A sorry tail

The half-grown lizard who lives behind the shutters of the window next to my computer-table is looking very unhappy. And tail-less. I hope it recovers quickly.

Fête de la Musique

The Fête de la Musique is actually on 21 June, but as it fell on a Monday this year, many places had their celebrations on Sunday. The Arc en Ciel choir sang in a park in Jarnac-Champagne, next to a lovely little lake which helped the sound.

I missed Monday's rehearsal to go to the Fête de la Musique celebration in St Dizant's picnic area next to the little supermarket 1000 Frais et 1 Fred. Music was provided by Les Filadiers, the chantey group from St-Fort-sur-Gironde. The weather was still not good, but at least it didn't rain into the paella.

On the subject of paella, I'm allergic to shellfish so I'd phoned and asked if there was an alternative, to which the answer was no (they were catering for a huge crowd!) but Fred said the shellfish was being added at the end and she'd take out a plateful before the mussels and langoustines and giant prawns went in. Very kind of her, and I was pleased that she remembered in all the flurry.

I warbled along to all the chants marins, in vocalise because I didn't know the words, and eventually E-from-the-Welsh-valleys joined in. We finished the evening with M-f-t-W-v leading Cyfri'r Geifr, and E and I realising we couldn't remember the words of Calon Lân after the first two lines. A very jolly evening.

La Daugaterie again

It was so hot on Saturday. In the morning I went to watch boats in the sailing festival at Port Maubert, but didn't last long there. On the way home over the marshes I passed the crêperie at Daugaterie and decided to stop for a cool drink. In the end I stayed for lunch, because their new 10-euro menu includes the drink, a galette (Breton, not Charentaise), and three scoops of ice-cream. How could I resist?

Last year was their first, and it appears to have been successful enough to allow Monsieur to leave his office job, so this year the restaurant is open every evening and most lunchtimes. He has spent the winter completing renovations and making alterations: notably the addition of a ramp and a new toilet, though he hasn't finished the path to the toilet yet. He assured me that it will soon have a properly Chariot-friendly entrance.

To ensure that guests are heard on arrival, there is also a new doorman. Monsieur recognised me and greeted me in English, and I replied in French. It seems more natural to me now.

The menu is much the same as last year, and excellent value. Look at the size of the galette!

There's a garden with trees, and a play area for children, too. I sat outside on the terrace under the gentle shade, though all the other diners had the sense to go inside. I looked in, but forgot to take a photo of the lovely stone-walled dining-room.

We had some brief unscheduled entertainment when a queen hornet popped in for a visit. Monsieur chased it round the garden with a large container of insecticidal spray, to which it appeared impervious.

Then I drove slowly home in the sleepy afternoon heat, watching for herons and other wildlife on the marsh.

Sun and frolics

Summer activities have begun. Tomorrow there's a regatta at Port Maubert, on Sunday a regional festival at Clion; the Musical Thursdays (classical concerts in churches) started this week. Everything in Jonzac is open and busy with events and tours and talks and bands in the streets. There are brocantes and street fairs all over the place: even our little hamlet is holding a street party.

Soon it will be la Fête de la Musique and I shall miss all the local musicking because my choir, Arc en Ciel, has gigs in Jarnac-Champagne. Super!