6rUcdpM0KPYskszgEuOjoH68AhR6RnYZypJm8UEsFN1er8-_2RDmVpJhrd0Q3tApcN4vBAGOXBh5DxwLGHHbAg9OX0W5II9N_054Ll97OsAhbtkvPHRzy4JcyJyOlROGGQrVuOPma/s320/DSC_8028chazelle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chazelle church in the December snow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It is a busy time for us throughout the winter and early spring, as we are on the organising committee of Les Guitares en Cormatinois which is a music festival held every June/July in the church in Chazelle, a venue which has the most amazing acoustics.<br />
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The artists have been fixed for the coming festival and yet again we will have a very wide range of different guitar music. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7A4x87DI2Hd4As6SeAvj1aY5SFh28RK1a57WZQbH46UFtUpfUiOn8ezwQrb8OdcIugiCYqUyHKtjqFWiOS79DT1pNmytYTWQkxog_qD72rjffrIYJFkZeQmgCAGbb8UtwS03txdbhq8M/s1600/concert5%252B2015-07-19_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7A4x87DI2Hd4As6SeAvj1aY5SFh28RK1a57WZQbH46UFtUpfUiOn8ezwQrb8OdcIugiCYqUyHKtjqFWiOS79DT1pNmytYTWQkxog_qD72rjffrIYJFkZeQmgCAGbb8UtwS03txdbhq8M/s320/concert5%252B2015-07-19_15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irish Kind of two years ago</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We start on Saturday 7th July with an old favourite “Irish Kind Of” who surprisingly enough play Irish music. They are usually a sell-out, so get your reservations in early for that one. <br />
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On Sunday 8th we have a violin/guitar duo who should be very interesting. They haven’t given us their programme yet so I can’t give any more details on that one but it will be classical.<br />
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The following weekend we have only one concert, it will be on the Sunday (15th) we have Hair Brother a duo of guitars with humour thrown in for good measure.<br />
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The last weekend of the festival 21st and 22nd, we have Duo Atlas (guitar and cello) from Spain with interpretations of voice within music, which we are really looking forward to and a Manouche band Paris-Gadjo Club which should be a real crowd puller.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrxjbnQHCxbwEdHBIiADn8GNma7bcfpeGnEI8qr0XOyLWC_i4Uwnk2RWpbeehHk5b8fDr4LMuqF6zWaIqjEUDqR87VSdG75I3oEVUM_LN0x45QYKxDdh1GiztACjcRy7s6QKgpkfgsmaK/s1600/rossfelder%252B2016-07-17_30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrxjbnQHCxbwEdHBIiADn8GNma7bcfpeGnEI8qr0XOyLWC_i4Uwnk2RWpbeehHk5b8fDr4LMuqF6zWaIqjEUDqR87VSdG75I3oEVUM_LN0x45QYKxDdh1GiztACjcRy7s6QKgpkfgsmaK/s320/rossfelder%252B2016-07-17_30.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's hope we have plenty of sell-outs like this one</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This year we have a time change for the concerts, all of the concerts will be at 17.30. We have always had more people to the Sunday afternoon concerts than to the Saturday evening ones, so we will see how this change goes.<br />
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Not only are we collecting information, designing and preparing the flyers and posters, but this year we have decided to renew the website to bring it up to date both stylistically and technically. We have had discussions with a designer and have found our new-look, all we have to do is put that into practice. <br />
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So there is lots of work to be done before we can sit back and listen to the music.<br />
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For the latest updates check out the <a href="http://guitaresencormatinois.com/" target="_blank="">website</a> in the new year. <br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-45839999183267522072017-12-17T10:00:00.000+01:002017-12-17T10:00:00.519+01:00Christmas Markets<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqgL5wTQv-WzVQhKUV6up_5T1OTS7Q2fwyB_TX4ru7xIwpzC2elcLmYiU0ywiz2Tc1KUFlb_8_xxi2YS_pllsi01BDVRwfk-N6uRIlNy2chBS1dqMvct4LoBVaQG19iYtoR-jhSd1CtoJ/s1600/bird1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqgL5wTQv-WzVQhKUV6up_5T1OTS7Q2fwyB_TX4ru7xIwpzC2elcLmYiU0ywiz2Tc1KUFlb_8_xxi2YS_pllsi01BDVRwfk-N6uRIlNy2chBS1dqMvct4LoBVaQG19iYtoR-jhSd1CtoJ/s320/bird1.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every "nest" has a bird!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It is that time of year again when every weekend is chock-a-block with Christmas markets. So far this season we have had Les Oiseux Rares in Cormatin and Les Mères de Noël in St-Gengoux-le-le National. Both were absolutely fantastic. Cluny starts this weekend, but we haven’t been yet, it is also one of the best ones round here and “must visit” leading up to Christmas.<br />
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The theme for Les Oiseux Rares this year was “time”. We were all encouraged to participate by providing photos, drawings, poems or prose which signified time. Cees came up with a Dutch poem by Hans Dorrestijn and two photos and I managed a piece from Macbeth. I wasn’t at all convinced they would motivate the good people of Cormatin into coming up with anything, but how wrong I was, there were over 300 entries and that meant every tree, doorway and gate in the village was covered with our offerings. It would have taken hours to read and admire them all. We cheated and just looked for our own and that took us long enough.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWDAaNOvNu-rFQbaAuK_tln3njkVwbzD0-QO5CbsLCdhUrvc3iw-xEJrN3KBifjc4kj_yltDqMxXcFx0J6KAQnvAn_jLgNWc3qil_arknimOU5F37OfKRQZU9yU_QtDZhWdiw2ATB1vNU/s1600/DSC_8049bowls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWDAaNOvNu-rFQbaAuK_tln3njkVwbzD0-QO5CbsLCdhUrvc3iw-xEJrN3KBifjc4kj_yltDqMxXcFx0J6KAQnvAn_jLgNWc3qil_arknimOU5F37OfKRQZU9yU_QtDZhWdiw2ATB1vNU/s320/DSC_8049bowls.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our collection is getting bigger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It was freezing cold so we went to warm ourselves up with a delicious lentil and split pea soup courtesy of Pascale Hautefort eaten out of the collectors’ item soup bowls made by Pierre Arnoud, Cormatin’s very own potter.<br />
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We enjoyed visiting the different venues, including some lovely photography of water drops. A great start to the market season. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgta_yyavnZp6jd1f5Nnd6SG1CIjT5wBTSKDwXOfChQxOUn37O6ztTue1qAHVGY_nlKuyhpn3xcNReKnjgUg1K1YlYq83H2m9eedzznKN422uPw7-YdMLEIMEQcNMOPJFrN05MNC83Dml/s1600/DSC_7961macbeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgta_yyavnZp6jd1f5Nnd6SG1CIjT5wBTSKDwXOfChQxOUn37O6ztTue1qAHVGY_nlKuyhpn3xcNReKnjgUg1K1YlYq83H2m9eedzznKN422uPw7-YdMLEIMEQcNMOPJFrN05MNC83Dml/s320/DSC_7961macbeth.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macbeth on a rusty gate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The next week and on to Les Mères de Noël who didn’t disappoint either. It was a completely different collection of artisans who were exhibiting in the gymnasium in St-Gengoux and luckily we managed to visit during a lull in the crowd, giving us easy access to all the stalls. <br />
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The exhibitors include someone making felted hats and a chap doing Arabic calligraphy. There really was some really beautiful stuff was available to sort out all your Christmas present needs.<br />
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I’m really looking forward to the next couple of weekends – I still have one or two items to buy, what will they be?....<br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-88311767305182821582017-12-09T11:31:00.000+01:002017-12-09T11:31:22.384+01:00A nation in mourning<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomO9Y2pacqiUnv0iwLFHeAl2-D8QUSVb1wSczmW4a7mWVv3_tWb-iQ_ETabhHxhL3YjcTnhfPMwM1PKXVl16lGblAw-e6EDBI5CMpR67Td479X6R1jsfeTqgRkhjqVn31y9K_kXUyoK1A/s1600/ormesson_jean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="178" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomO9Y2pacqiUnv0iwLFHeAl2-D8QUSVb1wSczmW4a7mWVv3_tWb-iQ_ETabhHxhL3YjcTnhfPMwM1PKXVl16lGblAw-e6EDBI5CMpR67Td479X6R1jsfeTqgRkhjqVn31y9K_kXUyoK1A/s320/ormesson_jean.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jean D'Ormesson in his Académie Française uniform</td></tr>
</tbody></table>In Tuesday evening’s news the first 10 minutes were dedicated to Jean D'Ormesson, a member of the Académie Française, a philosopher, former head of Le Figaro and a prolific author, who passed away at the age of 94. President Macron called him "a prince in the world of literature". <br />
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As we watched that item on the news, we were impressed that an intellectual giant should get the first 10 minutes, summing up for us the French love of literature and philosophy and how that is engrained into their education system and hence the national character. <br />
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But the French also have a love of the performing arts, musicians and actors are held in great respect as well. None more so than Johnny Hallyday who is a national institution. <br />
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Rather prophetically we wondered how many minutes the rock star would get when he passes away and the next evening we found out.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zsQzdBGdCbi3zvsDmRgYRSC9hDCO-I9CrR9qrZsezHjMjXYk6Wvbg44cj-iNg_2uuW_HwHIXmvws0rB6qdtZpBX3dhuhkFyKEJjeQ9P6AwAaV3BRo74IGBXiJQNtTqqwCijANMewB8ly/s1600/Johnny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1417" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zsQzdBGdCbi3zvsDmRgYRSC9hDCO-I9CrR9qrZsezHjMjXYk6Wvbg44cj-iNg_2uuW_HwHIXmvws0rB6qdtZpBX3dhuhkFyKEJjeQ9P6AwAaV3BRo74IGBXiJQNtTqqwCijANMewB8ly/s320/Johnny.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Johnny Hallyday on stage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Johnny Hallyday is the biggest rock star France has ever had, was a legend in his own lifetime. Whilst he never made it outside the French speaking world, he was obviously well respected enough in the world-wide business to get the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Peter Frampton to play on his albums.<br />
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Even though (or maybe because) he had a “Bad Boy” image, he was loved by everyone. Generation after generation of kids had Johnny as their idol and in an ever changing world where kids grow up rebelling against their parents’ old-fashioned tastes and almost automatically dislike their parents’ idols, that is quite an amazing feet. He managed to change with the times and grow his audience. Helped in no small part by his charismatic performances both on and off the stage, he fell and he picked himself up many times, he failed and he came back and all the time he never stopped working. President Macron summed up Johnny very nicely "There was something of Johnny in all French people….. Across generations, he carved himself into the lives of French people”. He was both an ordinary and an extraordinary man.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3WNVvpJHYwhyBu3oDcSDvYdD5C5RPpHViFM9lLrlfLa0l28yaKPv5lPoX3POUYXMzm6eL91Ew3J2lJhOPXVWhUz-NhMCKXlUpHCkJdwnBz-vxNZ-eBLvc9iDHtYaavFVAK9tuQ2wDqKw/s1600/johnny-hallyday-noir-et-blanc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="630" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3WNVvpJHYwhyBu3oDcSDvYdD5C5RPpHViFM9lLrlfLa0l28yaKPv5lPoX3POUYXMzm6eL91Ew3J2lJhOPXVWhUz-NhMCKXlUpHCkJdwnBz-vxNZ-eBLvc9iDHtYaavFVAK9tuQ2wDqKw/s320/johnny-hallyday-noir-et-blanc.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The man himself in his iconic leather jacket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So when he passed away, the evening news was not only dedicated entirely to him, but it was extended to last more than an hour. There were no other items. After the “news” there was a two hour documentary on his life and music and that was followed by one of his most recent concerts. That is how big this man was in the French psyche.<br />
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So France is a country in mourning. It lost two of its greatest human treasures almost on the same day.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-82051554163217665722017-12-02T16:26:00.000+01:002017-12-03T16:27:54.074+01:00First Sunday of the month<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjhN7H2Vgk4GQL_WhuAm0hy_DMy6PaRJ2Owwn3XMuN1El-uTuDxth2zuV72Le96BDOEzA2yda5nJ1D99d0zzrv2TpYq_BxqRyvDYltrQimkRWpsaRlR1GWS7rUM1VN4LHHXwIILV7_79G/s1600/DSC_7691cluny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjhN7H2Vgk4GQL_WhuAm0hy_DMy6PaRJ2Owwn3XMuN1El-uTuDxth2zuV72Le96BDOEzA2yda5nJ1D99d0zzrv2TpYq_BxqRyvDYltrQimkRWpsaRlR1GWS7rUM1VN4LHHXwIILV7_79G/s320/DSC_7691cluny.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up at the main tower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Winter is a great time for some serious museum visiting. Firstly there are not too many tourists around, which lets you get a very good look at what there is to see without jostling with bus tours and over and above that, most museums are free on the first Sunday of the month starting in November and going through to March.<br />
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The first Sunday in November we were at the doors of Cluny abbey to see what has happened since our last visit. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9axIHFNa7b2uAea2pTHpjHQ83LC28KR4ADaBG8bzboG7Do_U1YssGX3xHOvzXQ4mnahsD7uHCRHuesuDD2ISMdDcBLQXPg7c1RSsf8FKFxxHE9xF8saI4GhvmzvzBFABYZ1gp9HsI3f9/s1600/DSC_7709cluny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9axIHFNa7b2uAea2pTHpjHQ83LC28KR4ADaBG8bzboG7Do_U1YssGX3xHOvzXQ4mnahsD7uHCRHuesuDD2ISMdDcBLQXPg7c1RSsf8FKFxxHE9xF8saI4GhvmzvzBFABYZ1gp9HsI3f9/s320/DSC_7709cluny.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viewed from the "Farinier"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>They have changed the film again, for the better this time. Gone are the 3D glasses, which is a relief as they never fitted me well and always made me feel a little queasy. Also at the entry to the film room there was a rack which suggested that you could use a headset to translate what was going on in the film. This is an excellent idea because the film gives a lot of information about the abbey and considering the number of foreign visitors there are, it would be a good idea if they can understand it too. However, I don’t know if they are considering the idea or if the headsets are only available in the summer, but there weren’t any when we were there. So please Cluny, we are waiting!<br />
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It is also nice that you can get back into the area where there are some half restored columns which are outside. This particular point of view, looking up and down the length of the church from “inside”, really gives you a real impression of the original length.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmScJwGnfs7AZnpkeIjqkqcEXslkNwC9y8rtVsx673yI5yQd-DjpIdgtWTQjYShkbfivPq5BQL5KkvJGmI-dswnBM3MYGDJsFd2wCMit-ZrY-V1BPT1pSiivQoXyGiOCkvqXSjNrb4JA0c/s1600/DSC_7700cluny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmScJwGnfs7AZnpkeIjqkqcEXslkNwC9y8rtVsx673yI5yQd-DjpIdgtWTQjYShkbfivPq5BQL5KkvJGmI-dswnBM3MYGDJsFd2wCMit-ZrY-V1BPT1pSiivQoXyGiOCkvqXSjNrb4JA0c/s320/DSC_7700cluny.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cees emerging from the blue lit carpet....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sadly the interactive screens have gone which projected the 3D model on to what you can actually see. They were not in very good working order last time we were there and I am not surprised they have now gone, but it is a pity that this facility has been lost purely because the hardware was not robust enough. Let’s hope they will get some more sturdy screens and reinstall this facility before the next tourist season.<br />
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There was a temporary art installation where you could go inside a blue lit cubicle made out of carpet and listen to the sounds of birds and Gomera whistling language. A bit surreal and I am obviously a Philistine as I didn’t quite “get it” but it was nice and warm on a cold day!<br />
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However, in the transept there was a beautiful sculpture by Anne Poivilliers made up if filaments and layers of material swirling around itself, the explication says “The filaments are assembled to creation a volume which appears to be suspended in space.” It certainly adds to the transept and I hope they will leave it there, but I suspect it is only temporary. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ17tHrx3Avxb5C6-kJFqZD7uxwU0qsgALKn3sDr4-L00Hh7It_Ay4XoyNTDyk-16zIkSs_eQ5yizC6CPzFhbOVXNVptha7WFfZlP5-8sTdbJc0DFfwORx8YnQEguV6cjXJjqUaGs20VLM/s1600/DSC_7693cluny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ17tHrx3Avxb5C6-kJFqZD7uxwU0qsgALKn3sDr4-L00Hh7It_Ay4XoyNTDyk-16zIkSs_eQ5yizC6CPzFhbOVXNVptha7WFfZlP5-8sTdbJc0DFfwORx8YnQEguV6cjXJjqUaGs20VLM/s320/DSC_7693cluny.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne Poivilleirs' beautiful sculpture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I am sure there are more details that I missed, but it just shows that the site is constantly developing and worthy of regular visits.<br />
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So tomorrow is the next “first Sunday” - we are still debating where to go, can't wait.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0Rue du 11 Août 1944, 71250 Cluny, France46.434135200000007 4.659274399999958420.912100700000007 -36.649319600000041 71.9561697 45.967868399999958tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-6357226392481084262017-11-26T17:01:00.000+01:002017-11-26T17:01:58.775+01:00Mediaeval Day Out<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOsw5qg9QLFXVSQ6XRzdKP5cnCeD2F39mKbaipivqcvUt8XWIa5kc6Ej-3_ef9ekavmkVCJBAQxQO1GPRVygQkSe-dvla-sZXmwYE7xdNstlCXKOhqdDZCFUbZ10a7r1UeiJ-tIATMao5/s1600/DSC_7935varennes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOsw5qg9QLFXVSQ6XRzdKP5cnCeD2F39mKbaipivqcvUt8XWIa5kc6Ej-3_ef9ekavmkVCJBAQxQO1GPRVygQkSe-dvla-sZXmwYE7xdNstlCXKOhqdDZCFUbZ10a7r1UeiJ-tIATMao5/s320/DSC_7935varennes.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robinette Hood - look at that leatherwork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>When Cees suggested that we could go to a mediaeval event with a Christmas market, I wasn’t too impressed with the idea. We have been to so many of these things and they are always, without exception, a let down. Besides Les Oiseaux Rares (the local artists group) were exhibiting in Cormatin, so why would we go to some unknown quantity? <br />
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Then he said that it would be held in the chateau of Varennes (near Mâcon) and I jumped at the chance even though there was an entry fee.<br />
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So why the change of mind?<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ixrbv1t_pCg1r4Oh1Lx0rfaDGlnwUw160UbNitWIuSMhrdLbpkj4JHZTEdRdiIVPlcmuUWu3R_49ns2L4cBF8qLWHnxI-OJPborvGa7pb07I672xoSZMciE58fCwpO5AAt4qUbL-TMmQ/s1600/DSC_7942varennes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ixrbv1t_pCg1r4Oh1Lx0rfaDGlnwUw160UbNitWIuSMhrdLbpkj4JHZTEdRdiIVPlcmuUWu3R_49ns2L4cBF8qLWHnxI-OJPborvGa7pb07I672xoSZMciE58fCwpO5AAt4qUbL-TMmQ/s320/DSC_7942varennes.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little robin there to welcome us</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This particular castle is never open to the public and we have gazed at it over the walls of the neighbouring churchyard, wishing we could get in. We have tried to take photos of it by jumping up and down and when you are my height, that doesn’t get you very good pictures. So even with 3 Euros to get into a market we didn’t want to see, it got us into the castle, so mediaeval event here we come!<br />
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These events attract a big public and so we decided to go first thing this morning. We arrived as it was opening at 10.00 and even at that time, it was a bit tricky to park. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjmRgPmoRWpAlhWKnYf0bfM7Z_vdwMbPxlmH2dzDBw-5RNrSlx93WwXouZSlFBq12NZTjQ70utt4elLyo7RlX4bAkuh47nEueaM11qKdJEOax8aLuwB0QW_UZOpebhbtgS6lpNE5U10L5/s1600/DSC_7951avarennes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1500" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjmRgPmoRWpAlhWKnYf0bfM7Z_vdwMbPxlmH2dzDBw-5RNrSlx93WwXouZSlFBq12NZTjQ70utt4elLyo7RlX4bAkuh47nEueaM11qKdJEOax8aLuwB0QW_UZOpebhbtgS6lpNE5U10L5/s320/DSC_7951avarennes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fearsome looking drawbridge </td></tr>
</tbody></table>I was very surprised at the mediaeval bit of the event, the costumes were exceptional, they hadn’t been taken from children’s dressing up boxes like the usual offerings and I was very impressed with the leatherwork of the young lady who was a female Robin Hood. The blacksmith was doing a tremendous job with a huge pair of bellows stoking up his charcoal fire and we spent some time watching him and the archers who very skilfully hit the target every time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kXZXRpmyPb804-pINbe8D7qT7MQnfEOrxY9BzXyKOfGNmzOM5vGTEeP273w98RGgpxOctHG5mSkYyey04GpkJUdljsdXQhKNCYFp6JJn2aTGKEf7KC4dQMtImUHFbAaQYFhjF-e35EYf/s1600/DSC_7954varennes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kXZXRpmyPb804-pINbe8D7qT7MQnfEOrxY9BzXyKOfGNmzOM5vGTEeP273w98RGgpxOctHG5mSkYyey04GpkJUdljsdXQhKNCYFp6JJn2aTGKEf7KC4dQMtImUHFbAaQYFhjF-e35EYf/s320/DSC_7954varennes.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entry into the Christmas market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Christmas market was also well worth the visit, the exhibiters were of a very high quality. There was some beautiful calligraphy, leatherwork, horseshoe decorations, jewellery and wooden carvings just to name a few. At the far end of the market there was also a guy selling some very interesting “mediaeval” snacks, but as we had just had breakfast I skipped the delicious looking potato and cheese fritters - did they have potatoes in those days?<br />
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The castle was not at all what I had expected in two ways, firstly the part you can see from the churchyard is not as old as we thought and not that photogenic, but secondly, the other side of the castle was rather “mediaeval” looking (although I am tempted to say it wasn’t), it had a drawbridge that led into a little courtyard and it was truly charming.<br />
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All in all a great morning out, I would not hesitate to go again even if it is for the market this time!Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-10926661859048200962017-11-19T13:06:00.001+01:002017-11-19T13:06:40.592+01:00Wine tastings galore<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9jaIIwfPKzj-WWy5QHQxjftlTXAEYxiah4AoRLLo-uqGM2gJEvyRKNSoHPzxOLPhy0KnCKJzcQedku5lXlXt4Os6o10GLA8y5lmh5mKx5yq80748YdjIow_7gHel9li3W7amfj7hCLj5/s1600/DSC_7825perrin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9jaIIwfPKzj-WWy5QHQxjftlTXAEYxiah4AoRLLo-uqGM2gJEvyRKNSoHPzxOLPhy0KnCKJzcQedku5lXlXt4Os6o10GLA8y5lmh5mKx5yq80748YdjIow_7gHel9li3W7amfj7hCLj5/s320/DSC_7825perrin.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decorations leading the way to the tasting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It is that time of year again when all the local winegrowers start to show off their latest wines, just in time for you to stock up for Christmas. This weekend it was the turn of Christophe Perrin who has his wine cellar literally just down the road from us. It is always a must to go there, he has some excellent food producers giving tastings and selling their wares and he and his staff are just so friendly and knowledgeable about the wines they have on offer.<br />
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This year it was the chance to taste the 2016 vintage, which has turned out to be a very good year. We tasted his rosé, 3 reds and four whites, good job he is just down the road!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVRk2CjXYyCmOI782K_ba4Zx13Db5HEwOfBs4SuxYOtqORRVjCY6Q2Qkxi7QcfAcMWcyTmOiByjpO7h9LtGK2bIq5x4odnEStZqaEwBDTBWxcF9zspNLe9niHiWmHPhMsVVXIX1_DVgKj/s1600/DSC_7829perrin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVRk2CjXYyCmOI782K_ba4Zx13Db5HEwOfBs4SuxYOtqORRVjCY6Q2Qkxi7QcfAcMWcyTmOiByjpO7h9LtGK2bIq5x4odnEStZqaEwBDTBWxcF9zspNLe9niHiWmHPhMsVVXIX1_DVgKj/s320/DSC_7829perrin.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>They range from €6.50 for the rosé up to €10.00 for the top end red and white. The two cheaper reds are made from Gamay grapes which is very much frowned upon by Burgundy aficionados, hence the lack of information on the label as to which grapes are used. We only heard massive compliments on the wine and it was amusing to see the look on some people’s faces when they told what variety of grape had been used. Bravo to Christophe for having the guts to try it. <br />
<br />
The four whites are all made from Chardonnay grapes, but two have been “matured” in standard tanks and two have been matured in oak casks. In my mind there is no comparison, the ones that had been in oak casks had so much more flavour and had had all the sharp tastes rounded off. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjoujhKz0_HMGlFXlE9PMlc9n1RiwMWDJvWEoELbq18GXN2ZiNPegun-maB3dICKT4MaCgkJqcCi-sioZmExNJ3zSfgngVvpJ3ngc83GPkOtk89TD39IHDxuGldrMfOcC4XCTM71GJG7O/s1600/perrin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjoujhKz0_HMGlFXlE9PMlc9n1RiwMWDJvWEoELbq18GXN2ZiNPegun-maB3dICKT4MaCgkJqcCi-sioZmExNJ3zSfgngVvpJ3ngc83GPkOtk89TD39IHDxuGldrMfOcC4XCTM71GJG7O/s320/perrin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White wine tatsers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As Cees doesn’t really appreciate white wine, I decided it was a bit too extravagant to buy a case just for myself so we settled for a couple of cases of the Chapaize red made from the Gamay and will certainly enjoy sharing it with friends and getting their opinion on the grapes. <br />
<br />
We were very generously give a bottle of rosé as a gift and, after cooling it off in the fridge, it went down nicely with the cheese we bought from the La Truffière stand.<br />
<br />
Just an after thought, for those interested in the white wine, the Chapaize will no longer be on sale after today because it has proved so popular, he is now down to minimum stock. So happily business is booming for our local producers.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-74993973578282281742017-11-12T12:06:00.000+01:002017-11-12T12:06:46.504+01:00Changes in our eating habits<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrShI1LML6NjzC9xneTTH5Veqski1t9hMJcvT3t9u65marq8AkJCpnN-7NsYDtp3fFuGvd8zK8dh7-sstZ1w20QyaYBITdsoHgPteHhJ6btJbXlVAGMC-NMs8YSHJpRu4XMNij8a_S6Sv/s1600/cafe+du+centre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1500" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrShI1LML6NjzC9xneTTH5Veqski1t9hMJcvT3t9u65marq8AkJCpnN-7NsYDtp3fFuGvd8zK8dh7-sstZ1w20QyaYBITdsoHgPteHhJ6btJbXlVAGMC-NMs8YSHJpRu4XMNij8a_S6Sv/s320/cafe+du+centre.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Café du Centre <br />
a traditional French café</td></tr>
</tbody></table>As you all know we are creatures of habit and we eat out regularly in Cluny. One of favourites is Café du Centre and we were dismayed when we learned from a slip of paper on the door, that it was closing down. We asked what was going on, only to be told that due to a lack of agreement on the purchase price, the new owner (who had been in there for just over 4 years by the way) was obliged to sell the café back to the previous owner for the price he had paid. How the heck that works is beyond me, but it meant that one of our Saturday lunch venues was changing. Not good for the likes of us stick-in-the-muds.<br />
<br />
Sure enough on the allotted day, the café shut down, we said our farewells to the staff all of whom had resigned and would not be working for the new owner even though most of them had worked for him before. So, due to a lack of staff, the café stayed stubbornly closed for several weeks. Finally at the beginning of June it re-opened.<br />
<br />
We went along even though our loyalty to the previous owner made me feel rather guilty. The restaurant had a rather restricted menu on a scrappy paper booklet. The service was chaotic, but as all the staff were new and obviously many of them had never worked in a bar or restaurant before, so we forgave them and we assumed it was just teething troubles. I must say that the steak was excellent, so that made up for everything.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIsfiZCYGzE9dkkllPYb2IlK-gsogJrDKEjjKfIoadssTmklalh08iUDQYucfHppGyRVy1F0hXRcLqzTmDYdhHM0OqoQpYHSsZXM72I_dHR7f2XQ8z0dR0tUZ8wy57FK771HUBEeCSJhN/s1600/la+nation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1560" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIsfiZCYGzE9dkkllPYb2IlK-gsogJrDKEjjKfIoadssTmklalh08iUDQYucfHppGyRVy1F0hXRcLqzTmDYdhHM0OqoQpYHSsZXM72I_dHR7f2XQ8z0dR0tUZ8wy57FK771HUBEeCSJhN/s320/la+nation.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Nation, huge terrace in the main street <br />
(screen dump from Google Street View)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We have been going back periodically since the reopening and the chaotic staff and restricted menu are still the order of the day. The place is clearly less well liked than before and so you do not really need to book a table for market day, which was an absolute must under the old regime. Whether the restaurant will ever get back into its old swing, I do not know, but I hope so for both the owner’s sake and for ours.<br />
<br />
While Café du Centre restaurant was closed we decided (very reluctantly on my part) to try La Nation again. There was something about the atmosphere of that place, that we really didn’t like, but things can change can’t they?<br />
<br />
I have to admit it, we were very impressed. The service is slick and the food is excellent. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsyik8yi07OiELoP6B0idnnRG2PI3xkhSa5nU5tU-u2QnwFSmDLHYdqcrlh1GGeJaVnDtluBtYo3aPfZx5Ix2HkWoe8O2j3jpCX96qugJGiKX4UnVel9VbwZDmfL38hAwLPk7yxxQVljP/s1600/Appellation-Vir%25C3%25A9-Cless%25C3%25A9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsyik8yi07OiELoP6B0idnnRG2PI3xkhSa5nU5tU-u2QnwFSmDLHYdqcrlh1GGeJaVnDtluBtYo3aPfZx5Ix2HkWoe8O2j3jpCX96qugJGiKX4UnVel9VbwZDmfL38hAwLPk7yxxQVljP/s320/Appellation-Vir%25C3%25A9-Cless%25C3%25A9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vineyards of one of the best white wines in this area <br />
(photo from dico-du-vin.com) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>I have only one complaint and that is their rather pushy way of trying to get you to buy more than you want. For example, when I asked for a glass of white Mâcon, the response was “Viré-Clessé? It’s a very nice wine.” I know that Viré-Clessé is a very nice wine and that it is from the Mâconnais but you wouldn’t call it a Mâcon white for goodness sake. I am not a wine expert, but I sure know that Viré-Clessé ain’t cheap, so I said no very quickly and then I had to fumble with the menu to find the Mâcon I wanted which for future reference is Azé, but also I noted that the Viré-Clessé was quite rightly not classified as a Mâcon white and was nearly 5 Euros a glass. The other trick they pull is when you order coffee “do you want coffee gourmand?” is the response. Well if you don’t know what that is, it is a cup of coffee with some delicious small desserts surrounding it, very nice I have to admit if you want it, but if you just want a cup of coffee, as some tourists we saw obviously did, the extra on the bill could be a bit unwelcome.<br />
<br />
All that said, La Nation is rightly packed for lunch every day and it is almost impossible to get a table on market day. Members of the staff are getting to know us now with the accompanying handshake and “how are you?” when you arrive and “see you soon” when you leave. So they have well and truly won us over.<br />
<br />
We now have a serious problem every time we eat out in Cluny, where should we go? There are just so many good options these days.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-55764293688132739142017-11-05T08:00:00.000+01:002017-11-05T08:00:03.280+01:00Journey by train<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuR0wDjetEzXm0Iz49GJgijAMUS7zxtXka0GS_krL4jId16tW1ZNY4pKaL4QM_ZdVrxUld3UGLdDbEx7ukK6qiA8jAaK0Q2uX5ACzUouUusgYyGANIXq3ElQehDxv0jpWj0ZZdcQd9rP5v/s1600/DSC_8562mistral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuR0wDjetEzXm0Iz49GJgijAMUS7zxtXka0GS_krL4jId16tW1ZNY4pKaL4QM_ZdVrxUld3UGLdDbEx7ukK6qiA8jAaK0Q2uX5ACzUouUusgYyGANIXq3ElQehDxv0jpWj0ZZdcQd9rP5v/s320/DSC_8562mistral.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 241P17 at full steam <br>taken from a bridge last year</td></tr>
</tbody></table>To celebrate 50 years of friendship between Cees and one of his oldest friends who lives in Amsterdam, they decided to go on a train journey – graciously his wife and I were allowed to go along too. That may not sound too exciting, but Cees’ friend is a train fiend and this was no ordinary train. We were taking one of the fastest steam trains ever built, the 241P17, from Le Creusot to Mulhouse in the Alsace.<br />
<br />
I love steam trains. I have mentioned before that I used to live in one of the cottages at Horsted Keynes Station in Sussex, the home to the Bluebell steam train line. Every weekend during the whole year and most days during the summer, steam trains passed by my front garden, their sound and smell, bring back many happy memories. I have taken the train from Horsted Keynes to Sheffield Park a number of times, it was always enjoyable but as it goes at a rather leisurely pace it is not a truly exciting experience, so to be honest, I wasn’t so sure what it would be like to travel in this particular train for the best part of a day up to Mulhouse and the best part of the next day to get back.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xLFBMA8yzNz4uNRRLVB4wZJaT6_JKLmkgDdeapBYoZ7vKHMNINuwwODJ3td8KRBDGlw-mrYoKeEwrn416IG2jHaYJVs5xttI5aZ4eaUeh93pp2_HoHxddw-jlrT_9-roLpWOiQM41E7z/s1600/DSC_6890pompiers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xLFBMA8yzNz4uNRRLVB4wZJaT6_JKLmkgDdeapBYoZ7vKHMNINuwwODJ3td8KRBDGlw-mrYoKeEwrn416IG2jHaYJVs5xttI5aZ4eaUeh93pp2_HoHxddw-jlrT_9-roLpWOiQM41E7z/s320/DSC_6890pompiers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fire brigade came to refill the water tanks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It was fantastic!<br />
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The train got up to a very respectable 125 km per hour, only restricted by the carriages it was towing as they were not allowed to go any faster. The sound and the rhythm, the smell and the smoke and all the happy smiling faces of the waving spectators along the track and at the stations was an experience well worth every penny of the cost.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNx109cJBLnSrD9Sffxdo_U_RSjV63z5_8TBaahxlQVQe65Yppj48fzkaTQJM3ZkKSlIHO1sqsR_9KZ3QBQU3IY6DSj8lftRcdBeK-XhPusKZJT8arYi3sxWH1huGD-uZhucL8_G8_-3aX/s1600/DSC_6910first+class.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNx109cJBLnSrD9Sffxdo_U_RSjV63z5_8TBaahxlQVQe65Yppj48fzkaTQJM3ZkKSlIHO1sqsR_9KZ3QBQU3IY6DSj8lftRcdBeK-XhPusKZJT8arYi3sxWH1huGD-uZhucL8_G8_-3aX/s320/DSC_6910first+class.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't often get the opportunity to travel 1st class</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We decide to splash out and travel first class, that put us in a comfortable coupé for 6 people which we shared with a Hungarian/French couple who lived near Lyon. We had our lunches delivered to the carriage, which were simple but very tasty and in the evening we dined at the Railway Museum in Mulhouse amongst the trains. The following morning we had a visit to the museum and then back on to the train.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexGrhfMHl1yqQK7JNPCp3h4ug-FnJvH1gGG6XJn3G3oq0l_bPQFDAm2E7JINzUhn9T52SUnu8Gb1dbb4i6YgJItX8DxwknzYCKdjrT3mgfeemuSZhyphenhyphenG3P0gVgJHDVVK128J7msSElNiya/s1600/DSC_6879train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexGrhfMHl1yqQK7JNPCp3h4ug-FnJvH1gGG6XJn3G3oq0l_bPQFDAm2E7JINzUhn9T52SUnu8Gb1dbb4i6YgJItX8DxwknzYCKdjrT3mgfeemuSZhyphenhyphenG3P0gVgJHDVVK128J7msSElNiya/s320/DSC_6879train.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cees enjoying the view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I can safely say that I enjoyed every single minute of the weekend - well maybe not the getting up at 6 am to drive to the station, but every other minute. I must admit it was a bit expensive, but for such a special occasion it was well worth it, the organisation was superb and if you look at what you got for your money, it was certainly not overpriced.<br />
<br />
We will be looking at the trips for next year - who knows maybe will be on that particular train again.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-25837389630264597732017-10-29T08:00:00.000+01:002017-11-01T13:56:25.337+01:00Dancing Cabbage<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHykrw74UXCDTboi4SmHZ_Dcnz_I5A5hksWCALfxpSmu2sYoiX8KPu-fnrLD1oy_kTv0gm5xPmvxFFR-F-Yr_R7mg-WLmvw8mrNu2q5vX10LSMMIfhQTX8iDIjE67YWtkfjcsDsp2IeOt/s1600/i16758-tartiflette-traditionnelle+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="610" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHykrw74UXCDTboi4SmHZ_Dcnz_I5A5hksWCALfxpSmu2sYoiX8KPu-fnrLD1oy_kTv0gm5xPmvxFFR-F-Yr_R7mg-WLmvw8mrNu2q5vX10LSMMIfhQTX8iDIjE67YWtkfjcsDsp2IeOt/s320/i16758-tartiflette-traditionnelle+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tartiflette photo from www.cuisineaz.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After the long warm evenings of summer have passed, we move into a different time of year where activities are very different as well. Instead of long BBQ evenings with friends, other outdoor activities or concerts in the glorious Romaesque churches that abound here, we move into the season of club events, annual general meetings, livened up with wine and food at the end, “salons”, exhibitions and fundraising dinners.<br />
<br />
At our taichi AGM we managed to have about 15 minutes of discussion and voting and then 2 hours worth of wine, food and dancing, that seems to be the right balance to me. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGuHNiSlbEId6s9tldqxx9ylgb9hTqFBEsxeRgftYO6GG-2D7AHirlaJYKHwJnFsuziSLJYObs5lGc15u8Wf6F_JyS-6AdHKcrVw_5useleeyObltj8bvmVZr0UGCTHPyuiP1JJc7ZmXy/s1600/20161219-choucroute-vicky-wasik-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGuHNiSlbEId6s9tldqxx9ylgb9hTqFBEsxeRgftYO6GG-2D7AHirlaJYKHwJnFsuziSLJYObs5lGc15u8Wf6F_JyS-6AdHKcrVw_5useleeyObltj8bvmVZr0UGCTHPyuiP1JJc7ZmXy/s320/20161219-choucroute-vicky-wasik-19.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choucroute photo from www.seriouseats.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Tourist Office in St-Gengoux-le-National on the other hand had an extraordinary GM to discuss its future, now that the local government has taken over control of the office. A very lively, but mostly off-topic, debate was had by all then the vote was cast. Contrary to northern European logic, the majority voted to merge with another association and to do something that was not entirely clear to me, but if they are happy that way, so be it. All the arguing and discussions took over 2 hours which didn’t leave us an enormous amount of time to enjoy the very good wine on offer and to have farewell chats with those we have worked with over the last 10 or so years.<br />
<br />
After the “salon” of Zen in Sennecey-le-Grand and “salon” of well being in Cluny there was an exhibition of the Cluny photo club which was of a very high standard. The club was touting for new members, so we signed up and have started going to their meetings. We missed out on the light painting night and the mushroom excursion but we are looking forward to next club outings to practise a bit of photography with the group.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1x8qAbYTx7XqygQ9AAAMV7nOJ8Hr5vawal01S2fMEm6mJGR7v1IcomLPRlkOCXztV63RjEa08kPG22hUA7QaT4_Hqk5ewigo6XPQisk9iZTzz0Q7e6yT12PAytL9HJEwCQ4iFgrgBJYXx/s1600/aligot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1x8qAbYTx7XqygQ9AAAMV7nOJ8Hr5vawal01S2fMEm6mJGR7v1IcomLPRlkOCXztV63RjEa08kPG22hUA7QaT4_Hqk5ewigo6XPQisk9iZTzz0Q7e6yT12PAytL9HJEwCQ4iFgrgBJYXx/s320/aligot.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aligot photo from www.marieclaire.fr</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And last but not least there are numerous dinners offering autumn/winter delights such as tartiflette which is potatoes cooked in the oven with lardons and onions topped off with Reblochon a special cheese from the French Alps (Savoy) region baked to crispy perfection, aligot an Auvergne delight of melted Tomme (a cheese from the Auvergne), butter, cream and garlic blended into mashed potato, a gooey, elasticy mix of yum often served with just bread, but you can also serve it with sausages. Not to mention Boeuf Bourginon not always that well done and rather a cliché, but what the heck it’s named after our region. Often these meals are an excuse to eat and drink well into the night with the obligatory dancing in between courses so that you do not feel as though you are just pigging out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbthNqsYmOdW0IcboWt2Noc9ewT8ZSkSlCpy8QAeXn9pyGWwu7KwdVe3B7-KwKBmySj2e-92AKUMwTQHEX8FtU2tgkktSZmn25-aVUJfJgxbsQ4PDeefPpH1RH1KFfQ945JMiZ93RaOGo/s1600/DSC_7421choucroute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbthNqsYmOdW0IcboWt2Noc9ewT8ZSkSlCpy8QAeXn9pyGWwu7KwdVe3B7-KwKBmySj2e-92AKUMwTQHEX8FtU2tgkktSZmn25-aVUJfJgxbsQ4PDeefPpH1RH1KFfQ945JMiZ93RaOGo/s320/DSC_7421choucroute.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing choucroute available in Cluny?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>But the best event we have seen advertised this year is the Cluny rugby club’s annual choucroute evening - choucroute being a speciality from the Alsace of sauerkraut topped with heaps and heaps of sausages and chunks of gammon and other meats. <br />
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I have a slight suspicion that someone has reworded the poster this year making it sound a little more special than normal. It tickled my sense of humour and if it were to be true, it would be almost worth the 18 Euros to see the choucroute dancing to the Madison - I suspect though that the lump of acidic, fermented cabbage will stubbornly sit on the plate, so I don’t think I’ll be going.<br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-53786359328014631912017-10-23T11:33:00.000+02:002017-10-24T14:30:53.236+02:00Return to blogging<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbmH4sunHRABjfWa5ejh9I-7CeH7fzfLD_zrLzQlopIcgzM_XssvWPsarE9lBCChIOOpunYDlZjbJPEhJihm4VNvcM01W_HrPimxuHMiS2KCYDe0FYC9TYMVN3P2m4eMxxM4L2pjd736O/s1600/DSC_7234autumn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbmH4sunHRABjfWa5ejh9I-7CeH7fzfLD_zrLzQlopIcgzM_XssvWPsarE9lBCChIOOpunYDlZjbJPEhJihm4VNvcM01W_HrPimxuHMiS2KCYDe0FYC9TYMVN3P2m4eMxxM4L2pjd736O/s320/DSC_7234autumn.jpg" width="320" /></a>I haven’t blogged for, what seems to be, an absolute age, I guess I was all blogged out there for a while. Spring turned into a glorious summer, one of the best and driest since we have been here and now, even though the temperature is still tipping 20 degrees, autumn is most definitely in full swing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOJoXTyCPxFIwuXhBs2Ky7EpUtvrWZVj_iGfhMdbCQ38BEgA8gljWo4sMEGrKzxaz9Lgra5os-K4KPc5EuDaaFb5WPMvMBl3D-Gny6WRL49VKlqnoupISMWtjaKJPbi8y7uBYSrNtb3M2/s1600/DSC_7242autumn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOJoXTyCPxFIwuXhBs2Ky7EpUtvrWZVj_iGfhMdbCQ38BEgA8gljWo4sMEGrKzxaz9Lgra5os-K4KPc5EuDaaFb5WPMvMBl3D-Gny6WRL49VKlqnoupISMWtjaKJPbi8y7uBYSrNtb3M2/s320/DSC_7242autumn.jpg" width="320" /></a>It doesn’t mean we haven’t been busy this summer, our days and evenings have been packed with all the usual summer stuff, picnics, visiting the sites to see (eternal tourists that we are) and of course many, many quite superb concerts. All of that will give me loads to write about in the coming weeks of course.<br />
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So what are we up to at the moment? With this splendid autumn weather, cool mornings and warm afternoons, we have had a great chance to get on top of some big garden jobs. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACoAL_r7C1qBKWZhDBQB-SZu-CfKn7AeyOlJbo8naiUTrEjQDM4XlIM0fZgCEC6AVkmx9oQ_OE7SLMTJuI_aA18FIA5f8-yZ55nilJdVVtGhX3LbfRnWF7VmXL0-ts1i6kbmZwOnAaNZH/s1600/DSC_7256cees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACoAL_r7C1qBKWZhDBQB-SZu-CfKn7AeyOlJbo8naiUTrEjQDM4XlIM0fZgCEC6AVkmx9oQ_OE7SLMTJuI_aA18FIA5f8-yZ55nilJdVVtGhX3LbfRnWF7VmXL0-ts1i6kbmZwOnAaNZH/s320/DSC_7256cees.jpg" width="320" /></a>Cees has been clearing brambles – he is a man with a mission at the moment and I have managed to get ahead with trimming hedges and clearing the lower reed bed which is always a huge task that normally gets left until it is too late. So for once in a long time, our garden is looking very neat indeed. But mostly we have been enjoying going out and about, photographing the tremendous colours that this season brings, taking the opportunity to practise taichi in the garden before it gets too cold to be enjoyable and just generally enjoying life the universe and everything.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8p-GP9_qLSN2FQ2nBL5bZqxjc0C74snNiq-EMYYF5ccThVDgN-lGIb-atfCQug_rjxHTWQnOZViBxn8XC7i-VJSjLZuEeZl06uvx9WIu6Ohjek8CwnZyzkE-jATGn3We0z6bYXGLFhmA/s1600/DSC_7391acer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8p-GP9_qLSN2FQ2nBL5bZqxjc0C74snNiq-EMYYF5ccThVDgN-lGIb-atfCQug_rjxHTWQnOZViBxn8XC7i-VJSjLZuEeZl06uvx9WIu6Ohjek8CwnZyzkE-jATGn3We0z6bYXGLFhmA/s320/DSC_7391acer.jpg" width="320" /></a>The gites are wrapped up for the winter now and the campsite is closed – more on that another time – and the tourists are fewer on the roads, so we are slipping into winter mode, wood fires and mulled wine aah la vie est belle!<br />
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<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-65273907122795844302017-06-04T11:04:00.000+02:002017-06-04T11:04:51.523+02:00Celebrations<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://route-des-grands-crus-de-bourgogne.fr/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1257" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1_Y03mfkE_jckkcGardo5ro0I3tqxomQnYTyMWSKFRqKAH7t8OmJ4jERYvSAh2TbAYnKkmmC8zY75OvNzOwlaIv0etgCQJluQsBOYf7y4ROcbXHNzlNNdHKWOpAZTTro-KhcoSNvduWn/s320/grands+crus.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click for more details</td></tr>
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This year is an important year for the byways and highways of our region. We are celebrating 20 years of the Voie Verte – an old railway line turned into a cycle track that spans the whole of Burgundy – one for the fit and healthy amongst our visitors and 80 years of the Route des Grands Crus – a route that enables you to visit all of the big wines chateaux of Burgundy - one for the connoisseurs.<br />
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Unsurprisingly the first event we have been to was for the Route des Grands Crus.<br />
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A week or so ago we saw a note in the newspaper that Château du Clos de Vougeot was open free of charge to celebrate the event and as it is a chateau that we had long been planning to visit, we headed off to just north of Beaune, on a thundery Sunday afternoon, to see what the place had to offer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVCCPYjtT_Gc1-HqJQBlgON9p6D898GkAV3s6SfPK-dlChb42KuA13bAYzVItwpuH-RlaQTKjtFPtSbGXxXFE_5CoVxCwYVBrgeY_aMCPYO6xASAVnhiddepgln-5IkCN_04kx5q2ZPU7/s1600/DSC_4418chateau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVCCPYjtT_Gc1-HqJQBlgON9p6D898GkAV3s6SfPK-dlChb42KuA13bAYzVItwpuH-RlaQTKjtFPtSbGXxXFE_5CoVxCwYVBrgeY_aMCPYO6xASAVnhiddepgln-5IkCN_04kx5q2ZPU7/s320/DSC_4418chateau.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Château du Clos de Vougeot under thundery skies</td></tr>
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Opening time was 14.00 so being chronically early, even after an en-route picnic, we arrived at 13.00. The town was already packed with cars and no one was allowed to drive up anywhere near the chateau itself unless they had a disabled badge. We parked in town and looking at the sky we did wonder just how wet we were going to get, but we headed off none the less. The walk turned out to be shorter than we had thought and arriving at the chateau we were greeted by a wonderful array of vintage cars lining the approach to the man entrance.<br />
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We entered the chateau at about 13.30 and were amazed to learn that we could go in and have a look around. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtxF2e8YG-oBy2RGQfnLYC3Bhi3ur575VFk1e-InHMJYqTNdr12wxjwy6lm9ZpcPQtOwKBgNcQI6UhpchWRODzaCkoEa2iiGvdm6JLXXcuAfXp9kRgV5-EK07_1SqilIcWDDQSNvh3qxf/s1600/DSC_4426winepress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1001" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtxF2e8YG-oBy2RGQfnLYC3Bhi3ur575VFk1e-InHMJYqTNdr12wxjwy6lm9ZpcPQtOwKBgNcQI6UhpchWRODzaCkoEa2iiGvdm6JLXXcuAfXp9kRgV5-EK07_1SqilIcWDDQSNvh3qxf/s320/DSC_4426winepress.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the wine press</td></tr>
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Parts of the chateau are Mediaeval in which you can find some interesting wine making equipment. There was the biggest wine press I have ever seen which I couldn’t photograph as it was just too big! At 14.00 there were supposed to be speeches and the opening of a photo exhibition, but we managed to sneak in before the doors were really open and look at the photos which were very good indeed. Having been to enough of these types of events, we managed to get out in time before the room flooded and we had to listen to endless speeches consisting mainly of thank you for coming Mr the Mayor, thank you for coming Mr the MOP, thank you etc etc…… (fill it in yourself, but make sure you have enough names to last at least 15 minutes) then another half hour of drivel before you get to the one or two interesting sentences about why we are actually there and then of course a glass or two of wine. We didn’t think it was worth the wait, well actually we had guests coming round for drinks late that afternoon and we had to get back, so we headed off just as the guests were filtering in. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEima17PEHbZ-rwqPLYQ-Ept07qb6whTA1Dp5Axya2hvQ3yPoImGRmPG11WDvkitvLFQYrGV-yKhRbO5i_VCs00g8js_htD_W-A3jON-7rsIgew1R_5AIbQmydqyRtCiLLTsqh8Kv-SDguZ7/s1600/DSC_4410picnic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEima17PEHbZ-rwqPLYQ-Ept07qb6whTA1Dp5Axya2hvQ3yPoImGRmPG11WDvkitvLFQYrGV-yKhRbO5i_VCs00g8js_htD_W-A3jON-7rsIgew1R_5AIbQmydqyRtCiLLTsqh8Kv-SDguZ7/s320/DSC_4410picnic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a picnic amongst the vines</td></tr>
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We had seen what we had come to see and we hadn’t been disappointed. The living quarters of the château are interesting, but the real highlights are the winemaking buildings including the cellars. I would thoroughly recommend a visit to this château, to combine with a couple of other things on a trip out into the Cote-d’Or and of course a picnic amongst the vines is a must.<br />
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Just in case you are wondering, we even managed to get back to the car before the heavens opened.<br />
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<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-55685384363234869582017-04-16T09:20:00.001+02:002017-04-16T09:20:53.016+02:00Easter Morning<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gathered around the Easter fire</td></tr>
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Our first visitors always arrive at Easter and yesterday while I was explaining to our new gite guests that the Easter morning service was at 10.00 and that they had to be well in time or the church would be barred, they told me that there was to be a fire on Saturday evening and the evening service was being held in a field. Intrigued, I went on to the Taizé website to discover that there was to be an all-night vigil around a fire and then the Eucharist was to be held at 06.30 and not at the usual 10.00.<br />
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Me and mornings do not go together, but even so this fire and early service intrigued me enough to get up at 05.00 (yes that is five o’clock in the morning!) and head up the hill. I knew where the field would be as there have been more open-air services in Taizé and so after parking amazingly close to the church (third parking space on the left would you believe) I walked to the field. As I turned the corner I could hear quiet singing voices and I could see the bonfire and two icons which had been lit. As I got closer I saw at least 200 youngsters sitting or lying on the grass, I am sure there would have been more had it not been drizzling with rain. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBw7XJ4Lv4ICJ6stYQdRLKAKdVpRxZWw-qZEoF0Ia7bponiauvUW536Q5WnAD0gUMazrvgXi56648xRpGMGlWJdgzq5OlV3_mgZiTjjnU5-EGwYyHexIVPyolnExt0d7REq1ooZQZVj7Z/s1600/DSC_3915taize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBw7XJ4Lv4ICJ6stYQdRLKAKdVpRxZWw-qZEoF0Ia7bponiauvUW536Q5WnAD0gUMazrvgXi56648xRpGMGlWJdgzq5OlV3_mgZiTjjnU5-EGwYyHexIVPyolnExt0d7REq1ooZQZVj7Z/s320/DSC_3915taize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighting the lamp</td></tr>
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After several songs and some Bible readings in English and French, one of the brothers announced that as dawn was at hand they would light a lantern from the fire to take to the church to light the Pascal candle and we were to lead the way. So off we went in procession to the church. The front doors of the church were already barred as that section was full and judging by the huge queues at the other doors, I wasn’t at all convinced that we would all get in. In fact in view of previous years’ overcrowding, I wasn’t at all sure I wanted to get in. But in I did get and there was quite a lot of space still available. Even though the flow of people kept coming right up to the start of the service, the church didn’t get to a dangerously overfull state and I decided to stay. I didn’t manage to lay my hands on a candle or a song book, but I know most of the songs anyway, so that wasn’t any hardship.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HwFfwYaFJSeTN5-5GfIxBbFry7QahBiUlbCOKX8I0Tn_j_y9ApCzo_LORwTqv-MaU6hfTbFOCQpONcypu2j89QMLsnw4_uqSl5KSp0Ogll7oNA4cWTMb4xxeoJ71YZ8KD1RtCQu-ROxS/s1600/candle3kopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4HwFfwYaFJSeTN5-5GfIxBbFry7QahBiUlbCOKX8I0Tn_j_y9ApCzo_LORwTqv-MaU6hfTbFOCQpONcypu2j89QMLsnw4_uqSl5KSp0Ogll7oNA4cWTMb4xxeoJ71YZ8KD1RtCQu-ROxS/s320/candle3kopie.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
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The service started in a normal sort of way, songs, Bible readings, more songs and then there was a lot of talking in French and I suddenly realised that a novice was taking his vows and being accepted into the community as a brother. This is something I have wanted to witness for a long time and here it was happening right in front of me! Just at the end of his vows I heard the sound of car tires on the gravel at the side of the church where no cars should be and, call me a wimp if you like, I got very nervous. The service was long from over, we hadn’t even got to the silence and the consecration of the bread and wine hadn’t been done, let alone handing out the communion, but I decided, as everyone stood up to applaud the new brother, it was time for my departure. Back at the car I saw that it was 07.30 so I had been there for more than two hours. After going to the baker, I headed for home and as I write this I can hear the bells ringing out to wish the world a happy Easter, it is now 08.30, so I am glad I left early, I don’t think I could have coped with another hour on the floor.<br />
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All in all it was a very interesting experience and it has solved the overcrowding problem of the 10.00 service, either many people didn’t know about the time change or 06.30 is too early for most. So a big well done to the brothers for this innovation and a happy Easter to everyone. Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com071250 Taizé, France46.51583 4.6793420000000220.9937955 -36.62925199999998 72.0378645 45.987936000000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-66943534689899432722017-03-18T08:00:00.000+01:002017-03-18T08:00:19.932+01:00LED Lightbulbs<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSf4kqUVQwAwK9c0rB7HZNDzHxwwpWkt0ic9kGoJ0qle4vNK3YGYMER-VqmFFZQoqGSU_gDIlIX1UfhOFgdXGSz2JE0tfd5DHHAXF7hwtUDbWUZJaZuz2hcNrjAW40UlGobEFK9UTkiFD4/s1600/DSC_0692_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSf4kqUVQwAwK9c0rB7HZNDzHxwwpWkt0ic9kGoJ0qle4vNK3YGYMER-VqmFFZQoqGSU_gDIlIX1UfhOFgdXGSz2JE0tfd5DHHAXF7hwtUDbWUZJaZuz2hcNrjAW40UlGobEFK9UTkiFD4/s320/DSC_0692_lznkopie.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A real light bulb fading into history</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ever since the European Union passed one of the silliest and patronising laws banning the manufacture and sale of “normal” lightbulbs, we have struggled with lights in our house. I’m all for energy saving - just ask Cees how I follow him round the house switching off lights and I had energy saving bulbs long, long before they were compulsory, but I had them where I wanted them and where they were “safe”. <br />
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It is totally unsafe to have a system of lighting that you have to wait up to 2 minutes (I kid you not for the ones in our living room) before you can enter a space safely and can actually see where you are.<br />
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We have been relying on hand-me downs from Cees’ daughter and the one or two precious bulbs we still have left, to use in places where light is actually needed instantly.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9ywk6Ht4rAFyjayjO2OWmYjggjif2V8Yk4mUR3UJEAkP43kWL9DGbMMVmwwLY3okQy-U5vmj5bQvxq7z0n3s80QyfCkvxrpkkJ20n6tG-nWS7Fu3BfuHOJ0J8UjFKi0MUaKDGTcgggv2/s1600/DSC_0699_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9ywk6Ht4rAFyjayjO2OWmYjggjif2V8Yk4mUR3UJEAkP43kWL9DGbMMVmwwLY3okQy-U5vmj5bQvxq7z0n3s80QyfCkvxrpkkJ20n6tG-nWS7Fu3BfuHOJ0J8UjFKi0MUaKDGTcgggv2/s320/DSC_0699_lznkopie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emergency rations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Finally LED lights have come of age and are available and affordable and wow… it is still a joy to walk into our living room and flip the switch and hey presto there was light. But their price is not a rock-bottom, giveaway prices and our old energy saving lights are still working, so we have only slowly started the replacement process.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGPjnZNAB-yLq4uYWlRHL4DfQh9kkf7kzP5qCfTEtgejK6PAI7RkA87M3LZgMnOMmPWzgaqJgEAzPlSy1VBdZGkowBVX9PwUVXFcKKtPyOaa6YUf2v6ZwbaIO_vpsY3N9RXLG_KILt7t8/s1600/DSC_0667_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGPjnZNAB-yLq4uYWlRHL4DfQh9kkf7kzP5qCfTEtgejK6PAI7RkA87M3LZgMnOMmPWzgaqJgEAzPlSy1VBdZGkowBVX9PwUVXFcKKtPyOaa6YUf2v6ZwbaIO_vpsY3N9RXLG_KILt7t8/s320/DSC_0667_lznkopie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the recently removed light bulbs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This process was given a big boost last week when a money-off voucher arrived for our local DIY shop, finally we could replace the lights in the kitchen cum dining room.<br />
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At that moment we discovered another reason that you shouldn’t use these horrible energy-saving lights – wasps! We found a wasp’s nest in each of the four energy-saving light bulbs and none in the two proper light bulbs. Not only could we have been stung by these angry beasties, but those nests could have caught fire. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNiJHf8FkGnEw_eWSSZbW7MTeILu6zFmVkiDQKj1ks6QAZPWfbPrDV_MoCFX9MSlQeRmtZQLrnvCBT_B5NHjg1AG-LBPtun7ES0o0ykm3u9fnKmVoKjxPhJj3tAtNwNYFS3SI1rhuXDy9/s1600/DSC_0669_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNiJHf8FkGnEw_eWSSZbW7MTeILu6zFmVkiDQKj1ks6QAZPWfbPrDV_MoCFX9MSlQeRmtZQLrnvCBT_B5NHjg1AG-LBPtun7ES0o0ykm3u9fnKmVoKjxPhJj3tAtNwNYFS3SI1rhuXDy9/s320/DSC_0669_lznkopie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All four had the same problem</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We are now "real light bulbs-less" in the house, and almost "energy-saving light bulb-less". I’ll keep the real ones for posterity, they might be worth some money in a few years but those ghastly things are going in the bin, it was almost worth voting Brexit to get rid of them – I said almost...<br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0La Tuilerie, 71460 Cormatin, France46.524599 4.699117999999998646.5232335 4.6965964999999983 46.5259645 4.7016394999999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-32379736783142475092017-03-11T08:00:00.000+01:002017-03-11T08:00:02.860+01:00Discovering a New Restaurant in Cluny<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1VvWcJprtYVaWtmq8l-vjYyJJOUijUuCNavz7orY6riHk4X2ocldNbCkuH5JgTG6sPGnS632Tn5x30gbiuPoUJTNM6f_2IluWrgWxuokXut7NR4CPYIIrUwwnrjmKWwblMa5F2bY93Yi/s1600/DSC_2251sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1VvWcJprtYVaWtmq8l-vjYyJJOUijUuCNavz7orY6riHk4X2ocldNbCkuH5JgTG6sPGnS632Tn5x30gbiuPoUJTNM6f_2IluWrgWxuokXut7NR4CPYIIrUwwnrjmKWwblMa5F2bY93Yi/s320/DSC_2251sign.jpg" width="213" /></a>Well it isn’t really a new discovery, we have seen this restaurant many times before, it is a pizza joint, just “the wrong side” of the market square, with a rather tatty terrace that projects into the road making driving up the main street a little tricky.<br />
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Now doesn’t that sound like a good recommendation of a restaurant? I think that explains why we had never been. For whatever reason (mainly because all our favourite restaurants were shut for their holidays) we decided to give it a go last weekend.<br />
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We arrived at La Calbrese at 12.00 and the place was empty – not a good sign I thought. The waiters were very friendly and we were shown to a nice table. The restaurant itself was very clean, modern and roomy; it had a really nice atmosphere about it. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjij3mnz1hjJOI2Z2IwmBYxHsxHb6MDrpmMsOSg8MMxoxWpkDEFhiCl133om-4Qz8p1UXgthyphenhyphen5HPFfuHPNGz_Ls3KxXuyJsCjlKqPivoeC8BnWgXAN5M2PAZkJQakyV-ef-ekR_XxI_it_6/s1600/DSC_2247restaurant+inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjij3mnz1hjJOI2Z2IwmBYxHsxHb6MDrpmMsOSg8MMxoxWpkDEFhiCl133om-4Qz8p1UXgthyphenhyphen5HPFfuHPNGz_Ls3KxXuyJsCjlKqPivoeC8BnWgXAN5M2PAZkJQakyV-ef-ekR_XxI_it_6/s320/DSC_2247restaurant+inside.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quick snap before the hoards of eaters turned up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The menu looked interesting, a bit more than just pizzas and pasta, which is more than you can say for most French restaurants of this genre. We were so engrossed in the menu that we didn’t spot the other hungry lunchtime guests arriving and by the time we had made our choice, we looked up to find the restaurant was packed.<br />
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The lasagne I ordered came with salad at a price way below the competition in town and Cees’ spaghetti bolognaise looked very good as well. Both of us were very impressed with the quality of what we received. The pasta was al-dente, the balance between the pasta and sauce was just right, the parmesan was freshly grated, the wine was very good - in fact I can’t fault anything about the place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVhStJBid81s5Q0qVB6Zv6RZXq3jcEX3kLFOOwetatw1Y_EgPzRSCOXe6gtrcAu5BfL0t5eqVheJfCVEv-VcQNr_COQ7S8pXKR_hhiVa_6sKcX-zTtfYWJS4Qw_GrQHz2d1P_dUNy06xS/s1600/DSC_2250restaurant+outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVhStJBid81s5Q0qVB6Zv6RZXq3jcEX3kLFOOwetatw1Y_EgPzRSCOXe6gtrcAu5BfL0t5eqVheJfCVEv-VcQNr_COQ7S8pXKR_hhiVa_6sKcX-zTtfYWJS4Qw_GrQHz2d1P_dUNy06xS/s320/DSC_2250restaurant+outside.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't look worth the effort, but it is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I am so glad we finally tried it, but I do have some reservations about recommending it to others, if too many more people start going there, we won’t be able to get in! They were turning people away before half past 12 which shows just how wrong our earlier impressions had been. <br />
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Summary - this is an absolute bijou of a restaurant, we will certainly be going back and we will try their other main meals next time, to see if they live up to the high standard they have set. <br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com071250 Cluny, France46.433885377300832 4.657881663971011246.433201377300833 4.6566211639710113 46.434569377300832 4.6591421639710111tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-24025863591565354442017-03-04T08:00:00.000+01:002017-03-04T08:00:15.761+01:00The Royal Monastery of Brou<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi786QH1jWMtVgv1ZAJknD_3cz30N5MW3KslAbRy3iOZGw_3HC6e-mnm79CJYESvGg512ekElrA5y89XUPn121LbSj2OzbVct8vgRcL_1m0gUwrbxIJx19W2Pthb2ucJFINurjpHXCxYMGq/s1600/DSC_2175_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi786QH1jWMtVgv1ZAJknD_3cz30N5MW3KslAbRy3iOZGw_3HC6e-mnm79CJYESvGg512ekElrA5y89XUPn121LbSj2OzbVct8vgRcL_1m0gUwrbxIJx19W2Pthb2ucJFINurjpHXCxYMGq/s320/DSC_2175_lznkopie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning roof tiles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Last week’s visit into the Bresse to see the cattle market allowed us to revisit one of the most impressive Gothic sites in this area - the monastery at Brou just outside Bourg-en-Bresse. Our first visit to this place was when we stayed on a camping à la ferme near Villefranche, which must have been 15 or more years ago, back in the days when we only dreamed of doing what we now do. Although we have visited it since, it is not one of our regular haunts. We were definitely not disappointed with this visit and we were both left wondering why we don’t come out this way more often, it’s less than an hour from home and well worth the detour. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrLv7UP8PqpQB8mtQzh5YlbnY7LYQL2tzqpZZy8rWGKPyNwk5JRL9fi1LHZOmKJY4PrqBLjkN7C9AUQQAsrbOJ_7COQt_RFfjWN13wikQ2RbLNzMgNtt3NABGim-zg3W-oJwDxdGQPfcv/s1600/DSC_2106_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrLv7UP8PqpQB8mtQzh5YlbnY7LYQL2tzqpZZy8rWGKPyNwk5JRL9fi1LHZOmKJY4PrqBLjkN7C9AUQQAsrbOJ_7COQt_RFfjWN13wikQ2RbLNzMgNtt3NABGim-zg3W-oJwDxdGQPfcv/s320/DSC_2106_lznkopie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The choir and the beautiful stained glass windows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The church is exquisitely decorated and is a perfect textbook example of Flamboyant Gothic. Amazingly the whole place was built in a record time of less than 20 years, but sadly the commissioner (Margaret of Austria) died in Belgium three months before it was completed and she never saw the buildings herself even though her remains are interred there. The monastery parts (three cloisters and surrounding buildings) are impressive in their size and decoration, and the roof is really something to behold. It is all a big difference to the simple style Romanesque style we are so used to visiting around here. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAvgPvvvW6wskUs_nmi_3Hjc8UrJyi3_FamRnDXh6KBH_a0OS4RYW9_K3g78jOptXyRmXz25mWvQo7TzypxMMUGuz6db5PuuO0wmytXCJX_Gu1uYDDY5pDBCam-lEjYOcX69XvAQNkMNR/s1600/DSC_2166_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAvgPvvvW6wskUs_nmi_3Hjc8UrJyi3_FamRnDXh6KBH_a0OS4RYW9_K3g78jOptXyRmXz25mWvQo7TzypxMMUGuz6db5PuuO0wmytXCJX_Gu1uYDDY5pDBCam-lEjYOcX69XvAQNkMNR/s320/DSC_2166_lznkopie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bizarre detail of the back of a choir chair</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This place is really well worth all the Michelin stars it gets and as a bonus, the entry ticket gives you a reduced price entry to the Abbey in Cluny – having said that, I think we’ll stick to the free Sunday visits during the winter period, which of course less fortunate visitors can’t do.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsT8sPIf0bcufDktvuBmj_nv6rPKH-m9AIwF9ZiGHC_J2PGDq0OYZSGCTs2x_bQmFWNJB-RozRNwy11ynk7IcDjlBNdzqvEh9XwzyYHBneXN6FmR7yQqN-IWj5ihguFERv1NrEe7ejW5z7/s1600/DSC_2129_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsT8sPIf0bcufDktvuBmj_nv6rPKH-m9AIwF9ZiGHC_J2PGDq0OYZSGCTs2x_bQmFWNJB-RozRNwy11ynk7IcDjlBNdzqvEh9XwzyYHBneXN6FmR7yQqN-IWj5ihguFERv1NrEe7ejW5z7/s320/DSC_2129_lznkopie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was on a writing desk in one of the nuns cells..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After all that walking and absorbing the culture we were in need of some refreshment and the icing on the cake of the day was the array of restaurants directly opposite the church. They weren’t there when we first visited as I can remember spending hours, on a miserable Sunday, looking for something, looking for anything, to eat. All the restaurants looked good but we plumped for La Duchesse de Savoie which was superb value for money, excellent food and packed by 12.00 which is always a good sign. So we finished our day out in the Bresse with that excellent lunch.<br />
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What better way can you imagine to spend a leisurely day?<br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0Brou, 01000 Bourg-en-Bresse, France46.197920034387188 5.236272451403806446.19517253438719 5.2312299514038063 46.200667534387186 5.2413149514038064tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-87226106854363016482017-02-25T08:00:00.000+01:002017-02-25T08:00:00.898+01:00The Biggest Cattle Market in FranceWhen we were at the Charolais cattle market at St Christophe-en-Brionnais recently, we got chatting to a man who sells cattle feed. It transpired that the “biggest” cattle market in France was just down the road from us in Bourg-en-Bresse and not being able to resist a day out, we went on Tuesday morning to see yet more cows.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5TfRDYD00bYcSQa7FeLqRDy7C-QRYnP_SNrvwSV9czTJkS8ZrhFZ_AJm_dB2N1W5kD34xBgzPXZ0lVUDEvWc4jm1g2iIwD_BXyHT9JV9Ww2bAEtLFWGjCP8ArkoOmQre6JCnG069Hd6l/s1600/DSC_2091_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5TfRDYD00bYcSQa7FeLqRDy7C-QRYnP_SNrvwSV9czTJkS8ZrhFZ_AJm_dB2N1W5kD34xBgzPXZ0lVUDEvWc4jm1g2iIwD_BXyHT9JV9Ww2bAEtLFWGjCP8ArkoOmQre6JCnG069Hd6l/s1600/DSC_2091_lznkopie.jpg" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmers milling around amongst the cattle</td></tr>
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Less than an hour from home, we were outside the huge building where all the action takes place. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqxY9R-yb26_V-IT5UJIDBmKBw-E-FEOfZ9wjG9RFy54Zz_9cR_Zmp3gf76CSsoaJdz6f1kfSHq3lsMfg0m1GttfKZerPcwEZaUGy0oRlvxPKolh-BOoaTW4V6N58nAx2eovHzNIZbmL_/s1600/DSC_2093_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqxY9R-yb26_V-IT5UJIDBmKBw-E-FEOfZ9wjG9RFy54Zz_9cR_Zmp3gf76CSsoaJdz6f1kfSHq3lsMfg0m1GttfKZerPcwEZaUGy0oRlvxPKolh-BOoaTW4V6N58nAx2eovHzNIZbmL_/s320/DSC_2093_lznkopie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nosey cows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Inside the building there are hundreds of pens with each pen containing different types, sizes and ages of cattle. The farmers mill around and chat to one another, business is done on a human scale here. Unlike St-Christophe, the selling is still done on a one to one basis between the buyer and seller for the animals in each pen. To the untrained eye, it looks like a bunch of farmers chatting with each other, but on careful observation you can see some of them writing in little notebooks and then pieces of paper are furtively exchanged. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRn-KrbGkTCVj8DOrxwVgiA-paFd0J7E_D0E76TDbpDqy2DcLUx8Kan5_RCnnL5E29H7hCnwd2HimEYmIiITWl9MgwYCcEjpQ5oCDlM2Yz9qwltECM6PNWjFJXHLnWTnKQiK-k3xI1pan/s1600/DSC_2096_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRn-KrbGkTCVj8DOrxwVgiA-paFd0J7E_D0E76TDbpDqy2DcLUx8Kan5_RCnnL5E29H7hCnwd2HimEYmIiITWl9MgwYCcEjpQ5oCDlM2Yz9qwltECM6PNWjFJXHLnWTnKQiK-k3xI1pan/s320/DSC_2096_lznkopie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't she a cutey?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It is a far cry from the cattle markets of my youth with the incoherent shouting of the auctioneer and the market “à la cadran” in St-Christophe which seems just as frenetic. This is really chilled out and apparently just as effective as all animals seem to be sold and all the farmers we saw seemed to be content. The cattle are not marched in and out of an auctioneer’s ring and they seem to be very content.<br />
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Depending on the age and type of animal, different times are allocated for the selling and where the bidding is not going on, visitors like us can have free access to the animals. It was lovely just walking around and chatting to the calves.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ-gQ0xMFgdQJdqMqJZWlZwUn8pM-oif5V2bpEh4YEVR1_RXpS7MLKAa6pbHGQVlmJYoi38zW4B_HaJOwWXDl09v6O72TVk3bSvKgcVEHc9MQFomrGu3belgxoOlLNa6WdIp7Wko3xnYP/s1600/DSC_2178delicious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ-gQ0xMFgdQJdqMqJZWlZwUn8pM-oif5V2bpEh4YEVR1_RXpS7MLKAa6pbHGQVlmJYoi38zW4B_HaJOwWXDl09v6O72TVk3bSvKgcVEHc9MQFomrGu3belgxoOlLNa6WdIp7Wko3xnYP/s320/DSC_2178delicious.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sampling the merchandise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The only bad thing about the market is that it is a way out of town, that makes access and parking easy, but you can’t leave the market and wander around the town, soaking up the market day atmosphere and enjoy a leisurely lunch in a restaurant. There is an on-site restaurant but we decided to move on and visit the monastery at Brou. We found a superb restaurant just opposite the monastery and I’ll give you three guesses what we ordered - well what else can you eat on cattle market day?<br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com001000 Bourg-en-Bresse, France46.207543510123116 5.194944974902341546.185565010123113 5.1546044749023414 46.229522010123119 5.2352854749023416tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-91683431250921429872017-02-11T11:12:00.000+01:002017-02-23T18:06:16.300+01:00New restaurant at Ponte de Cotte<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOV7rAf0Q5LW9CjFoJiWHdX24tUQZ8NuxrRIUrLJSugnddw3VKYQfQeI7FxtHUcbYtQQv64OwhyphenhyphenJzQiXWXSYi9p4dZahFGDUQRYJJ1vmnRTYSzQqLW7WvHZKC76bwFJ7tM94FHCE0AsOC/s1600/rennovations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOV7rAf0Q5LW9CjFoJiWHdX24tUQZ8NuxrRIUrLJSugnddw3VKYQfQeI7FxtHUcbYtQQv64OwhyphenhyphenJzQiXWXSYi9p4dZahFGDUQRYJJ1vmnRTYSzQqLW7WvHZKC76bwFJ7tM94FHCE0AsOC/s320/rennovations.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massive rennovations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>When we first arrived in France, there was a great simple restaurant at Pont de Cotte, less than 10 minutes drive from here on the way to Cluny. It was packed every lunchtime and when we ate there we could see why. The food was good, wholesome, home-cooked food for a reasonable price. Sadly the owner became ill and the restaurant shut. Someone bought it but they soon realised that they couldn’t fund the renovations and by the time another person with enough money to do the work arrived, we had been without our restaurant for a couple of years.<br />
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The new owners had very grand plans. They totally gutted the place including a disused barn next door and turned it into a party centre cum restaurant cum music venue cum wine seller cum cum cum cum. In my humble opinion, the scattergun approach to their business model left everyone confused as to what they actually were. Their menu was not very exciting (steak and chips and the like) and expensive enough for us to travel the extra 5 minutes to Cluny to get the same food for a fraction of the price. I asked a number of people who went there what they thought of it and every single one of them said the surroundings and the view over the river were lovely. From that I read that the food was not worth the visit. Secondly they had a sneaky way of selling wine. Being wine merchants, they advertised the price on the menu as the price from their shop with a corkage charge in small letters at the bottom of the menu. Their wine was not cheap to start with, and it gave some of our friends a nasty shock when the bill arrived. All in all, unsurprisingly, they shut after about a year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoccOVe2lHqbz4rWDiL_y-npBJn9-tShVWUscgoZ5PpYjI_l5iEiXae4BxwFw2H6Nz-s9Tt7CSK4A3TTKpOkwCuiRP4Uf75yS217UjUxKyOHLWuTZx2n2mvcNfuJ8-iF9XafLHqlViFo5/s1600/DSC_1268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoccOVe2lHqbz4rWDiL_y-npBJn9-tShVWUscgoZ5PpYjI_l5iEiXae4BxwFw2H6Nz-s9Tt7CSK4A3TTKpOkwCuiRP4Uf75yS217UjUxKyOHLWuTZx2n2mvcNfuJ8-iF9XafLHqlViFo5/s320/DSC_1268.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunate name for a restaurant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The next set of owners opened a restaurant rather unfortunately named “The Number Two” (I kid you not) and despite the name (obviously the French didn’t understand this English idiom) they brought the restaurant back to the earlier levels of popularity by offering excellent value for money and great food. The place was always packed. Suddenly last year the restaurant closed. On asking around it appeared that they were only renting the place and the owners (the people who had invested in the renovations) had upped the rent so far that the new restaurant owners couldn’t afford to pay it any more –what did I say about poor business sense? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97HBTo3FibpPmSTOgnWGOJS_ijDkURgs-LeXWxIgDRQ9MLdDRNsmTXRbXLfykc_8nFcaumw1O9uRjEU36Ut421FEfSwzo3jqxO0QSgNmX6lXXKAa_otMEUxEFMm3hlktnwCd908G8CeAp/s1600/DSC_1354_lzn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97HBTo3FibpPmSTOgnWGOJS_ijDkURgs-LeXWxIgDRQ9MLdDRNsmTXRbXLfykc_8nFcaumw1O9uRjEU36Ut421FEfSwzo3jqxO0QSgNmX6lXXKAa_otMEUxEFMm3hlktnwCd908G8CeAp/s320/DSC_1354_lzn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking good!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It must have been shut more than year when we noticed a sign – opening 20th January. It was advertised as a Franco-Italian restaurant and encouraged by the lack of the word pizzeria, we eagerly waited for the opening date.<br />
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On the 20th January we were there and we weren’t the only ones. I was rather disappointed to see that it was in fact a pizza pasta restaurant – don’t the French understand Italian cuisine? That said, the menu was interesting and they did have a menu de jour. As it was a Friday, the plat du jour was seafood, which left me out, so I decided to go for some ravioli and Cees chose the menu de jour. As the order was taken, we were heavily encouraged to take the most expensive wine, reliably informed that it was the landlord’s own wine – will he not stop meddling and promoting his flawed business model? We opted for a glass of something significantly cheaper.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtm2QrMX37T4ySdmyKJ0-PIxGdSK10tEo71MRC_LuqcNgijVjfuzAv1io7EbxTpxzeYozamGvQwVZw_8diem8YWLY56sQIlhiGEqDwCHwtNLrj-nN5DKVQhCRTen7bKTg05yXKT391S77x/s1600/Photo0035_lzn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtm2QrMX37T4ySdmyKJ0-PIxGdSK10tEo71MRC_LuqcNgijVjfuzAv1io7EbxTpxzeYozamGvQwVZw_8diem8YWLY56sQIlhiGEqDwCHwtNLrj-nN5DKVQhCRTen7bKTg05yXKT391S77x/s320/Photo0035_lzn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks um well I won't say - it tasted fantastic though</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Before my meal arrived the waitress returned to say that the ravioli hadn’t arrived yet and neither had the lasagne, so I had to choose something different. Not a good start, pre-made raviolis I can cope with (although if you are advertising yourself as an Italian restaurant I would expect that to be homemade) but lasagne bought in pre-prepared? Never mind, some spicy macaroni with lardons would do.<br />
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Cees’ starter arrived - a tomato and mushroom salad. I’m not sure what you would expect, but I was rather surprised to see that it was just a plate of sliced raw tomatoes and sliced raw mushrooms with a drizzling of balsamic vinegar. I was glad that I hadn’t ordered it.<br />
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The main courses arrived, mine looked very unappetizing but was in fact delicious, Cees’ looked interesting, but according to him was tasteless. When the plates were delivered to our table we were offered parmesan cheese, which we said we would like, but sadly that was either not easily available or forgotten and we waited about 15 minutes for it to arrive, I was already half way through my pasta by then having given up any hope of seeing it.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNpLdbYwm6HgfRPbIFwZEICyZ0XYxYy-zC_MBTMqzZnmeqa-vB-J_nMZRdWaCBrulamTa-w8DvwoOtBe_xXIfa4CM4cVhaaQwsw16ijPIDQxKsYUG_Ks4YLmSqCc8xw9qIbIkdbJOqn9N/s1600/Photo0036_lzn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNpLdbYwm6HgfRPbIFwZEICyZ0XYxYy-zC_MBTMqzZnmeqa-vB-J_nMZRdWaCBrulamTa-w8DvwoOtBe_xXIfa4CM4cVhaaQwsw16ijPIDQxKsYUG_Ks4YLmSqCc8xw9qIbIkdbJOqn9N/s320/Photo0036_lzn.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looked a lot better in real life, but no taste</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Paying was also extremely painful. We stood for about 20 minutes at the bar waiting to pay and that included the waitress taking orders from two tables and delivering useful things like a jug of water to another table. Every time she walked past us she said “j’arrive” but never did. <br />
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I will forgive a lot as it was their first day, but when I got home and found out that they have a restaurant in Tournus, the inefficiency of the staff is unforgiveable. Your first day is your showcase and on the basis of that experience we won’t be going back in a hurry. <br />
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There are a lot of cars in the car park when we pass at lunch times as it is conveniently located and reasonably priced for the tradesmen who need to have a lunch break in the area, but I can’t see many people like us going back again for a second, similar experience. I hope it works out for them, but I have my doubts.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com071250 Lournand, France46.462489848800537 4.6694116038572746.457021348800538 4.65932660385727 46.467958348800536 4.67949660385727tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-89549418254098492092017-01-22T13:59:00.001+01:002017-01-22T14:03:40.135+01:00Christmas Presents<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFpgTo6ehTUzSx1p9UZPWh3CXcw1qCc7sigSYqw_ZW1qwFVf89NJacsKGFlgImv1kHUsVqjc0MiTuK3XlVcqIO1OTVHYnUCb_mSXTu_HCMilAvZo-Pb1TzdOlj0tA0cdqmQJHOHMUc5x8/s1600/DSC_1102seagull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFpgTo6ehTUzSx1p9UZPWh3CXcw1qCc7sigSYqw_ZW1qwFVf89NJacsKGFlgImv1kHUsVqjc0MiTuK3XlVcqIO1OTVHYnUCb_mSXTu_HCMilAvZo-Pb1TzdOlj0tA0cdqmQJHOHMUc5x8/s320/DSC_1102seagull.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back to the UK for a late Christmas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This year Christmas was delayed by Cees’ slipped discs and so we didn’t manage to collect our Christmas presents until into January. A part of our trips to the UK is buying essential things like peppermint tea and marmite either not available or so expensive we would have to mortgage the house to get them here. I also bring back black pudding, sausages and an Indian takeaway. But this year I left without the sausages - why? I hear you ask - well my present to myself was a sausage stuffer. Why buy yourself Chanel no5 when you can have something practical?<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvVTBfLBjRFy5waGCRAh2shdskkZ8bUmaCni2urn3yd1HhZ7n1RL5c9tWc1S2DnU7H4koGuy4_uvHZHrTdrRMJY47VFxwS_dTc8R7MjDhXynSxvNTj7S92sNtKDKSMQGBQNGsfk6hz8J7/s1600/DSC_1428stuffer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvVTBfLBjRFy5waGCRAh2shdskkZ8bUmaCni2urn3yd1HhZ7n1RL5c9tWc1S2DnU7H4koGuy4_uvHZHrTdrRMJY47VFxwS_dTc8R7MjDhXynSxvNTj7S92sNtKDKSMQGBQNGsfk6hz8J7/s320/DSC_1428stuffer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My present to myself</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This week pork was on offer in the supermarket and so it was now or never for the stuffer. I started looking up recipes and they were all a bit too exotic for my taste, what’s wrong with plain Walls’ sausages, nice and pink, not too meaty and bland – very bland.<br />
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In desperation I resorted to asking my friends who run a small holding in the Vendee and who run <a href="http://thegoodlifeinfrance.com/activities.htm" target="_blank">min-courses in self sufficiency skills</a>. They sent me a recipe which also sounded rather exotic – do mace and nutmeg really go in sausages? I trust them, so I decided to try it.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjcrlGphqufXeQ_LLcfL9KBslSSpnCcaV_vhnHSgfM2AHwIA-AOKThvBo-2Zp0rRBaAGW7cqx-hxux5ovkckySCd45XBRg8GOfxONrPmlS7K-ytAIec2OSohwLKFRw5aeVYGIu_4iXmPf/s1600/DSC_1405sausages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjcrlGphqufXeQ_LLcfL9KBslSSpnCcaV_vhnHSgfM2AHwIA-AOKThvBo-2Zp0rRBaAGW7cqx-hxux5ovkckySCd45XBRg8GOfxONrPmlS7K-ytAIec2OSohwLKFRw5aeVYGIu_4iXmPf/s320/DSC_1405sausages.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least they look like sausages</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The ancient, noisy meat grinder was my first port of call, twice through the grinder and then I had to take a fist full of aspirin to get rid of the headache. No matter, I was on a mission. After the mixing I was advised to make a small patty, fry it up and taste it – not a bad idea and I was amazed it tasted like Walls’ sausages!<br />
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Now on to the sausage stuffer. After a bit of trial and error (read meat mix all over the place and Cees hiding in his room) I managed to get the stuffer to stuff the casings I had bought. And guess what, they actually looked like sausages, which did rather amaze me to be honest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDK8zcFC_u1CNuUiHCOBjd-NFnDjISM4r7EvANFq-fHvfANQAVpEbA-9Lv-f7vtcpqcjbmDd17ObYtN5CsOfnWdIutOpKRChIQCvH44eLfpXD6KI9yaEl-laIAOx_sYuhzZo8AbSWkiECr/s1600/DSC_1433breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDK8zcFC_u1CNuUiHCOBjd-NFnDjISM4r7EvANFq-fHvfANQAVpEbA-9Lv-f7vtcpqcjbmDd17ObYtN5CsOfnWdIutOpKRChIQCvH44eLfpXD6KI9yaEl-laIAOx_sYuhzZo8AbSWkiECr/s320/DSC_1433breakfast.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A real English breakfast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Everything needs to dry for a day or so and so the tasting of the Chazelle sausages couldn’t take place until this morning. What better breakfast can you imagine than bacon, eggs and English sausages? They were scrumptious!<br />
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The rest of the batch has gone into the freezer and I will never have to buy additive filled sausages on my trips to England again!<br />
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<br />
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-51728669234989664392017-01-01T14:10:00.000+01:002017-01-03T14:13:46.841+01:00New Year’s Service in a Romanesque Church<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzArxv1WSsC5lW4sbSNmk8SYJhZlg55AlJOc3HLw0Qqv8eO-CI-WIS4b0ITujrWyN09qJUYnTWJe4u3lSaDZFVvR55MCmQZl3-A1YQFkHefwa7gED7fys39ytrA7tJWZPCk6YO88c0OwU4/s1600/old+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzArxv1WSsC5lW4sbSNmk8SYJhZlg55AlJOc3HLw0Qqv8eO-CI-WIS4b0ITujrWyN09qJUYnTWJe4u3lSaDZFVvR55MCmQZl3-A1YQFkHefwa7gED7fys39ytrA7tJWZPCk6YO88c0OwU4/s320/old+church.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The welcoming interior of Taizé's Romanesque church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Every year the vast majority of the brothers and permanents go off to the European meeting over the NewYear (this year in Riga) and Taizé is practically empty. The last service in the big church this year was Christmas morning and then the remaining brothers retreated into the small Romanesque church in the village.<br />
<br />
I have promised myself that I would actually go to the Sunday service between Christmas and New Year one year and this year that Sunday fell on the 1st of January - perfect timing.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOlMLcTOTlf6WDEADI5niAh6PuQDfgcKgbg50ThaFZMw059T58WqePSR3Ah1Os_oj_krJxeml6ycSb4J9si9dr2DtSMPjiiBcG1gtEZSLN1esnNwnCtcmdFbMd_EGmooK-641CKEc08Q2/s1600/old+church+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOlMLcTOTlf6WDEADI5niAh6PuQDfgcKgbg50ThaFZMw059T58WqePSR3Ah1Os_oj_krJxeml6ycSb4J9si9dr2DtSMPjiiBcG1gtEZSLN1esnNwnCtcmdFbMd_EGmooK-641CKEc08Q2/s320/old+church+window.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stained glass window above <br />
the front door</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I arrived well in time and the church, which is usually empty of all but a few wooden kneeling stools scattered around, had been decked out with benches for the older brothers who would be attending and for the older than average congregation that was expected. The church was heated with discrete electric heaters under the side benches which made it warm and cosy inside. It felt so much more welcoming than it does in the summer months when it is packed with the young visitors who make one feel uncomfortable about entering the building. <br />
<br />
When I arrived there were “books” stacked at the entrance to the church and on one of the front benches, entitled “Cantique – Avent et nativité”. I have never seen these books before and they gave the full sung mass for the Christmas period and a number of songs I have never heard sung before. Interestingly these songs had verses, only 3 or 4, but still this is something that the modern song book shies away from.<br />
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By the time the bells started, there were 12 or 13 brothers and about 50 in the congregation. We all fitted easily into the church.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPOTj48PslV9esl6LUvQ14iZofTOOj-4c8Wzh7Q5isuBXi9p6Peav29eTrZcFJHSzQgAacyK0aFSiaBVWNIJUu4wGZNmf-4n0w1hCX0muTMaA8PfrkABuMUVy2SdKn7T-JAC34ziN5wW5/s1600/old+song+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPOTj48PslV9esl6LUvQ14iZofTOOj-4c8Wzh7Q5isuBXi9p6Peav29eTrZcFJHSzQgAacyK0aFSiaBVWNIJUu4wGZNmf-4n0w1hCX0muTMaA8PfrkABuMUVy2SdKn7T-JAC34ziN5wW5/s320/old+song+book.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sung mass for the Christmas period</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I say there were 12 or 13 brothers as I am not entirely convinced that the priest was one of the brothers. The Eucharist is conducted by a priest of which there are a few within the community itself, but visiting priests also perform the task from time to time. Whilst I am sure that I have seen today’s chap before, his whole “way of doing things” didn’t seem to be the way it is normally done. He gave a short sermon, which is very unusual, whilst Brother Alois does that sometimes, I have never heard one on a Sunday morning. I also felt that the silence was shorter than normal, but maybe that was just me. But the real giveaway for me was that he waited at the door to shake the hands of the parting congregation, whilst the brothers snuck out through the side door. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbiMkFIy_73ZsVtqLuP7GBikBx7qNr2CFSerE6ruKQwUtt2RcQ_LRSQ3GpRdII3Lh02OoeWE5xOCaBvBfDtMOzQxr3RfQvTrkUaz43Mmd_PQdek3n0IuEVCV4c265S3uIHB8FErUPlCaY/s1600/tv8improved.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbiMkFIy_73ZsVtqLuP7GBikBx7qNr2CFSerE6ruKQwUtt2RcQ_LRSQ3GpRdII3Lh02OoeWE5xOCaBvBfDtMOzQxr3RfQvTrkUaz43Mmd_PQdek3n0IuEVCV4c265S3uIHB8FErUPlCaY/s320/tv8improved.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frère Roger with the original brothers <br />
when this church was used every day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The whole atmosphere during the service was one of a real monastic order - or should I say what I think an old-fashioned monastic order would be about and I can well imagine that the brothers who partake of these days of intense quiet in this little ancient church must have a great sense of stillness that the large church, and certainly its thousand-fold congregations of the summer months, cannot possibly give them. It has been said that the original order sung all its masses from start to finish and that the Sunday mass is the only service that maintains a high level of singing in its content. This short week of the brothers returning to the Romanesque church also sees for them a return to these sung masses - I wonder how many of those present today were among the original brothers who started here so long ago?<br />
<br />
After everyone had gone I returned to take pictures, the church still smelled of extinguished candles and even with its grim grey walls, it still felt very welcoming. For these few days a year, the church is returned to its original purpose, the holding of services and singing with acoustics that really zing - it is a pity it isn’t used this way more often.<br />
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com071250 Taizé, France46.5131003309247 4.677671272491352346.5124173309247 4.6764107724913524 46.5137833309247 4.6789317724913522tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-20216173607700141272016-12-25T12:31:00.000+01:002016-12-26T12:37:48.114+01:00It's that time of year again!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMehFt1sHxnMddz-khI68ZzJ0JIIe9AmzWt_bjIedOZDmKzVEiiIxxbKs0EUNoUoJpBn4wlwioykaVVUw7MxuwOznRUOb2AoA0BdgX4LJR3y_t-ApiVRyq2XUDVS3WmjBf1CgAEl6O6-d/s1600/crib+wk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcMehFt1sHxnMddz-khI68ZzJ0JIIe9AmzWt_bjIedOZDmKzVEiiIxxbKs0EUNoUoJpBn4wlwioykaVVUw7MxuwOznRUOb2AoA0BdgX4LJR3y_t-ApiVRyq2XUDVS3WmjBf1CgAEl6O6-d/s320/crib+wk1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Week one and we're off</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I couldn’t go the whole of December and not blog about the Taizé nativity scene now could I? So here you have it, the 2016 assessment of the Christmas Crib. As every year the nativity scene is managed by the permanents, so it changes each year as a new set of ideas and ideologies inspire its creation.<br />
<br />
The whole advent period, there have been real live sheep in attendance next to the church, so no matter what day or what time you visited, there was always something to chat to. I think their last presence must have been Christmas Eve as Christmas morning they had gone. The theme this year was not as outspoken as previous years but was obviously influenced by the terrible situation in Syria. There is some beautiful Arabic calligraphy on the walls of the church, well done to whoever made those.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqIWxoRSlfV4sh07TjDFw6GK4tSocfxBJRrpuZOWNG2U1gMH95_ckMNtft6asCuHn6NW2Agz5_4dqVqCC9mEKwXDXWbFUgiuQuhB2jp3ySL1yCI0WGs9vd2cPRJjAip_NvkWm3Xjlm9NC/s1600/crib+wk4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqIWxoRSlfV4sh07TjDFw6GK4tSocfxBJRrpuZOWNG2U1gMH95_ckMNtft6asCuHn6NW2Agz5_4dqVqCC9mEKwXDXWbFUgiuQuhB2jp3ySL1yCI0WGs9vd2cPRJjAip_NvkWm3Xjlm9NC/s320/crib+wk4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Week four- everyone is there except one person</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Week one showed a near empty stable, a couple of sheep and the ox and ass were there. No sign of the (un)happy couple and no star. By the second week, the shepherds had arrived and the stall was full of sheep and I mean full, there has been some serious sheep creation going on by the permanents to get the numbers up. The star had made its appearance, shining over the stall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUDTL4vTe4EcblA34XEj-raWN0b-weQeVZKxDR2869TnpPIgd1xFcogqPIuk_jaOOyGoLuNAgksKJzqF1iHe24L49q_0oklClAxZ4R2Gx6yN5Z3lVr_z55cvGXHxmWP2Yz7U6cSMxiaj4/s1600/crib+calligraphy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUDTL4vTe4EcblA34XEj-raWN0b-weQeVZKxDR2869TnpPIgd1xFcogqPIuk_jaOOyGoLuNAgksKJzqF1iHe24L49q_0oklClAxZ4R2Gx6yN5Z3lVr_z55cvGXHxmWP2Yz7U6cSMxiaj4/s320/crib+calligraphy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning Arabic calligraphy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The unhappy couple make their entrance in week 3 – oh dear did no one think to change those grimaces? The sheep gone and the ox and ass back - it was starting to look like Christmas. Finally in week four, the whole crowd was there, shepherds, sheep, ox and ass, empty manger and Mary and Joseph.<br />
<br />
Finally on Christmas morning I saw the baby Jesus, snuggled in his manger. What I hadn’t realised before is that this is a double of the ox and ass model with the baby Jesus painted into the manger itself. This brought me to thinking of an idea for next year – permanents are you listening to my pearls here? You could make slip over faces or complete doubles of the holy couple giving them a smile after the baby has been born! That would brighten the thing up a bit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQu5JuHIIMrYpj2EXk5_bhhYhEBerkiaDYwGm_PGjiEvOvAqm5eEQQJ1PePFfcRDLuicPhWbYOGlENbe5fX_KVWdU_-7izDZMxrRpDatG9zbgtifLeyojz80OPsazKJbHpcxeDBI-qIMf/s1600/crib+chrsitmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQu5JuHIIMrYpj2EXk5_bhhYhEBerkiaDYwGm_PGjiEvOvAqm5eEQQJ1PePFfcRDLuicPhWbYOGlENbe5fX_KVWdU_-7izDZMxrRpDatG9zbgtifLeyojz80OPsazKJbHpcxeDBI-qIMf/s320/crib+chrsitmas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Day - the main man makes his appearance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All in all, congratulations to this year’s group, you have created a lively story with interest throughout the advent period, thank you for that, it makes my weekly visits up the hill well worth it. I have one little request though, before you put them all to bed for next year’s team to use, please do something on the Mary and Joseph grimace issue. It may be a bit miserable giving birth in a cold stall miles away from home, but Jesus is the son of God and I really think that they should be happy to be the first people to see him.<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas to everyone!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com071250 Taizé, France46.51564018311921 4.677606899474994946.512908183119208 4.6725643994749948 46.518372183119212 4.6826493994749949tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-62662263484990356222016-12-17T08:30:00.000+01:002016-12-17T08:30:03.888+01:00Fun on the bus?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68kZE-7DOqCNYt71_afmoyaBXcXTdBI_t3ZZwyOJzkbmGiTciUOrULbVaVSPokamiEjNS_Z5s7z6kqGG0qNeXq4xiJxAceQtHQ_Tug4SV2KZ-l-O3C-A5IYdDuIfIiPym2JKunPxpRpac/s1600/DSC_0571a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68kZE-7DOqCNYt71_afmoyaBXcXTdBI_t3ZZwyOJzkbmGiTciUOrULbVaVSPokamiEjNS_Z5s7z6kqGG0qNeXq4xiJxAceQtHQ_Tug4SV2KZ-l-O3C-A5IYdDuIfIiPym2JKunPxpRpac/s320/DSC_0571a.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Torch bearing stilt walkers heralded the big event</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The annual Cluny winter spectacle was held last week, it was freezing cold and foggy and not an evening I wanted to go out in, but as last year had been so spectacular, we felt it was worth braving the cold.<br />
<br />
After a misunderstanding on our part about the time of the show, we arrived in Cluny far too early, we quickly saw the light and sound “happening”, visited the Christmas market and treated ourselves to a currywurst and chips from one of the stalls in the market square, which very good indeed. Still with time to spare and with feet that were starting to feel the beginning effects of frostbite, we set off to our favourite bar and quickly warmed up on mulled wine. When we heard the band leading the torch lit procession in the main street, we headed back to the market place for the main show.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTj0dmT1ZOOZThFmVceBiAQaFZ7Zk6SAA6j7OdclSXgWQ3wn42tbfgbO67xhCx1_9nmnCQxtbFnj-buzCB6AVnQxClByH2fFMaotDoZt1q4yZFXuPJwZy1tbLrWO9XG6hAGMyXBfL6uMg/s1600/DSC_0599a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTj0dmT1ZOOZThFmVceBiAQaFZ7Zk6SAA6j7OdclSXgWQ3wn42tbfgbO67xhCx1_9nmnCQxtbFnj-buzCB6AVnQxClByH2fFMaotDoZt1q4yZFXuPJwZy1tbLrWO9XG6hAGMyXBfL6uMg/s320/DSC_0599a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tightrope walking on top of a bus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This year the same performing troupe was being used under a different name, they were called the “Funambus” - a witty French name to show that they were using a bus to do their show. The show itself started off by the bus being “dragged” into the arena by a girl with a long pigtail (a bit bizarre but hey, live and let live) the bus then went totally crazy and started careering around its designated area, not much more than a meter from the audience and then it headed straight for a group of spectators, fortunately the brakes worked and it stopped about 1 foot short of them. Call me a kill-joy, but I felt it was a little irresponsible even without the ice that was present on the ground. It didn’t put me in a mood to really enjoy what was going on after that.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_3G-gn8wg_oaVfn0sU0GiHqbjDbwebPr2h2TILv1t3w4nNu2aCD5Du9_T7IKfoXD-RKMiUXxj1W6KL6JiBwH6mdCr7p5IqZmp1j_gvccBl15UvdK0fnVb79tm_9exOwMLVY4JxEJqeHL/s1600/DSC_0644a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_3G-gn8wg_oaVfn0sU0GiHqbjDbwebPr2h2TILv1t3w4nNu2aCD5Du9_T7IKfoXD-RKMiUXxj1W6KL6JiBwH6mdCr7p5IqZmp1j_gvccBl15UvdK0fnVb79tm_9exOwMLVY4JxEJqeHL/s320/DSC_0644a.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Human figurehead</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Fortunately the bus then stopped and the human part of the show started. All of the action took place on a tightrope on top of the bus, it was without a doubt technically very skilful and very well executed, but for more than half an hour with temperatures at about minus 3 it was too much for a lot of the audience and numbers dwindled. We stayed to the bitter end and the finale was quite good with the tightrope walkers walking up and down while the bus was moving and the female performer acting like a ship’s figurehead, hanging on to the front of the bus. <br />
<br />
I think that it is great that such a small town as Cluny invests in putting on a show at this time of year. It gets us all out of our houses, enjoying ourselves on a miserable bitter evening and we will certainly be back next year.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com071250 Cluny, France46.434890981772973 4.657597349815432646.43454898177297 4.6569668498154329 46.435232981772977 4.6582278498154324tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-86003830527648170332016-12-06T15:53:00.000+01:002016-12-15T15:56:08.065+01:00The writing’s on the floor<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Scov0Ffa_KfDp0VqgdeSt_87IZEj1IQGNf2u9XsVIUI-iQbsLWMt1ppc0q3-hgf1qwWiVJ85tAJq5C_ZbBqO-QO_quU3qiQmVCoXexHQ1qhd8ME2xpnFPynN6lvxmhzUNYFPcQQvwCE0/s1600/DSC_0091_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Scov0Ffa_KfDp0VqgdeSt_87IZEj1IQGNf2u9XsVIUI-iQbsLWMt1ppc0q3-hgf1qwWiVJ85tAJq5C_ZbBqO-QO_quU3qiQmVCoXexHQ1qhd8ME2xpnFPynN6lvxmhzUNYFPcQQvwCE0/s320/DSC_0091_lznkopie.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No parking between the 16th and 31st</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Traffic in Cormatin has always been a nightmare on the 1st and 16th of the month. Why? Well that is the day the "Great Parking Changeover" takes place. What’s that? I hear you ask. The art of compromise has determined that cars will be parked on one side of the main street for the first half of the month and then on the other side of the road for the second half of the month. This means that no one has to have a line of cars in front of their door on all the days, but it isn’t half confusing for the non-regular parkers in town and most particularly for the tourists, meaning that on 1st and 16th cars are parked on both sides of the road and traffic comes to a standstill.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02L4dY8wix4WVjpyP3nY1Iznfw01HFqHvhFfG-bBARGo7b6hUqNYUUspGv5b6qy650CDu6gqpzC51g37tO08eqNConJs1f6jNndU2mKFZgZgLuxpjpg3SXxsl3Q7EXM2qnEfFkBeibbbK/s1600/DSC_0090_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02L4dY8wix4WVjpyP3nY1Iznfw01HFqHvhFfG-bBARGo7b6hUqNYUUspGv5b6qy650CDu6gqpzC51g37tO08eqNConJs1f6jNndU2mKFZgZgLuxpjpg3SXxsl3Q7EXM2qnEfFkBeibbbK/s320/DSC_0090_lznkopie.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone's been writing on the floor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A couple of weeks ago we were in town buying a newspaper and fresh baguette and we saw some mysterious writing on the tarmac. What could be happening? I duly took a photo for posterity and we went home to contemplate this bit of exciting news. Was Cormatin finally going to have a sensible parking policy?<br />
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A few years ago it was decided that something had to be done about this silly parking system. No, we couldn’t all park on just one side of the road (why? – no idea) there had to be a system of alternate-side parking, but not changing twice month, a permanent alternate-side parking. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWyCO5IIs1fObawe9Zd83NmzewPcuCSTKUoi5H84yDVFV-1_bTzgQUFXvZ0KCq5esf-aKhc-RNPlVs6Bs4WEAOWbEJqvCLmK0RIKReCSIIvFQ5bMtdh9bo53IvX9pI2gFQQqd4BC8_vII/s1600/DSC_0697_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWyCO5IIs1fObawe9Zd83NmzewPcuCSTKUoi5H84yDVFV-1_bTzgQUFXvZ0KCq5esf-aKhc-RNPlVs6Bs4WEAOWbEJqvCLmK0RIKReCSIIvFQ5bMtdh9bo53IvX9pI2gFQQqd4BC8_vII/s320/DSC_0697_lznkopie.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One car not in an official space..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Much debate in the council meetings has been devoted to this subject, and there has been much argument in town amongst main street and non-main street residents and even though the plans were published two years ago, no one could agree and nothing has been done.<br />
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But those little markings on the tarmac, did they mean that something might actually happen?<br />
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The diggers moved in the following week and caused a lot of chaos in town, pavements have been torn up and curbs lowered. And then they left….. those daft parking signs were still in place.<br />
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Finally last week, the painters turned up and have marked parking spaces and the parking signs have been removed. We now have permanent parking spaces, but we have far fewer than before and nipping in for your newspaper or loaf of bread isn't as easy as it was. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnvqLEV_SsflevJ7w3HPF1dM_njBTtUcErTx85jJ05HkpprLeVrkyGkMfpNjsZ4-lhxKLHBuujpi-Jj6SPAOj8jeXJgTjyrub9sKyEVVcuXOG22vyw_6pFY1JhIeFjKteot0nJ3YyfFFB/s1600/DSC_0696_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnvqLEV_SsflevJ7w3HPF1dM_njBTtUcErTx85jJ05HkpprLeVrkyGkMfpNjsZ4-lhxKLHBuujpi-Jj6SPAOj8jeXJgTjyrub9sKyEVVcuXOG22vyw_6pFY1JhIeFjKteot0nJ3YyfFFB/s320/DSC_0696_lznkopie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another car not in an official space.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>But the big question is, has life been improved for the parkers, the residents or the traffic flow - the jury is still out on that one, but I doubt it. Parkers have already taken an anarchistic approach and are ignoring the painted spaces and parking anywhere which is blocking up the road and lorries are still thundering through town at an inappropriate speed. But we will see the real effect next summer when the campervans and caravans start to clog up our main street again. Watch this space for an update!<br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com071460 Cormatin, France46.542723 4.687660000000050846.4990305 4.6069790000000506 46.5864155 4.768341000000051tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190892385893734721.post-34094235426417246882016-11-28T14:08:00.000+01:002016-12-15T14:08:49.379+01:00Les Oiseaux Rares<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2BQEnUKzBy841D8Jhq6r8xqRRs2Me6H8qfMUToch_Ice73iVhs39eOADvgWdVhBWvFMU9XTappnmkwPdxys4udoyx0xo2T9S-7nmwWmSaSrF5yp1ijh-sarys0uDITrlsiaSJdOyqeML/s1600/DSC_0396_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2BQEnUKzBy841D8Jhq6r8xqRRs2Me6H8qfMUToch_Ice73iVhs39eOADvgWdVhBWvFMU9XTappnmkwPdxys4udoyx0xo2T9S-7nmwWmSaSrF5yp1ijh-sarys0uDITrlsiaSJdOyqeML/s320/DSC_0396_lznkopie.jpg" width="320" /></a>For the third year running “Les Oiseaux Rares” the group of artists and artistic tradesmen and women from Cormatin, have opened their “nests” to the public and have been giving demos and exhibiting their wares. The last weekend in November has become a popular fixed date on the Cormatin calendar.<br />
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This year as always, the standard has been very high. Each artisan invites someone from outside their group to display their items as well and it makes touring the studios very interesting. I could have spent a fortune in each location. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykq8RM9HD6c9o4WhfMwBsioJLsN2DxY5r1SSd82aEL82dDC5UVq0EfDDXz7tK899YPAPqdxyQG2_xNBF-9gZr-BqpS16U6IRab9gnDXnVv33zRx57W_xHQm7XJuKb3lnInVK3EvaeNemM/s1600/DSC_0394_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykq8RM9HD6c9o4WhfMwBsioJLsN2DxY5r1SSd82aEL82dDC5UVq0EfDDXz7tK899YPAPqdxyQG2_xNBF-9gZr-BqpS16U6IRab9gnDXnVv33zRx57W_xHQm7XJuKb3lnInVK3EvaeNemM/s320/DSC_0394_lznkopie.jpg" width="320" /></a>As every year, a soup bowl was on sale which entitled you to free soup at each “nest”, the soup was less obviously available this year compared to other years and so we only partook of Pascale’s (the silk painter) soup, but we did go to see her both days. The bowls are made by Pierre (the town’s potter) and as usual, they are lovely items to have in your cupboard, I am only sorry we missed the first year, so our collections is not complete.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aFjbGbzPR8oyNwiAppLeSQRgSuYiMZ6aF3IS10sWaNzRwxEF-NJ3bDhA-LGkRNiVjuLQMPwg-_9X8AgHZhRrx7Nns3Gb65UYWwjuwBCk0RVc6xFqix4xznkxxIGy8RFZbXDcuog4xgvi/s1600/DSC_0395_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aFjbGbzPR8oyNwiAppLeSQRgSuYiMZ6aF3IS10sWaNzRwxEF-NJ3bDhA-LGkRNiVjuLQMPwg-_9X8AgHZhRrx7Nns3Gb65UYWwjuwBCk0RVc6xFqix4xznkxxIGy8RFZbXDcuog4xgvi/s320/DSC_0395_lznkopie.jpg" width="213" /></a>This year the church was opened up for the two days and the display of Patrick’s paintings, Silvyane’s wire sculpture (both from our very own Chazelle) and someone else’s pottery - sorry I didn’t find out whom. The beautiful items on display did not feel at all out of place in that building.<br />
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For those hungry punters, a mobile burger van had been invited to provide food for the two days. We decided to support this initiative and so we ordered and paid for our burgers and chips and then we were told to come back in 20 minutes!! Excuse me? A snack bar that takes 20 minutes to make two burgers and chips when there are no other customers? If we hadn’t already paid, we would have walked away. Fortunately we hadn’t finished our tour of the nests and so we went off to see some of the other artisans during our wait. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYXynwgY7iqjFUOGoydveuL2myuYBG8Qd32mRwAryND2SukjtyIAJqiL6jxvYNOrfTtDbZmTWJRAS87fO3wHM9jCVaUX0JwJwNKtqwTpbyC7vuPEQqIPNnrj-UswLcrXXdwd6MgjWOFth/s1600/DSC_0397_lznkopie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYXynwgY7iqjFUOGoydveuL2myuYBG8Qd32mRwAryND2SukjtyIAJqiL6jxvYNOrfTtDbZmTWJRAS87fO3wHM9jCVaUX0JwJwNKtqwTpbyC7vuPEQqIPNnrj-UswLcrXXdwd6MgjWOFth/s320/DSC_0397_lznkopie.jpg" width="320" /></a>When we got back after 20 minutes we still had to hang around for another 10 minutes before our “food” was available. The chips were the most horrible things I have ever had the misfortune to be served, they were overcooked, brown and soggy, now being English I like my chips soggy, but floppy, squishy and falling apart go way beyond my taste. The burger was edible, I must admit I didn’t spot the bacon that was supposed to be in it, but Cees assured me that it was there. Summing up the burger wagon - a serious disappointment on an otherwise super, successful weekend. <br />
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I am happy to say that loads of people visited our little corner of Burgundy this weekend, despite the weather and the artisans involved did good trade and the village was once again put on the map. I can’t wait for next year, I think we’ll be eating at one of the restaurants in town.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09503027733770215871noreply@blogger.com071460 Cormatin, France46.542723 4.687660000000050846.4990305 4.6069790000000506 46.5864155 4.768341000000051