We had two U3A friends come out with Jon last Wednesday and we've had a great time showing off "our" region, which we love, and now they do too. We've been off-roading in the jeep, been down the Gouffre of Cabrespine, walked along the canal at Trebes, froze at the Pic de Nore, been to the market and old city of Carcassonne, had BBQs and meals in the courtyard. The weather has been mixed, mostly very pleasant.
On Thursday, on our way back from an outing in the VW jeep, we had a puncture and, when Jon and Tony tried to jack it up, the jack point gave way. Tony and I walked back to the village, picked up the trolley jack and returned in the Opel. Today we had the tube replaced and bought a spare tube so that shouldn't happen again. We still have to have the jack point welded.
Friday, we took the Opel for the round trip to Lagrasse, Queribus, Peyrepetuse and the Gorge de Galamus. Some of you may remember the saga of the Opel breaking down near Cucgnan (about 100k from Villalier) last year when we were taking visitors to Queribus. The four of us spent about 5 hours by the roadside, were repatriated eventually by taxi and we had to collect the Opel some days later from close to Perpignan.
Well, we had a rerun of this event, breaking down due to lack of fuel to the motor, in almost exactly the same spot. This time the breakdown truck agreed to transport both car and passengers to his garage. He told us to remain in the car while he winched it up on the back of his truck and set off at speed to his garage some 30 miles or so further south. Having established that the car couldn't be fixed there and needed to go to Perpignan to the Opel dealers, we were again taxied home (a cost of over €350 for the insurance). This time the whole adventure took only 5 hours, we were back home at 10 pm, and we are still waiting to hear what the problem is and how much it will cost.
Fortunately for our guests, we were able to continue their holiday with the assistance of the jeep. However, we are going to be very wary of visiting the "Cucugnan triangle" again - next time we may not emerge at all!
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Darwin
Darwin returned to the courtyard on Sunday so the young man was round twice trying to entice him out without success. The cat went behind the oil tank under the outside stairs in the end and we couldn't even see him. We propped a ladder against the wall to enable him to get back home and I left the windows open on the back of the house so I would hear him in the night. Went to bed at 2.30, woken by Darwin at 3.30 but he fled back to his hiding place when I came out. He woke me again at 6 am and this time I managed to coax him out into his basket. "Ou es tu, Darwin?" "Viens ici, Darwin". ("Darwin" sounds so lovely with a French accent, as copied from said young man) I then put the basket in the garage where I couldn't hear him and went back to bed until 8.30. Uncle was delighted to see him at 9am, and he hasn't been back since.
He is so beautiful I wanted to post a photo of him but only had one on my video camera and the computer refuses to acknowledge its card, probably because it's too large, at 16 GB. I bought the video camera specially for Nepal so it's as well to iron out all such problems before I go.
He is so beautiful I wanted to post a photo of him but only had one on my video camera and the computer refuses to acknowledge its card, probably because it's too large, at 16 GB. I bought the video camera specially for Nepal so it's as well to iron out all such problems before I go.
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Back in France
So. Arrived yesterday afternoon and already feels like home again. After unpacking, shopping and generally settling in, I went for a walk in the evening to check that "my" village was intact and bumped into Jean-Claude who pressed me to join him on his usual spot on the wall where he chats most evenings with the Zocharato's. They are a lovely old couple, old-school, very involved in village affairs. They bring a couple of chairs outside their house and chew over the day with anyone who cares to join them. We passed a very pleasant hour or so and I learned about various village affairs. We admired the stars and the moon and Mr Zocharato told me how they used to tie the growing season to the pahases of the moon - sowing, reaping etc., finishing by forecasting the next day's wind to be the Marin (which comes from the mediterranean, and is humid).
Well, it's been humid today, and showery, but I dare think that the wind was from the west, whatever the moon said.
This evening was interesting. While on the phone to Jon, I heard a cat miawing very loudly. The kitchen door was open and it sounded as though the cat might be in the courtyard, so I went to the door and "shushed". It stopped, but next thing I had a young man on the doorstep with a cat basket asking if he could look for his cat in the yard. It seems that it had already got into our courtyard twice over the summer and "Uncle" (our neighbour to the rear of the house) had let him in to our yard to retrieve it! Goodness knows how, as the courtyard is completely enclosed. All was quiet and I doubted the cat was still here but eventually it answered (to the name Darwin!) and was coerced into the basket. It's a beautiful grey British short-hair, with a huge round face and a very loud voice. Now I remember being woken in the night by a noisy cat.
Dave and Ann, my brother and sister-in-law are coming from Pont-du-Gard to visit tomorrow so no doubt we'll be pretty busy for the next few days. There's a village meal on Saturday night, so I hope they're up for it.
Well, it's been humid today, and showery, but I dare think that the wind was from the west, whatever the moon said.
This evening was interesting. While on the phone to Jon, I heard a cat miawing very loudly. The kitchen door was open and it sounded as though the cat might be in the courtyard, so I went to the door and "shushed". It stopped, but next thing I had a young man on the doorstep with a cat basket asking if he could look for his cat in the yard. It seems that it had already got into our courtyard twice over the summer and "Uncle" (our neighbour to the rear of the house) had let him in to our yard to retrieve it! Goodness knows how, as the courtyard is completely enclosed. All was quiet and I doubted the cat was still here but eventually it answered (to the name Darwin!) and was coerced into the basket. It's a beautiful grey British short-hair, with a huge round face and a very loud voice. Now I remember being woken in the night by a noisy cat.
Dave and Ann, my brother and sister-in-law are coming from Pont-du-Gard to visit tomorrow so no doubt we'll be pretty busy for the next few days. There's a village meal on Saturday night, so I hope they're up for it.
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Work in progress
Wow -there's a lot to learn about making/running a blog. I've been trying to get it ready for viewing before I send email invitations to it. I've been at it for what seems like hours with very little to show for it.
Jon and I have just been on a Practical Action weekend festival at their HQ near Rugby. We've attended workshops and debates, watched films, eaten good food and talked to hosts of interesting people.
Most people we met try to live their lives leaving as little carbon footprint as possible, so we've come away somewhat chastened. Must do better.
We made a circuit to take power from a small solar panel to charge a battery, we made a delicious smoothie by pedal-power, we saw a presentation on ropeways in Nepal, watched the Yes Men in the straw-bale cinema powered by solar, learnt an awful lot about human excrement and the social and practical problems associated with it, and joined in a ceilidh on Saturday evening. What a super weekend - we've come away with so much to think about. (And DO)
The previous weekend we were just back from a week near Whitby spent mostly at the Whitby folk festival. We had the best of the weather by all accounts with very little rain. I did bring back two pretty tired knees though from climbing seemingly endless steps. The folk events were spread through the town and invariably involved huge height differences moving from one to the other.
Jon and I have just been on a Practical Action weekend festival at their HQ near Rugby. We've attended workshops and debates, watched films, eaten good food and talked to hosts of interesting people.
Most people we met try to live their lives leaving as little carbon footprint as possible, so we've come away somewhat chastened. Must do better.
We made a circuit to take power from a small solar panel to charge a battery, we made a delicious smoothie by pedal-power, we saw a presentation on ropeways in Nepal, watched the Yes Men in the straw-bale cinema powered by solar, learnt an awful lot about human excrement and the social and practical problems associated with it, and joined in a ceilidh on Saturday evening. What a super weekend - we've come away with so much to think about. (And DO)
The previous weekend we were just back from a week near Whitby spent mostly at the Whitby folk festival. We had the best of the weather by all accounts with very little rain. I did bring back two pretty tired knees though from climbing seemingly endless steps. The folk events were spread through the town and invariably involved huge height differences moving from one to the other.
Monday, 6 September 2010
Practical Action in Nepal
Practical Action is my favourite charity because of their fundamental principle "Small is beautiful".
About Practical Action
In practical terms this means that they work locally using technology which is sustainable in the local environment by the local population, so that they are sustainable with little or no outside help after set-up and training. I particularly like the ropeway schemes which have shortened journey times, and made them less dangerous. Getting perishable goods to market quickly is a huge advantage, and so is avoiding treacherous pathways over very steep and unstable ground. The ropeways link mountainous regions by cables which carry twin trolleys in opposite directions, carrying materials/produce. Children are often used to transport the goods to market so the ropeways free many of them to attend school.
Gravity Ropeways
Many are gravity powered. Others are powered by a micro-hydro system which produces enough power to drive the ropeway by day and supply electricity to the village by night.
To quote their web page:
"Practical Action has a unique approach to development – we don't start with technology, but with people. The tools may be simple or sophisticated – but to provide long-term, appropriate and practical answers, they must be firmly in the hands of local people: people who shape technology and control it for themselves."
I am also raising funds for this work so if any of you would prefer to support Practical Action, that is very simply done through their web site.
Donate
About Practical Action
In practical terms this means that they work locally using technology which is sustainable in the local environment by the local population, so that they are sustainable with little or no outside help after set-up and training. I particularly like the ropeway schemes which have shortened journey times, and made them less dangerous. Getting perishable goods to market quickly is a huge advantage, and so is avoiding treacherous pathways over very steep and unstable ground. The ropeways link mountainous regions by cables which carry twin trolleys in opposite directions, carrying materials/produce. Children are often used to transport the goods to market so the ropeways free many of them to attend school.
Gravity Ropeways
Many are gravity powered. Others are powered by a micro-hydro system which produces enough power to drive the ropeway by day and supply electricity to the village by night.
To quote their web page:
"Practical Action has a unique approach to development – we don't start with technology, but with people. The tools may be simple or sophisticated – but to provide long-term, appropriate and practical answers, they must be firmly in the hands of local people: people who shape technology and control it for themselves."
I am also raising funds for this work so if any of you would prefer to support Practical Action, that is very simply done through their web site.
Donate
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